3

“I don’t have a face… at least, you can’t see it.”

The voice echoed softly inside her head, and Lunelle felt her fear spike even higher. She pressed herself tighter against the wet tiles of the shower. “You don’t have a face?” she whispered, her voice was practically trembling at this point. “Are… are you a ghost?”

The more she thought about it, the more terrified she became. Her eyes darted wildly around the bathroom as if expecting a transparent figure to suddenly appear. “Mom!!!! Mom!!! There’s… there’s a ghost!” she screamed. She gulped hard and backed further into the corner of the shower.

A small laugh echoed from her mind. “Chill out, girl. I’m your wolf. Don’t you know you’ll manifest one once you turn eighteen?”

Lunelle froze.

Wolf?

The word hit her like a splash of cold water. In all the excitement about possibly meeting her mate today, she had completely forgotten the most important thing, her own wolf would awaken on her eighteenth birthday too. The one who was supposed to recognize her mate first.

“Oh my goodness…” she breathed, then suddenly squealed with delight. “You’re my wolf! Oh gosh—” Her hands flew up to her face, fingers pressing against her cheeks and nose as if expecting fur or a snout. “This still feels like normal flesh. I’m still not a wolf?”

She scrambled up, nearly slipping again, and rushed to the bathroom window. She wiped the fogged glass with her palm and stared at her reflection. Same face. Same wet hair. Same everything.

“That means… that means you’re inside my head,” she whispered in awe. “I’m actually talking to my wolf inside my own head.”

“Okay, first of all, there’s no need to shout that loud,” the voice snorted. “My name’s Selene, by the way. Since you didn’t bother asking.”

“Selene…” Lunelle repeated softly, a bright smile spreading across her face. “Selene. Such a cute, beautiful name. I don’t even know what it means, but it sounds beautiful.”

Selene snorted again. “Somebody clearly didn’t pay attention in history class.”

“Oh, fuck off,” Lunelle muttered, “The least you could do is not be annoying on the very first day.” But she was right though, she never paid attention in class, she loved practicing in the training grounds instead of being stuck in those boring classes. But now it was so embarrassing that she couldn't recognize her own wolf.

“You gotta step up Lunelle, you're the next Alpha.” She muttered to herself.

A gentle knock sounded on the bathroom door, followed by her mother’s worried voice. “Honey? Are you okay? I heard shouting.”

Lunelle’s eyes widened. She quickly cleared her throat and tried to sound normal. “Yes! Yes, I’m fine. I’ll… I’ll come out soon and explain everything. But I’m fine, don’t worry.”

There was a short pause. “Are you sure?” her mother asked again, clearly still concerned.

Lunelle pressed a hand over her racing heart and smiled at her reflection. “I’m sure, Mom.”

After a few seconds the sound of Luna Yudi’s footsteps fading down the hallway reached Lunelle’s ears. She let out a long breath and stared at her reflection in the fogged mirror. “Selene…” she murmured softly. “What a unique name. It almost sounds familiar.” A small smile tugged at her lips. “Well, it’s nice to meet you… but we really need to get ready.” She finished washing up, dried herself, and slipped into a soft bathrobe before stepping out. The makeup artists were already waiting in her room. Her birthday had been split into two parts, the morning session for her friends and age mates, and the grand evening celebration. For the morning she had invited her school friends and the young warriors she trained with. The artists applied only light makeup, just enough to enhance her natural features, and she changed into a fluffy pastel sundress that matched the soft theme of the daytime party. When she finally walked out to meet the girls, Mila and the others froze for a second, eyes wide. Lunelle really was striking—thick black curls tied into a low bun with a few soft strands framing her face, dark green eyes bright against her glowing skin. She looked elegant and a little more mature than usual. “Oh my goodness!” Stella, one of her warrior friends, giggled as she rushed forward. “Look at you! You look like some otherworldly beauty.” Lunelle covered her mouth, cheeks warming. “Sheesh… no need to flatter me.” “I’m serious!” Stella insisted. Mila quickly cut in with a grin. “Alright, alright, don’t make the birthday girl blush too much. The main event hasn’t even started yet—meeting your mate.” The group of girls immediately squealed. Most of them still hadn’t found their mates and had spent years fantasizing about the moment together. Tonight every eligible Alpha had been invited, so the chances that Lunelle would finally meet hers felt higher than ever. Some of the girls looked openly excited for her; a few couldn’t quite hide the flicker of envy in their eyes. The little morning party began with laughter and games. At one point the girls made Lunelle write down every quality she wanted in her ideal man, and the teasing that followed turned her face a soft shade of red. By early afternoon the younger guests started leaving as the more formal visitors—mostly Alphas and their families—began to arrive. Lunelle quickly slipped back upstairs before anyone important could see her; she wanted her evening entrance to be a real surprise. As the sun began to set she changed into a sleek black sequin dress covered in tiny diamonds that caught the light with every movement. The fabric hugged her curves perfectly. When she turned to the full-length mirror she actually stopped and stared. The woman looking back at her felt almost like a stranger—confident, radiant, and undeniably striking. “Damn… I look sexy,” she whispered. Selene’s amused voice drifted through her mind. “You mean we look sexy. You have the face; I have the big ass.” Lunelle burst into a soft laugh. A gentle knock sounded at the door. “Lunelle?” Luna Yudi’s voice floated in. “Baby, it’s time.” Lunelle drew in a deep breath, smoothed her dress one more time, and opened the door. Both her parents stood waiting in the hallway. She gave them a slightly stiff smile,her nerves fluttering in her stomach, but they each took one of her hands and the familiar warmth instantly calmed her. Together they walked toward the grand staircase. Downstairs the large hall was already filled with Alphas, Betas, and their families. The moment the host announced her name, a bright spotlight swung toward the top of the stairs. Lunelle startled a little and tightened her grip on her parents’ hands as they began walking down slowly. Her eyes swept across the sea of faces—so many young, handsome men watching her with interest. Among them she spotted Ryan, the charming guy from the café, and a small spark of excitement flickered in her chest. She took another steadying breath and whispered inside her mind, “Selene… can you sense our mate?”