Chapter 1 Mate

Something bad was going to happen. Or at least that's what I felt when I stepped into the large field that was being used to host the blood moon festival.

"I didn't think she would show up to this."

"Isn't this a sacred ceremony? Should she be here?"

I heard whispers from my pack members as I walked through the crowd. Even though they whispered the words, they knew I could hear them. They didn't care.

I had been isolated my whole life. Well, since I was five and both of my parents died at least.

Everyone believed I killed my parents because I was found in the pool of their blood. I was five and had just woken up to find my parents murdered in their own cold blood. I only tried to wake them up when someone walked in and accused me of doing it. Everyone else followed suit.

But from how mangled their bodies were, they definitely knew deep down that a five year old couldn't have done that. Especially one who wasn't born with a wolf.

I soon figured that they hated me more because I didn't have a wolf than because of the suspicions of me killing my parents.

"What are you doing here?" Alpha Damon, the alpha of my pack, asked as he pulled me aside. "You know this is a special night for this pack since we're hosting for the first time in a long time."

"I thought everyone was supposed to be in attendance..." My voice turned into a whisper when I saw the glare he sent my way.

"You should know that was just a formality in the announcement. You've isolated yourself already. Why come out now?"

"I can go back home, Alpha Damon," I offered, looking down at my feet. I could feel people from my pack and other packs looking our way and wondering what the problem was.

"You don't have to. You made it all the way here anyway. But if one thing happens and you're in the middle of it, you'll be banished. Consider it punishment for what you did to your parents."

His words sounded like a slap to my face. Nobody would believe me, not even the alpha of my pack. Everyone thought I killed your parents fifteen years ago, and I've had to live with it since.

Nobody sold anything to me or talked to me if they didn't have to. I taught myself how to hunt so you wouldn't starve.

I stood in the corner of the field as I hoped nobody would pay attention to me, but that sinking feeling still remained.

The feeling only accelerated when the members of Nightfang pack finally made it into the field.

"Alpha Ryle and the subjects of his pack, Nightfang!" The announcer called out as they walked in, everyone of them with their heads held high.

My eyes scanned them all, stopping when I set eyes on one of them. He walked behind everyone else with a smug look on his face. His hair was dark and his eyes held the same darkness.

"Who...is he?" I whispered as my legs moved forward. I didn't even know I was walking in his direction until I found myself standing behind a group of people who wouldn't move and I had to stand on my toes to get a good look at him.

As if he could sense my eyes on him, his eyes travelled in my direction so fast that it affected how my heart beat.

I gasped. My legs were glued to the ground. His eyes went from being dark to glowing golden, and I wasn't the only one who noticed.

"Mate," he growled, causing the members of Nightfang pack to turn their heads in his direction.

"What..." The rest of my words died in my throat.

It couldn't be. This man couldn't be my mate. I couldn't possibly have a mate. That's what my pack members told me at least. They said I was cursed by the Moon Goddess for killing my parents and I would never get a mate.

I had believed them. Even though I knew I didn't kill my parents, I did believe I was cursed.

But this man... He was walking toward me and calling me his mate.

"Alpha Ryle," Alpha Damon called out to him, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him from reaching me. "Perhaps there's been a mistake somewhere. That's Arya. She can't possibly have a mate, let alone an alpha."

He was the alpha of Nightfang pack. I was mated to the infamous alpha of Nightfang pack. Someone I had only heard about up until this moment. Someone who seemed like a mythical creature to me.

"Surely, you don't think I would make a mistake in knowing who my mate is," Alpha Ryle replied, glaring at Alpha Damon. "Is that what you're implying?"

Alpha Damon could sense where this was going, so he took his hand off Alpha Ryle's shoulder.

I clutched my chest as he approached me, now standing in front of me. My heart was racing in ways it had never raced before. Not even when I was hunting.

"Your name is Arya?" He asked to confirm.

"Y-yes," I stuttered, unable to even look him in the eyes.

"You... My wolf calls for you. You will be my Luna."

Gasps and whispers immediately filled the air as he confirmed it. Even I found it impossible. I was frozen in place, scared that this moment would end in a blink and I would wake up to find out that it was a dream.

"I..." There was nothing I could possibly say. I just stood there. Was the Moon Goddess possibly this generous? Was this a cruel joke? Judging by how dangerously fast my heart was beating, I didn't think it was. I felt it too. He was my mate.

"You're my mate, Arya," Alpha Ryle said, reaching out and taking both of my hands.

I finally managed to look up at him, but what I saw was the last thing I was expecting.

His face was twisting, his brows were creasing. He looked as if he was in agony.

And then, he let out an ear-piercing scream.