Maya's POV
I screamed when I woke up. I sat up in my small bed, trembling all over. The dream had seemed so real. So strong. I could still sense the golden thread encircling my heart, drawing me in the direction of an invisible object.
Someone shouted from upstairs, "Shut up down there!" "Some of us are trying to get some rest!"
I tried to stop the sobs by covering my mouth with my hand. The dream never changed. I was running along a golden thread that glowed like sunshine through a pitch-black forest. I found Connor through the thread, but he wasn't the nasty Alpha who treated me like trash. He was unique. Nice. He treated me as though I were valuable. Reality would then hit me like a brick wall when I woke up.
I muttered to myself, "It's just a stupid dream." "Connor despises me. He's going to take Sophia and leave me behind."
However, I could feel that invisible thread pulling at my chest even as I spoke the words. It was so powerful, so real. As if it were real, tying me to Connor whether I wanted it or not. I stood up and sprayed my face with cold water. Connor's birthday was today. My birthday was today as well, but no one seemed to care. Everything would be different in a few hours.
I heard footsteps outside my door as I was putting on my work dress. My heart pounded at the sound of heavy footsteps.
"Maya?" The wood muffled Connor's voice. "Are you awake?"
I went cold. Connor had never visited my room before. Never. Quietly, I called back, "I... yes, Alpha."
"Open the door."
I turned the handle with trembling hands. Still in his pajamas, Connor stood in the dim hallway. His eyes were wild, and his hair was a mess.
He inquired, "Did you have the dream again?"
I gazed at him. "What dream?"
"Maya, don't lie to me." Connor took a step forward. "The golden thread dream. The one in which we're sprinting through the woods."
My jaw dropped. "How did you find out about that?"
"Because I've been having the same dream for weeks," Connor muttered. "I dream about following a golden thread that leads me to you every single night."
I was lightheaded. "That is not possible."
"Is it?" Connor was looking directly into my green eyes. "Are you afraid to acknowledge what's happening, or is it truly impossible?"
I lied and said, "I don't know what you're talking about."
However, when Connor grinned, he briefly resembled the Connor I had imagined. The good-natured one.
"You feel it too, don't you?" He muttered. "The draw. The link. You can sense where I am even when we are not together."
He was correct. Even when Connor wasn't in the same room as me, I could always feel his presence. I believed that anyone could use their Alpha in that way. However, I might have been mistaken.
I opened my mouth to say, "Connor," but he raised his hand.
"Don't," he said, his expression freezing once more. "Remain silent. Nothing between us changes as a result of this. You remain merely a servant. Sophia will still be my choice."
"Then why are you here?" I inquired, offended by his abrupt lack of warmth.
Connor gave me a long look. "Because I wanted to know if you shared my feelings. And I do now."
He started to walk away but stopped. Without turning around, he asked, "Maya?"
"Remember that some things are bigger than what we want, no matter what happens today. Some decisions are made by uncontrollable forces."
I was even more confused after he left. By that, what did he mean? And why did he look so dejected as he spoke?
I helped with last-minute party preparations during the morning. But I was unable to concentrate. Connor's words and the way he gazed at me kept coming back to me. He had briefly given off the impression of almost... caring.
"Maya!" Mrs. Anderson yelled. "Help me with these flowers and stop daydreaming!"
I rushed over to assist with setting up the centerpieces. However, an odd thing occurred when I touched the white roses. A gentle golden light began to shine on the flowers.
"Did you see that?" I let out a gasp.
Mrs. Anderson glanced at me after examining the flowers. "See what, dear?"
The radiance had vanished. The roses had returned to their usual appearance.
"Nothing," I blurted out. "I'm sorry."
Mrs. Anderson, however, was scowling at me. "You appear pale, Maya. Do you feel okay?"
Jake showed up next to us before I could respond.
"Maya," he said gravely. "Alpha Connor would like to have you visit his office." "Now."
My heart began to race. "Did I make a mistake?"
Jake said, "Just go." "Maya, too? I wish you luck."
My stomach twisted in fear at the way he said it. My legs felt like jelly as I made my way slowly to Connor's office.
Connor was studying an old book while seated behind his desk. I had previously seen the same book about severing mate bonds.
He said, "Sit down," without raising his gaze.
My hands trembled in my lap as I sat in the chair across from him.
"Maya, do you know what today is?" Connor inquired.
"Your birthday," I murmured.
"And?"
"And... my birthday too."
At last, Connor glanced up at me. His eyes were simultaneously angry and sad.
"Something happened on the night we were born twenty-one years ago," he stated. "Whether we like it or not, there's something that binds us together forever."
"I don't understand."
Connor flipped the book so I could see it. A drawing of two wolves joined by a golden thread was on the page.
"This is known as a mate bond," Connor clarified. "It's not common. The majority of wolves never locate their true mate. Rarely, however, two wolves are born simultaneously under a blood moon. They become lifelong partners after that."
I gazed at the illustration. The golden thread resembled the one I had dreamed about.
"Are you saying...?" I was unable to complete the sentence.
"Maya, I'm stating that we are mates. Real partners. Our dreams' golden thread is genuine."
I had trouble breathing. "But you despise me."
Connor's voice cracked as he said, "I have to hate you." "You don't get it? The Alpha of the future is me. A servant cannot be my partner. Everything would be destroyed."
"So what are you going to do?" I muttered.
Connor closed the book and gave me the saddest look I've ever seen.
"I'm going to reject you," he declared. "I'm going to select Sophia as my mate tonight in front of the whole pack. I'm going to publicly reject our bond after that."
My cheeks began to well up with tears. "Will that break it?"
"I don't know," Connor said. "But I must make an effort. Because it won't simply ruin my life if I don't and someone finds out about us. It will also destroy yours."
I wanted to argue with him and let him know that we could work things out. But I knew in my heart that he was correct. I would never be accepted as their Luna by the pack.
Connor whispered, "I'm sorry, Maya." "I sincerely apologize."
He got up and made his way to the door. However, he made one last turn around before leaving.
He added, "There's something else you should know." "The rejection may not be effective. And if it doesn't, if our relationship is too solid to sever..." He hesitated, displaying fear. "Therefore, I'll need to find another method to ensure that you can never be my partner."
"What do you mean?" Despite my fear of the response, I asked.
Connor's expression froze. "I'll have to kill you, Maya, if I can't refuse you."
I was left alone with the scariest words I had ever heard as the door slammed behind him. My mate wanted to kill me.