one

Most wolves look forward to finding their fated mate at eighteen, but I wasn't, perhaps because it wasn't in my bloodline to end up with one, or maybe I didn't believe that I had a fated mate somewhere, but all the same, just like mom always says. Anyone can be your mate as long as you want them to be.

I thought giving life a chance was worth it; I believed giving Ezra a chance to be my mate and other half was a good start until he came along, my fated mate!

Catherine's POV

" That won't be necessary," I said to Dad with a small smile, but he was too insistent to pay attention to a teenager like me, so I let him be. After all, we weren't going to see each other after today." Mom, I would miss you," I turned to Mom with sad eyes as I hugged her tightly. " you are my baby, and I will miss you more," she said sincerely and pulled away; she creased my hair gently as we stared at each other with emotions.

I couldn't believe the day had come for me to join my mate in his pack, a path I chose to take. How fast could time run? And how soon could a moment turn to moments? I didn't for once think time can fly like the wind does. Maybe I was just a little nervous because of the new life ahead of me. " you should take it easy on her, woman," Dad spoke calmly, and we busted into laughter. " I'm not complaining, Dad... "I told him. " I will walk you out," my dad, alpha Jerry, offered as we walked out of the alpha building through the main gate. I turned my head to look at them one last time before hooping in the black Mercedes that had been waiting for me since morning with my two packed luggage, which was loaded at the back thanks to my father's warriors." Luna, it's going to be a long ride if we go by road. The alpha had booked a plane ticket if that is okay with you." I shook my head." I am okay by road," I said in a calm voice, and he started the car almost immediately. I stuck my hand out and waved my parents goodbye with tears stuck in my eyes. I would miss them more than anything else in this world, I thought to myself.

Heading into a world of different creatures with different status was more like an adventure. I was the princess of my pack, but not anymore. Just as the warrior addressed me, I became his Luna the day he made his intentions known, and that was more than a year ago on my sixteenth birthday. Best reasons known to him he chose me of all others to be his fated chosen mate. Ezra was good-looking, every woman wouldn't be able to resist his charms. Young, handsome, and most of all powerful.

We started as friends to get to know each other because I was hesitant about accepting his proposal but after I got to know a side of him many won't imagine existed, I agreed.

Ezra was a great man, but he wasn't my true mate, and I certainly had no idea what I was doing, but I didn't hate the idea of being his made either. Besides, chosen mates were common among alphas, especially ones like Ezra who had the power to shift and bring chaos into the world.

"Can you pull over so we can have something to eat?" I requested and looked out the window. I couldn't describe the emotions that were piling up in my veins. Nothing was understandable since I couldn't read my own emotions not as if I was confused." permit me to take you to a better place" he said after pulling over at a side and waiting for my approval, I glared at the eating joint at our side " you think this place is no better?" I asked a little confused. The place looked great to me, though." Not that, Luna," he said, and I sighed." Security purpose," he explained, but I doubted the place could pose any threat. I hemmed okay.

So we drove an additional minute, "This place is a lot safer for you," he said, and I wondered what he meant.

The restaurant in question was smaller than the one we left behind but very much organized. " your seat?" he pulled a chair for me, and I sat down, running my eyes through the menu. I had to admit, that Ezra's men were like robots and not breathing elements. He was too organized to be true. He never looked me in the eyes nor spoke to me unless I initiated it.

I didn't ponder on it when he refused to eat with me because I didn't expect anything less. I just took in something small as I wasn't that hungry and not used to eating alone. To be frank, I thought he might be hungry. That was why I ordered him to stop, but it seemed he only listened to his alpha." such a beauty," a stern voice behind me startled me, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Ezra's warrior immediately blocked the man from getting to me. " wow, this isn't a battleground, Lycan warrior.." he seemed to know who he was. The warrior only gave him a warning growl, and he stepped back. " just trying to catch up," he said, meeting my gaze.

Taking in the faces around us, It won't be safe if we steer a fight" Cooper" I called him and he responded ' yes Luna' Fighting him would put us on the losing end, it wasn't a familiar pack to me "let's leave, am done" I didn't like him. The way he was looking at me didn't sit well with me. I hated jerks like him. " not because of me, I'm the alpha of this pack and I doubt you would like to disobey me in front of my members here and besides, I want to give you a warm welcome" he said in a calm convincing tone extending his hand for a handshake which I didn't intend to take. " it's not every day that we get to meet such a beauty" he smiled flirtatiously at me as I stood up.

" It will be good for you if you step aside; I only want to have a chit-chat with the beauty," he told Cooper in a threatening tone, and the expression that followed scared me, but I didn't cower away like a coward because I was better than that. I was alpha blood, not some scumbag for losers like him to stamp on.

Alpha my ass!

I looked around carefully, and every one of them was looking our way; the worst part was they were all males. They seemed to support their alpha telling from the annoying look they had on. " don't you think threatening my knight is too much ?" I said with a dark face. I didn't know much about males because I only attended same-sex schools, that was how my parent pack functioned. Males and females were never put together, but this particular male wasn't hard to see through; he was nothing good because I could read his intention. I wasn't some naive girl brought out from the darkness of the night. " you sure have words, I admit" he chuckled throwing his glares at Cooper who was standing beside me " and for your information, you don't disrespect my knight in front of me, alpha or no alpha, you should put yourself in check. Being it your pack doesn't give you the warrant to disrespect strangers" I said in a defensive tone, I hated his arrogance so much that I wanted to punch him hard in the face" I wouldn't have bothered stopping here if I knew animals like you are called alphas around here" I said with a lot of courage and I couldn't help but notice the jerk's unpleasant expression. He didn't seem to like my comment, but I loved it; the fact that I was able to bend his mood made me more excited.

Without so much anxiety, we left the place to the car." Thank you, Luna, I should be the one to defend you," he said, but I didn't say anything to him as we resumed our journey to the Lycan pack. My new home, where I was going to rule beside my chosen mate, alpha Ezra, the Lycan king!

" we can change our route," Cooper suggested, and for some reason, I thought it was a wise idea but later declined; I doubted he would do anything to get Ezra angry; besides, he was just a werewolf, and the werewolves I knew feared the Lycans. He could go to hell for all that I care! Besides, we didn't just enter his pack, we were permitted at the borders to use this route, and the asshole knew it, but he wanted to take advantage of us.

I leaned in my seat as I took off my shoes, my feet were hurting a little. I was lost in my thoughts thinking of what awaited me in my new pack and how I was going to cop with college plus my Luna duties. I knew something about being a Luna because my mom was one herself but not in a huge pack like Crossroads. And to talk of lycans, I was a werewolf for goodness sake! Werewolves and Lycans were two different creatures. One was impossibly stronger than the other.

Suddenly, a black car overtook us, and our car swiftly ran off the road, heading towards the rough path at the side.