Chapter 1 BETRAYAL

ATHENA'S POV

“Are you sure about this, Lia?” I asked for the umpteenth time as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. The red thong and matching bra my bestie bought for me to wear on my upcoming Moonday, was not my style at all. I turned to get a better look at my rear. I shifted the phone from one ear to the other, frowning at my appearance. “I look like I belong in a Playboy centerfold,” I declared with a snort as I shook my butt cheeks and watched them eat up the bow that settled at my crack. “I am not wearing this,” I finally stated.

Lia heaved an annoyed sigh. “I’m just trying to be your friend, Athena,” she let out, and I already knew what was coming next. Throughout the two years I’d been dating Nate, Lia had been urging me to sleep with him. So we’d been through this conversation more times than I could count. “Nathan is every she-wolf’s dream guy. He’s handsome and wealthy. Plus, he’s from a prominent family, being a beta’s son and all.”

Though I’d heard her tired arguments numerous times before, she wasn’t wrong about any of what she’d said. And not only was Nate the son of our pack’s beta, but I was also the daughter of our pack’s alpha and luna. A match made in werewolf heaven, at least as far as pack status was concerned. Everyone in the pack thought we were a perfect couple, too.

“I would give anything to have a guy like Nate,” Lia whined. “But no high-ranking wolf would ever look at a weak omega like me.”

“Don't sell yourself short,” I exclaimed, removing the skimpy garments. “You’re a wonderful person. Any guy would be lucky to have you.” I grabbed some boy shorts and a KISS T-shirt and began the arduous task of putting them on while juggling the phone.

“You have to say that because I'm your friend. But you don't know how lucky you are, how blessed you are to have been born to alpha parents. I wish I had life as easy as you.”

“Hold on. Wait a minute,” I interjected, offended by her statement. “You think I have life easy? I’ll be eighteen in a week, and I still haven't shifted. I haven't even heard my wolf in my head.”

“Boo-hoo, bitch. Don't you see? Even though I train twice as hard as any other she-wolf and place second behind you academically each year, I still couldn't catch Na—the eye of any of the guys I’ve liked. Don't you understand my struggle?”

“Look, Lia, this isn't a competition. I love you. You’re more than my best friend. You’re my sister. And you keep saying you’re a weak omega, but you’re one of the strongest females in our pack.”

She sighed. “Thanks. I appreciate that. But think about it. Nathan loves you, and you love him. I don’t know any other guy who’s that hot who would wait two years to have sex with his girlfriend.”

Though Lia might have been right about other guys, Nathan was a gentleman. We held hands in public, and we kissed all the time, but he never asked for sex.

We enjoyed other sentimental things too, like time with our families. He came over with his family for dinner every Thursday, and my family and I went to his house for dinner every Tuesday. And I knew in my heart that when our eighteenth Moonday came, my wolf would awaken, and she would sense that Nathan was my fated mate. How could she not? He was the perfect one for me. We even shared the same Moonday. What more proof did I need?

“Don't worry about me,” I sighed. “Nate and I will see each other tomorrow evening, so we can talk about our Moonday feast. Our families are throwing a small dinner party for us. They all think we’ll be fated mates.”

I could feel Lia rolling her eyes from the other end of the phone. “I forgot you two share the same Moonday, too.” She laughed. “So I guess you won't take my advice and jump Nate tonight?” she asked, knowing it was our second anniversary.

“No, I'll save this outfit for—” I took another look at it—“when I decide to become a prostitute.”

“Whatever. Goodbye, Athena. See you tomorrow at training."

“Okay. See you later.” A knock sounded on my bedroom door as I hung up. No sooner did I ask who was there, than the door pushed open and my parents entered.

“Hey, honey,” Mom greeted as she hugged me with her golden blonde hair tickling my face. It fell in tendrils down her waist, just like mine. When she released me, her blue eyes held so much love and adoration, and her pink lips turned up in a sweet smile.

“Hey, Mom,” I replied. Even though I didn't have my werewolf senses, her unique aroma of vanilla and sea breeze invaded my soul.

“Aww, my beautiful girls,” Dad beamed with pride as he wrapped his powerful arms around us. His scent of pine cones and wet grass overpowered Mom's smell. We were still in his arms when he threw us on the bed. “Ready, honey?” he asked, his silver-grey eyes—just like mine—sparkled with mystery as he waited for an answer.

“Aye, aye Captain.” I nodded.

Mom sucked in a massive breath and tried to scurry away.

“Oh no, you don't,” I warned as I captured Mom and drag her back down.

We giggled loudly as my dad's fingers brought an onslaught of tickles to Mom's abdomen, filling our home with sweet laughter and happiness. Mom’s wolf, Daisy, rushed to the surface a few times, trying to stop us. But we were relentless. Soon my mother tapped out.

After we all caught our breaths, my parents sat on either side of me, and Dad handed me a small black suede box wrapped in a pink bow.

“But it isn't my Moonday yet,” I wavered, but accepted it anyways.

“We know Princess,” Dad stroked my cheek. “But with you and Nathan celebrating your eighteenth together, we’d rather not take away from your big night.”

“Your father is right. I think you’ll get your wolf and realize Nathan is your mate. So you’ll be preoccupied,” Mom added. “Now open your gift, baby girl."

“Okay,” I said reluctantly. I ripped the ribbon off and then opened the black suede box. My eyes sparkled as I admired the white-gold heart-shaped pendant inside. I opened the locket to find a picture of my parents and me on one side and another of their wolves on the opposite side. My eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Mom, Dad, I love it so much.”

“Here, let me help you with it,” Dad proposed as he took the necklace from me. Mom held my hair while Dad draped it around my neck and clasped it in the back.

“I promise I'll wear it always.” I sniffled as we hugged.

*********

I lay on my bed after my parents went to their office to sort out some pack business. I kept reflecting on what Lia said, and it got me thinking. Of course, Lia was right. Nate was my dream guy. Why wait another night?

So I called him, but his phone was off. I wished I could mind-link him like a normal werewolf. “Oh well, I guess I'll surprise him,” I mumbled to myself, then went on to grab a quick shower.

I could almost hear Lia's voice in my head as I got dressed in the lingerie she’d gotten me. I slid on the sexy silk robe that was a part of the set, added some hot red pumps, and slipped through the back door so my parents wouldn’t see me. Then I made my way to Nate's house.

His black Honda was parked in the driveway, and I could see the lights on in his room. I let out a nervous breath. His parents were at my house discussing pack business, so I didn't bother knocking. Besides, Nathan's mother had given me a spare key in case of an emergency. I figured wanting to have sex with her son was as good as any other emergency.

When I entered the house, I assumed Nate's werewolf hearing would pick up my stilettos on the hardwood floor. But Cardi B's WAP was blaring from his room, and I smiled. Not because I was into such vulgar music, but because it was Lia's favorite song. Still, it bugged me. Why was Nate listening to it?

I tiptoed upstairs, momentarily thankful my wolf hadn’t yet awakened. If she had, Nate would have been able to smell me. As it was, I carried no scent, something even my parents found odd.

By the time the song’s second verse began, I stood before Nate's door. I fluffed my hair, opened the front of my silk robe to seem more appealing, then tried the door.

It was locked. That’s strange. My brows furrowed. But I had a spare key to Nate’s room, too, so I eagerly opened the door, looking forward to seeing the look on his face when he saw my outfit. Surely, he’d immediately know what I had in mind.

However, the moment I flung the door open, my soul felt as though it crawled out of my throat. Before me, Nate lay naked, swiping his nose like a credit card between my best friend's legs.

I couldn't breathe. Meanwhile, Lia’s eyes were rolled back in pleasure, as she floated on cloud-9 to even notice me.

Nate sensed me standing behind him, though. At least it seemed that way when he managed to come up for air and turn his head around. “Fuck! Athena, I can explain,” he muttered, scrambling to his feet, pointing his erection toward me, no doubt unwittingly. That was a distraction, but not enough to blind me to this betrayal.

Lia finally became aware of my presence. She was just laying there gawking at me without an ounce of remorse in her eyes.

“Explain what?” I yelled. “Why you’re cheating on me with my best friend? Like there could be any explanation for that.” My eyes welled, and I wiped them before any tears could fall. The blasted skimpy robe did little to hide my sexy outfit, and I felt like the world's biggest idiot.

“Didn't I tell you, a guy like Nate wouldn't wait that long?” Lia smirked, grabbing the sheets to cover herself. Her eyes roamed over my attire. “Not bad for a virgin.”

“Look,” Nate gulped. “I'm sorry. It just happened a couple of weeks ago. This was supposed to be goodbye.”

“Weeks?” I shouted. “This has been going on for weeks? Unbelievable.” I threw my hands up. “So what? You'd just sleep together one last time and then you'd mate and mark me, and we'd live happily ever after?”

“Something like that.” He exhaled and approached me. “Come on, we could all have fun together.” He ran a finger down my cheek. “What ya say, Atty?” he asked as he stroked himself.

The audacity.

Lia growled, and I would have bet she was thinking the same thing.

“Get your damn paws off me, you mongrel,” I barked, slapping his hand away. “How could you even suggest that? Did you ever even love me, Nate?”

“Love?” He cackled. “If I loved you, sweetheart, I would have tried fucking you. Didn't you ever wonder why I never tried anything with you?”

“I assumed you loved and respected me and wanted to wait until we're eighteen.”

Lia joined Nate in laughing.

“Wait,” Nate laughed harder now. “Did you actually think I was a virgin?” He shook his head, staring at me in disbelief. “You are so naïve. The only reason I asked you out was because of my parents. They dream of me becoming alpha one day, so they told me to seduce the alpha's daughter.”

It was my turn to gape at him in disbelief. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

“It was easy at first,” he continued. “Because I heard you had a crush on me, and I did like you… until I realized how fucking boring you are. Such a good girl. And you never would step out of that shell.” He shrugged. “So yeah, you might be the most beautiful girl in the pack, but sorry to say… you have zero sex appeal.”

“I'm so glad I never slept with you,” I spat.

“Your loss, Atty,” he said flippantly, then turned from me and jumped onto the bed next to Lia.

“Don't ever call me that again,” I seethed.

“Close the door on your way out," Lia waved me off. Then they began kissing.

“And you,” I snarled, my eyes piercing daggers at Lia. “I thought we were friends.” Her betrayal hurt the most.

She broke their kiss and turned to me. “Friends?” she scoffed, her voice dripping with blatant contempt. “If you had your wolf, she would have sensed how much I hate your guts, Little Miss Perfect.”

Unable to take anymore, I threw the keys at Nate and dashed down the stairs and out of his house as fast as I could.

When the cold air hit my face, it all flashed in my mind: Lia's competitiveness, her criticism of everything I did, her snide remarks, and her inability to congratulate me on my successes. It was so obvious. I didn’t know how I could have missed it. Our whole friendship had been a lie.