Chapter 1

ALIA.

My name is Alia Williamson.

I lived in a world that humans thought did not exist, a fantasy world. We do, however, exist. I am a shifter, a second-born Alpha Female from the Williamson clan.

And this was the first time I had left our territory since turning 18 four months ago. Not that I wasn't permitted to, but with my father gone and my brother still learning the ins and outs of being an Alpha, I opted not to add any more worries to his many responsibilities.

So I kept still and had not left the territory until today. 

For the Claiming.

No, I was not in attendance for my own Claiming.

My brother wanted to attend the ball to find his mate, and I insisted on tagging along.

I wanted to see what this Claiming was all about. Not that I wanted to be claimed. I wanted my mate. Only him. I was just curious about this whole ordeal. 

My older brother, Alpha Caspian, stepped up as the Alpha of the Blue Meadows Pack more than a year ago, following the untimely death of our father, the Alpha at the time.

Because he was thrust into this position at age eighteen, my brother did not have the opportunity to travel around to scent for his mate. So he took the easy way, attending every Claiming Ball in hopes of finding his mate and sweeping her off her feet away from the other Alphas. Romantic, isn’t it? But unfortunately, he hadn’t had any luck yet.

The Claiming would start soon. It’s a good thing we arrived before it started. Some pack issue had us leave the territory at a later time than anticipated, thus, we came in late for the ball but just in time for the Claiming.

I would say the ballroom was fascinating, I marveled at the elegant decors and the merry festivities around me. Just enjoying the view, awed with how many Alpha Females were present and the Alphas. The ballroom was oozing with Alpha pheromones.

I silently wondered if I would be mated to an Alpha. Or a Beta. Well, it doesn’t matter. He could be an ordinary wolf, and I would still want him.

Why not? He was made for me. And I waited for him for as long as I could remember.

I smiled at the thought. One day. I would meet you, mate!

My brother had left me alone in the ballroom and went to meet some other Alphas. He said he would pick me up in ten minutes so we could proceed to the arena stage before the Claiming began.

So I was taking my time and decided I would grab some ladies' drink, after all, I was with my brother, what more could go wrong?

I excitedly made my way to the bar I saw at the other end of the ballroom when suddenly I smelled him.

An intoxicating smell of the wild forest, newly cut wood, and mint swirled around my nasal.

My body froze on my spot. That scent! I had no idea where it came from but I knew right there and then, I found my mate. 

My body froze on the spot. That scent! I had no idea where it came from, but I knew right there and then that I had found my mate. 

A certain pain crossed my chest when it hit me. What was he doing here? Was he claiming someone? No! No way! He’s mine!

After an eternity, I could not hold it anymore. Why was he not looking for me? I swung my head slowly in all directions to look for him.

And there he was, standing tall and proud in his goddess-damned glory.

An automatic smile graced my lips, and my eyes beamed with happiness as I took him all in. And he was too much to take.

He was wearing a black-colored suit with a white shirt that did nothing to hide his bulky chest. He stood more than a foot taller than me, at 6’4 to my 5’2. And Goddess! The way his black, shiny hair fell was perfect to complement his chiseled face. He has rough stubble on his chin, and all I wanted to do was run my fingers against it.

Goddess, you have blessed me so much. How was I mated with this perfect man?

He stood frozen by the balcony door. His eyes were fixed on mine, but I couldn’t exactly read him. His eyes were dilating into full obsidian black, and a part of me was disappointed not to see the real color of his eyes.

But... but. Were his hands coiled into fists? Was he angry? Why?

My brows furrowed in perplexity as I stared at him. I dared not take a step forward because I couldn’t read his emotions. 

Does he not want me? 

Before I could muster the courage to approach him, he tore his eyes off me and turned in a different direction. My eyes followed as he approached a man in the corner holding the lists of Alpha Females for the Claiming.

Tears started to well in my eyes as he leaned down and wrote something on the paper that was handed to him.

He was listing his name for the Claiming. He would claim someone else, not me.

I clutched my heart with my palm and took a step forward in his direction.

I growled lowly, my chest heaving. He’s mine!

He had to claim me and not another Alpha Female!

But before I could reach him, he gave the paper back to the man and left in a hurry, without throwing a glance my way.

He left just like that.

And no matter where I turned to find him, I couldn’t. I lost him in the crowd. I lost him.

⇜ ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ ⇝

GAVIN.

The night was turning out worse than I had anticipated. I came here with a plan, but the people who took our future Luna were one step ahead of us.

We had no idea who abducted Clair, but one thing was sure now: she was here at the Claiming and it was Alpha Aeon who wanted to claim her. 

I needed to do something. I needed to get Clair out of here.

Not just because she would be my Luna. Or because I was loyal to my Alpha.

It was because I still blamed myself for that day that she was taken. 

I had one job that day. To protect her. To keep her safe. And I fucking blew it!

And I would do or give anything to get her back. Anything.

Alpha Jacob won’t be able to make it to the arena on time and Aeon would have free rein to claim Clair by then. I needed to stop or delay Alpha Aeon until my Alpha reached the arena.

The idea I had in mind was absurd. I wasn’t sure if I would be successful, but I needed to do it — I would protect my Luna at all costs.

I knew where I needed to go and what I needed to do next. Game on!

I turned around and entered the ballroom where the Claiming Ball was held.

Just as I was about to go where I was headed, an intoxicating scent hit me.

I stood frozen by the balcony door facing the ballroom. My mind went into a daze as my lungs were filled with the sweetest scent of vanilla and morning dew.

Fuck this! Not now! This cannot be happening!

My mate is here. Would somebody claim her?

My chest heaved as my breath hitched, and pain crossed my chest at the very idea that she would be claimed by someone else. She’s mine!

A low growl reverberated from my chest as my eyes scanned the ballroom for her.

The ballroom was full of Alpha Females, but my eyes were drawn to a female in a green, flowing ball gown who was standing still with her back to me. She must have scented me.

She was standing 30 feet away. No. Fuck!

I watched as my mate slowly turned around to search for something until her gaze found me.

As our eyes met, I felt the mate bond snap into place. Her round green eyes beamed with happiness as she stare back at me until she recognized the frown on my face.

My eyes dilated into full black as my wolf, Kurt, forced his way out. But I took hold of him before he was able to do anything about the bond.

At that moment, I made the hardest decision of my life.

With my face void of any emotions, I turned around and walked away from the fated mate I’d been waiting for all my life. 

When I said I would give anything to save my Luna, I did not mean this. Not this.

Goddess, how could you be so cruel? 

I knew I would regret this. And I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to live after this, knowing I’d let someone claim my mate.

I saw it in her eyes. She wanted me. 

She was perfect. Fucking perfect!

The way her green eyes danced with happiness when she first saw me, her luscious lips that parted as they glistened under the bright lights, and her perfectly curved body that was supposed to be held just by me. She was made for me, and yet I was letting her go.

She was fucking perfect in every sense, but I could never have her. Not anymore.

I had things to do. I made mistakes that needed absolution. I needed to save Clair.

A mate for a mate.

I took full control of myself and my wolf. With hurried steps, I walked toward the man who held the lists for the Alpha Females. I couldn’t bother to look back at her. I knew she felt I was rejecting her, and I knew that if I saw her face one more time, I might not have the strength to finish what I needed to do.

"Give me the list for Clair Montrell." I snapped coldly at the man in front of me. Without any delay, he handed me the paper. I took the pen off the desk and held it in my hand for a while, gripping it tightly. 

Sorry, little lamb. I had to sacrifice you. 

Without any more thoughts, I let out a deep sigh and signed my name under Clair Montrell, and threw the paper back in front of the man. A part of me wanted to ask and search for my mate´s name and find out who would claim her but I knew I would just lead myself to greater misery.

So, like a coward, I walked away. I walked away from the only thing that sparked life to my already dead heart. 

I walked away without knowing her name, without knowing anything about her.

But I knew from this day forward, she would creep into my mind and my heart for the rest of my life.