Chapter 1

Hayley

Soaking myself in the gigantic bathtub at dawn, I let the warm water soothe my bones and I moaned at how good it felt to just be.

Well, it did not feel as good as it would have if my mate and the love of my life Damon was here beside me and I could only giggle as I remembered the letter I had written for him last night about my day.

It had been three months since he went for an exchange learning program in one of the packs outside the state and not one day had gone by when I didn’t miss him or think about him so before he left, he had asked me to write down a letter telling him in detail about my day and that he would read everything when he came back.

Not that we didn’t already speak every day but he knew how much I loved handwritten letters and had even written a letter for me that had been delivered to me by his Beta, John the morning of his departure, and it was what I read every time that always put a smile on my face and reminded me how lucky I was to be mated to Damon Ancelotti.

I remembered how I had found out that he was my mate three years ago and it still felt like it was yesterday. It was my eighteenth birthday and like all wolves who got to that age, it was the time when you would be able to identify your mate if they had also passed the becoming age.

It also happened to be the mating ball that was thrown every year for people to find their mates. Damon, aged twenty-two at the time and the son of the Alpha, Michael Ancelotti had not yet found his mate and would be at the ball and everyone who had an eligible daughter prayed that their child would be the chosen one.

Even though I had harbored a crush on Damon since my sixteenth birthday when he had saved me at the amusement park, an incident that I had later found out he had not forgotten, I had only been a bit hopeful that I would be mated to him but of course, I knew that other more influential females would gladly fit that position.

The night of the ball arrived, and I slipped into a flowing blue gown that seemed to mirror the evening sky. Adorned with a delicate silver mask, I felt a sense of excitement mingled with trepidation as I stepped into the grand hall, where enchantment hung in the air like a veil.

As I mingled among the masked guests, my heart raced with anticipation. The possibility of discovering the truth about who would be mated to who that night was thrilling because it had just been hours into my eighteenth birthday and I was not expecting anything so soon but little did I know that fate had more in store for me that night.

Among the crowd, my eyes caught a glimpse of a man who stood out from the rest. Tall, dark, and dangerously handsome, his presence commanded attention. His eyes, piercing blue like the depths of the ocean, seemed to lock onto mine, sending shivers down my spine. He wore a mask that resembled a wolf's face, and as our gazes met, something unexplainable stirred within me. Damon Ancelotti himself.

Intrigued, I approached him, deciding to play along with the mystical aura of the event. "Care to dance?" I asked, feeling bold, thanks to the mask that was on my face but in truth, I knew that once the ball ended, I would have to go back to pretending that I was not growing a larger crush on him.

He extended his hand with a warm smile and spoke a few words when we touched "It would be my pleasure."

We moved gracefully across the dance floor, and with every step, our connection deepened. I couldn't help but feel a magnetic pull towards him, as though our souls recognized each other.

As the night wore on, I found myself drawn to him like a moth to a flame. We talked, laughed, and shared stories, but what I wanted to confirm since I had never felt that kind of pull before felt like I was probably reaching and trying to make it myself. It frustrated me, yet I couldn't deny the inexplicable bond forming between us.

At midnight, the enchanting spell of the ball started to wane. Couples bid their partners farewells, and I reluctantly prepared to leave. But as I turned to say goodbye to Damon who had captured my heart once again that night, I felt a strong hand gently grab mine, pulling me away from the crowd.

We found ourselves in the dimly lit garden, the moon's soft glow illuminating the path before us. The man finally removed his mask, revealing a striking face with rugged features and eyes that held a mix of vulnerability and strength.

"I need to tell you something," he began, his voice tinged with an underlying intensity. "My name is Damon, and I'm an alpha werewolf. Tonight, I came here to find my mate, and I believe that mate is you, Hayley."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Werewolves, mates, it all sounded surreal. Yet, as Damon's eyes searched mine, I knew he spoke the truth. I felt it in the depths of my soul.

"I have so many questions," I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest.

"And I will answer them all, Hayley," he replied, with so much sincerity in his voice. "But for now, all you need to know is that the connection we share is rare and undeniable. You are my mate, and I am yours."

At that moment, everything seemed to fall into place. The night of mystery and enchantment had transformed my life forever. I had stumbled upon a truth I never expected, and now, I stood face-to-face with a werewolf alpha who claimed me as his mate.

Embracing the unknown, I had taken a leap of faith and allowed myself to be drawn into Damon's arms.

“Would you like help with your hair?” My maid, Eve asked as I brushed my hair in front of the mirror and I shook my head, a big smile on my face as I touched the necklace that had been Damon’s mating gift to me.

“No, Eve. I can take care of myself today. Just help me find out what my plans are.”

Being Luna, especially in Damon’s absence meant that there was more work but it never bothered me to help my husband fulfill his duties since I also had help from his beta, John, and his sister who happened to be my best friend, Candice.

“As you wish, Luna. Breakfast will be ready in about fifteen minutes. Will you be eating in the garden today as well?”

“Yes, I will. What about Candice? Is she around?”

“She went out to run some errands but she said that she would be back soon.”

Nodding, I sent her off while I picked out a flowery patterned dress and headed out to the garden where there was a shed that had served as my breakfast spot since Damon left. I couldn’t bear to eat in the dining room without him there.

The only solace I had was that he was going to be coming back in two days.

Perhaps I would call him once I was done with my meal, I thought, nodding at the guards that greeted me as I took my seat.

I was just about to take a bite out of the toast when I heard a voice that was so familiar, I would recognize it even in the deepest parts of hell.

Looking up, there stood my husband, my mate, and Alpha in one standing several feet away from me, his eyes glued on me.

My food quickly abandoned, I removed my heeled sandals and ran towards him barefoot, jumping on his body excitedly.

“You’re back. I thought you said you were not going to be coming back until, you know what, never mind, I’m so glad you’re here. I missed you so much.” I said breathlessly, a big grin on my face and that was when I realized that something was wrong.

Damon was not smiling. He looked like there was something wrong happening and I wondered if something terrible had happened at the program that he went for.

“What’s wrong, Damon? Did someone die? Are you hurt?”

I reached forward to touch him but he shook his head and that was when I noticed that someone was standing at the entrance of the garden, looking at us.

“What is it?” I whispered and he let out a harsh breath and took my hands, his eyes filled with apology as he broke the most damning news to me. A piece of news that made me collapse.