CHAPTER 4

Sierra's POV

I didn't shift. I quickly looked up at the sky and closed my eyes. I need to shift. This can't be happening to me right now.

'Moon Goddess, please let me meet my wolf. Please.'

"Sierra, I think you need to go to your parents," I heard Alpha Julius.

I opened my eyes and saw the Alpha and Luna sadly looking at me. I can't do anything but cry. When I turned my gaze to my parents, they were intently looking at me. Just like me, they were also confused.

"Why didn't Beta's daughter shift?"

"We expect that she will be our future Luna."

"She's one of the strongest in their generation, but she doesn't have a wolf."

All the people witnessed that I didn't shift. And now they were talking about me. I can't move my feet because all of them are now looking at me. I want to explain myself but how? How can I answer their questions if I don't even know what is really happening to me?

"Please be quiet. It's not fair to judge quickly. We know some of our people who shifted days after their birthday. So maybe it was the same case for Sierra."

Alpha Julius made all of them relax but I can still feel the stares. Good thing that Mom went to me. She held my hands and gave me a sweet smile.

"Let's go home, dear. Maybe you need some rest," she said.

"Mom, what's happening to me?" I asked her.

My mom didn't answer me. She just pulls my hands so we can go home. But for a moment, I realized that I should talk to Asher. I just can't leave him.

"Mom, I need to wait for Asher."

"Honey, just let him enjoy his night. You know he will be affected if he knows that you didn't shift," my father said.

I gently shook my head. "For sure, by now, he knows already. We talked about it that when we shifted, we would run to the forest together until we got tired. But now, he's running alone. So he knew it by now. Just let me stay until he comes back."

My parents just nodded. I took a glance at the entrance of the pack house, and there, I saw Shelly, my best friend. She's looking at me, confused. Maybe she's thinking why I am still here in my human form.

I walk toward her and hug her.

"What happened?" she asked me.

"I didn't shift," I answered as I started to cry.

"What? But why?"

"I don't know, Shelly. I don't know."

She released my hug and looked straight into my eyes. She even wiped my tears and gave me a sweet smile.

"Hey, don't lose hope, okay? It might be a little late but for sure, you will shift sooner or later," she calmly said.

I don't know if I can believe what she said. Because right now, I am thinking about what other people said. That I might not have a wolf. I am starting to lose hope.

"Where is Asher?" she asked while looking at the balcony of the pack house.

"He shifted and ran through the forest. You know, we should run together by now. But he ran alone," I said in a dismayed tone.

"Don't worry. You two can still do it together. Just give yourself some time, okay?"

I smiled. Shelly really knows how to make my mind at peace. I am so grateful that I have a friend like her. She was still wearing her uniform from her part-time job because she was also excited to see me shifting. I know that she was also disappointed with what happened, just like my mother and father. But I also know that she's one of those who will not judge me just because I didn't shift tonight.

I was about to speak when I noticed that Shelly started to smell in the air. It was like she was sniffing some scent that I didn't know.

"Is there any problem, Shelly?" I asked.

But Shelly didn't answer me. Instead, she started to walk around as if she was searching for something. As a concerned friend, I quickly grabbed her hand to steal her attention.

"Shelly, what is happening?" I asked.

"Sierra, can't you smell it? It was the most beautiful scent I ever smelled. Strawberry and milk. I need to find it," she answered desperately.

I am confused. I do not smell the scent she was talking about. But based on her actions, I am sure that she was not lying. Could it be?

"Shelly, your mate is here," I commented.

I saw how Shelly's eyes sparked. She waited too long to meet her mate. And I think this is the right time. But who might it be?

Shelly continued to walk and I just followed her. She stopped when she saw Asher who was in his human form.

"Asher," I whispered.

"Mate," Shelly said.

I took a few steps backward as I began to cry again. No, it can't be. Asher was looking at us confused while Shelly was staring at him.

"Oh my god! Sierra," Shelly mumbled still looking at Asher.

"Shelly, no. Please, tell me it is impossible," I said desperately.

"I am sorry," Shelly said before she ran towards Asher. She was about to hug him but Asher avoided her.

"What the f*ck, Asher. You can't reject me!" Shelly shouted while crying.

"Asher, as the future Alpha of this pack, you need to accept your mate."

I turned my gaze at Alpha Julius. He was standing right behind me and he was with Luna Ferran. Behind them were my parents who were confused by looking at me.

He was right. As the Alpha's son, Asher can't reject her because we believe that once he does it, the whole pack will suffer the consequences of it. That's why Alpha Julius was very specific when he said that whoever Asher's mate is, he can't reject it. That's the Alpha's golden rule.

"I'm sorry," Luna Ferran mouthed at me.

I quickly wiped my tears. I can't be selfish right now. I love Asher and I am not his mate. I need to accept that the Moon Goddess didn't allow us to be together. I need to accept my fate. I said that I entrust my whole life to the Moon Goddess, and I need to stand by it.

"Sierra," Asher called me.

I walked towards him and held his hand. "You know that I am ready for this. Asher, Shelly is your mate. You need to do the right thing."

"No. I can reject her for you," he said desperately.

"No, Asher. You can't do that."

"Asher," Shelly called while still crying.

"She waited for you for how many months, Asher. Please, don't reject her," I pleaded.

I said that I was ready for this but still, it was too painful to let go of the one I love. I didn't imagine that I would experience all of this. How I wish I was just in my room, lying in my bed and staring blankly at the ceiling.

Asher didn't utter a word. He just started to walk towards Shelly. That was the time when my heart started to shuttered into pieces. I was about to witness my love of life accepting her mate, and unfortunately, it was not me.

"I, Asher Lennon, accepted you, Shelly White, as my mate."

Shelly smiled. "I, Shelly White, accepted you, Asher Lennon, as my mate."