Chapter 1 : Dear Diary

Aurelia's POV

I have loved him for as long as I can remember.

Maybe I was too young when it started. Maybe I should have known better since Jasper Viremont was the Alpha heir of the Viremont Dominion Pack, while I was nothing more than an orphan Omega the Alpha had taken in years ago.

We were never supposed to be equals, yet Jasper had never made me feel like I was beneath him. He was the only person in the palace who had never looked at me with pity. When the other children whispered about the orphan girl who had no family and a weak wolf, Jasper would simply stand up for me, then take my hand and walk away with me.

Maybe that was why I fell in love with him.

Maybe I had simply mistaken his kindness for something more.

But I didn't think so. Not anymore. Because on my eighteenth birthday, everything changed.

I felt the bond. At first, it started as a strange warmth in my chest when the clock struck midnight. Then came the pull, faint but unmistakable, drawing me toward him. Jasper was my mate. The Moon Goddess had chosen the future Alpha of the pack for me and even though I was terrified, I couldn't stop smiling, because surely Jasper felt it too.

"Aurelia." 

His familiar voice pulls me out of my thoughts and I turn around.

Jasper is standing a few feet away, dressed in the formal black uniform of the Alpha heir. The silver Viremont crest is embroidered across his chest, and his dark hair is slightly tousled from the morning wind.

A smile tugs on his lips when our eyes meet.

My heart immediately does something ridiculous inside my chest. "Hi." I try to sound normal, but I fail.

His eyes scan me before settling on my face. "You're going to the institute dressed like that?"

I glance down at my outfit. A black polo and a pair of ripped blue jeans. "I'm dressed normally."

He raises an eyebrow, clearly unsatisfied. Jasper thinks I should dress more elegantly. "You call that normal?"

I laugh softly. "I'm studying pack law, not attending a royal ceremony."

"You're still the Alpha's ward." His expression becomes serious. "You should be more careful about how people perceive you."

He thinks people would respect me if I'm more properly dressed, but I do not believe that. People already know who I am, and I don't think dressing differently will change that.

There it is again... that protective side of him. The same side that has made me fall for him a thousand times.

"I can take care of myself."

"I know." He smiles. "But I can still worry about you."

My heart melts again, and I quickly look away before he can see the stupid smile forming on my lips.

He steps closer and gently fixes a strand of hair that has fallen across my face.

The simple gesture sends a strange warmth through me. My wolf stirs slightly.

Mate.

I swallow past the thick lump in my throat and grip the side of my jeans in a bid to calm her down.

He still hasn't said anything. Maybe he doesn't know. Maybe the bond feels different to him. Or perhaps...

I push the thought away and ask instead, "Are you going to the institute later?"

"Yes, but I have a meeting with the elders now."

Of course. That's what his life is like now. As the future Alpha, every part of his life is already being planned for him.

"The succession council?"

He nods. "They're reviewing the territorial agreements before Father's next council meeting."

I smile. "Then you should probably study."

He gives me an offended look. "I know more about pack law than you think."

"You failed your last examination, and you have to repeat this year," I say jokingly.

"That was one examination."

"Exactly."

He laughs. I love that sound.

For a moment, everything feels normal. Like we're still children hiding in the Alpha's penthouse because neither of us wanted to attend our lessons.

Then his expression softens. "Don't stay late at the institute today."

"Why?"

"Just don't."

"Jasper—"

"I'm serious, Aurelia."

He reaches out and squeezes my shoulder. "I'll come for you if you aren't back before sunset."

My heart skips. He has always cared about me. And now that I know he's my mate, every little thing feels different.

I lower my gaze. "Jasper?"

"Hm?"

"Can we meet at the Alpha's penthouse after your meeting?"

His expression changes slightly. "Why?"

"I have something important to tell you."

He studies my face for a moment before nodding. "All right."

A smile spreads across my face as he pats the top of my head the way he has done since we were children. "I'll see you there, pookie."

My cheeks become hot. "Don't call me that."

He laughs. "You've never complained before."

"I am complaining now."

Then he says nothing; he just walks away, and I watch him disappear down the corridor.

My heart is beating so hard that I'm almost afraid he can still hear it.

Tonight, I'm going to tell him. I'm going to tell Jasper Viremont that he is my mate. And when he accepts me, everything will finally make sense.

At least, that's what I believe.

---

Later that afternoon

The courtyard of Viremont Dominion Institute is unusually loud.

Students crowd around the central grounds, discussing the results of the latest Alpha succession trials. I smile when I hear Jasper's name mentioned repeatedly.

"Prince Jasper performed exceptionally well."

"Of course he did. He's going to be the next Alpha."

"He'll need a powerful Luna beside him."

My smile washes off quickly.

A powerful Luna.

The words make something twist inside my stomach because I am anything but powerful.

For the first time, I wonder if Jasper has already chosen someone.

Then I see her.

Isolde Black.

She is the princess of the Blackmoor Pack. She stands near the fountain surrounded by her friends, looking every bit like the future Luna everyone expects her to become.

And beside her is Jasper, and they are talking with smiles on their faces.

Isolde reaches out to touch his arm, and Jasper doesn't move away. He has always kept his distance from she-wolves, but with her, he is completely free, and that makes my chest tighten.

Maybe... she will be his Luna—

No.

I remind myself of the bond. Our bond. The Moon Goddess chose you.

I take a breath and force myself to keep walking.

Jasper notices me, and his face brightens immediately. "Aurelia!" He starts approaching me.

But before I can respond, Isolde grabs his arm. "Jasper, we need to go."

He looks between us, clearly torn on what to do, but then he gives in to her. "I'll see you later, Aurelia."

I nod. "Sure."

He walks away with her.

Something about their closeness these past few days feels wrong, but it doesn't matter. He is mine.

---

Hours later, I open my locker and take out my books for the next class. I also reach for my diary.

Then I freeze completely. It's gone.

My heart drops as I search through my bag. Nothing. I check the locker again. Nowhere to be found.

A cold feeling settles in my stomach.

I know exactly where I left it—on my desk during the last class. I must have forgotten to put it inside my bag.

And that means... Someone might have seen it.

My blood runs cold as I slam the locker shut and bolt towards the hall.

As I step inside the building, the sound of laughter reaches me from across the courtyard, and when I turn, I see Isolde standing there with a familiar pink diary in her hand.

I need no soothsayer to tell me that it belongs to me.

Her eyes meet mine, and a slow smile spreads across her face. "Oh, Aurelia." She lifts the diary higher and waves it. "I think I have something that belongs to you."

My heart practically stops. "Give it back." I extend my hand.

She laughs. "Why?"

I take a step toward her. "Isolde, please. I'm begging you."

Her smile widens. "Because there's something inside here you don't want anyone to know?"

I don't answer. I can't.

She opens the diary. "Let's see..." She flips through the pages. Then she looks at me. "Oh, this is going to be fun."

Students begin turning toward us with sheer curiosity, most of them already holding their phones up to record the scene.

My heartbeat pounds in my ears. "No." I rush toward her. "Give it back!"

She steps away, and I stumble to the floor. The pain exploding through my side doesn't matter; I just want to get the diary back from her. She can't see the words I have written inside because it contains every secret and fantasy I have had for Jasper. 

I try to stand up, but two of her friends immediately grab my arms. I struggle against them. "Let me go!"

Isolde raises the diary. "Everyone..." Her voice carries across the yard. "I think you all deserve to hear what Aurelia has been writing about Prince Jasper."

My stomach drops when I see Jasper approaching from the other side of the courtyard and our eyes meet.

For the first time in my life, I am afraid that the person I love most in this world is about to discover the truth.

Isolde smiles as she opens the diary. "Let's begin." She looks down at the first page. "Dear diary..."