THREE

ORTEGA:

~Three weeks earlier~

It's finally my 18th birthday, and I couldn't be more excited. I might just meet my destined mate today. I can hardly contain my enthusiasm. I hope they like me.

I'm 5’6, so pretty average for a she-wolf. I don't mean to brag, but I have a really good body that I train a lot, so 'toot toot.' I have curvy hips, toned legs, more than a handful of mounds, and a toned tummy that's yummy.

I might sound a little conceited, I know, but I'm pleased with what the moon goddess gave me. She makes all her children incredibly beautiful, and there's nothing wrong with acknowledging it.

My eyes are brown, but like a dark, adorable brown that draws you in, or so I've been told. My hair is probably my best feature. It's long and slightly curly, but thankfully there's no frizz. My lips are a bit plain and a touch too thin, but overall, I know I'm very pretty, though that doesn't guarantee I'll be their type.

All I can do is hope that I am. I wonder what they will look like? What they'll be like? I wonder if they're even from this pack. My parents often talk about the thrill of having a mate, and I couldn't wait to experience all of that for myself.

I opt for minimal makeup as I'm not a fan of the oily sensation on my skin, so I stick to a light BB cream, eyeliner, and a touch of mascara. My lips, though thin, boast a lovely shade of pink, prompting me to skip lipstick. With the warm weather, a summer dress paired with boots seems just right.

As I breeze into the kitchen, I exchange smiles with my parents, their eyes already lit up with anticipation. I can't help but beam at them; they're well aware of my excitement for my birthday, a topic I've been eagerly discussing for months.

But what truly ignites my anticipation is the prospect of shifting into my wolf for the first time tonight, when the moon reaches its zenith. I'm eager to witness her form. I'm certain she'll be stunning. How do I know? Because all wolves possess inherent beauty, whether they're werewolves or not. I wholeheartedly believe that.

No one around here paid much attention to them, but there were ordinary wolves that lived among us. Sometimes I would bring them food and even run with them in my human form. It was almost as if they could sense what I was. Maybe they did. They were incredibly intuitive, after all. Some of them even grew as big as the omegas did. Omegas are often considered weak due to their position in the pack, and their wolves were typically relatively small for our kind.

Alphas, Betas, Gammas, and warriors were all vital pack members. They provided for us, ensured our safety, and made us strong, but the omegas kept us running. They prepared all the food, washed all the clothes, and ran the schools, not to mention all the other tasks they did around the reserve that no one else wanted to do or thought they were above. They weren't mistreated by any means, but it broke my heart to see how most people overlooked them. We wouldn't function without them, and even if nobody else did, I recognized all they did for us.

I almost skipped over to my parents.

“Happy birthday, baby,” my dad hugged me.

“Happy birthday, Ortega, my darling,” mom planted a quick kiss on my cheek. I love my parents. I didn't spot my sister Jenna anywhere, but it didn't matter; I would see her later.

“I'll be right back,” I told them, making my way over to the buffet table.

I hadn't been able to eat enough this past week. That's pretty common leading up to the first shift. It's our body's way of preparing for what's to come.

I quickly load two pieces of French toast, a small pile of bacon, two sausages, three hash browns, and three large scoops of scrambled eggs onto my plate. I douse the bacon and French toast in maple syrup just the way I like it.

Happy with my meal, I head back to join my parents. I'm almost at the table when I drop my plate, sending my food scattering everywhere. I can feel every eye in the room instantly snap to me, but I don't care. My legs are already moving before I even realize what's happening.

I've never smelled something so alluring in my entire life. It smells like vanilla and brown sugar, and my mouth waters a little. I often used those two ingredients when baking, and I couldn't get enough of the scent.

I can't believe it—my mate is a part of my pack. This pack is enormous; it has almost a thousand members since we took over the Blood Moon pack last year. I wonder if I already know him. I'm so excited. It's all I can do not to sprint towards the scent. However, I don't think that would leave the best first impression. I don't want to seem desperate.

My heart pounds so fiercely it feels like a drum reverberating through my chest. I trace the alluring scent up four flights of stairs until I halt outside a familiar door. Wait, I recognize this door. It can't be, can it? Is Killian my mate? I'd been drawn to him for years, finding him incredibly charming, funny, and friendly.

He and my family had spent considerable time together while I was growing up. His father was the Alpha, and Killian was naturally next in line to lead. I honestly don't know what I did to get so fortunate. He was physical perfection, towering at 6’8.

His sea blue eyes, flawless and captivating, always left me speechless whenever our gazes met. I've spent countless hours envisioning running my fingers through his shaggy black hair or being enveloped by his hard, muscular frame. He was one of the largest wolves I'd ever encountered; even his muscles had muscles. Could he really be mine?

I wish I had taken a moment, but in my eagerness, I rushed to open the door. There he was, naked on the bed with a woman straddling him. He guided her up and down while grunting her name, and she was a moaning mess.

I didn't need to hear any of it to recognize who he was with. The woman had long, dirty blonde hair, though it was a mess at the moment. Usually, it was sleek and beautiful. On her right shoulder, there was a beautifully intricate butterfly tattoo. It was Jenna.

My stomach churned so violently I felt like I could puke. Killian was a whole six months older than me; he would have known this entire time that I was his mate. We had shared countless meals together, trained together every morning, and hung out with our friends many times over, yet not once did he ever mention anything about us being mates. Here he was in bed with my sister. It couldn't be any more obvious. He didn't want me.

I can't believe my sister and my mate could do this to me. I slap my hand over my mouth in a feeble attempt to stifle it, but not before a strangled sob escapes. Killian just grins at me, not even pausing in his actions. He knew I was here already; of course, he did. He would have smelled me long before I even reached the door.

Jenna just stares at me with her apple-green eyes. I can't believe she has the audacity to look surprised right now; maybe she is, perhaps she didn't think I would catch them in the act. I really can't believe she would do this to me.

I flee from the room as fast as my legs can carry me. People stare, unaware of what just happened, but I don't care. Let them stare.

I make it down the two flights of stairs to my room and slam the door shut behind me. I slide down the door, bringing my knees up to my chest.

I drop my head down, and I allow my emotions to take over. My whole body trembles with the force of the sobs wracking my body. I just keep thinking the same thing: how could they? I've never felt so alone.

Jenna and I loved each other, or at least, I thought we did. Our relationship had always been somewhat strained because we were such different people, but we were still sisters.

Jenna was two years older than I was. She had a wide circle of friends and was often out partying. She was always happiest when she was out with her friends, a true social butterfly.

As for me, I had my own friends whom I loved spending time with, whether it was splashing in the river banks or the occasional shopping trip. But what I cherished most was curling up in my bed with a good book.

When I found a book I liked, I simply couldn't put it down until I finished it, even if that meant staying up all night. And baking, oh, how I adored it. Cooking wasn't really my thing, but baking was a different story. I mostly made cakes and was obsessive when it came to decorating them; everything had to be just right. I was a true homebody. I had no idea she held such little regard for me.

“Ortega, open the door, Ortega, what's happened?” Jenna pleads through the door, her fists pounding against it. I ignore her. How could she act like she wasn't just betraying me with my mate? They both must think I'm such a joke. He didn't even come after me; I wonder if she asked him not to, or if he didn’t believe I was worth it.

"Shut up, Ortega," I tell myself. He doesn’t deserve your wallowing. He didn't deserve anything from me, but I couldn't stop the tears from falling or my heart from breaking. I was devastated. She could tell me how much better she was for my mate and that I should let him go so they could be happy together, but not now.

Fifteen long minutes pass before the banging finally ceases, and she gets the message. I had desperately wanted her to leave the entire time, and yet now that she had, I felt more alone than ever. It only took her fifteen measly minutes to give up on me. I lost both my sister and my mate all in one morning. This had to be the worst birthday ever. I let the weight of it all wash over me, and I break down all over again.