Chapter 2 Still unshifted

The growl went right to my core. I turned towards where the sound came from, expecting a predator which at any moment would pounce, instead what I saw took my breath away.

In the thick bush lay a great black wolf, it's dark fur matted with blood, with its sides rising and falling in shallow labored breaths.

I hesitated.

Every instinct I had told me to turn and run, this was a very powerful wolf that could have me for dinner in a matter of seconds. But it was injured. And through it all, through the fear that was in my stomach , I could not leave it here to die.

Slowly and with great care , I took a step forward.

The wolf's golden eyes snapped open and locked onto mine , with an intensity that sent a chill through me. A warning.

" I won't hurt you, " I said, my voice lost in the rustle of the leaves.

The wolf's ears perked up but it didn't do anything, it was too weak to do more than just watch me with careful doubt.

I went down on my knees, moving slow and methodically. Up close I noticed the great cut along its side, blood oozing from the wound. What-or whoever had gone after it had done some serious damage.

As soon as my fingers touched its fur a strange sensation ran through me, something out of the ordinary , like a voice at the periphery of my mind. A wave of heat. A flash of recognition. It was beyond the rough texture of its coat, beyond the heat from its large body. It felt. familiar.

Carefully, I doffed my cloak and pulled a piece from the edge of it. "This is probably a bad idea," I muttered to myself but still I reached out, I pressed the cloth to the wound, to stem the flow of blood.

The wolf went stiff under my hand, a low growl running through its body, but it did not attack me.

That is what brought me peace. I had my fingers on its thick fur as I rewrapped it in a makeshift bandage.

The wolf's breath came in uneven gasps, its golden colored eyes half closed, exhaustion playing on its large frame.

I did not go for help. Instead of running back to the pack to tell them about the injured wolf in the woods, this inner voice of mine was telling me not to.

Because this wasn't just any wolf. I don't know why I felt that way , but I did. And that terrified me.

For a while I stood there, my hands resting at the wolf's side , feeling the slow regular rise and fall of its chest. My breath evened out, my heart into a pace that mirrored its own.

Then at that point I was able to let my guard down , the wolf stirred.

In a heartbeat it rose to its feet , swaying only a little but fully upright. Its eyes met with mine again intense and prodding as if to imprint my face.

Then out of no where it turned and vanished into the night.

I jumped up, my heart racing. "Wait-".

But it was already gone, leaving me alone in the woods, my worn cloaks in my hands, and a strange unrelenting sense that my life has just forever altered.

The day of the Crescent Moon Pack's Annual Mating Ritual broke with the smell of fresh pine in the air, the sound of preparation came from afar, echoing through the pack's grounds. Members of the pack were in and out, they decorated the central square with lanterns and woven garlands which gave an air of excitement.

As I lay in my small creaking bed, looking at the wood above me, all I could do was think of one thing.

Today was the day I would shift.

I had to.

I placed my hand on my chest and felt my heart's quick pace through my skin. At nineteen I had passed the age when most wolves had their first shift. If I did not shift today on the most holy night when the Moon Goddess blessed new mated pairs it would never happen. I wouldn't allow myself to believe that.

This was supposed to be the night Thorne claim me.

I shut my eyes and recalled the heat of his hands on me, the way he looked at me in the secrecy of his chambers. Thorne didn't bring up mating bonds , didn't whisper promises, but in the back of my mind I thought-no I knew-that he felt the same pull I did.

Tonight, everything would change.

Stripping off the light cover I swung my legs from the bed and to the floor, the wood cool against my bare soles. I didn't pay mind to the threadbare state of my worn out clothes as I rushed to the small mirror in the corner of my room. My long black hair fell about my face, my eyes scanning for something, anything that signaled a change that was to happen.

I was the same as ever. No wolf staring back at me. No trace of the power which I was to have.

Through the better part of the morning and early afternoon everything fell into chaos. We were all over the place trying to put final touches on things, there was this electric air of giddiness. I hardly took it in at all. With each passing hour my stomach grew tight with worry, my look fell from excited to nervous.

As the night fell over the earth I lit the ceremonial fire , its light played against the walls of my small room. I was perched on the edge of my bed, my hands in a fist , trying to calm my nerves.

Then my door went off. Sharp. Expectant.

"Aria!" Selene's voice was filled with amusement. "Are you not coming? You don't want to be late for your big day, do you?"

I gritted my teeth, ignoring the barb of her voice. She knew as much as I did that this ceremony was for proving a wolfs value and not just about finding a mate. And I had none.

Still, I didn't give her the pleasure of seeing my hesitation. I aligned my posture , put my doubts to the side, and opened the door. Selene stood there in a flowing silver dress, her golden hair falling over her shoulder, a knowing smile playing on her lips. Behind her , my stepmother Lilian adjusted the beaded necklace at her throat, not noticing me.

"You should have put on something nicer," Selene said, her gaze flickering over my simple dress. "Then again , I suppose it doesn't really matter. No one is going to be paying attention to you tonight."

I didn't let her words get to me. Instead, I turned my head up high as I headed for the ceremony grounds.

The night was cool, the full moon giving off a silver light that covered the area. At the center, a massive bonfire cackled, casting light on the gathered pack. Wolves howled, laughter and anticipation filling the air as unmated pairs looked at each other.

And then, there was him.

Thorne stood by the bonfire, his large frame silutted against the flames. He tossed me a quick look that was unreadable before looking away , making my stomach twitch.

When the ceremony began, the wolves began to shift one at a time , finding their mates under the Moon Goddess's gaze.

I stood there, my heart pounding , body on edge with anticipation. Any moment now.

Any second. But nothing happened.

No cold welcome. No wolf's embrace.

No shift.

Whispering began to spread through the crowd.

I could feel their eyes on me . Their silent judgment.

"She's not shifting."

"Still no wolf?"

"That's not normal..."

A chill ran through me.

Thorne stepped forward, taking focus away from everything else, all attention diverted to him.

This was it.

He will have to claim me.

"Alpha Thorne," Elder Rowan declared stepping beside him. "Have you chosen your mate?"

Thorne looked at me, his gaze detaining just enough for hope to take root in my chest. Then he turned to Selene. And the world shattered .

"I claim Selene as my mate," he said , his voice even and unyielding.

For a moment I forgot how to breathe .

Selene's victorious smile broke through my state of disbelieve as she approached Thorne, her hand fitting into his as if she had always belonged there.

The arena went wild, cheering, but all I could hear was my own blood rushing.

"No", I said in a low tone, shaking my head. "No."

Slowly, Thorne turned in my direction, his expression unreadable.

"You're not my mate, Aria," he said, his voice soft yet certain. "You never were."

Pain shot through me. I tried to talk, to protest, but the words caught in my throat.

"You... You said-"

"I said nothing." His eyes grew darker, more tensed. "I was never yours."

The blow of rejection got to my core, beyond what I had ever experienced. I was waiting for this night. For him. And this happened. But Thorne wasn't done.

He raised his chin, his voice clear and sharp.

"I, Alpha Thorne of the crescent moon pack, reject you Aria."

A gasp went through the audience, but all I could hear was the sound of my heart tearing apart.