Chapter 1

Naomi’s POV

I was the rare Beta who bloomed late, a tale that fluttered through the community faster than butterflies on a summer breeze. Naomi, the late bloomer—that was the moniker that stuck. My first shift arrived at the age of twenty, a searingly painful experience that I'd never forget. Yet amidst the agony, a revelation eased my suffering: I was destined to be mated to the Marshall quadruplets.

I was beyond thrilled; the quadruplets were simply irresistible. Each of them possessed a distinctive trait known only to them. Handsome and tall, they commanded attention with their varied shades of hair and eyes—it was impossible to look away. Every one of them was Alpha Alex Marshall's son, inheriting the formidable legacy of being part of the Gold pack, led by the most powerful alpha in Rio.

"Hey, good morning!" Malia greeted me with a warm smile, the kind that always made my day brighter. She was that one friend who stood by me when everyone else seemed to neglect my presence.

"Morning, Malia," I replied, mirroring her warm smile.

"Have you heard the latest news?" she asked as I shrugged, picking up the mop to start my daily chores.

"What news, Malia?" I inquired, rolling my eyes playfully, eager to hear the gossip she was about to share.

"Did you know one of the young masters left because his mate was wolfless!" Malia shouted, her excitement evident as she passed along the intriguing piece of information.

"What—keep your voice down! Goddess! Someone might hear you!" I exclaimed, rushing to her and covering her mouth, scanning our surroundings to ensure no one was approaching.

"What?! I’m not lying. It's the hottest news in the palace. I wonder how you of all people don't know!" she raised her voice again.

"Malia! Please. Just try and keep your voice down! You know how others can be. I don't want to be in their circle again. You of all people should know you're not always there to take my punishment," I urged, my worry apparent.

"But I still treat your wounds," she replied, looking adorable, a reminder of her unwavering friendship.

"His name is Logan—Beta Logan, and I heard he's very handsome. I've seen his pictures in one of the catalogs," she added, excitement still evident in her whispers as we both began mopping the palace hallways and exchanging gossip in hushed tones.

"Thank the goddess you have a mate who's coming to pick you up. Stop crushing on the young master and get your head straight," I replied, playfully nudging her head with the mop handle. Our banter was interrupted as we heard others' voices, prompting us to quickly separate and attend to our chores separately.

Immediately as the other maids entered, they didn't bother to greet me and hissed past me, their disdain palpable. It was clear that I was the target of their animosity, and Malia tried to distance herself from me whenever they were around, careful to keep our friendship a secret.

"Hey, Malia. Come here," I heard them call, piquing my interest. I paused in my moping, hiding behind the door, straining to listen to their conversation.

"Did you know that Beta Gabriel will be the next Alpha king?" one of my colleagues said to Malia, whose eyes widened in surprise. I continued to eavesdrop, still an outsider in their circle, never privy to their secrets, and always wondering why they harbored such intense hostility towards me.

"Since his brother Logan decided to live with his wolfless mate in the human world, his father was discussing with his councils to hand over to him," another colleague of mine added, sharing the intricate details of pack dynamics.

"But he can't be an Alpha without having his mate, remember?" Malia inquired, her curiosity evident. The colleague she asked scoffed, and I watched their expressions closely from my hidden vantage point.

"Are you saying you don't know that the Moon goddess mated him to the late bloomer?" one of my colleagues asked Malia, who shook her head in denial.

"How did you know all this? We mustn't say this anywhere. It can implicate us all, remember he has a girlfriend." Malia replied cautiously, emphasizing the need for secrecy. 

I smiled to myself, recalling the brief but captivating encounter I had with Beta Gabriel last night. It had been a short but intriguing interaction, leaving me feeling a sense of happiness. I silently expressed my gratitude to the moon goddess for this unexpected connection. However, my thoughts were interrupted when the head of the maids barged in, causing everyone to scatter in a rush.

"I need you all here now!" she shouted, prompting me to quickly drop the mop I was holding and hurry outside, feigning ignorance about being Gabriel's fated mate.

"Today is a free day for us all. I forgot to tell you that yesterday. I'm sorry," the head of maids apologized before delivering further instructions. 

"But today is not free for the late bloomer. You will be the one to clean the young master's room. Beta Gabriel. Let's go, everyone."

Laughter and mockery filled the air from the other maids, except for Malia, who seemed reluctant to leave me behind. However, the boss's stern voice forced her to join the others.

"Anyone who helps her will be rolled up in a mat and will be given a hundred strokes of the cane!" the head of maids declared fiercely, solidifying my isolation.

I felt a sense of happiness despite the challenges, for I had always yearned to encounter Gabriel again. Nolly, my wolf, danced around in joy, thrilled that we had found a mate.

"He's going to love us, right?" Nolly asked, her excitement palpable once the surroundings were quiet.

"Nolly? I don't know. Let's hope he does," I replied, hoping for the best and trying to maintain a positive outlook on the situation. 

I was on my way to his room when I met his father. Alpha Alex. 

"Good morning, Alpha." I greeted him with a warm smile

"Good morning, Naomi. Are you doing alright? How is the headache?" Alpha Alex beamed and asked with genuine concern.

"I am well, Alpha, Thank you for asking."

Alpha Alex returned the smile but remained quiet.

I bowed with a smile and left his presence sensing his eyes still on me while I walked away. On getting to Beta Gabriel's door I knocked but there was no response.

“Hello? Young master, can I come in?” I asked but there was no response. I was about to enter when Nolly, my inner wolf, spoke.

'Our Mate, Our Mate,' Nolly, my wolf, purred in my mind, dancing with excitement.

 "Nolly, stop that. You can sense a mate, yet you can't collaborate with me so I can wolf out huh?" I cautioned, and Nolly fell silent.

I heard his footsteps becoming closer, I wanted to flee due to what I heard my colleagues say earlier but I remembered I’ve been ordered to clean his room. 

As I lifted my head, my heart swelled with anticipation, but it sank as I locked eyes with Gabriel. His usually warm, dark green eyes now held an unsettling darkness.

“Our mate doesn't like us,” Nolly whimpered in distress, retreating within herself. 

The sense of rejection stung, and I struggled to find the words to address the sudden shift in Gabriel's demeanor.

"Mate, my foot. The moon goddess must be crazy for mating me to a late bloomer," he spat, his words cutting deep. My heart grew even heavier.

Beta Gabriel had always been kind and polite to me, but now the story had taken a cruel twist since the moon goddess had revealed our destined bond. 

"I am sorry, your grace..." I began, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Shut up. You only talk when I give you the chance, is that understood?" he spat rudely, his disdainful glare penetrating my soul. 

The pang in my heart grew, and I struggled to comprehend why the moon goddess would pair me with a man who despised and loathed me simply for being a late bloomer—something beyond my control.

Helplessly, I nodded my head as he advanced, cornering me until my back pressed against the wall. His cold, unfeeling gaze paralyzed me with fear, and I braced for what seemed to be an impending nightmare. Little did I know that his words would wound him as well.

"I, Gabriel, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Gold pack. I cannot have a late bloomer as my mate. Who knows, maybe it will take you forever to bear me a child. I, Gabriel Marshall, reject you, Naomi Thunderstorm, as my destined mate."

As the weight of his rejection settled in, he groaned, and I could see the pain etched across his face, his eyes glowing darker. He held onto his composure, but it was evident he was suffering. Before long, he burst into laughter, a hysterical sound that echoed in the room.

"It's your turn now, late bloomer. Accept it, or do I have to force you?" he snarled, I bit my bottom lip, fighting back the tears that threatened to pour. At this moment, facing this side of him, I realized I no longer wanted to be his mate either.