Chapter 1

It was a sunny and vibrant day as Ashley’s 21st birthday was celebrated and her parents planned everything as this was the age where she would get to shift into her werewolf form. They made big plans, especially for the marking ceremony.

Balloons spread across the floors and some floated in the air. A big banner hung in the middle of the living room that read ‘Happy 18th Birthday Ash’. A two-step chocolate-covered cake was made specially for her as it was her favorite flavor.

The room was filled with music and the atmosphere was buzzing with celebration. Ashley didn’t let a frown appear on her face as she was with people who loved and cherished her. 

She was all dressed up in a short red dress that hugged her curves perfectly and she let her long dark hair flow gorgeously down her back. She coupled her cute dress with a pair of black stiletto heels

They all presented gifts to her and she couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear and she ripped the paper off the boxes filled with gifts. She appreciated them for the gifts she received and went on to cut her cake.

“Happy birthday my beautiful daughter” Her parents chorused after everyone finished singing the happy birthday song to her. She couldn’t stop smiling when she wolfed out.

Her wolf coat was a deep black shade that went with a long bushy tail. Her paws were wide and they extended to her sharp nails. Her emerald eyes glowed more than in her human form, and she couldn’t stop smiling at herself.

“My name is Xena,” Her wolf said to her, which made the smile lingering on her face grow wider as she heard her wolf's voice.

“We are going to get our mate today, and I’m so happy it’s Davian. You know I've lost many mates in the past but I believe Davian is the one” Ashley gushed as they both giggled in enthusiasm.

Ashley got a call from her friend Keithera that she was coming over. Keithera has been like a sister to Ashley since they were kids and they are very fond of each other.

“Ash!” Keithera exclaimed in happiness as she hugged her when they set eyes on each other. “Happy birthday, you look even more beautiful today”. She praised, causing Ashley to blush immensely.

Keithera brought out a jewelry box with a bracelet sitting inside that read ‘Best friends forever’, and Ashley was exhilarated “Thank you Keithera, I love it, It’s so beautiful and I will never take it off”. 

They put on the bracelets and hugged each other once again as they walked into her room, sitting on her bed, Keithera looked at her friend wanting to ask the question she had in mind all day.

“So how are you preparing for your marking ceremony later today?” Keithera asked in anticipation of the event and Ashley didn’t spare the details of everything her parents had planned.

The time of the marking ceremony came and Ashley couldn’t contain her excitement. For the past years now she has been depressed and lonely feeling lost without a mate. 

She always felt the moon goddess took all her mates away cause she deserved to be lonely forever, but when the mate bond was established between her and Davian, hope came back to her life.

She was thrilled when she found out that the moon goddess had destined Davian to be her mate after feeling all hope was lost. It only seemed right that they become mates as they have been friends for a long time.

Ashley waited impatiently as Davian wasn’t answering his phone as to why he wasn’t here yet, he was running late. Anxiety gripped her as many thoughts ran through her head on what could be delaying him.

“Xena I'm afraid, what if he doesn’t show up? What if he doesn’t want me to be his mate? I don't think I can handle being rejected”. Ashley blurted as her heart was already racing and sweat beading on her forehead.

Xena tried calming her down ‘Ashley it’s fine, I can already sense him close by’. With this Ashley turned her gaze from her shaky hands to meet the eyes of her mate, Davian walking towards her.

She couldn’t help but grin as she observed him, his broad shoulders looking perfect as ever in a fitted long-sleeve shirt and his dark brown hair tussling to the movement of the wind but his eyes were focused on something else but her.

“We are so lucky” Ashley and Xena chorused to each other as they admired the sexy man about to mark them. Her cheeks heated up just staring at him.

“Hey, Ash” Davian began with a hardened expression on his face, not reciprocating the excitement Ashley was having. He needed to tell her all he had been planning to say. “I have-.

Ashley didn’t let him finish as she cut in “I’m so happy you made it, I was almost getting upset as to why you would come late but then I figured you must’ve been busy so I didn’t let it get to me” Ashley blurted without ceasing. 

“Yeah Yeah I was caught up with something, so I couldn’t make it here on time” He replied still not moved by the excitement around him.

“It’s fine, It’s fine I understand” Ashley responded and proceeded to say “Okay let’s get on with it shall we?” Ashley chimed in and bent her head slightly to reveal the skin between her neck and shoulder. 

“Uhmm about that, I’ve been meaning to tell you, but every time I get the chance I'm always cut off” Davian started as he picked at his fingers avoiding eye contact and contemplating how to say what he wanted to. 

“Look if it’s about the birthday gift you promised me, It’s fine no hard feelings just make sure to get me one next year” Ashley chuckled trying to brush off the thoughts her mind was bringing up.

“No it’s not that,” Davian said more seriously now. “I know this may be the wrong time to tell you this but the truth is I cannot have you as my mate” He concluded. 

“What!, what are you talking about? Whatever it is we can fix it, did I do something wrong just tell me please you can’t reject me” Ashley frowned trying to hold herself from breaking down in tears.

“Ash I can't do this anymore, I fell in love with someone else, and I want to have a future with her” Davian revealed with no remorse for her broken state.

Ashley was stupefied. She felt her heart tear into two as her wolf howled in despair knowing the words that would come out of his mouth next. She stood there staring at him with tears already falling from her eyes.

“I’m sorry to do this to you but”. He paused and then continued. “I Davian Rogers, reject you Ashley Valta as my mate” He announced without the slightest bit of hesitation and walked away from her.

Ashley fell to the ground as she felt weak in her knees, the words of rejection echoing in her head. It was difficult for her to breathe as she felt the walls close in on her. She felt immense pain all over her body and was starting to scream when her mother came to console her.

She couldn’t believe what she heard from Davian’s mouth. She was certain that he would be the one for her after losing all her mates but the moon goddess has looked down on her yet again and made her life miserable.

“It’s going to be okay my child, all hope isn’t lost yet, I am sure the moon goddess will change your fate and grant you another” Ashley's mother Isabel stated trying to console her crying daughter.

“I doubt that, I guess this is our fate now, to be lonely forever without a mate to love and care for us,” Xena whimpered which only made Ashley sob harder, not wanting the words of Xena to be true. 

Isabel lifted her daughter as she guided her back into the house with a hand around her. Deep down Ashley hoped this was not the end for her even when Xena had already lost hope.

Days went by and Ashley refused to eat anything, she would wallow on the couch or spend the whole day in her room staring at the ceiling, with little or no words spoken to her parents.

Ashley never left the house since that day. She was a total mess, looking disheveled from her hair to her clothes. She didn’t bother taking care of herself as she had no one to impress with her looks now. 

There were days she had dreams of the same event happening to her. She would stay up all night cause the second she closed her eyes, the words of rejection would come to her mind.

Her mother would try to convince her to leave the house so she could meet potential mates around but Ashley never listened, her mind was already far off. 

She has already accepted her fate and given up on finding another mate.

Spending time with her friend didn’t make much difference; Keithera always tried to console and encourage her that she’d get another mate, but Ashley couldn’t shake off the words of rejection resounding in her head.

“Isabel, have you heard the news?” A friend of Ashley's mother inquired as she stepped foot into their living room without bothering to knock. “The alpha king has done it again” she continued as she sat beside her mother ready to spill all she had heard.

“Women and their gossip”  Ashley grumbled to herself, as she hugged the pillow that she grew fond of during her moments of wallowing on the couch.