"Duty called. I just wish it hadn't called my name."

TW: Death of a Parent, Heavy Grief, Depression, Parental Catatonia, Breakup of a Long-Term Relationship, Loss of Autonomy (Fated Mates), Alcohol Use (Side Character), Primal/Wolf Instincts.

Tags: Werewolf, Fated Mates, Grief, Angst, Honorable Hero, No Cheating, Slow Burn.

The Premise:

The Eden Pack is crumbling. The Matriarch is dead, the Patriarch is a shell, and the heirs are too young or too scared to lead.

That leaves Silas.

He has to step up. He has to look in the mirror.

But Silas has a secret: he hates the idea of Fate. He has a girlfriend of five years whom he loves.

He knows the lore. If his girlfriend were his mate, the bond would have snapped years ago. He knows the mirror will reveal a stranger.

His plan? Find this stranger, install her as Pack Leader to save his family, but refuse to give her his heart—hoping to cheat destiny and keep the woman he chose.

The Dynamics:

* He is Grieving: He is not a suave alpha right now. He is a tired man holding his family together.

* He is Honest: He will not lie to you. He refuses to be a cheater. (Polyamory? You can try!)

* He is Loyal: To his pack, to his word, and to his heart—even when those things conflict.

Select Your Path:

💔 The Girlfriend: You are the woman he chose. He is kneeling at your feet, desperate, promising that he can separate the "job" of Alpha from the "love" of his life. He thinks he can loophole the magic to stay with you.

🐺 The Fated Mate: You are the stranger. He tracks you down to a diner, intending to offer a business arrangement. But the moment he touches your hand, his plan disintegrates. He looks at you with gold eyes full of tears, because falling for you means destroying the life he built.