Chapter 1

Ashley's POV 

I was giddy with happiness as I prepared to meet Stanley, he had asked me to meet him at Lovers Lounge.

Lovers Lounge is a famous place in town where most werewolves claim their mates.

It was the best day of my life, I was excited and anxious. I knew this was no ordinary meeting as Stanley must have planned to claim me.

Since I wolfed out at eighteen, I had been anxious about finding my mate. I found out on my nineteenth birthday and it turned out to be one of my friends, Stanley.

He had came to my apartment early in the morning. He had knocked and I was going to get the door when I felt a strange pull towards the door.

I knew the meaning of the pull instantly as I had heard my friends who had found their mates discussed it.

I pulled the door open and my eyes shone in amazement as I found my friend; Stanley. He was smiling brightly.

In one hand was a bunch of flowers and in the other was a wrapped gift.

"Happy birthday, Sky," He said richly and chuckled as he brushed passed me and walked into the room.

He was the only one that fondly called me 'Sky' which was the short form of my wolf; Skylar.

I shut my eyes as I was hit by a rich smell of lavender. I sniffled in noisily and moaned in satisfaction.

Skylar sprang up joyfully. "He is ours," she said to me and I nodded in agreement.

When I opened my eyes, Stanley had dropped the items on the table. He was walking towards me with and his eyes laughing at me.

He closed the distance between us and held my shoulders. He tilted my chin and we stared into eachother's eyes.

My heart beat loudly. Although, we have been friends since I turned eigthteen, we hadn't been intimate.

The newly discovered connection made me shiver. His closeness made his scent stronger and I tried to support my gait as I moved from one foot to the other.

He slipped his arm down from my shoulders to my middle and drew me closer as he supported my weight.

With his second hand, he tilted my chin until our lips met. Slowly, he took my lips in his and kissed me fully.

"Sky... Happy birthday," he breathed into my mouth and I moaned.

Slowly, he let me go and turned back to the table. I was still burning with passion when he unwrapped the gift and laid the olive coloured triangular box into my palm.

He wanted me to open it and I took the hint. There-in was a golden necklace. It shimmered brightly and I smiled.

"Thank you," I said and placed the necklace around my neck. He lifted up my hair and hooked the necklace for me.

His nearness and breathe taunted every single fibre on my body and I bit my lips to suppress the heat that coursed through my body.

Amidst the excitement, I decided to take caution. Stanley was more mature, he must have known that I was his mate but he did nothing. All he did was to get closer, he must have become my friend just to feel me out. Having realized this, I decided to wait patiently for his actions.

That day he left immediately after he had fixed the necklace for me. That was the last form of intimacy we had.

It's been three years now. My father and my step-mother had set me up on arranged dates. Most of which I told Stanley but he did nothing. I had thought I would end up in an arranged marriage as it was the norm.

It was a dream come true when Stanley suddenly asked for me to meet him at Lovers Lounge.

I still remembered the look in his eyes, it made me feel butterflies in my stomach.

We were meeting in the evening and I had to get ready.

I spruced my hair and I made it into a bun, it was my favorite style.

My pink gown stretched through my length and stopped above my knees. I loved mini gowns.

The gown gripped my waist and butts tightly, revealing my hourglass shape.

I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled as I fiddled with the pendant of the necklace that Stanley had given me three years ago.

I locked my door and I was ready to leave. Although I lived in the same pack house with my parents, we didn't share the same apartment.

I had been living on my own since I turned eighteen. I could not contain my joy when my father granted me the permission to live alone. Living with my father and my stepmother was hellish.

I was about to walk out of the pack house when I bumped into Becca; my step sister.

Her eyes roved over me from head to toe. When she finally looked into my eyes, she glared at me. A dangerous smirk played at the corners of her lips as she brushed past me.

I shrugged it off and draped my jacket over my shoulders as I made my way into the cold evening.

I took a stroll down to Lovers Lounge as it was not too far from the pack house. My eyes darted around as I made my way in.

Not too long, I spotted Stanley. He had chosen a vintage spot and it was easy to locate him.

My lips curved into a wide smile as I walked towards him. With the look on his face, he must have seen me earlier, but when our eyes met, he looked away gloomily.

At a closer look, I realized that he had a smug look about him and I wondered what was happening.

"Stanley," I called out richly as I made my way towards him. I took a seat opposite to him but he didn't look at me. He lowered his head and kept mute.

"Stanley? Are you alright?" I asked in concern and touched his fist.

slowly, he withdrew his had and lifted up his face.

He looked into my eyes and his alluring eyes shimmered with sadness. His lips moved but he didn't say a word.

Skylar whimpered as I stared into Stanley's dejected eyes.

Suddenly, he banged his fist on the table.

"You are not worth the wait!" He gritted out and breathed heavily.

"What…?" I tried to ask questions but he suddenly rose to his feet and pulled me by the arm.

He was so forceful that I couldn't resist him.

I rose to my feet and he dragged me along. He dragged me to a secluded corner and threw me against the wall.

"How could you?!" He yelled bitterly and began to walk towards me with hatred written all over him.

I shook in trepidation as he closed the distance between us. He slammed one of his palms into the wall just beside my head and dragged my chin roughly.

"Spill it out you slut!" He yelled and my brows crisped up in confusion.

"Slut!? What are... Stop the crap!" I yelled back and jerked my chin forcefully out of his grip.

"Why? Why did you do it!? I know… I know you knew that I got close to you because we shared a thing… the mate bond… I …I was only waiting for the right time to claim you… but what did you do? You shameless whore!" He yelled and kicked the wall angrily.

"What did I do!? What are you talking about?' I asked heatedly.

"Do not play pranks… I know it all. I know how you have been having illicit sex with all the pack members, even the Alpha's son!"

"What!?" I yelled in disbelief.

"Yes! I knew it all. I had wanted to overlook it but I can't anymore."

"Stan, you are kidding, right!? What the fuck are you talking about. This is just a baseless assertion, you should have tried to confirm…"

He cut in and broke into a feat of laughter. His laughter sounded so scornful that I almost bashed his face.

"A baseless assertion? No way! Your step-sister just left here now, she told me everything. She couldn't have made up such lies against you! She told me all about your escapades! Common! Deny it! You bitch! Fuck! I am done here!"

I stood transfixed to a spot and could not utter a word.

Stanley paced the premises. He finally walked up to me and yelled, "I can't have anything to do with a whore like you. No I won't have you,"

"Stan, I..." I called but he cut in and screamed out loud.

"Listen! I! Stanley Roberts! Reject you, Ashley Oscar of Moonlight Pack as my mate!" He yelled.

My eyes shone wide as a steady jolt of aches course through my head. It felt like I was hit by lightning.

"What!? Stan!" I yelled and tried to speak but I couldn't articulate any word.

Stanley groaned in pain. He hit his chest continuously as he pranced away.

I wasn't spared either, an excruciating pain gripped my whole body as I watched him leave. Skylar went mad. She howled in desperation and I groaned in pain.

I staggered backwards until my butt hit the ground. The pain of betrayal that I felt hit me harder than Stanley's rejection.

I did not believe Becca could do this to me.

She went out of her way to make such groundless rumors about me all to ensure that I lost my chosen mate.