Chapter 1

Ella’s POV

As soft white transparent mist rose from the sparkling clear water, and the beautiful morning melody was being sung by the native birds, I sat on the large boulder that overlooked the majestic pond. The crisp autumn air filled my lungs, as a slight chill ran down my body till it reached the tips of my toes. I shivered as I pulled my leather jacket tighter around me trying to stop the cool breeze from penetrating through to my skin that was exposed to the elements. I found myself taking in the beautiful array of colors of the leaves that autumn had graciously provided.

I took in a few more deep breaths as I thought about what could possibly happen. No, what hopefully will happen to me today. Today is not just any normal day for me. It actually is one of the biggest most important day of any werewolves’ life. It’s my eighteenth birthday the day I shift into my wolf and finally get to meet her for the first time. Tonight, when the moon is at its highest peak my body will shift without my approval into the wolf that shares this body with me. Yes, I’ll admit I am slightly scared about the shift. The thought of my bones cracking and rearranging themselves does frighten me, but this is something normal that we all go through. It’s like the right of passage in the werewolf world, a world that I am a part of.

But that isn’t what I’m looking forward to the most today, because today also is the day I am able to sense my mate. The one person that the Moon Goddess herself has chosen for me and only me. My heart flutters at the thought that today could be the day that I finally find my other half, the one that completes me. I have prayed to the Moon Goddess for years now to let me find my mate today and I pray that she has heard my prayers.

My parents were very fortunate to find each other. My father is Beta of our pack the Crescent Moon pack. He was asked to accompany the Alpha to the Red Moon pack for pack business, and I am here today because of that visit. My mother was the daughter of the Alpha of the Red Moon pack and as soon as my father and her laid eyes on each other they knew they were mates. My mother willingly returned to the Crescent Moon with my father, and they have never spent a day apart. It’s love like no other and I want nothing more than to find a love like theirs.

So last night I showered so my hair would air dry overnight because let’s face it when you have long black curly hair to almost your butt it takes forever to dry. I laid out my favorite skinny jeans with a lightweight black sweater and my black and white van shoes ready for today to come so I could run out of the house before my parents woke up. I wanted to be able to come here to my favorite place on earth to be able to say one last prayer to the Moon Goddess before heading to school. I don’t know why but I have always felt like the Moon Goddess could hear me better here.

I glanced down at my watch and realized that I had run out of time. School would be starting soon, and I needed to get moving because I didn’t want to be late. I said one last prayer to the Moon Goddess before pushing myself up off the boulder. “Please Moon Goddess, I pray to you, let me find my mate.”

I walked out of the tree line straight across from the main entrance of the school with a now busy street of students hustling to get to school in time. Finally making my way across the street I stood in front of a large bronze wolf statue. I always admired the details the artist put into the making of the statue and knew that it had to be one of our own that created it because no way a human could have gone into such great detail like that duplicating every detail of a real werewolf. I looked up at the statue and said one last prayer to the Moon Goddess and headed for the main double doors that lead into the school. Stone letters reading Crescent Moon High were masoned above the double doors. Yes, it is an all-werewolf school that our Alpha insisted was necessary. I liked the fact we didn’t have to hide who we really were to others, and we could freely be ourselves here.

As I walked in the big double doors that lead to the lobby, I say to myself, “Here goes nothing.” I turned towards the hall that led to my locker. The interior of the school was painted in different shades of grey and the lockers were black representing our pack colors of silver and black. The school housed around five hundred students which is quite big for an all wolves school. Our pack was one of the largest in the state and the most dominate. Our Alpha along with his former twin brother owned more territory than any other packs in the state making our pack superior above all others.

I kept walking down the hall observing all the students at their lockers talking and retrieving their books for first period. No one was really paying any attention to my presence as I walked through the first hall and made the turn to the next. The first hall of lockers was for freshmen and I had no interest in socializing with them today, so I was glad no one had noticed me.

Suddenly, I was grabbed from behind by someone as they put their hands over my eyes and dragged me into a room. I was about to scream when my assailant released me, and I heard two familiar voices say, “Happy Birthday Ella!”

To my relief it was my best friend Samantha and her mate, Seth. Samantha held out a cupcake with a single candle lite. “Make a wish.” Samantha giggled as she held the cupcake up to my face. I closed my eyes and wished for what I had been praying for all morning and blew out the candle.

“Thank you” I said to them both as Samantha handed me the cupcake. I took a lick of the icing and started to melt. “Peanut butter my favorite.” I said as a smile formed on my face.

“I made it myself. I know how much you love my mother’s icing.” She said as she gave me a million-dollar smile.

“Yes, it’s my favorite.” I said as I took another lick. Samantha’s mother was quite the baker and I was always excited when my mother invited them over for dinner, because she always insisted on bringing dessert.

Samantha snaked her arm through mine and said, “Let go find you a mate!” as she giggled.

Samantha knew how much I was looking forward to today. It’s all I’ve been talking about for the last month to her. We spent many sleepovers talking about who my mate could possibly be and who I prayed it wouldn’t be.

We headed out of the room and down the hall towards our lockers as Seth followed us. We had to grab our books for first period class, and I need to deposit my backpack into my locker. As I stood there enjoying my cupcake or should I say my little piece of heaven, I watched Samantha and Seth interacting. They were so cute together.

Samantha was two months older than me and found out Seth was her mate on her birthday. I sort of knew Seth would be her mate. Seth’s father was the Gamma of the pack, and our fathers were good friends. As we got older and Samantha and I became best friends, Seth started coming around more and more. I could clearly tell he was interested in her, and she was definitely interested in him. So, when her birthday came Seth went straight to her house that morning and the word “mate” came from both of them. They have been joined at the hip since that day. I only could wish to find my happy ending like they did. To say I wasn’t jealous was an understatement. I wanted what they had but with my own mate.

Seth kissed Samantha goodbye as I shut my locker and she walked over to me asking me if I was ready and I nodded yes. We headed off to first period with our arms interlocked. English was one of my favorite classes, because I loved to read novels. I had a stack of books in the corner of my bedroom. Not too many people knew I had this obsession only Samantha knew. Most of the books I read were of course romance novels. Maybe that’s why I dreamed so much about finding my mate, because I am a hopeless romantic.

As we walked into class, I paused wondering if my mate would be in here. I slowly looked around the room at each of the males in the class, but there was no pull. I honestly have no clue what exactly the pull will feel like but was told by Samantha what she felt when her and Seth first saw each other that morning of her birthday. She said it was like nothing else around her existed except for Seth, and she had to get to him. But she also told me that when their hands touched sparks erupted through her body and when they kissed it felt like fireworks exploded in her.

I headed for my seat and slumped down in it. Samantha sat next to me and nudged me, “Be patient. It’s only first period.” Easy for her to say. She found her mate as soon as she woke up on her birthday. I gave her a light growl and opened my book.

I found myself staring at the clock and barely paying any attention to the teacher which was very unlike me. Normally I loved English but today the class seemed to drag on forever. I couldn’t wait for it to be over so I could go to second period which was Math. Not one of my favorite classes but with it brought new males. Males that might possibly be my mate.

The bell rang and I found myself shooting up out of my seat faster than a pop tart ejecting from a toaster. I found myself pushing my way into the hallway and racing for my locker. Samantha was running after me telling me to slow down, but I didn’t want to slow down. All I wanted to do was get to my locker and to my next class, but then Samantha caught up to me and grabbed my arm which pulled me out of whatever trance I was in. I finally stopped and turned to look at her.

Samantha had a concerned look on her face. “Are you alright?” she asked as I could see in her eye how concerned she was for me.

I wondered why my best friend was showing so much concern for me until I felt my heart racing in my chest and realized what I just had down. I never have run out of class like that before especially English class. I have always waited on her and walked to our lockers together. “I’m sorry Samantha. I’m just feeling a little antsy today.” Was the only apology I could come up with. I wondered if it was because my wolf was so close to showing herself.

Samantha didn’t give me much more time to think of what it could possibly be before she said, “It’s no problem. I completely get it.”

I slowed my pace as we continued walking to our lockers. Samantha didn’t say anything else to me as we walked and I was grateful that she didn’t. My mind was lost in thought, and I wondered what could possibly be causing the anxiety I was feeling. I know that I desperately wanted to find my mate but the way I was feeling was too much for it to just be that. I truly wondered if it was the fact that in less than ten hours I would be shifting into my wolf. Normally it was only the full moon that a wolf was to feel antsy which made me wonder if tonight was a full moon but then realized that the full moon was this Saturday and today was only Thursday. But maybe just maybe it was because it was to be my first shift that was so close to the full moon.

Unfortunately, the next couple of periods before lunch left me as disappointed as first period. I am truly starting to believe that my mate doesn’t go to Crescent Moon High. On a good note, my anxiety is starting to subside, and I am starting to feel not as antsy. Which is a good thing because lunch is next period, and I don’t want Samantha worrying about me.

I decided to head to lunch because I was starving after skipping breakfast this morning. Mom usually cooks a wonderful spread for dad and me, but I stupidly decided to rush out this morning to spend time alone.

I grabbed a tray and went through lunch line and grabbed a burger, fries, and a water and headed outside to the courtyard to meet Samantha. We have sat at the same table for the last three years. It was the best spot in the courtyard as the table sat under an old oak tree that provided shade on a sunny day but also shelter if it was sprinkling. No one has fought us for it do to the fact I am the Beta’s daughter. I am currently the highest ranked wolf at school. Hunter was the highest ranked until his father the Alpha pulled him out of school here to send him to some private alpha school when he was twelve. It had been eight years now since he had left me top ranked and sometimes it has its advantages, and this was one of them. Thankfully the sun had warmed up the morning crisp air, unfortunately we won’t have to many more days outside before we are moving indoors to eat.

As I walked towards the table, I noticed Samantha and Seth sucking face once again. The sight of the two of them started to sadden me. I thought about turning away and forget eating lunch, but my stomach was growling in protest. Samantha noticed me finally and unlocked lips with Seth and waved me towards her. I took a deep breath and walked over and sat down.

“Any luck on the mate hunt?” Seth asked as I shot him an evil eye. “Whoa, down girl. I’m sorry for asking.” He said as he hid himself behind Samantha.

I left a breath out I didn’t know I was holding, and I saw Samantha slapping Seth’s shoulder. “It’s okay.” I said not wanting Samantha and Seth fighting about it.

Samantha gave me a smile and said, “Maybe he doesn’t go to our school. Maybe he is from a neighboring pack.”

I thought about what Samantha had said. It was a good possibility since my parents were from different packs. So, the likelihood was good that my mate was not from here. But with that thought I was worried if I ever would meet him. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I might never meet my mate.” I said as I took a bit of my fries.

Samantha got up from her seat and ran around the table and embraced me into a hug. “I never said that Ella. We will find him. I promise you I will help you find him.” She hugged me tighter, and I knew she would walk through hell for me if I asked her to. I hugged her back and I knew my best friend had my back, but I didn’t know if that would help trying to find a needle in a haystack. Unfortunately, I realized that my search for my mate wasn’t going to be as easy as her’s was. Nothing in my life could be that simple, but I had my best friend.

After finishing lunch, I proceeded to the rest of my classes with the same luck as this morning. My mate obviously wasn’t a student at my school. I dropped by my locker and deposited my last period books and grabbed my backpack. I decided after leaving the school I would take the long way home and stop by my special place one last time today. I really needed to be alone to reflect on the fact that today didn’t go as planned. All the excitement I had felt for today was a total loss and I wouldn’t be meeting my other half. I felt like the one thing I had waited so long for was never going to happen. I just wanted to find the one person that would love me unconditionally and would make me feel whole. A love story I could tell my pups about someday.

I kept telling myself there had to be a good reason why I didn’t find my mate today and that the Moon Goddess has her reasons for it. I just need to keep hoping that it will happen, and he will be worth the wait.