Mate

AMELIA 

I ran out of my bedroom and into the kitchen, drawn in by the delightful aroma of my favorite pie, biscuits, and fresh juice. A warm smile spread across my face as I saw my mother carefully pulling a freshly baked pie out of the oven. 

She truly is the best. She knows us all too well.

My father sat with my younger sister Annabelle at the table, both eagerly waiting for the pie while sipping on their juice.

"Happy birthday, Amelia." my mother and sister chimed in unison, beaming as they wrapped me in a warm hug.

I returned their embrace with a wide grin, feeling grateful and loved.

Taking a seat across from my father, I noticed him gazing at me with that charming smile that always leaves my mother blushing for no apparent reason.

"I know you have something to say, big guy. Speak up before we dig in. You know, Mother made our favorite pie." I teased, dramatically resting my chin on my hands.

Father chuckled lightly and shook his head. "First of all, happy birthday, my beautiful Amelia." he said, his smile bright as ever.

"Hey, what about me?" Annabelle piped up, deploying that irresistible pout that could melt anyone's heart, including mine and our mother's.

Father covered his mouth, suppressing laughter. "You know that you're beautiful too, my princess." That made Annabelle stick out her tongue at him, and he playfully got angry.

In a heartwarming moment, Annabelle jumped up and hugged him. "I'm sorry, Father." she said with her sweet voice.

My father smiled and embraced her, reassuring her that he wasn't upset at all. My mother and I clutched our sides, laughter bubbling over as we watched the adorable,father and daughter exchange.

Once Annabelle settled back into her seat, Mother brought over the pie and biscuits, the enticing smell making my mouth water.

I couldn’t help but wish my big sister were with us. We all loved pie, but the Moon Goddess had blessed her with a Beta from another pack, a guy named Michael. His love to her was evident; they had met a month ago at Alpha James's birthday party.The Alpha of our pack.

Annabella had moved to his pack, which was quite distant from us.

Michael was the Beta of Blue moon pack. At twenty-one, he was older than my sister, who was only nineteen, yet he seemed to be a wonderful and committed mate for her.

I'd yet to meet him or anyone from his pack, mainly because I was unable to attend the gathering due to my duties in watching Annabelle's kept me from it. However, I was confident that Annabella would be the best mate possible.

Father cleared his throat, capturing my attention once more.

"My Amelia, I know today is your special day, but please be mindful of your surroundings. I have a feeling something might happen." he said, his serious tone conveying just how much he meant it.

What?

I glanced at my mother for reassurance, but she simply nodded, causing me to sigh and concede to my father's words.

I had never been a popular girl, neither at school nor within our pack. My family and I were Omegas, the lowest rank that many higher-ranked wolves deemed weak or pathetic. Still, we found happiness in one another. I admired the deep love my parents shared, and how they extended that affection to my two sisters and me.

My father, David, towered over most at 6'3", with sun-kissed skin, jet-black hair, and sky blue eyes—a trait he passed down to us. My mother, Ellen, stood at 5'4", her blonde hair, fair skin framing her gentle yet strong features and Same sky blue eyes. Together, they made a unique pair, a testament to the idea that the Moon Goddess chooses bonds for a reason.

We lived in a modest home behind the pack house, surrounded by other lower-ranking wolves like ourselves. While my father tended to the garden, my mother worked as the pack doctor—a role I aspired to follow one day. They both seemed to revel in their work, never once complaining about their duties.

Most of my time was spent helping my father with gardening, but since I hadn’t yet turned eighteen, I wasn’t assigned a permanent job. I occasionally filled in for others. The pack’s hierarchy meant that formal training was out of reach for us Omegas; they deemed us unworthy of such knowledge. Despite this, my father adamantly disagreed with their views, ensuring I could defend myself. After long days of labor in the garden, he dedicated at least an hour and a half each day to training me.

Truthfully, I wasn’t sure how skilled I was; every time we sparred, he always managed to win.

He also taught me how to hunt, dispatch deer, and survive in the forest. My mother shared her extensive knowledge of herbs and medical practices, equipping me with the skills to potentially assist myself if I ever faced danger.

"Let’s eat. you’re going to be late for school." my mother reminded me, noticing I was enjoying breakfast a little too much.

"Mother." I whined playfully, eliciting laughter from all three of them.

As we munched on our breakfast, I said my farewells and headed out the door, grumbling inwardly about wishing I could skip school today.

After a few minutes, I stepped into the school and hurried straight to my locker, hoping to avoid a certain someone. 

I grabbed my English book and quickly locked my locker, but suddenly I jumped at the sight of him—Lucas, one of my bullies. He was flanked by Derek, the other future Alpha of our pack, and his best friend Nick, the future Beta. 

Instinctively, I turned to walk away as fast as I could, not wanting to be subjected to whatever twisted attention Lucas seemed so fond of.

I hadn't told my parents about the bullying. I was afraid of the trouble it might cause for us. The last thing I wanted was more problems for my family.

Even though Lucas hadn't pushed too far yet, the other girls were quick to resent me whenever I caught even a whiff of his attention. Just two days prior, Lucas had approached my locker and wrapped his arms around me from behind. That single gesture had elicited envious glares from the other female wolves, their eyes flashing with jealousy at the mere thought of me being associated with him.

I never understood why I, of all people, seemed to attract that kind of attention. I stood at a modest 5'5", slim with just curves, my sky blue eyes mirroring my parents, and my sun-kissed skin betraying all those hours spent outdoors. My mother’s blonde hair was something I, and my sisters inherit; three of us had been blessed with those golden locks of my mother.

Thankfully, I made it through my classes without disturbance, sitting in the front where I was less likely to encounter bullies. Most teachers were human, and they strictly enforced anti-bullying rules, which offered me a bit of protection. 

I was a top A student, consistently earning A's in all my subjects. I relished being the first to enter class and the first to leave, eager to avoid the top-ranked students who thrived on bullying Omegas like me.

After finishing my first periods, I strolled through the hallway, ready to grab a quick lunch before heading off to my last courses. But then I froze. A voice echoed in my mind—a voice that felt both foreign and familiar. "Mate."

Today was my eighteenth birthday—the day I would finally embrace my wolf. To my surprise, my wolf's name is Nancy,Odd,But loved the name. Nancy had emerged right alongside the revelation of my mate. 

"Wow." I thought, a mix of excitement and apprehension coursing through me. Nancy had a unique name, one I found endearing, but she wasn’t eager to meet me. Her focus was singular: our mate. 

Oh my.

She instinctively knew that intoxicating scent was drawing us near. We searched fruitlessly, wondering if perhaps our mate was playing some sort of hide and seek game or if, perhaps, he was simply younger than us.

As I maneuvered through the crowd, dodging groups of wolves lingering by their lockers, Nancy’s voice rang out again. "Mate!"

And then it happened. My gaze locked onto him as he turned in my direction, a sickening smirk spreading across his face. My mouth dropped in disbelief, and my face went pale.

No, not him.

Please! Moon Goddess.

It was Derek, the future Alpha of our pack.

"What are you looking at, freaking Omega?" he sneered, his harsh tone slicing through the air like a knife. I flinched at his words, feeling the weight of humiliation crush down on me.