One

/-Sophia-/

The jab to my stomach sent me to the floor with a groan.

“Everest, up now!” A strict ordered.

I forced myself off the floor, even though the pains in my side were so intense that it had me crouching over, but she didn’t want to hear that. Lucy Hart was going to be the death of me.

Being the strongest female wolf in our age group, she was tasked with the duty to train us all. She had gotten her wolf earlier than most of us and being the daughter of the Beta, it was easy for her to gain respect. 

In my case. I was terrified of her. Amongst everyone else, I was her target. It was possibly because I was weak and hadn’t taken down a single wolf since the training began.

I looked at the girl before me and swallowed thickly. Her expression suggested she was out to kill, which meant it was likely going to sustain more injuries than the one I got tonight.

I picked the wooden sword, deluding myself with positivity. 

The minute the whistle was blown, we charged at each and in less than a second, my sword was flying in the opposite direction and my stomach took the hits from her blade. I tried to fight her back but she tossed her sword away and shoved me to the ground.

She got on top of me, and I expected the whistle to blow already so she could get off me, but it didn’t, and she hit me repeatedly until I was spitting blood.

The whistle finally blew and she got off me. I turned around, spitting blood.

“Up, Everest!” Lucy hissed but I merely turned over with blood dripping off my mouth. “I said Up!” 

“I… can’t…” I whimpered. If I got off this floor, that girl was going to drive me into unconsciousness. 

She walked to me and kicked me over, “Do you think you are just here to occupy space?” She hissed. “Considering your background, one would think you would be at least eager to prove yourself useful to the pack. But that is not the case, is it?”

I couldn’t say anything to that. It had become a regular insult. The father of our current Alpha’s father found me at the pack border when I was barely a year old and took me in because I was a wolf blood. It was an act I was grateful for but his pack members didn’t think the same.

I was treated like an outcast and bullied by anyone who felt like it. I was asked to scrub the floor, wash linens and prepare the high ranking werewolf’s meal.

I couldn’t complain.  They were feeding and sheltering me, even paying my fees which was something not even werewolf could have, especially us females but it was compulsory for me and some other female maids because we would serve the future Luna. We needed to be learned.

What was a couple of beatings and hurtful words compared to food, shelter and clothing?

“Sophia!” Joel came running towards me. “Are you okay?” he asked worriedly.

“They beat the shit out of me again,” I sighed as he lifted me off the floor. “I didn’t think it was possible to be so worthless until now.”

“Hey,” he cupped my face tenderly. “Don’t say that about yourself. Who cares if you are strong or not? There are a lot of weak wolves out there and being a female, it is our duty to protect you, not the other way round,” he said.

I smiled.

“You are my best friend. You have to say that,” I stated, and he chuckled. “But I assure you I am not going to remain weak. Tomorrow, by moonrise, I will get my wolf and a mate to protect me…” the mere thought of it made me giddy.

My eighteenth birthday was just a couple of hours away. I could already imagine the thrilling pain that came with shifting and communicating with my wolf. I wanted to know how it felt to share my mind and body with someone. 

I couldn’t wait to run through the forests like every other wolf. Most importantly, I couldn't wait to find my mate. After years of humiliation, I would finally get that one person that would love me wholeheartedly. 

My gaze shifted to Joel who seemed lost in his thoughts. He was one of the guards of the alpha king which was a great position.

I imagined the goddess pairing us together, and it made my chest bubble with excitement. Joel was possibly the only person in the Luna Gray pack who loved me wholeheartedly. Being mated to him will only strengthen and deepen the bond we share.

Which was exactly what I wanted. 

“I hope you do,” Joel mumbled.

Maybe if I prayed a little harder, things wouldn’t have turned out as bad as they did. 

The rest of the day passed in a blur, and the long-awaited birthday had finally arrived. I shared the same birthday with the Alpha’s cousin sister so as one of her birthday benevolences, she asked that everyone born on that date be made to celebrate with her.

Everyone except me, of course. I was a peasant girl who belonged to the ground, scrubbing the floors after them. 

But tonight was my special night so I wore something nice. I even put effort into brushing my hair and putting on some light makeup. 

Soon, it was evening and everyone had already gathered. The full moon was coming out and everyone was eager for the transformation of the princess and the other girls. 

“Sophia,” I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Joel. He had a small box in his hand and a cupcake. 

“Happy birthday,” he said and a grin broke out of my face. I worked as a maid in the palace but I did not have the luxury of getting cupcakes. I ate only vegetables so I would be fresh and plumpu enough for the future Luna who would not want an eyesore walking around with her.

“Thank you so much, Joel,” I said, feeling the tears burn my eyes. All through my life at the Gray Moon Pack, he had been the only one who gifted me on my birthday or even knew about it. 

“I hope you get everything you wish for,” he smiled. “The moon is almost fully out.”

“I really can't wait.”

Soon, the full moon was out and as anticipated, bones started cracking. Right before us, the girls shifted.

The crowd made way for the new wolves to run around. 

My smile was starting to drop. I couldn't feel anything. I didn't want to discourage myself yet. Maybe I had to get under the moonlight like the rest of the girls. 

So as everyone made their way outside, following the excited wolves, I made my way to the altar. The moonlight was hitting me fully now so I shut my eyes, waiting for it to happen.

My head felt heavy all of a sudden and happiness bubbled in my chest. An intense migraine had me gritting my teeth for some seconds. 

Then it stopped suddenly. 

Finally, anymore sleep and I would have died.

The voice was nothing like mine and I almost jumped in excitement. It was my wolf! 

Hello, Sophia. I'm Isla.

I was too excited that the words that came out of my mouth were incoherent. If she was awake, that meant I would shift soon, right?

I eagerly waited for it but nothing came. 

“I… I don't understand…” I mumbled. “Why am I not shifting?”

She said nothing to me, so I decided to give it time, and when nothing happened in the next ten minutes, my stomach twisted in dread. 

“Isla…”

I'm sorry, Sophia.

I burst into tears. 

“No! No! You can't do this to me. I've been waiting for this day my whole life, you can't do this to me…. Please you can't…” I sobbed.

She said nothing to me and I knew I was done for. 

“Isla please… please…” I pleaded but nothing happened. It felt like my life was crumbling before. What would happen if these people discovered I was already eighteen without a wolf?

What would I say to defend myself?

Then laughter blew out of nowhere. I turned to see that I wasn't the only one present in the room as I thought. 

“Oh look, it's the useless outcast,” Lucy mocked, leading the crowd inside. “You didn't think we would forget today was your birthday, did you?” 

I swallowed thickly, fighting the tears that were threatening to pour down my cheeks. 

How did she even know it was my birthday? 

“Oh, don't look so surprised; you wore a fancy dress and even did some makeup; you didn't think we would be so stupid to think you just wanted to look pretty for the princess,” she huffed. 

My gaze dropped in embarrassment.

She walked to me, “Your birthday mates are running outside. Shouldn't you be with them?”

The tears escaped my eyes. 

“Oh, that's right, you didn't get a wolf like everyone else,” she mocked, and everyone laughed. She picked a cupcake and shoved it into my mouth. 

“Congratulations, you've proven yourself a true outcast,” she said, clapping and just like that, everyone joined her. 

I stood frozen on the spot with tears streaming down my cheeks as they headed back outside.

My body dropped to the floor weakly as tears streamed down my cheeks. Just then, a thick, woody scent hit my nose, and my face shot up from my lap. 

That scent…

Mate….

I was off the floor in a minute. My mate was somewhere. 

Maybe this night wouldn't be entirely horrible after all. I stood immediately and followed it.

The further I went, the stronger it became. I met the crowd of wolves outside but my mate was still out there somewhere.

I didn't waste a second. 

I pushed through them, making my way to my mate until the scent completely overwhelmed me. I forced myself to push through the intoxication and froze when I bumped into a hard wall. 

The dark orbs rested intensely on me. And I found myself trembling.

It couldn't be…

This couldn't be my mate, but his gaze had me pinned on the spot. 

“Mate!” I blurted before I could stop myself and everyone turned. 

My gaze was fixed on the Alpha. His eyes hardened.

“This must be a joke!” 

The statement shattered the remaining pieces of my broken heart.