A WOMAN

KOOKIE:

Today is the day my life changes.

I recently turned eighteen, and there is no mate in sight, which gives me hope that Alpha Prince Levi is my mate.

Today is my induction—the day I finally step into my role after years of studying werewolf medicine abroad. My pulse races as excitement fills me, but mostly because I get to see Levi again after three years.

I exhale shakily, smoothing my dress as I stand before the mirror, staring at my reflection. The silk fabric clings to my figure, the deep blue color complementing my pale skin. Luna sent it days ago as a congratulatory gift for passing my final exams. The thought makes me smile because I know Levi must have picked it out—blue is his favorite color on me.

Levi has been my best friend for years, and we practically grew up together with my father being Beta. As kids, we always believed we were meant to be mates. Even our parents believed it, and Luna used to joke that if I wasn’t Levi’s mate, she’d exile our mates so we could be together.

Things became rocky after I left at fifteen to study werewolf medicine, but it got worse a year later when Levi left for the compulsory training for Alpha Princes across the country. Our communication weakened as we had to rely on letters. Last year, we hit an all-time low—he would only send a letter every three months, and for weeks now, I haven’t heard from him.

This is mainly the reason I am tensed. Did he find his mate yet? I would kill myself!!

A knock on my door snaps me out of my thoughts, and I rush to open it.

“Kookie! We’re late, and my mother is breathing fire,” my friend Bell huffs as she steps inside, hands on her hips. Bell is from this pack, the Opal Moon Pack, and she is the best thing to happen to me in medical school.

I nod, grabbing my clutch from the bed, but my gaze lingers on the small wooden box beside it—the one filled with Levi’s letters. My fingers twitch to open it, to read the messy handwriting that once made my heart race, but I don’t.

“You ready?” Bell asks.

I take a breath, nodding. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

**

We step into the induction hall, where rows of pack members from across the country fill the space, murmuring excitedly. Love fills the air as many students reunite with family, friends, and love interests. Bell spots her parents and leaves at once.

“Kookie!” I hear my name.

I spin around to see my parents, dressed elegantly, their faces beaming with pride. A warm rush of happiness floods me, and I run into their arms.

“We’re so proud of you, baby,” my father murmurs, squeezing my shoulder gently.

I laugh, holding them close, but my eyes search the crowd over their shoulders for Levi. My heart rate drops when I don’t see him. He should be here—he promised he’d be here to watch me walk the stage.

I bite my lip, touching the pearl necklace he probably picked out as I try to steady my voice.

“Where’s Levi?” I ask, and there is a moment of silence as my parents glance at each other weirdly.

Then my mother clears her throat.

“He’ll be here soon, sweetheart. The Alpha and Luna are on their way now.”

There is something off about their response, but I can’t quite place it. Still, as long as Levi is coming, I don’t care.

“Kookie!”

I turn at the sound of Luna Jasmine’s voice. She smiles brightly, her arms outstretched. I look around again—Levi is still nowhere to be found.

I force a smile, letting her pull me into a hug, but my heart isn’t in it. Impatience grows within me, but I try to mask it.

Alpha Luke stands beside her, holding a bouquet of roses. My heart lightens a little, because apart from my parents, Levi is the only person who has ever given me roses. He knows how much I love them. Maybe he’s just late, caught up in some important Alpha Prince duties.

“Congratulations, Kookie,” the Alpha says warmly as he hands me the flowers.

“Thank you,” I murmur, clutching them tightly and sniffing them.

I’m about to ask about Levi again when a sudden rush of scent fills my lungs. It smells like cedar and rain. My wolf stirs excitedly, rolling around inside me. It howls, and thugs at me, letting me know my mate is here.

Without waiting, I rush outside, ignoring my mother’s calls.

The scent leads me toward the parking lot, and my pulse pounds as I spot a sleek black car pulling up—Levi’s car. Happiness floods my chest as my fingers tighten around the flowers. The door swings open, and Levi steps out, his tall frame commanding attention. His golden-brown eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, everything else fades.

The word “Mate” echoes in my head, and our eyes glow momentarily.

I don’t hesitate.

“Levi!” I scream at the top of my lungs, then I run to him like a little child, colliding into his chest as I throw my arms around him.

I expect his warm, muscular hands to wrap around me, to pull me close, but they don’t. Levi stands stiff like some statue with no emotions.

Confused, I pull back just in time to see the passenger door open.

A woman steps out. She is beautiful, tall, poised, her hair cascading in soft waves over a designer dress. I try to convince myself she is just a friend, but she catwalks toward us, anchoring her arm to Levi’s.

The flowers slip from my fingers, hitting the pavement at my feet.

I look up at Levi for an answer.

“Kookie, meet my fiancée, Amber.”