Chapter 1

Natalya's POV

“Happy eighteenth birthday, Natalya!” Yevgeniy, my adoptive elder brother, greets me with a warm smile as he lights the candle on the chocolate cake.

“Holy howl, you’re eighteen already!” Anna, Yevgeniy’s mate, exclaims, her excitement palpable. “It’s time for you to meet your mate!”

“Anna,” Yevgeniy interjects, his tone cautioning her.

“What?” she replies, settling beside me and gently pulling me to her side. “Hon, you need to accept that your sister’s of age now. I’m just eager to discover who her mate is!”

Yevgeniy exhales deeply as he sits across from us. “Let’s not discuss that while we’re eating,” he suggests softly.

Yevgeniy holds a special place in my heart. He, along with Anna, has cared for me ever since our parents passed away. His reluctance to delve into the topic of my mate stems from his protective nature. His recent elevation to one of the Epsilons, a prestigious rank within our pack, was a well-deserved recognition from the outgoing Alpha.

“Yevgeniy’s right, Anna,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

“You two are such party poopers!” Anna laughs before turning to Yevgeniy again. “By the way, have you heard about tomorrow’s big event?”

“We’ll be planning the celebration with the higher ranks today, Anna,” Yevgeniy replies, slicing into his steak. “We’re fully aware of what’s in store for tomorrow.”

A flutter of anxiety grips my heart, quickening its pace and leaving me overwhelmed. My throat feels dry, and a knot of unease tightens in my stomach. As my nerves reach a peak, I accidentally knock my mug with my hand, spilling hot chocolate onto the table. I catch curious glances from Yevgeniy and Anna.

“What’s going on, Natalya?” Yevgeniy asks, arching an eyebrow.

“You look uncomfortable, sis,” Anna adds gently.

“It’s nothing, really,” I reply, attempting to sound casual.

I’m lying, but I’m relieved they can’t hear my heart pounding furiously. It remains a mystery why every wolf in our pack village cannot sense my emotions. I’ve always been told I possess a unique ability to cloak my feelings, a skill viewed as a talent by others but one that feels more like an insecurity to me.

“Come on, Natalya,” Anna says, her tone softening. “You know we can’t mind-link you, so spill it. You’re obviously nervous.”

That’s another complication. I can growl, and my eyes glow when my emotions intensify. My sense of smell is keen. Yet, I can’t mind-link with the other werewolves, which frustrates me more than I care to admit. I cannot communicate with them, which has eroded my confidence over the years.

“I really have nothing on my mind, I promise,” I say, forcing a chuckle.

“Really?” Yevgeniy narrows his eyes. “We said something that triggered your unease. It’s evident.”

“Well, you’re mistaken,” I lie again, my heart racing. “I just recalled something.” I look down at my plate, chewing my steak in silence.

“Or someone,” Anna whispers playfully.

With his fork pointed at me, Yevgeniy adds, “With that pale skin of yours, your blood-red blush confirms what Anna just suggested.”

I click my tongue, weighing my response. “I didn’t remember anyone,” I insist, sounding like a child throwing a tantrum.

“Chill,” Yevgeniy says, shaking his head in disagreement. “Finish your food so you can join the Sigmas’ session early.”

I stand, irritation bubbling to the surface. “Yevgeniy,” I retort, my voice sharper than intended, “I’ve already told you I don’t want to be a Sigma. I don’t want to sit in a corner tutoring pups. I want to be—”

“You want to be out there hunting whatever needs to be hunted, I know,” he interjects, causing Anna to stifle a laugh, which only makes me roll my eyes. “You’ve talked enough about wanting to be a Lambda.”

“Because that’s the rank I know I deserve,” I respond, my tone calmer now. “I’ve been trained adequately to earn that position.”

“I understand that too, Natalya. Trust me, I’ve seen you climbing trees and cliffs.” Yevgeniy’s expression softens, his fraternal gentleness evident. “You deserve that rank, but we all know why you unfortunately can’t.”

My jaw tightens, and my fists clench involuntarily. Heat rises in my veins, and my vision blurs. It’s clear my eyes are glowing as discomfort swells within me. A low growl escapes my throat, prompting Yevgeniy to regard me with concern.

I turn away from the table and stride toward the hall. “I’m full,” I say tersely.

“Get back here, Natalya,” Yevgeniy commands, his voice raised.

“Natalya, come on,” Anna adds. “It’s your birthday. We should be celebrating, not arguing.”

“Then my brother shouldn’t have brought up the thing I despise most about myself,” I explain, vanishing from their sight.

As I race up the stairs, my heart feels like it’s about to shatter. I’m beyond agitated, my anxiety causing my core and temples to throb. I can hear my own growls echoing in my ears. Though I long to cry out my frustrations, my tear glands feel parched. I yearn to release my emotions, but my wolf refuses to allow it.

'I feel like trash, Tanya,' I confide in my wolf as I enter the sanctuary of my room.

'You’re overthinking things,' Tanya replies immediately.

'What did I do to deserve all this?' I ask, burying myself under my bedcovers.

'You need to be a bit more patient before you realize how capable you are,' she retorts calmly.

'Just take over my body,' I demand, but she falls silent, as she always does.

This situation weighs heavily on me. My emotions remain hidden from the other wolves, and my inability to mind-link with them compounds my frustration. I’ve never shifted into my true wolf form.

All my life, I’ve felt inferior. Every full moon, I remain inside while others transform. Their harmonious howls are breathtaking, and it saddens me that I can’t join them. Even the early-teen pups can shift, yet I, on the brink of finding my mate, have never done so. I envy them. I can’t help but wonder if I would shift more easily in a different pack, one that isn’t Green Peaks.

Amid the turmoil in my mind, the door creaks open, startling me from my thoughts.

Anna smiles gently as she walks toward me. “Your brother wanted me to tell you he’s sorry,” she says softly, settling on the edge of my bed. “He didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. He just wants to protect you from being… um…” She trails off, searching for the right words.

“Humiliated,” I finish, keeping my gaze fixed on my interlaced fingers.

Anna sighs deeply. “Something like that.”

“I don’t want him worrying about that,” I reply. “I can take care of myself, despite how humiliated I feel whenever someone mentions my shortcomings.”

“You know how protective Yevgeniy is of you.” Anna rises from my bed, stepping back toward the door. “I’ll leave you for now. Your brother and I still have matters to attend to regarding Beta Aleksandr’s coronation.”

My cheeks flush at the mention of the Beta of the Green Peaks Pack. Heat rushes through my veins, and I feel Anna’s questioning gaze upon me. I avoid her penetrating stare, embarrassed by the crimson creeping across my cheeks.

“I’ll see you soon, Natalya,” she says in a low, slightly suspicious tone before departing.

As the door clicks shut, I bury my face in my pillow, letting out muffled cries of frustration. I hope Yevgeniy and Anna have left the house. This is torturous. My thoughts should be focused on venting my insecurities to the Moon Goddess, but instead, I find myself thinking about him again.

His name is etched in my mind. Every time I hear it, my heart races, and my body temperature soars. When he’s near, his intoxicating scent envelops me, pulling me into a trance. I don’t know how I transitioned from a simple crush to an obsession, but he seems perfect in every regard. Beta Aleksandr will undoubtedly make a great Alpha, and I can’t wait to see him again.

He once mentioned that his Luna was the daughter of a respected Gamma, but I can’t help but wish it were me.