Chapter 1

Mariah's POV

I wake up to a knock on my door (knock, knock)

"Go away," I say to the person on the other side of the door. 

"Wake up, honey; today is the first day of your junior year. You don't want to be late," Mom says.

"Mom, five more minutes, please," I reply lazily.

"No, wake up, your Best Friend is waiting for you downstairs," Mom replies in a striker tone.

"ughhhh," I groan internally.

My name is Mariah Cruz. I'm 17 years old and starting my junior year today. My Father, Mark Cruz, is the current Beta of our pack, The Royal Moon Pack, and my mother, Jennifer Diaz, is the Beta female. My Brother Josh Cruz is 18 years old and a senior in High School. He is training to become the next Beta when our Alpha, Jason Adams, decides to retire and hand the title to his eldest son, Nick Adams. Nick is 18 and is also a senior in high school. He is also my brother's best friend. 

Nick is the school's playboy, along with my brother. That's what happens when you still haven't found your mate. A werewolf usually finds their mate at 18. If you turn 18 and haven't met your fated mate, it either means your mate is younger than you, in a different pack, or dead. Sad but true. Mates used to save themselves for each other, but not this generation. Everyone is sexually active nowadays. No one waits for their mates anymore.

My mother and father always told me to save myself for my mate. Just like they did, but I didn't listen and lost my virginity to Jacob Gomez. He is the same age as me and is currently training to be a pack warrior. That day, when I sneaked back into the house, my brother came in and smelled him on me. Werewolf's senses are heightened, so we see, hear, and taste ten times more than a regular human. I don't know why he had to act like all macho men just because I lost my virginity. What did he expect? My 18th birthday is in a few months, and that's when I get to meet my mate. I'm not in a rush to meet him, especially if he is from another pack, because I'm not ready to leave my friends and family. 

That's when he came out with his #1 rule: his baby sister is off limits. I don't know why he came out with that rule anyway. It's not like I like any of his friends.

It was 8:45 a.m. when I finished getting ready. I wore some light blue skinny jeans, a light pink crop top, and some white sneakers. I put on some light makeup, a little bit of mascara, my red lip gloss, and some eyeliner. My long red hair is tied in a high ponytail. I put on my earrings, bracelets, and necklace. I grab my book bag, and I'm ready to go.

"Finally," My best friend Rose says.

"Beauty takes time, my dear friend," I say lightly.

"Yeah, whatever," Rose says and rolls her eyes.

Rose is the Alpha's Daughter. Even though she is a year younger than me, we have been best friends for as long as I can remember.

"So, you're ready to slay this year," Rose says.  

"You know it," I say, and we both giggle.

We hear a horn, and we know our ride is here. I give my mom and dad a kiss and follow my best friend out the door.

"Have a wonderful first day, sweetie," I hear my mom say.

"And stay out of trouble," Yells my dad.

"I will love you both, and thank you," I yell back and run to catch up with my best friend.

I see my brother standing by the door of none other than our Playboy Alpha convertible car.

"Thank you," Rose says, making me and Nick roll my eyes.

"You're welcome," Josh says with a bright smile, making me cringe. 

I follow and get in the car, elbowing my brother in the stomach.

"Hey, what was that for?" Josh groans.

"Because I wanted to," I say and smirk.

On our drive to the school, I kept feeling someone staring at me. I look around and see bright blue eyes looking at me through the view mirror. Nick winks at me, and I roll my eyes and look away.