CHAPTER 1

FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT!

It's a phrase I have always lived by. And yes, as you've probably guessed it's not really a good thing.

I used to be this happy, bubbly child that everyone loved and adored. Brilliant, bold and beautiful, I was all of them, and this was proudly sponsored by Mother.

Until she died!

Father was thrown into grieving. I was just ten, they told me she had gone to join the other good people in the sky, and she was always watching over me, but I knew. They seemed to have forgotten that little Raven was not so little anymore, and she knew things that were above her age.

I wish I didn't.

I wish I was able to believe them. I wish I didn't know that my precious mother was dead, and no, she was not watching over me, instead she was decaying six feet underneath the ground. 

I still maintained the qualities that endeared everyone to me, except one.

I wasn't so happy anymore. 

Since everyone had expected me to be swept away by their lies, I had to act like I was. So I faked my happiness for thirteen years—fake smiles, forced laughter, and ignoring the constant heaviness in my chest. 

But I never really made it, did I?

Father tried to pull me along as much as he could, and help me cope without Mother, but taking a ten-year old from the life she had always known, into another that was better off just being a dream, didn't really help. 

I had to join him in the palace, as the Head Chief's little daughter at first, to the grown-up daughter who did what everyone wanted.

Cliche!

I'm not gonna bore you with my life details—well, I will at some point—but you at least need to know that I was swooped into an arranged marriage with the Wolf Prince of our pack, and I agreed because I was nothing but a people-pleaser. 

Also because I've had a crush on him since forever.

Don't judge! Luca is everything a lady could ever need in a wolf. He is hot as hell, his skin glows, and those eyes—they could easily pass off as the most sexiest part of his body. It's the part that draws me in.

When Father told me about the council's decision to have I and Luca mated, I was pleased for a bit, and also very skeptical.

Everyone knew Luca Red—the Playboy Prince. There was a rumor that he had slept with every single girl in the palace walls, but I know that's not true, because he hasn't with me.

And as we got to know each other, I started to see that so many other things said about him was not exactly true. He is sweet, charming, and in love with me.

Surprised, right?

Well, I can say for a fact that since I met Luca, I've not really had to fake my happiness. The smiles were genuine, the laughter wasn't forced, and the heaviness in my heart kept getting lighter with each day.

I honestly can't wait to fully become his!

I still miss and yearn for Mother, but he made the weight lighter by sharing it with me. Even though, we are not mates fated by the moon goddess, he's still going to be mine.

And once, he becomes the Alpha, I'll be by his side, as the Luna.

In the end, dreams do come true.

Luca and I have been courting for about three months, and it's been the best three months of my life since my mother died, but today, I didn't particularly feel so happy. 

It's mother's death anniversary.

Thirteen years without the woman who made life worth living. She was amazing, she had a heart of gold, and not only that, it was as wide as the entire universe.

What's worse than having your most beautiful quality be the reason you lose your life?

Thinking about it brought tears to my eyes. I had just exited the cemetery, and I promised myself I wouldn't cry anymore, but that seemed so difficult. 

How could she leave me like that? How could she let her little daughter face life all alone?

Smile, Raven. I mumbled to myself as I approached the Pack house. Wiping off the tears, and plastering the fake smile on, I walked into the huge building with it's very large doors, greeting, and waving, and hugging my way through the huge entrance space that was used for a relaxation centre.

I just need a hug from Luca, that would distract me from this pain.

Today was one of those days. 

My chest felt unnecessarily heavy, and breathing seemed to have gotten a lot more difficult. Something felt wrong, but I couldn't place my hand on it.

‘Sensing a lot of negative energy, you good bud?’ A voice echoed in my head as I faked yet another smile.

It was my wolf, Nia.

‘Can’t really tell, but I feel like something is about to go wrong.’ I managed a reply through the mind link Nia and I shared.

She did that wolfy throaty chuckle that told me she didn't think it was that serious. ‘Are you overthinking again, Raven!’ She questioned.

I wish! ‘No, Nia. This is instincts.’ 

“Hey buddy," I called back a teen wolf running towards the field. “Have you seen the Prince?" I asked him.

He shook his head. “No Luna-to-be. He skipped training today, we have no idea where the Wolf Prince might be.

I nodded, faking another smile. I hated the name Luna-to-be, I still can't tell why.

“Where's Luca for crying out loud?" I grunted underneath my breath.

I was worried. He didn't spend the night at the pack house last night, and I couldn't connect with him through the mind link, like he blocked me out. 

Why would anyone block their mate out at all?

‘Nia, I'm telling you this is so sus.’ I blurted out.

‘Relax, Raven. Wherever he is, he'll return. In the meantime, why don't you go see Elena. You promised her you'd visit, remember?” Nia said, rather calmly.

‘Yeah! You're right.” I took a deep breath to steady my mind, and even though it didn't really help, I pulled myself together and got ready to leave the pack house.

Elena is my best friend, has been since we both learned to shift. I don't keep much friends, as you can guess, but she stuck. 

In a short time, I was striding over to Elena's place, my fidgeting hands buried in my hoodie. I still couldn't shake off that troublesome feeling, and enduring it was even harder. 

Elena lived alone, in a small apartment a little far off from the general pack house. I can't tell why she has refused to join the majority of people there, but I guess she just wants her space. 

The path seemed longer than usual, and when I finally arrived, I was eager to flop unto a couch. 

I knocked once, no response. The second time, I strolled in since the door was unlocked. She wasn't in the living room so I made my way to her bedroom. As I got closer, my ears caught wind of rather unusual sounds.

Was that a moan?

Normally, I would leave at this point but I didn't. I couldn't. Instead, I held the door knob with trembling hands and pushed it open. 

“Elena, are you…” The words got stuck in my throat. 

What the actual fuck? 

My heart practically stopped at that moment. And so did my brain, because for over three minutes, I remained frozen in the same spot.

They hadn't seen me. Luca and Elena, I mean. My mate, and my best friend, together.

No, they weren't just together. They were tangled in each other's arms. They were… 

“Elena!" The word rolled off my tongue before I could hold myself. “What the fuck?" I yelled.

The two of them pulled away from each other, Elena grabbing the sheets to cover her naked body. Luca just stared at me, his sculpted perfection of a chest staring back at me.

I stumbled backwards, my hands grabbing the door for support. 

“W… what's going on here?” 

I knew what was going on. I could clearly see what was going on, so why did I ask? Was it hope? Or was it just the numbness of my brain that made me say that?

Luca and Elena exchanged looks, something flashing through their eyes, then Elena turned to me.

"Raven, we can explain. It's not what you think.”

Nia growled. ‘Oh shut up with the cliche line. You were just caught screwing her mate, you cheat.’ She ranted in my head.

My eyes were beginning to blur, and my grip on the door tightened, my knuckles turning white. 

With a trembling voice, and shaky hands, I said, barely above a whisper. “How could you? How… how could you do this to me?”

Is this where Luca had been all along? Is this why he blocked me out? 

They exchanged another glance, and holy mother of God, I wanted to scream my lungs out.

Look at me! Look at me! I'm the one you're cheating on, I'm the one in pain right now!

Nia growled dangerously in my head, goosebumps crawling on my skin to show that she was very close to the surface.

Elena began to speak again, but Luca held her back, his eyes narrowing on me.

If there was any part of my heart that wasn't shattered to pieces, his next words did justice to it, or should I say injustice cause this isn't fair at all.

You cheating jerk!