With Xavier and Kathryn's arrival, every activity in the pack house came to an abrupt halt. Conversations died instantly as everyone's attention shifted toward the commotion.
"So... where's the scent coming from?" Daniel asked, glancing at Xavier, who stood frozen in place.
Following his gaze, Daniel's eyes landed on Lauren.
His mouth fell open.
"No way..."
Kathryn had already pushed through the crowd and reached the bullies and their victim.
The moment Blaire saw her, she immediately released Lauren's injured arm.
Every one of them swallowed nervously.
"The Alpha is going to hear about this," Kathryn said coldly. "I mean every single word."
She quickly turned to Lauren.
"Lauren... are you okay?"
Before Lauren could answer—
"Mate."
Xavier's deep voice echoed through the hall.
The room fell into complete silence.
Then...
Gasps erupted from every corner of the hall.
Every eye shifted toward Lauren, who stood trembling, tears streaming down her face as she clutched her bleeding arm.
Kathryn's jaw dropped.
A second later, a bright smile spread across her face.
Lauren... my brother's mate?
She couldn't have been happier.
Her new friend was about to become family.
"Impossible..."
"A weakling?"
"What's the Moon Goddess thinking?"
Whispers spread rapidly through the crowd.
Lauren's heartbeat thundered against her ribs.
She slowly lifted her tear-filled eyes to meet Xavier's.
Mate?
Was he talking about... her?
How?
Why?
"What the hell?!" John ran a frustrated hand through his hair before looking at Bianca.
Both of them wore the same horrified expression.
"Did... did Xavier just call Lauren his mate?" Luna Camille whispered in disbelief.
"That's exactly what I heard," Alpha Damien replied.
Without another word, Xavier began walking toward Lauren.
Step by step...
Until he stood right in front of her.
For a moment, he simply stared.
Kathryn hadn't exaggerated.
She truly was beautiful.
Her sapphire-blue eyes were unlike anything he had ever seen.
She might be a weakling...
But that gave no one the right to treat her this way.
His gaze slowly drifted to her injured arm.
Fresh blood continued to seep through the bandage.
Something inside him snapped.
A low growl rumbled from his chest, sending chills through everyone present.
His golden eyes flashed dangerously as he turned toward Blaire.
Before anyone could react, he seized her by the throat.
"How dare you touch my mate?"
His wolf clawed violently beneath his skin, desperate to tear her apart.
Blaire clawed desperately at his wrist, gasping for air as her feet dangled above the floor.
"X-Xavier... I..."
He tightened his grip even more.
"Oh God... Lauren!"
Jane rushed forward, Romeo close behind her.
The sight before them nearly shattered their hearts.
Lauren's face had gone deathly pale.
Blood pooled beneath her feet.
Jane glared furiously at the bullies.
"How could you do this to my daughter?!"
"Brother... that's enough."
Kathryn gently placed a hand on Xavier's arm.
His breathing remained heavy for a moment.
Then, with a snarl, he hurled Blaire across the room.
She slammed violently into the wall before collapsing unconscious onto the floor.
"Blaire!"
Claire screamed as she rushed to her twin's side.
Connor appeared beside them in the blink of an eye.
"Father!" Claire sobbed.
Connor's face darkened with rage.
Nearby, Bianca's hands trembled.
"What have we done?" she whispered in panic.
Lauren looked weakly at Xavier...
Then at her parents.
She could see the fear written across everyone's faces.
Even the Alpha and Luna looked shaken, though beneath their worry was unmistakable relief that Xavier had finally found his mate.
Xavier turned back to Lauren.
Concern filled his eyes.
"Lauren..." Kathryn called softly.
"Are you okay?"
Lauren tried to answer.
Instead, her vision blurred.
The room spun around her.
Everything went black.
She collapsed forward—
Straight into Xavier's waiting arms.
The hall instantly erupted into chaos.
Panic spread like wildfire.
Without wasting another second, Xavier swept her into his arms and rushed out of the pack house.
"Daniel!" Alpha Damien ordered.
"Call Edward. Now."
"Yes, Alpha."
"Lauren!"
Jane burst into tears as she hurried after Xavier.
Romeo followed closely behind, but not before shooting the bullies one final glare filled with fury.
Xavier's Room
Outside Xavier's bedroom, silence hung heavily in the corridor.
Xavier sat alone on a wooden chair, his elbows resting on his knees.
His bloodstained hands were clasped tightly together.
Lauren's blood had soaked through his brown jersey.
He hated how worried he felt.
He had only just met her.
Yet the mate bond already had a terrifying hold on him.
Inside the room, Edward was treating Lauren.
She still hadn't regained consciousness.
Jane and Romeo stood nearby, anxiously waiting.
Kathryn and Daniel remained quietly at the staircase, watching Xavier grow more restless with every passing minute.
Footsteps echoed through the hallway.
Everyone turned.
Alpha Damien and Luna Camille approached.
Daniel and Kathryn stepped aside to let them pass.
"Xavier," Luna Camille called gently.
He immediately stood.
"How is she?"
"Edward says she's stable... but she isn't healing."
His voice was tight.
"Because she hasn't manifested yet."
Luna Camille placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"She'll be alright."
Xavier frowned.
"I don't care about her."
Everyone looked at him.
"I just don't like seeing people die."
"Hmm... of course," Luna Camille replied with an amused smile.
"I'm serious."
He folded his arms.
"She's still a weakling."
"Xavier."
Jane stepped forward, Romeo standing beside her.
"Lauren is your mate."
She swallowed the lump in her throat before continuing.
"I know she isn't the person you expected... but she's special in ways you haven't seen yet."
Xavier remained silent.
Jane's eyes filled with tears.
"Please... accept her."
"You might be the reason she finally manifests."
"She's suffered enough."
Xavier looked away.
"I..."
"I know you can feel the bond," Jane whispered.
"I saw the way you looked at her."
"You care."
"I don't."
"Then why are you still standing outside this room?" she asked softly.
He had no answer.
Instead, he lowered his eyes.
Just then, the bedroom door opened.
Edward stepped out.
Everyone immediately surrounded him.
"How is she?" Alpha Damien asked.
Edward smiled reassuringly.
"She's stable now."
"The bleeding has stopped, and I've treated her injuries."
"I've also given her a sedative, so she'll be asleep for a while."
"She simply needs rest."
"But someone should stay with her in case she wakes up."
"I'll stay," Xavier said without hesitation.
The words escaped before he even realized it.
Edward smiled knowingly.
"You can go in. Just don't make too much noise."
After Edward left, Jane and Romeo quietly entered the room.
Lauren lay peacefully on the bed, her arm freshly bandaged.
Her pale face looked almost angelic beneath the moonlight spilling through the window.
Jane gently stroked her daughter's hair.
"We should go home," Romeo whispered.
"It's late."
He looked toward Xavier.
"You'll take good care of her... won't you?"
Xavier met his gaze.
"...I will."
Reluctantly, Jane nodded.
She kissed Lauren's forehead before leaving with Romeo.
Soon, Alpha Damien and Luna Camille also excused themselves.
Daniel gave Xavier a light pat on the shoulder before leaving with Kathryn.
Silence returned to the corridor.
Taking a deep breath, Xavier slowly opened the bedroom door.
He stepped inside quietly and closed it behind him.
Walking over to the bed, he looked down at the unconscious girl.
Even bruised...
Even pale...
Even broken...
She was breathtaking.
He had finally found his mate.
But one question refused to leave his mind.
What was the Moon Goddess thinking?