WOLFLESS

LYRA’S POV

It has been long settled since I was twelve years old–my marriage with Damon. Now I am standing under the glowing natural light, clad in this red dress that smells of sweet lavender and clutching the red roses Aunt Maya carefully picked out specially for this night. The air is nice and moist, the atmosphere is amazing and the moon is slowly showing its face. 

I stretch my neck towards the walkway. Damon hasn't shown up yet nor his father, Alpha Thorne. Then towards the front row of people and there my best friend in the whole wide world is standing and I see her mouth “Go girl! Luna incoming!”

I try to hold back my smile but really can't. Kael knows just how to make anyone around her spring to life. She is so full of energy and sometimes I really don't know what I could have done without her in my life. I press my eyes shut and the memories begin to rear up. I still remember the first day I was taken into the Thorne family. Damon was sixteen and I was twelve. I had immediately found him attractive and nice as little as I was then. But days after I was brought in, he never spoke to me and I thought he hated me. It was almost as if he didn't like that I was brought into his home and I felt like an outsider. 

“It's time!” I hear someone in the crowd yell and then Damon and his father join us. 

It is exactly 12:00 am on the dot. All of a sudden I feel my palms become sweaty. I drag in a quick breath and my grip around the bunch of roses tighten. 

“Hey, you doing alright?” Damon asks as he presses a light kiss on my cheeks. His eyes are warm and I'm sure…no, I know he is as excited as I am. I flash him a smile and nod.

Honestly, I'm nervous. Two things will be happening tonight; I will be shifting into my wolf for the first time and in the presence of everyone. Once this is done, then I will be announced as the new Luna and my marriage ceremony party comes up the next day. 

It has always been my calling to become Luna and get married to Damon ever since Alpha Thorne saved me after my parents death. But now that it is finally happening, I have become a nervous wreck. 

Damon notices my trembling fingers and he leans in towards me. “We will be done soon and we will have our space all to ourselves. Just me and you,” he whispers in my ears and I feel my heart warm up. 

My anxiousness did not immediately vanish but I found a renewed assurance that someone, not just anyone, but the man I will be spending the rest of my life with is actually with me in every step I take. 

The moon is full in the sky now. I could hear the soft moan from the crowd in admiration for it. The bell rings, everywhere becomes silent and all eyes are on me. 

I reach deep into my inner being, for my wolf. She makes a small whimper but then goes quiet. I instantly go into a panic mood. Do I have to be angry for her to come out? What is going on? Why am I not shifting…

Seconds are going into minutes. The murmurings from the crowd are growing obvious. I can't hear my wolf. I try to communicate but she is not responding. 

“Is everything alright?”

I hear Damon's voice and when I look at him I could see the mixture of fear and worry in his eyes.

“Yes I'm fine. I'm fine. I will try again…”

Again and again, I try to shift into my wolf but she isn't forthcoming. 

“She is wolfless!” someone growls in the crowd. 

“This is ridiculous! How can the Omega be wolfless! We can't have a wolfless Luna! Goddess forbid!” The disgust and disbelief very glaring in their voices bombard my ears. 

“Moon goddess please, don't let me be put to shame.” I am almost breaking down in tears as the eruption from the people is getting worse. 

In the helplessness of the moment, I look at Alpha Thorne and the sheer disappointment in his face can melt a rock. 

“Give me some time…I can do this…”

Damon holds my shoulders. I cannot make out what he is saying but I know he is mumbling comforting words. 

Alpha Thorne marches towards us and pulls Damon away. “I am disappointed. We took you in all these years.. for this.”

“Please Alpha, give me some more time. I can do this… I can shift…”

“It's been fifteen minutes. We will stay here till forever and nothing will happen. I wasted a lot of years waiting. Let's go Damon,” he grits.

Damon stares at me pitifully. “Dad please let's give her some time…”

“I said let's get out of here!”

My knees weaken and my body drops to the ground as I watch Damon and Alpha Thorne leave. People are looking at me, cursing in anger, mocking me and hurrying away. Some say I am cursed and will never be able to shift till my death. Some are angry Alpha Thorne let a wolfless girl be the Pack Omega in the first place. 

Actually, when I didn't shift at sixteen, seventeen and eighteen like my mates, Alpha Thorne was pleased. He said it meant I will be shifting late which will make me strong and hence a suitable Luna for Damon. 

Foolish me. I was excited. I wanted to be perfect for Damon. I didn't think of it this way. 

My best friend is in the crowd begging them to give me more time but then suddenly she switches when they would not listen to her. She is furious and yelling at them. 

I can feel hot tears sting my eyes. Soon enough it starts rolling down my face as I continue to force myself to shift. I have waited years for this moment. How can I be wolfless…I feel my wolf, I speak to her everyday but why can't I shift…

I look up at the sky. At the moon goddess. When I was small Mom told me she always watches over me. I know she is there and she is watching me, probably gleefully. First she let me lose my parents and now this. “Stop being mean to me! Stop being mean to me!”

I break down in tears. My chest is stifling. It cannot contain my frustration. Why won't anything ever go my way?

“Kael, what do I do?” 

Kael pats my back with an assuring look. “It's okay. This is not the end. You can still shift another full moon. Pull yourself together.”

“What do I do? What do I do Kael…I'm so confused right now…”

She sighs and without speaking another word, she just pulls me into her body. I stay there in her hands and my tears flow.