My Mate Or My Second Chance Mate

Sienna

The night felt colder than it ever had before. Every step I took felt like a betrayal to the life I had once known, but I couldn't stop. I had to keep moving. If I stayed, I would only be reminded of the pain, the loss, and the betrayal.

Alpha Mason's betrayal still stung like an open wound. He had been my mate-the one I had sworn my heart to, the one I had believed would stand by me through anything. But I had found him with my sister, his arms wrapped around her like he had never known me. That moment-seeing them together-had shattered everything. The pack had turned on me, accusing me of being weak, of not being able to handle what had happened. I wasn't sure what hurt worse-the betrayal of my mate or the abandonment of my own family.

I fled, running far from the pack lands, from the life that was supposed to be mine. I didn't know where I was going or what I would do when I got there. All I knew was that I had to escape.

The world around me blurred as I walked, the wind biting at my skin, the dark sky above offering no comfort. A cold fog clung to the trees, and the ground beneath my boots was slick with ice. I had ended up in a remote village, far away from the pack and anything familiar. The place seemed almost too quiet, too still. But I wasn't sure if that was a blessing or a curse. I didn't want to be found, yet something in the air told me that fate had other plans.

A small cottage came into view, its warm light spilling through the windows. The cottage was modest, tucked away at the edge of the village, and yet it felt like a sanctuary. I didn't know why, but something about it called to me. I hesitated for a moment before approaching the door and knocking softly.

An older woman opened the door, her face kind yet weathered by time. "You look like you could use some warmth," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "Come in, child."

I didn't know what drew me to trust her. Maybe it was the genuine kindness in her eyes, or maybe it was the fact that I had nowhere else to go. I stepped inside without saying a word, allowing the warmth to envelop me.

"Sit," the woman instructed, guiding me to a small, cozy chair by the fire. "You're far from home. What brings you to this place?"

I stared into the flames, unsure how to answer. Everything inside me screamed to run again, to avoid getting too close to anyone. But something about this place made me feel safe, and for the first time in days, I allowed myself to breathe.

"I'm... looking for something," I finally said, my voice barely a whisper. "Peace, maybe."

The woman nodded, as if she understood. She didn't press me for more details, instead offering me a cup of tea. It wasn't much, but it was a gesture I hadn't received in a long time, and I felt my guard slowly lowering.

---

Rafael

The night had been quiet. Too quiet. It was the kind of silence that unnerved me, the kind that had me questioning what was lurking beneath it. I had lived for centuries, but there were still nights when the weight of my curse settled heavily on my shoulders.

Being a vampire was a strange existence. The immortality, the endless time, and the isolation-it wasn't a gift. It was a prison. Every year that passed was just another reminder of the life I could never have. The one I had lost long ago.

The village had always been a refuge for me. It was small, hidden from most of the world, and no one ever questioned my presence here. But recently, something had felt off. There was an energy in the air that I couldn't quite place. I had never been one to believe in fate, but there were times when things seemed too coincidental to ignore.

I was walking through the village square when I saw her.

She was standing near the small, quaint cottage at the edge of the village, her figure cloaked in a dark, thick jacket. She had the look of someone who was running, hiding, seeking something-but not a single word of her story was visible on her face. I could sense the turmoil within her. There was pain in her eyes, a shadow that seemed to haunt her every move.