Chapter 1

Lillian's Pov, Nestle Town.

I woke up to the sound of my parents bustling around the house, packing bags and discussing their plans for the day. It took me a few moments to remember that it was my 18th birthday tomorrow but where were they heading to?

Dragging myself out of bed, I stumbled into the kitchen and poured myself a cup of coffee. My parents were in the living room, surrounded by suitcases and bags, and they looked up as I entered the room.

"Good morning, sweetie," my mom said, flashing me a warm smile. "Happy birthday in advance!"

"Thanks, Mom," I replied, feeling a little awkward. I wasn't sure how to feel about my birthday tomorrow, that I would officially be an adult. It felt like a big responsibility, and I wasn't sure I was ready for it.

"What's with all the bags and suitcases? Where are you going?" I asked, still groggy and confused. 

My mother's face fell, and she walked up to me. "I'm so sorry Lillian. Your father and I have been called to attend an important event. The date was moved up, and we have no choice but to attend."

I looked at them, my eyes teary, "How'd I celebrate my birthday without you both?” 

My dad walked over to me and handed me a small wrapped package, and I tore open the paper to reveal a beautiful necklace with a silver wolf charm. "We are sorry, Lil. We'll make it up to you when we arrive, I promise." He said and my mom nodded.

"We thought you might like this," he said, grinning at me. "It's a symbol of our nature, and a reminder that you're part of something special." He said and I hugged him with teary eyes.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I thanked my parents for the gift. It was the perfect present, and it made me feel connected to nature in a way that I hadn't before.

As my parents finished packing their bags and loaded them into the car, I watched from the window, feeling a twinge of sadness at their departure. I had planned a small party for my birthday tomorrow evening, but I knew it wouldn't be the same without them.

"Have a great time at the event," I called out, waving as they climbed into the car. "And don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

My parents smiled at me through the window, and I could tell that they were proud of me. 

After they drove away, I wandered around the empty house, feeling a little lost. It was strange to be alone on my birthday, but I knew that I had to make the best of it.

As the day wore on, I busied myself with preparations for the party. I ordered the cake for it to be delivered tomorrow, which is my birthday, and decorated the living room with streamers and balloons, trying to make it as festive as possible. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness that was creeping up inside me.

I shrugged it off and decided to watch a movie to distract myself. I curled up on the couch with a blanket and a bowl of popcorn, and before I knew it, the credits were rolling.

I checked my phone and saw that it was getting late, so I decided to head to bed. As I climbed under the covers, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that my 18th birthday wouldn't turn out the way I had hoped. But then I reminded myself that tomorrow was a new day and that I still had a lot to look forward to.

I closed my eyes and let my mind wander, imagining all the possibilities that my future held after 18.

As I drifted off to sleep, I felt a sense of excitement and anticipation bubbling up inside me. Tomorrow was my birthday, and who knew what kind of surprises it would bring? I smiled to myself and snuggled deeper into the covers, already dreaming of the adventures that lay ahead.

The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to celebrate my 18th birthday. I jumped out of bed and headed to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee. As I sipped on my coffee, I started to plan out the details of the overnight party I was throwing for my friends later that evening.

At the last minute, I changed the theme of the party and decided to make it a bonfire party and set up a fire pit in the backyard. I also planned to have a barbecue and games, like truth or dare, body shots, charades, and many more, to keep everyone entertained. I wanted to make sure that my friends had a great time, even though my parents were away.

After finishing my coffee, I headed to the store to pick up some last-minute supplies. I grabbed a few bags of marshmallows, hot dogs, and buns, as well as some glow sticks and sparklers to add to the festive atmosphere.

Once I got back home, I started setting up for the party. I arranged chairs around the fire pit and hung up more streamers and balloons in the backyard. I also made sure to test out the barbecue grill and get it started, so that it would be ready when my friends arrived.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and my heart leaped into my throat. I rushed to the door and swung it open to reveal my best friend, Sarah, standing on the doorstep with a big grin on her face.

"Happy birthday, Lil!" Sarah exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug.

Grinning back at her, I felt my nerves start to dissipate. I rushed to my room and put on a new outfit - a black dress with ankle boots, and brushed out my long, wavy hair.

As I rummaged through my jewelry box, I came across the necklace that my parents gave me yesterday for my 18th birthday. It was a silver chain with a small charm in the shape of a wolf. I smiled, feeling a surge of pride and love for my family. I put the necklace on and looked at myself in the mirror, feeling like I had finally come of age. The legal age of 18. 

As the sun began to set, my friends started to arrive. I greeted them at the door, feeling a rush of excitement as I saw them all together again. We hugged and chatted excitedly, catching up on everything that had happened since we last saw each other.

Once everyone had arrived, we headed out to the backyard and started the bonfire. We roasted marshmallows and hot dogs over the flames, telling stories and laughing until our sides hurt. We played games and danced under the stars, feeling free and wild in a way that only we could understand.

But as the night wore on, under the full moon, I started to feel strange. My skin began to itch, and a fierce hunger gnawed at my belly. 

I tried to ignore it, telling myself that it was just the excitement of the party getting to me. But then, as I was chatting with a group of friends, I felt something shift inside of me. It was like a switch had been flipped, and suddenly I was seeing the world through a different lens.

All around me, I could sense my friend and other people in the room. Their scents, their energy, their very essence were calling out to me, and I couldn't ignore it any longer. I excused myself from the conversation and headed towards the back door, feeling like I was in a trance.

And that was where I saw him. He was dressed in a well-ironed black shirt and pants. His brown hair slicked back stylishly. He was tall and lean, with a ruggedly handsome face and piercing blue eyes. He smiled at me, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Hi," he said, extending his hand. "I'm Alec. I don't think we've met before."

I shook his hand, feeling a jolt of electricity run through me. "I'm Lilian," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

Alec and I started talking, and I found myself drawn to him in a way that I had never experienced before. He was funny and charming, with a sharp wit and an easy confidence that made me feel both excited and intimidated.

As the night wore on, we found ourselves drawn to each other, our bodies gravitating closer and closer. We danced together, our bodies pressed together, and I could feel the heat of his breath on my neck. It was like we were the only two people in the world, lost in a bubble of our own making.

Before I knew it, we were kissing, our bodies entwined, lost in a whirlwind of passion and desire. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before, and I felt like I was flying.

As our kisses became deeper and more intense, Alec suddenly pulled away and looked into my eyes. In a low, growling voice, he called me "mate," and I could feel a shiver run down my spine. Something about the way he said it, with such possession and intensity, made me feel both scared and aroused.

Then, without warning, he pressed his lips to my neck and left a mark, a claiming symbol of his ownership. I gasped in shock, but it quickly turned into a moan of pleasure as he continued to kiss and nip at my skin.

But then, just as I was about to lose myself completely in the moment, Alec pulled back and looked deep into my eyes. "You're my mate," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion.

I froze, not sure what to say. "Mate?" That was a term unknown to me. But as I looked into Alec's eyes, I could see the truth written there. I was his "mate" although I had no idea of who or what the term meant.

At that moment, I knew that I was in deep trouble. I had never felt so connected to someone, and the primal urge to surrender to him and his desires was overwhelming. But at the same time, I was scared of what it meant to be his "mate," and what kind of dangers and responsibilities it would bring.

As Alec's hands roamed my body, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for us. Would I be able to navigate the complexities of my new relationship with this stranger, or would it all come crashing down around us?

Only time would tell, but for now, I was content to give in to the heat and passion of the moment and worry about the rest later.