The sun hung low over the trees as morning broke across the forest. Bella slipped away from the campsite, hoping to find a moment of peace to clear her mind. Her thoughts had been tangled since the night before—torn between the wolves' instincts that could sense her as a mate and her need to keep her true identity hidden.
After a short walk, she reached a secluded lake, its surface glistening under the sunlight filtering through the trees. Checking once more that no one had followed her, Bella carefully waded into the water, letting the coolness calm her restless thoughts. The tree shadows stretched protectively around her, casting a cloak of privacy as she took a moment to breathe in the silence.
As she sank deeper into the water, letting it wash over her, the quiet of the forest was broken by a familiar sound—voices. Startled, Bella ducked lower, watching through the shadows as Ethan and Asher came into view, their footsteps crunching on the dried leaves. She cursed under her breath, realizing she hadn’t been as alone as she’d thought.
Ethan’s voice rang out, a note of urgency in his tone. "Did you see that?" he asked Asher, his gaze scanning the water. "There was someone here. I saw... someone."
Asher’s eyes narrowed, his wolf already stirring beneath the surface. "Yeah, I sensed it too. It was—" He stopped, and Bella could hear the awe in his voice. "It felt like... our mate."
Bella’s heart raced. She kept herself hidden, watching as the two of them took a few steps closer to the water’s edge, their expressions flickering between excitement and confusion. It was clear they’d picked up on her scent—though they thought it belonged to someone else entirely.
“Mate!” Ethan suddenly shouted, his voice filled with a raw intensity that made Bella’s heart ache. His wolf was rising to the surface, his instincts overpowering the logic of the human mind.
Asher joined in, a low growl escaping his lips as he, too, called out. “Mate!” he echoed, his gaze scanning the lake, every nerve on edge.
They searched the waterline, their expressions fierce and expectant, as if the one they were looking for might appear at any moment. Bella bit her lip, hoping they wouldn’t realize it was her, that her disguise was close enough to fool them even now. But then Ethan’s eyes locked onto her clothes, folded neatly at the lake's edge.
He frowned, turning to Asher. "Where did she go? Her scent is strong here. Maybe... maybe she was frightened and ran."
Bella took a breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She couldn’t let them connect the dots. Slowly, she started making her way out of the lake, feigning nonchalance as she waded to the shore, her clothes clinging to her as she quickly wrapped herself in a towel.
“Oh—hey, guys,” she greeted, forcing a casual tone despite the pounding of her heart. “What’s with all the shouting?”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he looked at her, his gaze intense. “We saw someone here. A... a girl.” He exchanged a confused look with Asher. “She was just here—taking a bath, I think. But she disappeared.”
Bella forced herself to laugh, hoping her nervousness didn’t show. “A girl? In these woods? Maybe you two are seeing things. It’s just me, taking a quick dip.” She kept her expression light, though her pulse was racing. “Besides, why would there be anyone else out here?”
Asher’s expression remained skeptical, his sharp gaze studying her as if trying to unravel a puzzle. “We both saw her, Ben,” he said, his voice firm. “Or felt her, anyway. There was someone here. Someone... different.”
Ethan crossed his arms, his frown deepening. “She felt familiar, like—” he stopped, shaking his head in frustration. “I don’t know. But her scent was strong, just like yours.”
Bella held her breath, realizing the danger of her own scent lingering too strongly, even in disguise. She shrugged, feigning indifference. “Maybe it was just the forest messing with you guys. We’re all on edge after that wolf encounter.”
But Asher wasn’t convinced. He took a step closer, his gaze unwavering. “It wasn’t just a feeling, Ben. She was real. We could sense her presence—our wolves did.” His voice softened, a hint of vulnerability slipping through. “And she felt like... our mate.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened as he glanced at Bella, his eyes narrowing. “If you saw her, you’d tell us, wouldn’t you?” His tone was cautious, almost accusing. “Because this isn’t just some random girl. She’s our mate. We can feel it.”
Bella swallowed hard, feeling the weight of their expectations pressing on her. They were so close to the truth, and yet, the gulf between what they sensed and what they understood kept her secret safe—for now.
She forced a laugh, giving Ethan a playful shove. “You’re both seriously scaring me here. Maybe the two of you should get some rest. All this talk about mysterious girls is starting to sound like a fairy tale.”
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, frustration written across his face. “I know what I felt, Ben. I don’t care how crazy it sounds.” He shot her a piercing look. “She’s out there somewhere. I know it.”
Asher nodded, his jaw set with determination. “We’ll find her. And when we do, we’ll get answers.”
Bella could only nod, her throat tight with the weight of her deception. She watched as Ethan and Asher walked away, the resolve clear in their eyes. They wouldn’t stop searching for the one they believed was their mate—and she was terrified of what would happen when they found out it was her all along.
