Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Lydia’s POV

“WATCH OUT!” Lily yelled as her blow hit my stomach, and the force threw me back to the floor.

I blinked in surprise that she had actually managed to get in a hit and burst into laughter.

“I- Can’t believe you actually managed to hit me!” I said, wheezing as I took in gulps of air to ease my laughter.

“I’m still in shock too!” Lily said with surprise in her voice as she stretched out her hand to help me stand, while some of the wolves who had been watching us train began to clap.

This was the first time anyone had managed to land a hit on me in six years.

“Let’s go again?” I asked her enthusiastically as I got to my feet.

“What? No. Please, let’s take a break. It took everything in me to land just one hit on you, and you’re not even awakened yet,” Lily said, panting, but I could see the pride in her eyes.

I chuckled as I linked my arm through hers.

“You know, people assume the thing I’m most excited about is the heightened senses that’ll come from my awakening tonight, but honestly, I’m just excited about my mate bond. Finally, Wilson and I can be together,” I whispered in her ear as blood rose to my cheeks.

Lily stopped walking and turned to face me with a slight frown on her face.

“But what if he’s not your mate? Getting superpowers was by far the best thing that happened to me after my awakening. So you might prefer the new speed to the mate bond,” She said as she tugged on my arm gently and we continued walking.

She still doesn’t understand me.

I rolled my eyes and replied with a small laugh.

“I’m already fast, Lily. So what if my speed increases? No, I’m definitely most excited about Wilson. Besides, his mother had the gift of sight, and she told me that I would be a very powerful Luna. I’m certain Wilson is my mate. I can just feel it here.” 

I held her palm to my chest gently and smiled happily.

I had waited for my eighteenth birthday for what seemed like forever. And the fact that Wilson hasn’t met another woman as his mate yet, despite being awakened for six years now, just shows that the moon goddess is on my side and has ordained us to be together.

" Well, I think he’s not. Even if he is, he’s a terrible choice for a mate, Lydia. He’s cold and strict, and he has possibly the worst scowl I’ve ever seen, permanently gracing his face. He doesn’t even treat you nicely.

Why on earth would you want the moon goddess to curse you by mating you to a man like that?” Lydia asked with a scoff as she shook her head.

I untangled my arm from hers immediately and frowned in annoyance.

She’s judging him so hard when she barely even knows him! It’s so irritating to watch.

So what if he always has a frown on his face? She would too if she returned from a ride on her birthday to find her parents and everyone she loves murdered in cold blood.

So what if he’s strict and cold? She never knew him when all he did was crawl into spaces, lost behind a book with a playful smirk on his lips.

She doesn’t know that his laughter is like chiming bells. So like his mother.

She doesn’t know that he only treats me coldly because he’s afraid to let his love for me show, just in case. He has lost so many people that he loves, and he doesn’t want to lose me too!

“Lily, you shouldn’t judge people you don’t know. You might not like Wilson, but he is my mate, and I will not tolerate you talking badly about him. Remember, he was my mate before you became my best friend. Besides, he’s only like this because he’s always thinking about our revenge against the Black Fur Pack,” I hissed at her as I folded my arms and strolled away.

So annoying!

“Lydia wait! I’m sorry!” She called out behind me, but I was done listening to her.

I deserved to enjoy my birthday, not spend it listening to her slander my mate.

I had barely gotten to the palace with Lily trailing behind me when I spotted Wilson.

Sometimes, I get surprised by how much he takes my breath away.

Years had passed since that night that we ran away, sobbing and taking comfort in each other as we sought refuge among the rogues, and yet our love for each other hasn’t waned.

Anytime I see him, my heart still races, and a stupid big smile just finds its way to my lips.

He stood at the mouth of the palace with one hand in his suit pocket and the other wrapped around the phone he was speaking into.

The sun glinted on his face, making the olive tone of his skin stand out, and I might have drooled if I wasn’t subjected to this yummy sight every day.

“WILSON!” I yelled happily.

I haven’t seen him since I woke up to train this morning. And while I’m certain he would never miss my awakening, I still want to invite him because he’s always busy and I can’t risk him having some kind of business tonight.

I raced over to him with happiness and laughter bubbling in my chest. Something about him just makes me so happy.

He ended his phone call with a sigh and raised an eyebrow as he faced me.

“Lydia, you need to stop shouting while running. You’re no longer a child,” He said with disapproval lacing his tone.

Of course, I’m no longer a child! I’m a woman now. And he noticed.

Heat rose to my cheeks as I considered the possibility that he had been checking out my boobs while I was running.

Yes, I’m no longer a child! I knew you would remember my birthday! You would definitely show up for my awakening. Right?” I asked tentatively as I clutched my arms behind my back and smiled shyly.

Of course he would come. 

“Umm, happy birthday, Lydia. But No. I have business tonight, I can’t be there,” Wilson said as he glanced at his watch and began to walk away from me.

He’s lying. He’s definitely lying.

I know Wilson, if he speaks and looks away like that, then he’s lying.

Is he planning some kind of surprise for my birthday?

“Are you planning something?” I asked him with mischief playing in my eyes as I walked fast to keep up with him.

“Lydia, I have to go. Bye,” He said as he opened the door of his car, got in, and shut it in my face.

“He’s definitely planning something!” I squealed in excitement as I spun around to face Lily.

She rolled her eyes, but a small smile played on her lips.

“I really doubt it,” She said with a laugh.

“But he is. I wonder what it’ll be,” I sighed dreamily as I linked my arm back with Lily's.

“Stop thinking about that. Come on, let’s go back home. You need to get ready for your awakening,” She said with a laugh as she tugged me to walk faster.

With a bright smile on my lips and my heart pounding from excitement, I let out a stream of happy laughter and followed after her to get ready for the best night of my life.

***

“Okay, now feel the power of the moon in your veins and shift,” Elder Maribel said with a smile as she let go of my hand and pushed me to the middle of the circle.

I smiled widely as I stood on my tippy toes and searched around to see if I could locate Wilson and his surprise among the pack members that had come to watch my awakening.

“Sorry- I I’m just waiting for Wilson,” I said to Elder Maribel with a shy smile.

Was he going to present a ring? The excitement over his surprise was driving me crazy.

“Isn’t he here yet?” She asked me with concern etched on her face.

“ No. He’s pl-” I started to reply, when Lily pushed her way forward and gave me a not so subtle nudge.

“Please ignore her, Elder Maribel. The moon is messing with her head. I’m sure Lydia would never miss the chance to shift and gain her powers. Right?” Lily said to me with a menacing smile.

Fine!

Maybe he’s waiting for me to shift anyway.

I gave an excited nod. The ceremony had been beautiful, and shifting was the last part.

With a smile, I moved to stand at the center of the circle, directly under the moon, and raised my head to howl as loud as I could.

The change was immediate, almost like I had done this all my life.

My bones popped and cracked as they conformed to my wolf, and I almost sobbed from pleasure when my wolf spoke to me for the first time.

“Hey Lydia, I’m Drusilla.” She whispered, and I howled loudly from joy.

Lily burst into tears, clapping as she howled, and the rest of our little pack of rogues howled at the moon along with her.

“Wow, that is the biggest pure black wolf, I’ve ever seen. So rare,” Elder Maribel gasped with pride as my eyes sharpened and adjusted to the darkness in the woods.

“Mate!” Drusilla growled within me, and joy flooded my bones.

Without thinking twice, I jumped out of the circle and ran free and fast, following the scent trail of my mate that Drusilla had picked up.

This was everything and more I dreamed about the day I awakened.

I raced through the palace doors, to the shock of the guards, straight towards the meeting room as Drusilla gave me clear instructions.

The doors of the meeting room swung open automatically as I ran inside.

Wilson stood at the side of the long table in the room with a beautiful girl at his side, but I couldn’t focus.

Not when Drusilla kept growling mate at the man seated at the head of the table.