1. Homecoming

Four years later...

RHEA'S POV

The final bell rang, and as the teacher exited the class, I practically bolted out of my seat, stuffing my books into my backpack like I was running from a crime scene. My aim was to evade Yuri, the alpha’s son on loan from another pack for training. No matter how stealthy I tried to be, Yuri had a knack for finding me. When everyone else in school acted like I was invisible, Yuri had this strange habit of seeking me out when he was still here in our school. He claimed he was "intrigued" by me, but honestly, I could do without the intrigue. His attention only put a neon sign over my head that screamed “Bully Target Here.”

Most of the girls in school had quickly turned mean the moment Yuri started hanging around me. Even my sister, Roxy, wasn’t thrilled; she was used to soaking up all the attention like a sponge. Suddenly, her spotlight had competition, and the only thing more terrifying than Yuri's persistence was Roxy’s irritation.

Today, though, I had bigger worries on my mind than just evading Yuri. I was turning eighteen today, and the anxiety had been sitting in my stomach like a rock all week. I kept wondering what would happen if I didn't find my wolf. For us werewolves, meeting our wolf was monumental—the day we claimed our true identity, the day we were officially welcomed into our society as equals. No wolf, no full acceptance.

Mom had mentioned we couldn’t afford two birthday parties. She said if she wanted to throw any party, it would be for Roxy, since she was the younger one. I didn’t even argue. Instead, I planned to spend my birthday alone in the woods, waiting for my first shift. It was better than risking disappointment from Mom if she didn’t think I was “worthy” enough to watch.

As I hurried down the hallway, I kept my eyes peeled for Yuri. He had this annoying habit of lingering around, leaning against walls with that smug, laid-back expression, hands shoved into his pockets as if he had all the time in the world. At twenty, he was officially done with high school and would be returning to his pack soon. He was the same age as Miles, actually, both of them were part of the exchange program designed to foster peace among packs. It was a long-standing tradition: every future Alpha was sent away at sixteen to train with a different pack, learning their ways, adapting to new dynamics, and hopefully forging connections that could prevent future conflict. They spent four years embedded in another pack, absorbing their customs and strengthening inter-pack relations before returning home to take on their responsibilities.

Yuri’s time here was almost up, and honestly, I was relieved.

I breathed a sigh of relief when the coast was clear—no smug Yuri leaning against the wall with that know-it-all grin, hands stuffed in his pockets, or his bike parked out front like a taunt. I rounded the corner, my mind already shifting to my peaceful birthday plan in the woods, when I crashed straight into a wall of giggling girls. It wasn’t just any group either, it was Kitty, the beta’s daughter, and her friends. They stood in a neat, mean little lineup. My sister Roxy, of course, was right there with them, smirking like she was in the front row of a comedy show.

Before I could even react, Kitty shoved me hard, sending me sprawling back onto the floor. My books flew from my hands, scattering across the concrete floor.

“Can’t you watch where you’re going?” Kitty snapped.

I looked up, trying to keep my tone steady. “This wasn’t my fault, Kitty. It was an accident.”

She gave me a mocking smile, bending down until her face was inches from mine. “An accident? Or were you just in a hurry to go see Yuri?”

“I was going home,” I replied.

For as long as I could remember, these girls pounced on any chance to make my life miserable. Fighting back was pointless; the one time I had tried, they had hit me, and even after I reported it, the school’s “punishment” was barely a slap on the wrist. Kitty’s status as the beta’s daughter had her practically untouchable. Usually, Yuri would show up to put an end to their bullying, but he wasn't here today, so I was on my own.

The worst part was my twin sister, Roxy, was right in the middle of it, grinning at my humiliation. She had been mad at me ever since Yuri started speaking to me instead of her. She had even told Mom that I had “stolen” Yuri from her, as if I could control who he talked to. And now, Roxy told all her friends the same lie. She always taunted me about Miles, saying that if I loved Miles like I claimed, I wouldn’t be following another alpha’s son. Sometimes, I had to wonder if Roxy was even my twin. We didn’t look alike, and our personalities were as opposite as the sun and the moon.

One of Kitty’s friends piped up, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Well, Yuri’s leaving soon anyway. It’s our last days of high school, and when he’s gone, let’s see who will even notice you.”

Kitty straightened, looping a strand of hair around her finger with a smug little smile. “Oh, by the way, I heard today’s your birthday… and it’s also the day Alpha Miles is coming back.” Her eyes got that dreamy, far-off look, and then she snapped back to reality, narrowing her eyes at me. “Stay far away from him, understand?”

My heart pounded in my chest. Miles was returning today? How come I didn’t know that? My Miles. Butterflies fluttered in my chest, and I imagined how Miles would look now. I had held onto the memories from the night of our first meeting for so long and had clung even tighter to the necklace he gave me.

But my excitement was mixed with dread. What if he found his mate? What if I was not his mate? What if he had forgotten his promise and forgotten me?

I stayed quiet, letting them yammer on and throw around their barbs. Eventually, they got bored and wandered off, leaving me on the floor. I took a deep breath, pushed myself up, brushed off the dust, and collected my scattered books.

***

Later that evening, I slipped into one of my best outfits, one I had been saving for a night just like this. As I glanced in the mirror, I saw Miles’ necklace around my neck, the delicate chain was glinting with that quiet promise he had made all those years ago. Tonight was going to be special—it was finally time for my first shift, and Roxy and I had been invited to Miles’ homecoming party by none other than his best friends, Rico and Evans. The thrill of it sent a rush of nerves and excitement through me as I headed downstairs.

When I entered the dining room, I was greeted by an impressive spread on the table. Mom had really gone all out with tonight’s meal, and for a second, I almost felt like I was part of a family that cared. Mom and Roxy were already seated, with Roxy in her own "best" outfit, ready for her shift. Midnight couldn’t come soon enough.

Mom looked up as I approached, her face breaking into a rare smile that held a glint of something… sly. “Oh, you finally came down,” she said, and for the first time in what felt like forever, her tone was almost warm.

“Yes,” I murmured, sliding into my seat across from Roxy, who was far too engrossed in her phone to notice me.

I took a few bites, savoring the meal, when I noticed Mom’s eyes roaming over my outfit, her lips curving into a mischievous grin. “So,” she said, voice tinged with a teasing edge, “you got all dressed up for Miles? And here I thought you were Yuri’s girl.”

That got Roxy’s attention. She looked up from her phone with a scoff and an eye roll so dramatic it could’ve won awards. “Please. She thinks she’s some rare gem that two Alphas would fight over.”

“I never said that,” I shot back, forcing myself to stay calm. “Yuri and I are just friends.”

Roxy chuckled; her tone thick with condescension. “And you think Miles remembers some silly promise he made to you when you were kids? He’s grown up now, Rhea. He is an Alpha in the making. You really think a little necklace is going to make him fall at your feet?” She waved me off dismissively. “Please, grow up.”

I bit my tongue, refusing to let her bait me. I had grown used to staying quiet at the table, since talking too much only seemed to earn Mom’s disdain or indifference. I simply answered Mom’s occasional questions, keeping my responses polite and short, and focused on finishing my meal in peace.

Once we were done, Mom turned to me with that same almost-smirk. “Rhea, clean up the table and do the dishes before you leave,” she said, already dismissing me as Roxy’s friends honked outside.

But as I scrubbed the last of the dishes, a wave of dizziness hit me, sudden and intense. I gripped the edge of the counter, trying to shake it off, but it only got worse. My eyelids grew heavy, and my head felt like it was filling with cotton. I blinked, struggling to stay awake, but my limbs felt like they had been weighted down. The last thing I remembered was sliding down to the kitchen floor, my vision fading into a blur of darkness that swallowed me whole.