Chapter One

(Aegis's Point Of View).

Never ever let your outgoing sister plan you a birthday party because chances were

 You would be alone.

 She would be nowhere to be found.

You would be alone.

There was nothing wrong with the party except for one giant fact-- it was a PARTY. The black speakers in the corner blasted a pop song I had never heard before leaving in it wake a reverberating thud. The stench of alcohol and musty scent horny teenagers was thickened the air . A tall lanky boy stood on a table , shirtless and attempting to do a remake of magic mike except this version by himself. It was horrible but his audience of drunk teenage fan girls didn’t seem to mind, their delightful shrieks going on and beyond to give me an headache. And Vela was still nowhere to be found.

And here I was, the birthday girl, standing right in the middle of the chaos in my obviously borrowed pink dress, sporting a cup of chocolate and a tense smile. My mother stood across the hall beside the scattered food platter with a look I was well accustomed to- disappointment. A lecture was well on its way.

At the corner of my eyes I saw Velma and her banshee friends, looking around for me. I barely made it through an episode with her and her fan base and I was not about to be pulled into another one.

Turning as swiftly as I could, I made for the door and took off towards my room.I turned into the hallway and crashed head on into a hard muscular body in a black fitted shirt. 

My entire face hurt, but something strange happened. My wolf stirred on the inside of me with a slow delighted purr. I looked up, locked eyes with the person and I heard the one word I had lost all hope of hearing.

"Mate"

The cup in my hand tumbled to the ground, my precious brew of hot chocolate and milk splashing everywhere.

My mate.

The Future Alpha of the pack, Elias Parson 

Elias's eyes bored into mine staring at me as confused and shocked as I was. Different emotions rolled off him in a chaotic tumble . Neither of us had expected this. 

This was my nineteen birthday and Elias himself was well past twenty_four. There were so many questions to be asked but none of that mattered, I found my mate.

"Aegis, I.."

 The way my name rolled off his tongue had chills running down my spine. I opened my mouth to say something but the sound of approaching footsteps stopped me.

The mane of Vela shiny blonde hair bounced up and down as she walked with a natural feminine gait in her steps. He baby blue dress fell prettily down her thighs stopping right over her knees. The air of childlike joy that accompanied her presence successfully cut through the tension in the hallway we stood in.

She launched herself at him and my breath caught in my throat. Looking into my eyes he slipping his hands around her waist.

They were friends , they were friends. I had to keep reminding myself so I don't leap at her. My wolf was already picturing how satisfying it would be to cut through her jugular. He was mine dammit.

Elias at least had the decency to look embarrassed and ashamed as he shifted to wrap his hands around her in a back hug.

“ Aegis why did you leave, the party just started?" Vela asked with a bright smile. “ Oh, look at you. You look so good in that dress. You must be very glad I let you borrow it. Doesn’t she look good, Elias?”

For a while, I looked, just looked at her. Her big baby blue eyes shining from the light hitting it in just the right way and matching completely with her short off-shoulder knee length dress. She was gorgeous.

An now more than ever, she glowed in happiness basking in his attention.My teeth grinded painfully against each other in red hot rage.

Confused my silence for tiredness, Vela paused for a moment, looking at me from Elias arms.

" Is anything wrong? Are you okay?" She asked in concern.

I really wanted to tell Vela. But I couldn't.

I couldn't do that to her.

At least not until explaining everything to her. We would have to have a proper conversation about this. I couldn't lose her, lose the only person who still cared about my existence.

I knew it would break her heart and as much as I didn't want to, I had to. He was a part of me thx at I wasn’t willing to give up or share with anyone. Not even Vela.

My heart constricted in guilt, that was selfish thinking. They were just friends and I was trying to separate them.

 Instinct or not, it was wrong.

 I hated the mate bond making me feel like this.

"Aegis, are you okay?" Vela asked again bringing me out of my thoughts.

My eyes flickered to my sister, her eyes shining with concern and a small frown tugged on her pink painted lips. For a brief second, my gaze fell to his hands around her before lifting back to hers.

"I'm fine"

I choked out. I most definitely wasn't fine.

She didn't seem to notice though. She simply smiled and giggled at a kiss he placed on her neck. That my mate placed on her neck still holding eye contact with me.

I saw red.

No matter how many times I chanted in my head that they were just friends, my wolf refused to acknowledge or accept it. Not when I knew the extent of Vela's feelings for Elias went beyond friendship. On many a night, I had been forced to sit through rants about how much she loved him ad her fantasies out them . She was so sure she was in love with him. I suppose I could only be thankful now that they hadn't crossed that line. That Elias never crossed that line.

I could never understand why wolves even bothered getting into a relationship with no intention of going long term when they haven't met their mate. People like my sister.

Those who underestimate the power of the mate bond and the moon goddess's will usually would try to take their lives into their hands. A noble thought indeed, but also an idiotic one. They would seek out other wolves that thought similarly and plan a future with them even going as far as mating and marking them but it never ends well.

When one of them finds their mate,all their plans fall apart. The mate bond that had been embedded in them before they were born was powerful and no power could defy it.

It didn’t matter how much one loved someone who wasn't their mates, they'd soon change their minds. Finding your mate is a feeling completely incomparable to any other relationship. Which was why I didn't understand why Vela would ever bother to pin after someone who wasn't her mate .

She was completely unbothered when she realized Elias wasn't her mate . She had decided a long time ago that he was the one for her an no mate bond could change that.

I never truly understood her.

She had her own mate while he did too. It didn't have to be me. No amount of 'love' could overpower the pull of mates. I knew this and she did too.

With a tight lipped smile. I flitted my gaze to Elias's and he averted his eyes from mine instead smiling down at my sister. I could see through his act but Vela apparently couldn't.

" Let's go party baby".

Velma's eyes twinkle with delight. She clapped her hands I excitement..

As much as I loved her, I wasn't in the mood to open gifts. He had called her Baby. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, and tried to assemble as much control over my thoughts as I could .  

Hiding my anguish and heartbreak, I smiled softly at her, giving in. Looping her arm in mine and Elias's, she dragged me to the party. I forced my self not to bristle at her holding his hands.

"I'll stay here for a second. I have to finish up some things and it won't take long. I'll be right there when I'm done " he begged pulling away from her.

His velvety voice made my body tingle once again. I could tell she didn't want to leave him but Elias insisted and instead sent us on our way.

His eyes bored giant holes on my back with every step I took. I hated the feeling of jealousy that coursed through my veins caused by my own sister. She had no fault in this. It wasn't as though she knew he would be my mate. 

They cared for each other: bond or not, that much was obvious. But it was just a harmless crush. I continued reassuring myself that her fascination with him was only temporary. The moment she found her mate, she would realize how silly she was for pining after him.

Taking one last look at Elias, my heart hurt

at the love I his eyes for her.

Velma was first. And I was second. As always.

“Watch out”. Someone yelled.

The chandelier was falling.

And it was aiming directly for me.