The golden chandelier glistened above them as they all sat in the luxurious dining room that was her mother’s pride and joy in her life. She felt stiff in her position, as her childhood house had always felt like to her, it was constricting, restricting her to behave a specific way, the Laursen way. The air was indifferent, the only character being the fragrance of vanilla that emitted from the candles her mother had placed in the middle of the table.

She played with loose string at the edge of the placement where her empty plate sat, her feet rubbing against the carpet in anxiousness as she preferred to get this whole ordeal over with. Her parents had reached out to her aunt and extended an offer to join them for dinner, it was her first time seeing them in nine years.

Her mother had looked the same, however, Freya could tell that she had some work done as her lips appeared plumper and her cheekbones suddenly were more prominent. She couldn’t tell if she had lost some of her facial fat that made it appear so, or if she had convinced her father to allow her to get fillers.

Probably the latter.

Her once mousey brown hair was now blonde and cut into a blunt bob, highlighting her sharp jawline and her curly and thick eyelashes were applied expertly, allowing her brown eyes to pop. It was even more so obvious of her difference to her own daughter.

Her father sat at the other end of the table, discussing with Jonathan his plan as the Delta of Education for detecting a talent in combat in the youth, and if Jonathan believed whether their pack had potential. Her father’s auburn hair had faded, less vibrant as there were mixes of grey between his strands, and the wrinkles on his forehead and around his eyes had become more prominent with his bushy eyebrows so furrowed. It was more obvious with his serious expression in his discussion, however, that was the face he had always given Freya, so it was nothing new.

Her sister, Natalia sat across from her, texting her fated mate, Anastasia as she wasn’t able to make it that night as she was patrolling the borders that night. Her older sister was fidgeting with her fork in front of her, her lips thinning now and then as she waited for Anastasia to respond, sighing once in a while. She had briefly greeted Freya, Georgie and their aunt when they arrived, but stayed on her phone as her father explained of the heightened tensions at the borders.

“Natalia, my dear,” her mother said, “Your sister, cousin and aunt have travelled far to see us, I’m sure Anastasia will be fine if you put down your phone for an hour.”

Natalia looked up and stared at her mother, “I’m sorry, mother, I’m just worried eversince Anastasia and I decided we’re ready for a baby.”

This perked Freya’s ears, topics of pregnancy and babies were her specialty and she would love to be an aunt, even though she hadn’t even met her sister-in-law yet. “You’re going to have a baby?!”

Jonathan and her father’s conversation stopped as they waited to hear Natalia’s answer, appearing as if this was news they were hearing for the first time as well. However, a potential grandchild did not soften her father’s expression, rather, his eyebrows furrowed further as he placed a hand on his chin, sighing and shaking his head.

Natalia smiled sheepishly, nodding, “We’re discussing what we want to do, but really want to do IVF.”

Her mother clapped as her aunt, who sat beside Natalia, grabbed her hand with both of hers, smiling, “That’s wonderful! A child is always such a blessing.” She then gestured to Freya, “Freya has worked with many couples who did IVF, mayb-”

Her mother interrupted her aunt, “I’m going to be a grandmother! Do you hear that, Richard? A grandchild!”

Her father grumbled a congratulation, nodding as Natalia beamed, squealing with their mother about the different baby names she’d been coming up with. Freya was happy to see her sister smile and happy after sacrificing her youth to take care of her, Anastasia was clearly responsible for that.

She stared at the china cabinet behind Natalia, admiring the photo of Natalia and Anastasia on their wedding day last year, it was the same one that they had sent her when she received the news, telling her that the two eloped. However, Freya knew that wasn’t the case, as they stood in their wedding gowns in front of the God of Love, Agapian’s shrine as they prayed for his blessing in their union as a custom.

Natalia, who greatly resembled their mother in her younger years, her chestnut locks elegantly curled as they flowed down her back looked stunning in her diamond white satin gown. Its low-cut round neckline highlighted the curves and shadows of her collarbone and pearly necklace that had belonged to their grandmother, and the off-the-shoulder sleeves created a nonchalant essence. She loved the rushing along the bodice, believing it to highlight her sister’s hourglass form, its a-line gown and long slit accentuating her slender and long legs. It was simple, classic, Natalia.

Her sister-in-law stared back at Natalia with such warmth in her dark eyes, her happiness obvious with her beam and laugh lines, her eyes glassy as she watched her beloved. Her dark locks were in a classic and simple updo at the nape of her neck, with curled strands framing her round face, the long tulle fingertip veil cascading down her lean figure, draping off off her shoulder. Her gown was an ivory white, a complement to her darker complexion, its v-neck showing off Natalia’s mark on her. Her favourite part was her sister-in-law’s long train in the a-line skirt, a favourite element she had in wedding dresses.

Freya thought the two looked beautiful in their wedding gowns, matching perfectly with one another, a representation of their harmony and joining of their souls as the fated mates' bond was. Anastasia was a warrior in their pack, Jonathan’s right hand if she may add, it was how she and Natalia met and found out they were fated mates. Natalia had come to the Warrior’s Training Grounds to meet with Jonathan and there, she met Anastasia, who was sparing with their brother. Freya was told that Anastasia lost her concentration and Jonathan managed to strike a punch at the opportunity, pissing Natalia off as she tackled her brother for hitting her fated mate.

He had gotten a broken nose much to their father’s dismay, however, all was forgotten when a new family member was added to their mix.

“Congratulations, Natalia,” their brother expressed, smiling at their elder sister even though Freya knew his sentiment didn’t reach his eyes.

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Her sister caught it as well, her gaze softening and her head tilting, “You’ll find yours someday, Jonny.”

Freya tried not to show her taken aback at Jonathan’s desire for a fated mate, as he never expressed such an interest before, let alone his craving for some sort of bond. She always believed that his wolf was incapable of forming a deep, bonded connection with another given his first instinct was primitive, perhaps that’s what it was for him. Humans have researched grey wolves and found that even they desired a lifelong mate, perhaps Jonathan’s wolf desired such companionship as well.

“Yeah, Jonathan,” Georgie stated, smiling at him, “She’s out there somewhere, have you ever thought about travelling to different packs to find her?”

Her father patted his back, “We’re just waiting for the Alpha’s approval, it’d be nice for Jonathan to find his fated mate so that the family name could continue with him.”

Freya saw Natalia wince from the corner of her eye, her news regarding her and Anastasia’s baby was now overshadowed by golden boy Jonathan’s prospects for a fated mate. Her aunt took notice and chimed in, “You have Natalia,” she said, then nodded towards Freya, “Or Freya.”

The room tensed and was silent at the mention of Freya, it was thick and once again, Freya felt suffocated, she wanted to leave and crawl into her bed, reading a good history book or maybe look into some projects she could do in her spare time. It was far better to help organize the next Full Moon Gathering than listen to her father talk about her lack of wolf.

Jonathan was the first to speak, “Freya wouldn’t even have a fated mate, she would never even understand what it was like to go without one like Natalia or I.”

Vincent, her mind unwillingly wandered to.

She remembered his piercing blue gaze holding hers with such intensity as she stared back at him in shock and fear, her mind and heart conflicting. She never thought he would be her one and only, let alone let herself foolishly believe she even had one.

All her life she’d been told that no one wanted her and she prepared herself for a life where she was destined to be alone. Destined to watch everyone else around her find the one that was perfectly curated for them, perfectly meant for them.

She was never ready for this.

Vincent was a man of terror throughout her earlier years, the ringleader in the reason why she left in the first place.

The reason she met her breaking point.

She vividly remembered everything, how she and Vincent were inches away, hearts beating, heavy breathing. The little girl inside of her was desperately telling her to get away, but the lonely part of her was telling her to claim.

Her mind was out of control.

She remembered flinching when he made a move closer to her, making him angry and upset. He was supposed to protect and love her, but he was the one who tortured her all those years ago.

And she refused to let herself be hurt again.

So she pushed him away, remembering the tingles against her fingers as she made contact with him.

And she ran.

And she hadn’t seen him since, nor had he made an effort to seek her out himself.

So they were wrong, she did know what it was like, even if it was for the briefest moment, Ever since Freya found out that Vincent was her fated mate, she always felt as if something was missing inside of her, her soul longing for something that wasn’t there. Emptiness filled her as she desperately tried to replace it with her work, such as reaching out to high-risk couples and creating an extensive care plan for them.

They didn’t understand that they’d all been wrong, because Freya had a fated mate.

And it was Vincent Engstrom.

Freya cleared her throat, cutting into the meat from the food that had finally arrived, “Just because I have no fated mate, doesn’t mean I don’t know what it’s like to want a partner in my life.”

She believed it was best to keep this hidden until she figured out what her next move was, as ignoring and avoiding the Alpha of the Meadow Stream would not last long.

Surprisingly, her father understood the need to change the subject, and Freya was grateful for his lack of interest in her life for once. He pushed his glasses to the top of his head, rubbing the back of his neck, “Everyone’s worried about our borders constantly being infiltrated.”

Jonathan replied, “We have three more wounded from last night, but we managed to capture one for questioning, it’s obvious it’s Land Bay and Knight sending them,” stabbing the meat with his fork as if his prey wasn’t already dead, gritting through his teeth as his wolf was about to make an appearance with the way his grey eyes darkened. “I don’t understand why Vincent hasn’t retaliated yet.”

The last fifty years of the war emulated the human civilization’s Cold War that occurred in the latter half of the twentieth century. During the fiftieth anniversary of the war, the Royal Pack of Roscoe had done a census as many packs were experiencing a significant decline in birth rates since the beginning of the war. It was at an all-time low as the previous 3.4 birth rate was then a staggering 0.8 per couple in just fifty years.

It was analyzed that through forced conscription to maintain the physical warfare between The Meadow Stream, Knight, and Land Bay Pack, as well as any allying packs that joined them, they were losing their population, especially young men, and the birth rate wasn’t high enough to replenish the population. People were losing their fated mates, children, and parents, therefore, the birth rate dropped.

However, instead of ending the war, the three packs soon turned to political hostility instead of open warfare. Tariffs increased, emigration and immigration became almost impossible, and recently, an arms race.

It definitely paralleled the Cold War.

Freya’s head began to feel light and her vision a bit blurry, she blinked multiple times to try to get her eyes to regain their focus.

Her aunt replied with her wisdom, “We’re already in the middle of a war, even if there’s no physical warfare, the Alpha would be foolish to risk the safety of his pack members over a speculation.”

Freya’s vision went black:

A metal shield lay upright in the snow, with snowflakes falling as the grey skies grew darker and darker. Screams and crying could be heard in the background, however, not a body was in sight, just blood dripping down the shield and onto the freshly fallen snow.

The white flag behind the shield was torn, blowing as another harsh blow of wind came through as rotting and burning flash reached her nose.

The heater shape of the shield was crafted by resilient iron with a coat of blue and silver to symbolize the superior pack, was now weathered through its constant use in battle, the once adornment of a wolf’s crest, now cracked and deformed.

Any writing or inscription on the shield was now ineligible, except for the engravement of the fallen comrades

Her vision went back to normal as her aunt continued her perspective, as if no time had passed since Freya had another vision.

It was peculiar, she’d never had a vision where she had not passed out and didn’t have to be woken up, but here she was, upright at the dining table as if time had frozen for her to receive her vision before bringing her back as if nothing happened. No evidence that she had even had a vision, no underlying symptoms such as a headache or dizziness. What changed?

And why?