Chapter 4 4

The scent of pine and earthy forest floor filled the morning air, mingling with the energy pulsing through the camp. All around, the pack seemed alive with an almost electric buzz. Rona could sense it even from her secluded place near the forest, where she sat half-hidden by the sturdy trunk of an old birch tree, listening to the excited chatter that carried from one group of wolves to another.

The cause of this excitement was the upcoming annual coming-of-age mating ceremony, a pivotal event for all young wolves who had reached adulthood. Every year, those of age would gather at the ceremony, where the pack elders conducted ancient rituals, calling forth the bonds of destiny. It was said that under the full moon, each wolf could sense the spark of their soul mate-those destined to be together would feel an undeniable pull, a magnetic force that transcended mere attraction. It was the night when wolves found not only their future partners, but a deeper, everlasting connection, their mates.

Rona leaned forward, her heart skipping a beat as she listened to the whispered words and eager speculations of two nearby she-wolves. They were sitting on a fallen log, chatting about the upcoming ceremony with an excitement that made Rona ache with a mixture of envy and curiosity.

"Oh, can you imagine if Brayden is my mate?" one of the she-wolves, a striking girl named Lira, said with a dreamy sigh. Her voice carried a light, lilting quality that drew the attention of those nearby. "He's so brave and clever, not to mention his family has that legendary bloodline. We'd make a perfect match."

Her friend, a petite wolf named Kara, laughed softly, nudging Lira with her elbow. "And what about Cedric? Or maybe even Tarek from the Northern Pack?" She waggled her brows mischievously. "Don't lie-you wouldn't mind being paired with either of them!"

The two she-wolves shared a laugh, each mentioning the various traits they admired in different male wolves-Brayden's courage, Cedric's intelligence, Tarek's sense of humor. Their words were vibrant, and filled with the anticipation.

Rona listened, her heart aching in silence. She was of age and should be attending this year's mating ceremony. The only issue being that her attendance would most likely not be accepted.

Her mere presence in very general occasions was seen as a nuisance already.

How will they react to her

She wondered how it felt to look forward to the ceremony with hope instead of trepidation, to imagine meeting someone who would look at her with warmth and acceptance, instead of the harsh judgment she'd grown accustomed to.

As she observed the pack from her hidden perch, she noticed that nearly everyone seemed caught up in preparations. Some were polishing ceremonial armor or arranging herbs and flowers for offerings, while others gathered in small groups, discussing who among them might be destined mates.

Further down the path, a few young warriors trained in the warm sunlight, their bodies lean and agile as they sparred, their movements precise. Even the pups sensed the excitement, running and chasing each other under the watchful eyes of their mothers, mimicking the moves of the older wolves they admired. It all was like a tapestry of life, woven together by relationships and bonds, one in which each wolf had a place

At least everyone but her.

The air along with all that vibrance brought about by all the preparations for the ceremony swirled around Rona like a bittersweet symphony, beautiful yet painfully out of reach.

She had always dreamed of what it might be like to find her mate. She'd heard the stories-how soul mates were not just partners but reflections of one another, two parts of a whole that completed each other's spirits. To feel seen and accepted, to know that someone cherished her above all else... it was a fantasy she could barely allow herself to indulge in, yet one she couldn't fully ignore.

As the conversation between Lira and Kara continued, Rona's thoughts drifted to her own eligibility for the ceremony. She had turned of age only recently, her birthday quietly slipping by with no fanfare.

The ceremony was a public event, one that welcomed all wolves who had come of age, including her, even if most in the pack would prefer she stayed hidden. But still, she would go. She knew the ceremony would be a chance-a faint hope, perhaps, but one she was willing to cling to.

Yet even as her heart dared to hope, another part of her whispered doubt. What if she felt nothing that night? What if, like everything else in her life, even the magic of the mate bond would elude her because she was different, because she was only half wolf? She had always known she was an outsider, someone they tolerated rather than embraced. Would the sacred call of destiny choose to bypass her as well, denying her even the solace of a soul mate?

"Rona?"

The voice pulled her from her thoughts, and she looked up to see an older wolf named Garen standing nearby, his expression unreadable. He was one of the senior, lower ranked Betas, a wolf with a sharp gaze who often supervised the younger pack members in their daily chores.

She stood quickly, bowing her head respectfully. "Yes, Garen?"

"You've finished gathering firewood for the lodge?" he asked, his tone neutral but with a hint of expectation.

"Yes, I completed it earlier," Rona replied quietly, avoiding his gaze. Garen rarely spoke to her beyond assigning tasks, and she could sense the faint edge of disapproval in his posture, though she wasn't sure what she had done to earn it this time.

"Good," he said after a pause, his eyes scanning her briefly before nodding. "Tomorrow is the ceremony. Make sure you don't linger where you're not needed."

Rona's heart sank a little, but she forced herself to nod. "I understand."

Garen turned and left without another word, his instructions a reminder of her place, of the unspoken boundaries that surrounded her at every turn. She wasn't truly forbidden from attending the ceremony, but his words made it clear she wasn't exactly welcome either. It would be up to her to blend into the background, to be unobtrusive and invisible, just as she had learned to be, and just like she has always been.

Once he was gone, Rona exhaled slowly, glancing around the camp once more. The sun had dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the ground, and the excitement in the air had only grown. Wolves gathered near the fire pit, where the smell of roasting meat mingled with laughter and folk songs.

Tonight would be a celebration of youth, a prelude to the coming-of-age ceremony, and tomorrow they would step into a new chapter, some of them as bonded pairs, ready to face the world together.

But as much as she longed to join them, Rona knew her place was on the periphery, watching from a distance.

In the quiet of the evening, she returned to the edge of the forest, where the sky glowed with the last light of dusk. She sat on a fallen log, hugging her knees to her chest as she gazed at the stars that began to pierce the velvet darkness. Somewhere, out there, her mate existed. She didn't know if they would meet tomorrow, or if they would ever meet at all. But the thought brought her a glimmer of hope, a warmth that chased away the chill of loneliness, if only for a moment.

She closed her eyes, letting herself dream of a life she had never known-a life where she was loved, accepted, and no longer alone.