The school was alive with electric anticipation today. The principal was meticulously overseeing every detail, ensuring that everything was flawless. The atmosphere hummed with excitement, with students maintaining their utmost decorum. The girls, in particular, were practically buzzing with excitement, fervently discussing every facet of Jack Miller-his striking features, impeccable style, and undeniable charisma. They absorbed every snippet of information with almost feverish enthusiasm, and by nightfall, they had unearthed every detail about him.
Jack Miller was the very embodiment of perfection, destined to be the future Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack and the second son of Alpha Steve. His recent return from rigorous training had only intensified the buzz, culminating in the grand party Alpha Steve hosted to introduce him to the pack. Jack's legendary battlefield prowess and his promise as the next Alpha were well-known throughout the pack.
Today marked the beginning of his term at school, where he would complete his degree amidst the excitement of his new environment. Among the throngs of admirers was Emily, whose admiration for Jack had been a constant since childhood. Each year on her birthday, she wished to be his mate, and on his birthdays, she hoped he wouldn't find his mate just yet, dreaming that one day she could be the one.
Emily was so absorbed in the animated chatter of the girls behind her that she didn't notice when her best friend, Rose, quietly slipped into the seat beside her. Startled by Rose's whisper-"Jack is here!" Emily whipped her head towards the door, only to find it empty. Turning back, she saw Rose's amused grin. Emily's initial frown softened into a smile as she looked at her friend.
"When did you get here, and why are you so late?" Emily asked, though she knew Rose wasn't late and that there was still plenty of time before classes started. After all, she had asked Rose to arrive early.
"When you were busy eavesdropping on every word about your Jack, I was at home, enjoying a leisurely breakfast," her best friend said, playfully mimicking her.
Emily completely ignored her first statement and was just about to ask her about the project when Jack caught her attention. He was walking towards the classroom, chatting expressively with his friends. The sight of him, so self-assured and at ease, immediately lifted her spirits. A thrill of excitement surged through her at the idea of having classes with him. Although Jack was a senior in his final year, and she only a first year junior, they would share three combined classes each week. The very thought of seeing him regularly in class filled her with eager anticipation.
Her mind was entirely preoccupied with thoughts of Jack when the professor entered the room and began the day's lesson. Despite her best efforts to focus, her thoughts kept wandering back to him, making it harder to concentrate.
During the break, they headed to the cafeteria, placed their order, and made their way to a table. As they discussed their lectures, they heard excited cheering from the other side of the room. When Emily looked up, her gaze was drawn irresistibly to Jack, who had just entered the cafeteria. For a moment, she was thrilled that their eyes met, but her happiness quickly faded when she saw the cold hatred in his eyes. She felt a pang of hurt but then she noticed the way the other girls were eyeing him. Emily wondered if he had misunderstood her gaze, thinking she was just another girl seeking power and status through a relationship with him.
Lost in her thoughts, Emily barely noticed when Rose arrived with their order. Rose gave the table a gentle tap to capture her attention and teased, "Come back to us, girl; the food's getting cold." Having witnessed Emily's reaction to Jack, Rose was both amused and quietly pleased. She had known for years that Emily had a soft spot for Alpha Jack, ever since they were children, and she secretly hoped that Alpha Jack would one day return Emily's affections.
Emily and Rose shared a bond that ran deep and so strong, in fact, that they often referred to each other as Soul Sisters. They knew each other's inside out, an unspoken understanding that made their friendship unique and unwavering.
Emily gave her a faint smile before starting to eat. Sensing that something was off, Rose asked her what was wrong, but Emily simply shook her head and changed the subject, continuing their conversation about assignments from where they'd left off before Jack entered the cafeteria. Rose could tell something wasn't right, but she didn't press further. She knew Emily well enough to understand that when she didn't want to talk, no amount of persuasion would make her. So, she remained quiet, confident that Emily would eventually open up when she was ready.
After lunch, Rose noticed that Emily seemed to have returned to her usual self. On the other hand, Emily silently reassured herself that it was just a misunderstanding, and she could change Jack's opinion of her in time.
After school, Rose dropped her off at home. Emily unlocked the door, stepped inside, and locked it behind her. She went straight to her room, freshened up, and collapsed onto the bed. Before she knew it, she drifted off to sleep.
After returning from school, taking a peaceful nap had become her routine. With both parents at work, she had the house to herself, enjoying the quiet before they came home. Sleeping peacefully in a quiet home was one of her favourite pastimes.
After a while, her mother, Eleanor, came to wake her, then went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. After dinner they all sat in the garden, enjoying the cool breeze, sipping coffee, and chatting. As they relaxed, her father, Beta Neil asked, "Princess, how's your new college treating you?"
Emily replied, "It's going great, Dad."
"Your birthday is just a week away. You'll be turning 18, and soon after, you'll find your mate," her father, Beta Neil, said, his voice filled with emotion. The weight of his words made both Eleanor and Emily tear up. Emily stood up, walking over to embrace her father, and her mother soon joined them in the heartfelt moment.
Her father cleared his throat before continuing, "Alpha Steve and Luna Teresa want to celebrate your birthday in a grand way this year, and they have offered to host your 18th birthday at the pack house. They also mentioned that you can invite your friends. What do you think?"
Emily had always been an introvert, preferring to celebrate her birthdays quietly at home with just her parents, Rose, Alpha Steve, and Luna Teresa. Alpha Steve and her father had been best friends for years. Luna Teresa had originally come from a different and smaller pack, later joining Alpha Steve's powerful pack when she discovered he was her mate. Nervous upon arrival, Luna Teresa was warmly welcomed by Eleanor, and the two quickly became best friends. When Emily was born, both Alpha and Luna treated her like their own daughter, attending her intimate birthday celebrations every year.
However, this year was different, she was turning 18, a significant turning point in werewolf world, as it was the age when they could find their mates. Because of this, Alpha Steve and Luna Teresa wanted to make her 18th birthday special and more public.
The thought of celebrating her 18th birthday with Jack in attendance filled Emily with joy. Her heart swelled with excitement, and her eyes sparkled as she nodded eagerly. "I'd love that," she said, her voice soft with emotion.
They spent a few more minutes chatting, the warmth of the family bond surrounding them, before eventually retiring for the night. The cool evening breeze was refreshing, but Emily's thoughts were wrapped in the warmth of what her upcoming birthday might bring.
The days flew by, and now her birthday was just a day away. All week, she had been bubbling with excitement about the celebration. The day after her conversation with her dad, she shared this exciting news with Rose, who was thrilled. Rose had practically dragged Emily to every mall, determined to find the perfect dress for the occasion.
She woke up a little later than usual today, feeling the warmth of the morning sun filtering through the curtains. After finishing her usual routine, she headed downstairs. As she reached the bottom, she saw her parents sitting together, laughing softly, lost in their own little world. It was a scene she'd grown up with, her dad looking at her mum like she was the only person in the room, and her mum's smile, always warm and knowing. The sight tugged at her heartstrings, filling her with a familiar sense of joy and comfort.
For as long as she could remember, she had watched their relationship blossom through the years. They had a connection so natural, so full of love and understanding, that it felt like they could conquer anything together. It was something she deeply admired and secretly longed for in her own life. She wanted a relationship like theirs, a bond where her partner would love her as unconditionally and deeply as her father loved her mother.
And she wished Jack could be that person, the one who would look at her the way her dad looked at her mum, full of love, respect, and devotion.
Emily went over to her parents and greeted them with a belated good morning. After exchanging pleasantries, her mother informed her that today was their day off and that both Alpha Steve and Luna Teresa were expecting them in the afternoon. Emily needed to finish her breakfast quickly and start getting ready for the party. Her mother also mentioned that Rose was on her way, so she should hurry up.
After breakfast, as she was rinsing the plates in the sink, the doorbell rang. A few minutes later, she heard Rose's cheerful voice echoing through the house. Emily quickly washed her hands and headed into the living room, a smile spreading across her lips at the thought of Rose chatting with her mum. Eleanor and Rose shared a special bond, her mum treated Rose as if she were her own daughter. Emily often teased them, playfully insisting that Rose was actually Eleanor's daughter, especially when her mum allowed Rose to invite Emily to a party that she had initially disagreed with.
When Rose caught sight of Emily, she jumped up and wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug. The warmth of their friendship enveloped them both, and after that lovely embrace, they made their way to Emily's room.
When they arrived in her room, Rose instructed her to take a shower. After Emily returned, wearing the dress they had chosen for her birthday, Rose gestured for her to take a seat at the vanity table. Rose then began working on her hair, creating a stylish bun with loose curls framing both sides of her face. She applied natural looking makeup with a smokey eye to enhance Emily's beauty.
After finishing the makeup, Rose said, "You look stunning, Emi. I bet tonight Alpha Jack won't be able to take his eyes off you." Emily blushed at the compliment.
For Emily's birthday, Rose selected a black dress adorned with delicate white pearl designs along the neckline and sleeves. The dress fit comfortably and accentuated her curves beautifully, giving her an elegant appearance. The innocence in her eyes made her look even more like an angel.
After admiring herself in the mirror one last time, the two of them went to the living room, where her parents were waiting. Upon seeing Emily, her parents both complimented her, saying she looked beautiful. Eleanor offered Rose a ride with their driver, but Rose declined as she had come in her own car and then left. Emily's father then instructed the driver to bring the car around. After locking up, they settled into the car, and Beta Neil informed Alpha Steve of their departure.
When they arrived at the pack house, Emily's wolf, Emma, was acting disturbed and restless. They went to the living room and greeted Alpha Steve and Luna Teresa. After sitting down and chatting for a while, the sun began to set, and guests started arriving at the pack house. Being an introvert, Emily did not feel too comfortable being surrounded by so many people. Alpha Steve and Luna Teresa were well aware of her personality, so they only invited the pack's official families.
Emily invited her close friend Rose along with her grandparents, as Rose's parents lived in the Silver Moon Pack, where her father was the pack's Gamma.
When Rose was 5, a crisis occurred in her father's pack, and ever since then, she has lived with her grandparents. She occasionally visits her parents in their pack, but her bond with her grandparents is stronger than her connection with her parents.
Everyone had arrived just a few minutes before midnight, they greeted each other and wished Emily a happy birthday. Luna Teresa instructed the maid to prepare the table for the cake cutting and gestured for everyone to gather around. As the clock struck 12, Emily was ready to blow out the candles, but she noticed that Jack was not there. Just then, Alpha Steve announced to everyone that Jack was currently attending to some urgent pack business but would join them later. As the head Alpha, Jack's presence was important, especially since the celebration was taking place at the pack house. Therefore, Alpha Steve encouraged Emily to go ahead and cut the cake in Jack's absence.
After that, when dinner was being prepared to be served, Emily informed her mother that she wanted to go to the garden. Her mother told her to take the coat with her because it was cold outside, but Emily said she was fine and just needed some fresh air. She stepped outside and immediately realised she should have brought her coat after all. Just as she was about to turn back, she caught a scent, an intoxicating aroma so addictive that she could not resist following it to find its owner. Her heart raced wildly without knowing why, and her legs did not stop until she was just a few steps away from the figure.
She had stepped outside because her wolf had not relaxed for a moment, and when she caught the scent, it sent her wolf into a frenzy of restlessness. As she approached the figure, just a few steps away, her wolf leapt with joy and exclaimed, "Mate, mate, mate!" The figure must have sensed her presence because when he turned around, Emily felt as though the time had stopped. She had not realised she was holding her breath, eyes wide in shock, until she whispered, almost breathlessly, "JACK."
She was overjoyed that her prayers had been answered by the moon goddess and that Jack is her mate. Overwhelmed by happiness, she struggled to find the words to express her feelings, realising that her childhood love is, at last, her destined partner.
After what felt like an eternity, Jack cleared his throat to draw her attention. Emily blinked rapidly to pull herself together. A few moments later, she smiled broadly and was about to move towards Jack when he stopped her mid step.
His expression was unreadable, his eyes icy cold. It was then that Emily realised something was not right because Jack had not acknowledged her as his mate, and he did not seem pleased about something. Thoughts raced through her mind like, 'Does he already know I'm his mate? What's wrong with him? Did something happen at work?' Her confusion only deepened when Jack finally spoke, "Emily."
Hearing her name from his lips felt so delightful. Since he had returned, he had not often addressed her by her first name instead, he always used her last name, calling her "Miss Harper." So, hearing her name now made her heart swell with happiness. But his next words shattered her world: "I won't accept a low rank and weak omega as my mate and the future Luna of my pack."