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Chapter 1

Thalia’s pov

“I don't know what to do, Mira…” I said with a defeated sigh, “... Varian has given me an ultimatum, if I accept the scholarship to Crescent University, I won't be able to be his Luna,” 

My best friend who was currently hundreds of miles away in her dorm room stared at me through the communication crystal.

“Tell me this is a joke, Thalia, you've wanted to go to Crescent uni ever since you were ten! This is unexaggeratedly your lifelong dream,”

“So is being Luna,” I argued with her, “... I loved Varian even before I knew the meaning of the word, he's been there for me ever since I lost my Dad he–”

“He is standing in between you and your dream, and he's waving the relationship between the two of you as leverage. That's the only thing I can hear right now, can't you?!” 

“Mira it's not that deep–”

“I could say the same thing about your relationship,” she deadpanned, “both of you are not fated mates!” 

Her declaration struck an old wound and was hard too.

It was the memory of a 16 year old me about to be 17 in a month rushing into the arms of a fresh 18-year-old Varian for the first time. 

He was old enough to feel the mate bond, I had been begging the moon goddess to make us mates.

Unfortunately, I learnt in that moment that life doesn't always go the way you hope.

Varian with his hands around my waist looked at me with a mix of apology and self frustration. 

“Varian…” I called out to him hopefully, but he couldn't even bear to meet my eyes. His words filled him but his actions did not. 

We were not fate mates.

But in that split second he held me even closer. 

“This doesn't change anything between the two of us Thalia, I still love you with all of my heart and a mate bond does nothing to change that,”

Tears instantly welled up in my eyes.

“Varian…what if…what if you meet your fated mate in future? They say the bond is unescapeable. Shouldn't we just end things here now before going too far?” 

He held me even more possessively, like I would disintegrate if he released me just a bit. 

“I don't care, fate mate or not you are my chosen mate, the only one I see my future with. The only woman I want is my pup. No one can even come close to comparing,” 

In order to avoid anyone ever questioning the validity of our feelings for one another we never told another person about the fact that we were not mates.

And just like that we were the perfect pack love story: the Alpha's son and the Beta's daughter who had been childhood friends forever blossomed into full lovers and mates.

But I ended up getting drunk once on a girl's night with Mira and spilled the beans. She later swore to secrecy in heated moments like this that she would bring up a cheap way to poke holes in my relationship. 

“Well…” I said prepping a low blow of my own, “... If you had a man who loved you half as much as Varian loved me maybe you would understand,” 

Her expression darkened and so did the crystal in my hand until it went from a right pink to a dead cole black. 

She cut off the connection from her end.

I threw the crystal across the room. They were sturdy so there was nothing to worry about and I got to let out my anger.

I folded myself into a ball, bundling up my knees and hugging them to myself as I curled my hands over them. 

There were only 3 days left. 

Counting this night out it would be 2 days. 

I went to bed with a heavy heart. 

Morning came and my worries were still there. 

I came downstairs and Mom was making our family signature blueberry pie. The smell nearly lifted me off the floorboard.

With a brush of my hand I wiped off the drool gathering in the corner of my mouth.

In the blink of an eye I was next to my mom, she smiled tenderly at me for a second and her smile snapped like it's wig in the next moments. 

“Not today,” she said poised and ready to slap my hand away from the pie. “I made this for Lena and Varian,” 

My smile dropped. 

“Nothing for your lovely daughter?” 

“My lovely daughter already inhaled the last two pies I made, I think someone else deserves a bite,” 

I sighed dramatically and we both laughed. 

Then she spoke, her voice evidently becoming more serious. 

“I heard Varian gave you an ultimatum,”

I sighed, I knew this info would reach my mom sooner than later. I just wish it had been a little more ‘later’

“I wouldn't say it's an ultimatum per se…” 

“He's making you choose between ism and your dream with a time limit stamped on it, if that's an ultimatum then what is?” 

My smile disappeared completely.

“I’m just confused mom…if Dad had asked you this question, what would have been your response?” 

Without missing a beat my mom took off her oven mitts and said; “Your father would have never asked me to make a choice like this,” my face fell but she continued, “... However you and Varian are not me and your dad. You're in an adult now so whatever choice you make I'll be right behind you supporting you nevertheless,” 

As I watched my mom package the pie to be personally delivered to Aunt Lena, a decision solidified in my mind, I came forward and asked her if I could deliver it in her place.

“Are you sure?” She was asking about more than just the pie, I hadn't been to the packhouse in a hot minute because I've been avoiding Varian but it was about time I gave him his answer..