Chapter 1

Aria

"Happy birthday, Aria!" my mom exclaimed, holding a strawberry cake with a lit candle on top, grinning from ear to ear.

"It's time to blow out the candle and make a wish!" Mom inched happily closer to the side of the bed, still wearing her festive demeanor. I heaved a sigh before extinguishing the flame.

My mother's forehead formed vertical lines in the middle, and her smile vanished, replaced by a mixture of confusion.

"Did you not make a wish, Aria?"

"As if it will make any difference to her already pathetic life," I heard my older sister, Cassie, say. She was leaning against the door, arms crossed on her chest, disdainfully looking at me.

"Don't talk to your sister like that, Cassie! Can you spare her your hate just for now? It's her birthday for crying out loud!" Mom yelled at her.

"Whatever!" Cassie flipped her hair and walked away, rolling her eyes. I heaved a sigh. My sister really hated me.

We may have shared the same womb, but Cassie and I were very different from each other. Her blonde hair flowed over her shoulders, her eyes could bewitch any man she liked, and above her intelligence and beauty, she was a pride to our pack. She was the only female shifter known on the continent. That was enough for her to have an elevated status in Moon Valley.

As for me? I was a regular-looking she-wolf who wanted nothing more than to find her destined mate and be loved.

I guess it would be easy for Cassie to accept me as her sister if I told her the truth… that I was also a shifter… and that I wanted nothing more than to find the man who would cherish me for the rest of my life. I had asked my mom to hide my real ability because I didn't want people to treat me differently, knowing that I was special like Cassie. I never wanted any attention, nor did I want any special treatment. I wanted to live the way I wanted to live, and not adhere to what people were expecting of me.

So as much as I wanted a better relationship with my sister and with the rest of Moon Valley, I chose to live this way, far from everyone's ridiculous expectations.

"I'm sorry about that, my dear," my mom said, trying to calm me down. "Now, where were we?"

"My birthday wish?" I smiled at her in return. "I was about to say, there's no need for that. Everything I want is already happening."

Today was my eighteenth birthday, the day I had been waiting for so long. This was the time our wolf spirit would reach the mating age, and they would start to feel our destined mate.

Thinking about this, I felt my cheeks heat up. Mom might have noticed it, so she pinched me on my side. "My baby is excited to meet her mate," Mom said in her bubbly tone. I smiled while looking at my reflection in the mirror by my bed.

"I can't wait to meet him, Mom. My mate could possibly be near. I can feel it," I said, and she squeezed my hand.

"Always remember, Darling, that you are still my baby girl. If you ever find your mate, please don't forget about me." I laughed at my mom's sudden reaction. Of all people, Mom knew how much I looked forward to this day, and I was glad to have shared this special occasion with her.

Mom left and allowed me to fix myself. After completing my morning routine, I happily descended the stairs. After eating breakfast with her, my feet guided me outside the house. I kept my head down as I noticed all the disdain in the pack wolves' eyes as they gazed at me.

"Look who's here, the worthless sibling of Cassie and Ash Williams."

"I feel sorry for them for having a weak sister like her."

I bit my bottom lip when I heard a group of women whispering about me. It was a common sight for them to gossip about me, knowing the type of siblings I had. They always compared me to them, and I couldn't blame them because, in their eyes, I was nothing but a weak she-wolf who couldn't do what my siblings could.

Female shifters were a million-to-one compared to male werewolves, and we were fortunate to have Cassie in Moon Valley. My sister was highly favored in this pack. Everyone liked her. Every she-wolf wanted to be her. No wonder why some of her fanatics would stoop as low as sharing my sister's hatred for me, simply because I wasn't as powerful and special as her.

If only they knew what was hidden behind my facade of a weak she-wolf.

And so, just like on other days, I ignored their insults and continued to walk. Suddenly, an intoxicating aroma filled my nostrils. The scent was fresh and captivating, with a trail that was hard to resist. It reminded me of earthy trails and rocky landscapes. The scent was soothing and hypnotizing, and I couldn't help but close my eyes and savor the moment.

But before I could fully grasp it, I felt my wolf jumping up and down inside my head.

"It's him! He's here!" Cleo exclaimed.

Excitedly, I followed the newfound scent. I could hear the rapid beating of my heart as we got nearer to the source of the scent. Oh, dear goddess! My mate was somewhere near.

The scent led me to the Alpha's cabin, making me stop in my tracks. I wanted to retrace my steps, thinking I might have followed the trail incorrectly, but I knew my instincts didn't fail me. I tried to dismiss the thought, but it was already too late. All my inhibitions disappeared the moment Adrian Patterson, the Alpha's heir, appeared at the front door.

The world seemed to stop, and I felt like I had lost track of time as I gazed into his expressive eyes.

Adrian didn't say anything for a while, and then, with furrowed brows, he walked closer to me, leaving me speechless.

"You?"

His voice was almost indistinct but enough to make my heart skip a beat. His regular happy-go-lucky demeanor had changed into a serious one as he continued to stare at me.

He was Adrian Patterson, our pack's future leader. His grey, oval-shaped eyes were fixated on me, enough to make me feel uneasy. Some said he was the dream guy of every unmated she-wolf on the continent, known for his good looks and strength, making him a suitable candidate to lead our pack someday.

"Of all people, why you?"

His words were like daggers, piercing through the depths of my soul, shredding my heart into pieces. He ran his fingers through his messy, sexy-looking hair, cursing under his breath a couple of times. Disappointment, anger, and disbelief radiated from his aura.

I was hurt, especially by how he looked at me. Devastation, anger, and disbelief were written all over his face.

"I cannot have you as my mate," he muttered. A stabbing pain shot through me as those words escaped his lips. I looked at him with tears streaming down my face.

I had waited all my life for this moment, only to be met with this kind of rejection.

"But why, Adrian?" I asked, my voice breaking. Was I too ugly or undesirable for him to show this level of contempt for having me as his mate?

Adrian snarled, and before he could answer, I saw my sister Cassie approaching us. She wrapped her arms around Adrian's neck before shooting me a couple of deathly glares.

"What's wrong, honey? Is my sister bothering you?" Cassie said seductively, looking me up and down before running her fingers on Adrian's chest.

Adrian smiled at my sister and then held her closer. But when he looked at me, the smile vanished.

"What is the meaning of this, Adrian?" I asked, tears still streaming down my face.

"Isn't it obvious? I don't want you. I need a strong Luna by my side, and your sister, being a shifter, is an obvious choice. I can't love a weak, regular-looking she-wolf like you. Don't you understand? This mateship is a mistake. I can't be mated with you. It's shameful. You will only embarrass me."

I wanted to step away and leave that place, but my feet wouldn't move. I wanted to avert my gaze while they made out in front of me, but I couldn't.

My mate didn't want me. And worst of all, he had chosen my sister over me.