Chapter One

Hailey’s POV

My name is Hailey Adams, and I was born into the Night Sapphires Pack.

My father is the beta, second only to the Alpha, and he has two children. Me—and my older brother, Lucas. Growing up as the beta’s daughter meant expectations followed me everywhere. I was expected to be polite, composed, strong, and ready for whatever the pack demanded of me.

Now I’m seventeen, and this week, I have to attend the Mating Ceremony.

That thought alone is enough to jolt me awake from a deep, unsettling dream. I lie there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, my heart racing as fragments of the dream fade away. In it, I had been standing before the entire pack, speaking as though I already knew my fate, as if everything had already been decided.

Everyone in the dream kept telling me the same thing—that everything would be fine, that the Moon Goddess never made mistakes.

I try to shake it off. I can’t waste the entire day trapped inside my head.

With a quiet sigh, I push my thick hair away from my face and head to the bathroom to rinse off the lingering sleep. The mating ceremony is only a few days away, which means I should probably start choosing my dresses. The thought makes my stomach flutter with nerves I pretend not to feel.

After washing my face, I hurry downstairs and enter the large kitchen, already filled with pack members eating breakfast. The familiar sounds of laughter and conversation wrap around me like a warm blanket. I grab myself an espresso, barely tasting it, and head back to my room to finish packing a few things.

“Hailey,” my mom says gently when I return downstairs later. “I haven’t said this to you yet, but… when you meet your mate, be ready.”

Her words send a sudden chill through me.

For a brief moment, I imagine leaving the house alone, running far away from destiny and ceremonies and expectations. I push the thought aside. This is my life. This is what I was born into.

Back in my room, I gather my belongings, my mind drifting to memories that still make me smile. Like the time I was four and locked my entire family outside the house. Instead of getting angry, my dad scooped me into his arms, hugged me tightly, and praised me for being “too smart for my own good.” Or the time I accidentally set the garden on fire while playing with matches. I never touched them again after that.

I wonder what my mate will be like.

Will he be kind? Will he like me? Will I disappoint him?

I shrug to myself and continue daydreaming—something I’ve always been far too good at.

When my dad walks into my room and catches me smiling to myself, he chuckles and excuses himself without a word. Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I follow him to the lunch table, still embarrassed.

The room is loud with conversation when someone suddenly calls my name.

“Are you ready for the ceremony, love?” Luna asks softly.

Only then does it truly hit me.

The ceremony is tomorrow.

Emotion swells in my chest, and I blink rapidly, holding back tears as Matthew, our adviser, begins speaking about the increasing rogue attacks. His tone grows grim as he mentions the name that makes the entire room go silent.

“Alpha Chris has threatened them.”

The atmosphere turns icy instantly.

Alpha Chris is the most feared alpha in history—even though he’s only twenty. Ruthless. Powerful. Unforgiving. Just hearing his name is enough to make seasoned warriors tense.

I cough softly and stand up, needing air, needing space.

Back in my room, I apply a face mask, letting it cool and soothe my skin as I try to calm my racing thoughts. I watch N*****x for a while, forcing myself to relax, pretending tomorrow isn’t about to change my entire life.

The next morning, I wake with a start and rinse off the mask. My skin glows just the way I want it to. After hours of lazing around and nervously snacking, I finally head to the bathroom.

I sit in the bathtub as it fills, my thoughts drifting again until water spills over the edge and snaps me back to reality. I laugh softly, then wash my hair, shave my legs—something I do almost every day—and massage baby oil into my skin.

When I’m finished, I wrap myself in a large towel, dry my hair, and style it into an elegant updo. Finally, I slip into my gown.

Thirty minutes later, I twirl slowly in front of the mirror.

I look… beautiful.

My chest tightens as hope creeps in despite my fear.

I hope my mate loves me.

Shaking my head, I grab my things and leave my room, heading downstairs, out of the house, and toward my car—toward a destiny I can no longer avoid.