Chapter 1

I had been buzzing all day and now it was finally here. A Moon Calling—mates caught in undeniable clarity.

How cinematic

I dressed simply and added only a pair of earrings and a bracelet, not wanting to be a distraction during a ritual meant for recognition, not display.

My brother was still too young to stand in the circle, and my parents who were already mated would watch from the back.

I, however, was nineteen. Eligible to find a mate.

Nine pm on the dot, we left for the ritual grounds. If all went well, we would return after dawn knowing the name of Celestial Moon’s future Luna.

We walked together, my parents lingering at the back, exchanging small shenanigans behind my brother’s and my view.

We were used to it; they almost always walked hand in hand.

The field smelled wonderful tonight; flowers and herbs laid out with care, thanks to the Shaman and his mate.

The ritual wouldn’t begin until nine-thirty pm, but the grounds were already crowded. Everyone who could be there wanted to see it happen.

“I hope Alec’s my mate.”

I turned toward the voice. The girl was dressed in bright shades of pink, certainly displaying.

“Fat chance,” her friend replied, dressed far more modestly.

“You were here last year, weren’t you? Give it up, there’s no chance. His mate is likely one of the eighteen-year-olds.”

The girl in pink continued, "What do you know? Legends have it that there were often corrupted bonds that were delayed. It could have been so last time."

Her friend snorted "Wake up to reality."

Her words made me pause. I hadn’t been here last year either.

I turned to my parents, a small spark of expectation rising in my chest.

From the corner of my eye, I spotted the former Alpha and Luna of the pack. Luna looked beautiful and hopeful.

The Shaman came forward with his mate.

"Welcome Celestial Moon pack to the second Moon Calling of our Alpha, Alpha Alec Jenkins."

"Centuries ago when the nature of wolves was more beastly and war abounded.

“The Moon paired wolves with fated mates to balance one another, continue nature’s cycle, and propagate love, life, and continuity.”

"Tonight under the Goddess's full Moon, we perform a Moon Calling to open the eyes, attune the mind, and sharpen the senses of the wolves tonight that our new Alpha and Luna may be known by the Goddess's grace."

"By the Goddess's grace," his mate echoed.

The whole pack echoed it after her, "By the Goddess's grace".

"The young maidens who are eligible follow me, the young are the stars of today." The Shaman's mate said laughing and some of the mated couples laughed along.

"See you Christy," my brother said.

He and my parents left slowly and I walked forward with the other girls to the front where the Shaman's mate led us.

She guided us forward, not into the ritual circle, but to the space just before it.

The circle itself remained untouched, waiting.

Only she and the Shaman stepped within.

We stood just in front of the circle, and I observed the girls—some excited, some shy, others uncaring.

You could tell who wanted desperately to be the Luna from their dressing and behavior.

Beside me, a young girl stood on my left. She seemed forced to be here. The one by my right was familiar, I think.

She had turned eighteen recently. She was one of the few girls close to the Alpha when she was little and from her demeanor, it could be seen she was among the hopeful ones.

The Shaman's mate hummed slowly as she and the Shaman laid out herbs gently outside the circle.

She placed some first; he followed with others. Great care was given to the order and spacing.

Then the Shaman joined her humming. She let out a bright smile like a blooming peony and an electrifying look passed through their eyes before they continued.

They left a small space by the side.

The former Alpha and Luna walked forward and stood behind Alpha Alec.

Then he stepped into the circle facing us leaving them behind.

He stood with his back to the Shaman and his mate.

Mated couples positioned themselves behind us, others to the side behind him.

Then just one herb was used to close the space he had entered from placed solely by the Shaman quietly and solemnly.

The closing didn't seem final though, unlike the other bounds of the circle that had at least three herbs that formed a pretty visual, the side where he entered from seemed empty with just a curve of one particular herb as the covering.

The air shifted.

Not louder. Not brighter.

Charged.

The ritual had begun.

The Moon shone brightly on the herbs.

The circle glowed—beautiful and alive and Alpha Alec stood at its center.

I let myself sink into the sensations.

Then the scent of cedarwood and sage hit me.

Exotic. Stunning.

Loud and clear, my wolf announced it between us.

'Mate!'

There was no denying it. She meant him.

The word tore from my lips before I could stop it.

“Mate.”

Heads turned. I didn’t care.

I walked toward Alec Jenkins, my mate.

After a few steps, I stopped. He was staring at me, silent.

Why wasn't he saying anything?

The Shaman stepped into the circle after minutes that felt like hours, entering from the thinner side, careful not to disturb the herbs. He stopped beside Alec.

“Is she your mate?”

Alec looked away from me and turned to him.

“.......I feel nothing.”

My heart sank, and all around me, I could hear whispering indistinct voices mashed together.

"Isn't she his mate?"

".... Is she really lying before everyone?"

"Some girls are really desperate."

"Who's that?"

"What's her name?"

"Christiana," I heard one reply.

My ears were ringing, it was a jumble of voices, accusations, and taunts around me.

"Silence!" the Shaman called.

The noises stopped.

He came out of the circle, "I will add more herbs, fresher ones."

"Come forward child." I came forward my legs as heavy as lead each step a test to my motor skills.

He searched my face before finally questioning "Are you sure he is your mate?"

I nodded.

"Speak, child. Affirm before the Moon."

"Yes"

I wasn’t lying. My wolf had said it. I could feel the pull. Alec was my fated mate.

"Open your mind Alpha, attune your senses to the world around you. Allow the Moon to guide you."

He placed more herbs gently and his mate watched me carefully.

Then she brought out an incense and he smiled at her. She lit it up and put it in front of the circle.

It was like a smokescreen, tainting the air and blocking my view of him. But his scent was still strong. The pull still tight.

I heard my wolf say it again. 'Mate.'

The incense burned quickly, fast and powerful.

When the incense burned out, the Shaman asked again.

"Alpha Alec?"

Then while looking straight at me, my mate crushed my heart,

"She is not my mate."

In our mindlink, my wolf let out a long, broken howl.