CHAPTER 1

"It's Comet night, summon your excitement." I tugged boisterously on Sam's arm, my eyes lit up with a smile just like the starry night sky few feets from my view.

"I really don't get why you're so excited, you could get your hopes dashed just like mine." Sam pointed out, a blank expression on her face.

"Sam! Don't say that." I pouted, my smile widening even further.

To werewolves of other pack, it was just a regularly seen night when the moon was at its peak and werewolves at their strongest but it was a special night for me and every other werewolf of the Raging Flame pack that was as excited as I was.

My dream of getting married to Shawn and being the Luna once he succeeded the Alpha was finally happening.

"You should not be so pessimistic, I just know things will go well." A smile crossed my lips and I patted my chest confidently.

Sam glanced at my reflection through the mirror then kept on brushing my hair, "I hope it does too." She mumbled quietly and I grinned gratefully at her.

I really couldn't blame Sam, She had also taken part in the mating ritual a year ago when she came of age, but sadly, no one had claimed her.

According to Pack rules, she could keep returning until she found her mate or a wolf who was willing to take her but Sam seemed to have given up on it.

"You really should go, what if someone is out there waiting for you?" I tried to convince her again.

"Me?" Sam snorted in self mockery, "Who could possibly be awaiting an Omega like me, just in case you missed it, I am ranked among the lowest of the low in this Pack. No one will claim me."

"They all want strong pups which they most definitely won't be getting from me." She added.

"A miracle could happen." I tried again, knowing my words held no weight and would not change her decision.

"Stop trying to convince me, I will be present to watch you but I will not be taking part in the mating ritual. Now, let's get you ready. Beta Lucas will be furious if you are late tonight."  

"Where's he?" I asked curiously, wondering why I had not seen him all day.

"I think the Alpha requested your Father's presence." Sam replied.

I nodded in understanding, hoping he would show up while the rituals were ongoing.

 He had to be present on the most important night of my life.

The Comet night was a rarely seen occurrence which made it special. It comprised the shift in form of werewolves who had become of age and the mating ritual where mates were selected.

Each event was usually held on separate days except for a night like this when the two coincided.

"Do you think Shawn is as excited as I am?" My lashes fluttered hopefully as I craned my neck to glance at her even though I didn't have to.

Her image was clearly shown in the mirror before me.

"Which male isn't excited. They get to gauge the strength of the she-wolves during the shift in form and have their pick during the mating ritual. It's a win-win situation for them." She gave me a look that said she found it all ridiculous and I stiffled a peal of laughter.

"All done." She drew back, a look of admiration on her face.

I couldn't tell if it was directed at me or her handiwork, the bun sitting perfectly on my head with no loose hair in sight.

It made it easier when I turned, my hair wouldn't thrash about.

"Thank you." I clasped my hands together in an appreciative gesture then began to get dressed while Sam quietly slipped out of my room.

A quick glance at myself in the mirror assured me I was ready, "You can do this!" I mumbled encouragingly to myself then stepped out of my room, my destination the Pack's glade, the open space where the rituals would be held.

I got there in few minutes, the moonlit sky a perfect guide to where I was headed.

The place was already quite crowded and bustling with the Pack werewolves, who were chattering excitedly.

Quickly, my eyes scanned through the crowd, searching for that figure I knew so well but I did not spot him.

Where was he?

For some reason, I felt a tinge bit of apprehension that I quickly dismissed.

"Maya!" A hand wrapped suddenly around my shoulder and I yelped in surprise then let out a peal of laughter when I saw who it was.

"Rhea, don't sneak up on me like that." I whined exuberantly trying to keep my voice as soft as I could to avoid attracting attention to us.

"It's finally time, in few minutes, each of us will be whisked off our feet by our prince charming except that yours is an actual prince." She winked at me and I chuckled.

The fact that she was as excited about this as I was delighted me.

Rhea was supportive and always flawlessly matched my energy.

It was why we had been friends for so long.

"Who do you think could be your mate? Josh seems like a good match." I pointed towards a wolf with a head full of blonde hair and a muscular build.

Rhea turned her face in that direction, her gaze imperceptible, "I'm sure I'll find someone good enough. Now back to you. Where's your prince charming? I don't see him anywhere." 

"Me too. I haven't seen him since yesterday when I followed my Father to the Alpha's house. But I'm sure he will show up, He has to come claim me after all." I gushed joyfully, twirling on a spot.

My antics made Rhea laugh and she nodded in agreement.

"Alright missy, let's go line up. The rituals will start soon."

"I really don't get why we have to line up for everyone to see, It is so degrading to have eyes roaming around my body while I turn." I grumbled underneath my breath but that did not stop me from taking my place next to the other wolves partaking in the ritual, my eyes fleeting from left to right and back.

Soon, the Alpha came into view, followed closely by my Father and Shawn and I heaved a heavy sigh of relief.

He was here.

My Father smiled softly at me and I nodded absentmindedly, my gaze fixed on Shawn who looked especially dashing tonight.

"Let the rituals begin." Alpha Blake's voice boomed loudly and my Father stepped forward.

He would be overseeing the rituals.

Gently, I stripped myself bare just like we were mandated to, firmly planting my feet on the cold ground, resisting the urge to wrap my arms around myself to ward off the cold.

A pin drop silence ensued as I waited with bated breath for the moon to reach its peak.

The moment it did, defeaning howls rang out around me.

"It's happening." My breath caught in my throat when I felt it.

First a crack then another, the excruciating pain hit me all of a sudden and a scream tore through my throat.

Another eruption of pain arrived as every bone in my body broke and reformed.

My knees gave way and I fell to the ground, my hands grabbing the floor and gripping nothing, my body shook with convulsion and I screamed and cried and screamed until my throat went hoarse.

"Let it take over." I heard my Father say or did i? His voice seemed so far away.

My legs stuck out unnaturally then my broken bones began to fuse together then elongate.

I gritted my teeth trying to bear with the pain.

Like Sam had explained, the first turning was painfully unbearable, Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably and I kept groaning, It sounded too animalistic.

All of a sudden, everything stopped and it was like I had been doused with a bucket of icy water and I began to feel the pain lessen.

Slowly, my breathing relaxed and I got on all fours, stretching my spine as my transformation concluded.

Sweat trickled down my chin and my brain felt like cotton, an evidence of what I had undergone.

While still trying to wrap my head around the agonizing pain I had just felt, I heard gasps of surprise all around me.

"What is this? I have never seen this before in all my years of existence."

"Is this an omen?"

"Why is she different?"

"She could be a mixed breed."

"That's impossible, the Beta and his wife were original members of the Pack."

Surprising questions and opinions rang out around me but I couldn't register what they meant simply because my gaze was once again trained on Shawn.

I expected to see his pleased and proud smile but when I looked at him right after the pain from turning eased, all I saw was his face pulled tightly together and his brows knotted in a frown.

He seemed to be evaluating my appearance and he didn't seem pleased.

With a startle of realisation, I slowly trailed my gaze down my snout, the sight of my fur shocking and piercing.

It was a snowy white that ran all over my body with no patches of color. Even my paws and claws were pale.

My long and sturdy legs with thick muscled thighs, my long and large snout, the size of my form, all were overlooked.

All I could think of was how different I looked from the other sandy colored werewolves next to me.

Why was I different?