Chapter 1

Amelia’s POV

I was at the backyard looking at the stars. It was midnight and I couldn’t sleep. Tomorrow is my eighteen birthday and I was so excited. By tomorrow I will know who my mate is and we will do the mating ritual.

Although, I already know who my mate is, I am sure it is the Crane. We have been friends for a long time and we fell in love. It was a dream come true. I have had a crush on Crane since I was 12 but I never had the courage to tell him about it.

It was just recently he told me about his love for me and we started courting. I am an orphan so there were no parents to stop us and his parents didn’t mind. We were the talk of the whole pack.

Crane was the brother of the alpha and were considered as royalty.  I will be treated as a luna. It didn’t really matter to me if I was the luna or not, all that mattered was that Crane loves me and I love him deeply.

I am certain he is my mate. I went to bed with his picture in my arms. I just knew that tomorrow will be a good day; or so I thought.

I woke up quite happy in the morning, knowing it was finally my birthday.

Being an orphan and probably pack less, my birthday will not be celebrated by anyone. That has been my shame all my life. I didn’t know who my parents are or if they were alive or dead. That is why all the she-wolves bullied me and did awful things to me.

But Crane always came to my rescue. We always had this bound, I couldn’t explain it. I didn’t know if it was the mate bound or not but we were clearly drawn to each other. I didn’t know how they mating thing work but I will know today.

“Amelia, get down here and clean!!” I heard from downstairs. Since I was pack less, I has to work for the Alpha’s family. They found me so I work for them. I went down stairs ready to clean and do any chore necessary. From what I read from books, at midnight of your 18th birthday, when you stand under the moon, the moon goddess will tell you who your mate is. I just couldn’t wait for midnight.

The day didn’t really fly like I expected. I worked like I had to and waited till midnight. When midnight came, I went out to the woods like every other newly turned 18-year-old. I was so nervous. What if it is not Crane? What will I do? If it is not Crane, he will surely reject and I will never be able to transform. Different pack comes with different traditions. For this pack, you will not be able to transform as a she-wolf without a mate.

It got to my turn and I stepped forward, under the moon light. I could hear them whispering and chuckling; mostly laughing at me because I will be foolish to look for a mate. “a maid of the crescent moon pack wants to find a mate? Hilarious!  

I stepped under the moon light and I saw the bound tied to someone. The beta stepped forward and thankfully, it was Crane. I smiled. I was so happy. I was worried that I will be paired with someone who will not want me but thankfully it was my first love.

“I, Amelia is chosen by the moon goddess to by beta Crane’s mate.” I said with an eager voice. Finally, everything will be okay. I will no longer be treated like dirt and I will be protected by my love, I thought. but everything took an unexpected turn.

“I Crane Crescent, reject you as my mate.” Crane said looking me in the eye. The bound immediately broke.

I was speechless and confused. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t hear anything but those eight words. He looked at me. He didn’t move. I didn’t know if it was pity or concern in his eyes.

I saw him leave. I didn’t know if I should chase after him. I tried stopping him but I couldn’t move. When I finally got myself, I saw them laughing at me. I covered my eyes.

I didn’t want to hear it. I was use to their laughter but this one was different. It was like they were telling me I made a fool of myself, like why will I think the alpha’s brother will accept me.

I ran as fast as I could away from the ground.