Chapter 1 - Mate!

Layla POV

                           I had been waiting for this moment my whole life.  Turning eighteen was the moment every wolf anticipated.  The night a wolf gets their wolf and shifts for the first time.  “You are stunning, Layla,” my mom, Julia, said to me.  “Thanks, Mom,” I replied as I twirled in front of the mirror.

                           My father, Eric, was also here and he looked away for a moment.  I could tell he was getting a little emotional, so I politely ignored him and applied some more lip gloss.  Once he had composed himself, he turned back to me and presented me with a jewelry box.

                           “Is that what I think it is?” I asked excitedly.  I was practically bouncing in front of him.  He smiled, opening the box.  I gasped, even though I knew what it was.  It was a necklace and the matching earrings from the family heirlooms.  They were my favourite.  Tears filled my eyes, “You have earned them, Layla,” my father stated.

                           My dad hugged me tightly, and my mom put her arms around both of us.  “I cannot believe you may find your mate tonight,” my mom murmured.  I knew it was an emotional time for all of us.  I wanted to find my fated mate, but I also, selfishly, wanted to stay with my family.

                           I turned and smiled in the mirror.  “They are beautiful,” I whispered.  “It is time, Layla,” my father said.  I turned and we walked downstairs together towards the celebration hall.  We went to the main entrance and opened the doors wide to welcome our guests.  We were all busy thanking everyone for attending our birthday celebration.

                           Many congratulated us and wished us the best in the future.  One man was watching me intensely.  His hand lingered on mine for a moment longer than was comfortable.  I smiled and moved on, not recognizing him at all.  There were so many people who were present, it was hard to keep everyone straight.

           We had little time for mingling as it was suddenly time to go and change for our first shift.  I raced upstairs and changed into the outfit I had selected before meeting Lucas, my twin, on the landing heading back downstairs.

                           “This is it,” Lucas said as we quickly hugged.  “Whatever happens tonight, we will remain close, right?” I asked Lucas.  “Always,” he promised as our father interrupted us.  “Let’s go you two,” he called through our mind-link.  I laughed and took off down the stairs.

                           We met our parents and the rest of the guests out in the field behind the palace.  I felt butterflies rise in my stomach as I got closer to the group.  I knew my mate was here.  I could sense him, but I had no idea who it might be.

        Before I could focus much more on the possibility of my mate being here, the countdown had begun.  I felt scared and nauseous at the same time.  As the hour struck midnight, I immediately fell to the ground. 

                           The pain that tore through my body was almost unbearable.  “Just breathe,” my mother coached me, as I tried to focus on her words.  They had prepared us for this moment, but I don’t think anything fully prepared you.  I felt my bones crack and realign.  I watched as fur started to sprout through my skin.  Even that was painful, feeling the fur tear through my flesh.

                           The last part was my face.  I had watched my white fur come through.  I saw that I had big paws.  But the shift in my face almost made me pass out.  Elongating my jaw to accommodate my wolf’s head was excruciating.  I was now laying on the ground, panting through the last exertion of my shift.

                           As if pushed with unknown strength, my face finished the shift, and I screamed as the last piece fell into shape.  I lay there panting for a moment, before I heard this little voice in my head.  “Layla? It’s me, Sunny, your wolf!” the voice squealed.  As if nothing had happened, I immediately bounced to my shaky legs.

                           I yipped and turned around looking for my twin.  The crowd was laughing as we bounced around excitedly.  I was so excited.  I immediately sniffed the air but was disappointed that I could not scent my mate.  I noted two men start to move forward, but they paused.  I watched them for a moment, before I looked at my father, who was welcoming our wolves.

                           “Please join us in a traditional run with the newly birthed wolves,” my father encouraged everyone.  As howls took over the night, Lucas and I took off into the dark forest.  We leapt over logs and ducked under half downed trees.  We howled as we moved through the territory. 

                           When we returned, I quickly shifted back into my clothes.  I immediately sniffed the air and felt the hair raise on my arms.  He was here.  My mate was here!  I scanned the area, before my eyes fell on the man from earlier who had held my hand longer than necessary. 

He had not participated in the run, but he was looking at me intensely.  He started to move towards me, as I moved towards him.  It felt like everything around us had gone silent.  People watched as we moved closer until we were in front of one another.  “Mate!” I whispered.