Chapter 1: The Mating Ritual

"It's not going to work," I muttered as I drew back another sharp breath.

"Don't—say—never," my mother said while she pulled back the sides of the golden dress that almost fit my naturally wide hips. If I sucked in anymore, I'd faint before making it to the mating ritual. On second thought, that might not be such a bad idea.

"Mom, if I can't fit—"

"Hold on—almost got it…"

I felt one final jerk, pulling my arms back and curving my spine before I heard a clasp connect and the zipper slide right up the seam.

"I told you I'd get it."

My mother smirked as she stood up straight and blew a loose crimson curl out of her face. She took a step back to admire her work and covered her mouth with her hands at the same time, the sides of her silver eyes turned upwards. "Oh, Nia, it looks better than I imagined."

I swore once she finally closed the loop on the back of the dress, it would prove to be too small and unflatteringly emphasize every curvature of my body. But instead, when I lifted my gaze to look in the mirror, I caught a glimpse of how the sun attracted the yellow glimmer of the sequins along the scooped neckline, highlighting my tanned skin. It fit as if it were made for me.

"You know, when I wore this dress, I was fated to your father." She moved closer behind me and put her hands on my shoulders; her gaze was soft and focused on me in the mirror. "If it could help me then, I just know it'll help you now."

She reached towards the sleeves and puffed them back out like she was fluffing a pillow that had already been fluffed. Her eyes were brimming with tears. I didn't know what to say. I didn't agree with her, but I could tell how much this moment meant. I turned around to face her and outstretched my arms, pulling her into a comforting hug.

After a moment, she pulled back and wiped under her eyes, laughing at herself for being so emotional.

I never aspired to be a Luna. If I had it my way, I'd live in sweet solitude, growing old with the members of the Nature Eclipse pack, with me as their leader. But I knew that that future wasn't possible—for me or for any shifter. It was the price I paid as the Alpha's daughter, and I had to come to terms with the fact that I would never rule.

We may have progressed in several ways as a society, but the hierarchy was not one of them.

"Okay," my mother began, taking a breath to bring herself back to the center. "Back to business. We still need to get your hair and makeup done and jewellery, oh! And we can't forget your shoes. Do we want to go with red, or do you think gold matches the yellow?"

She scurried off towards the closet, mumbling to herself as she dug through the endless clothes and high heels that filled its base. She always acted like this when she was nervous, and for some reason, as I looked back at the mirror, I felt a flutter tickle the inside of my stomach also.

This was my fourth time in the mating ritual. Each year, those who have reached the age of 21 are required to participate and are fated by the Moon Goddess. Sometimes, people find their mate in their first year—like my parents. Others, their second.

Besides me, there was only one other who entered for a third year over three decades ago. I'm the first to reach stage four. No one has ever not been fated—if it had happened, it wasn't spoken about. Maybe that's what this feeling was.

"Nia?"

My mother's soft voice contrasted with her previous disposition, and it was enough to shake me free of my thoughts.

"Nia, you alright?"

I looked at her through the mirror; her features were delicate, and a pair of nude flats dangled loosely from her fingertips. I straightened my back and ironed out the base of the dress with my hands, giving her a forced smile. But I could tell the second it appeared that she didn't buy it.

"I thought the flats were more you," she stated, glancing at me in the mirror before gently placing them down on the edge of her bed. "Baby, you know I know you, right? What's really going on in that pretty head of yours?"

I stared at myself and let my shoulders fall. "What if I don't mate…?" I asked, my eyelashes blinking rapidly.

My mother sighed and took a hold of my hand, turning me to face her. "Well then, we have next year, don't we?"

"And if it happens again next year…?"

She paused. Our eyes remained fixed on each other, and she looked down at our hands, then took the other in hers. "We will cross that bridge when it arrives. Right now, we focus on today, alright?"

I nodded, but despite her attempts, the knot in my stomach continued to fester. I had never been nervous about the mating ritual before; I knew what I wanted and what was expected of me, but neither of those options had ever made me feel this way. I couldn't pinpoint it—things just seemed…off.

My mother let go of my hands and reached up to my cheek, rubbing it tenderly. "Let's finish getting ready, shall we?" she asked.

I smiled—this time, almost for real—and took in a sharp breath. No matter how much I didn't want to be someone's Luna, I didn't want the alternative. No mate meant banishment, and regardless of my status, that was one thing I was one year away from facing.

***

The sunlight that seemed so delicate in my window less than an hour ago now had faded into a pale purple skyline, darkening further with each step I took toward the center of town. My flats pressed against the cobblestone pathway, and I tried to focus my attention on the pain of the loose pieces jabbing into my soles instead of those not yet at the pavilion, watching my every move.

My mother kept pace behind me, with one hand steady at the small of my back. She was aware of their eyes just as much as I was, but instead of casting her gaze away, she greeted them with a courteous smile.

I knew what they were thinking; that I might be the first exile. That was enough to stir up gossip for anyone, but as an Alpha's daughter, it was even more d*mning.

"Pay them no mind," my mother whispered between polite nods. "Today's the day. I can feel it."

I could feel it too. That flutter in my gut hadn't left, and despite its ever-growing presence, I had an internal instinct that today was going to be anything but ordinary.

As we neared the pavilion, the sound of distant chatter began to fill the air, as both hanging lanterns and fairy lights illuminated the almost deep blue night. Parents and children muttered around those entering the ritual while the event's participants themselves adjusted their pristine outfits for their future mates.

My mother's eyes connected with my father's, almost as if he had sensed her presence, and each of their faces lit up.

"I'm going to meet your father," she stated, slowly turning to break her gaze, and returning it to me. "You'll do great, I know it."

She let her hand fall from my back, and I suddenly felt alone. I hated this day—it only reminded me of what I didn't accomplish. Or more or less, what I seemingly couldn't. But that sensation kept creeping its way into my subconscious and I didn't know what to make of it, or today.

My father stood at the edge of the pavilion, in front of the entire pack, and stopped his conversation with one of the members before turning and beginning the ceremony.

"Good evening," he started as he clasped his hands together. His voice was strong and sturdy, yet gentle, and he smiled as the rest of the Nature Eclipse pack responded in cluttered 'hellos'. "I am so excited to welcome the new participants to this year's mating ritual. Before we begin, shall we all join in a collective prayer?"

The chatter dissipated into hushed murmurs and then silence. Some bowed their heads, others looked to the sky, but they were all mouthing the same words as my father to the Moon Goddess. My head was facing the ground, but my eyes remained open and fixed on the bit of dirt that had scuffed the tip of my shoes.

It's not that I didn't believe in the Moon Goddess or the mating wishes. It was that I didn't believe it would work for me. After three years of praying with no results, it's easy to come to the conclusion that the Moon Goddess clearly had other things to worry about.

The flurry of nerves that established themselves earlier in the bottom of my stomach had now altered, and a pang of discomfort took over. I flinched at the sudden appearance, wincing as it tightened its grip on my abdomen. And just as fast as it came, at the same time the prayer ended, it was gone.

It was quiet for a few more moments before my father spoke and jolted me from my thoughts.

"Now, what do you say to us starting so we can celebrate?!"

A cheer, along with a few howls, erupted through the grounds, prompting my father to smile once again. Bodies started to shuffle around, with those taking part in the ritual forming two lines—one across from the other—in front of the pavilion.

I moved, making my way toward the end of the second line, when the pang reappeared, followed by an overwhelming sense of unease. I took my spot and planted my feet into the grass, looking to my parents for some sort of reassurance—only there wasn't any. Instead, they had both frozen in place as they stared off at a spot behind me. My father's normally cheerful and warm disposition was altered into something more vacant.

I looked around at the other members of the Nature Eclipse pack to see if anyone else had witnessed their abrupt change in demeanour. A hush came over the town as those who realized the halt in the festivities followed my parents' gaze. Another twinge gnawed at my insides, and the flutter resurfaced—this time, with a vengeance. I turned slowly, expecting to see a wizard or a vampire before I saw what I did.

Behind me stood the son of the Alpha to the Bloodmoon pack.

He was much taller and leaner than when I had last seen him close to a decade ago—and not to mention more built. The reddish flecks of hair that he got from his late mother blew away from the sides of his face in the slight evening breeze, emphasizing his chiselled cheekbones. I almost wouldn't have recognized him if it weren't for the long scar stretched from the top of his left eyebrow down across his strictly hazel eyes.

It was Leo. The anxious sensation boiled and boiled inside of me until it spilt over when his eyes touched mine.

It happened. I was finally mated. To the son of my father's enemy.