CHAPTER FIVE

I woke up the next morning feeling excited. I've never felt this way in a long time. Maybe it's because I've supposedly found my mate, even though I don't know what I'm going to do about that, or maybe it's because Liam is now in the Greycrest Pack, so I won't be bored again.

Images of Amara kissing my mate filled my head, and anger rose up in me.

She's so annoying.

Every time I close my eyes, I remember the way Alpha Ronan looked at me beside the lake, sending butterflies fluttering through my stomach.

I quickly pushed the thought to the back of my mind as I got ready for school.

The moment I stepped downstairs, Liam was already sitting at the dining table eating breakfast like he had lived in our house forever.

“Finally, you are here,” he teased with a grin. “Your mom almost gave me your share.”

Mom laughed while placing another plate on the table. “Don't mind him.”

For the first time in days, I smiled non-stop during breakfast. Having Liam here made Greycrest Pack feel less lonely and less terrifying.

Dad folded his newspaper before glancing towards Liam. “So, how are your parents settling into the new pack?”

Liam shrugged. “Pretty well. We just got here anyway, but I'm having a good feeling about this pack.”

As the conversation slowly drifted towards Greycrest Pack and pack life, my mind wandered elsewhere.

Towards the strange voice in my head.

Towards Alpha Ronan being my mate.

Towards the impossible feeling that something about me was changing.

***

“She kissed him?” Liam shouted, and some people who walked past us turned and stared at us strangely.

“Lower your voice. People are staring,” I whispered.

I filled Liam in on the events that had been happening in the pack, and by the time I finished, he was so pissed at Amara and Alpha Ronan.

“She's so shameless…. I want to tear her into pieces,” he exclaimed angrily.

“Calm down, Liam. You just got here. Let's try to avoid unnecessary shedding of blood,” I laughed.

“Wait…. so you are going to be the Luna Queen?” he asked, his blue eyes gleaming with excitement.

I shrugged, warmth creeping up my cheeks.

“What if he doesn't accept me as his mate? What if the whole pack convinces him to reject me? What if I'm not good enough to be the Luna Queen?” I asked the questions that had been on my mind since last night.

Liam stopped and held my shoulders as he looked at my face.

“You are perfect the way you are, Sera. If he rejects you, then it's his loss because you are the most amazing girl ever. And trust me, if he ever rejects you for any reason, I would make sure I haunt him in his dreams if I can't defeat him physically.”

“Thank you, Mr. Protective,” I said playfully as we continued walking to the academy.

The academy hallway was loud as usual that morning.

Whispers followed me almost instantly the moment I stepped into the hallway, but this time Liam walked with me, so I was more confident. Anyone who looked at me strangely or pointed fingers suddenly looked away.

“You know,” Liam muttered quietly, “if one more person looks at you weirdly again or whispers about you, I might actually start a fight.”

I laughed softly. “Still overprotective, I see.”

“Always.”

Warmth spread through my chest. I had missed him.

As we walked to our classroom, girls shamelessly stared at Liam.

Liam groaned dramatically. “Your pack members keep staring at me like I'm prey.”

“That's because you are new,” I replied. “And half of the girls already find you attractive.”

He smirked proudly, brushing imaginary dust off his jacket. “Well, I can't blame them. They have good taste.”

I rolled my eyes. “Your ego is annoying.”

Before Liam could reply, a familiar voice called my name.

“Seraphina.”

I turned and smiled when I saw Evelyn walking excitedly towards us. Her eyes lit up the moment she reached me.

Liam completely froze. His playful expression was replaced with pure shock, and his breathing became uneven. Then his eyes locked onto Evelyn.

I frowned and looked at him. “Liam?”

Then both Liam and Evelyn whispered at the same time.

“Mate.”

My eyes widened. Students nearby suddenly turned towards us, whispering to each other.

“Oh my God.”

“Awwwwwwwwn, they look cute together.”

“She finally found her mate.”

“He found his mate,” some of his admirers said sadly.

Evelyn looked overwhelmed by the sudden attention. I grabbed her hand.

“Let's get out of here,” I whispered.

Liam quietly followed us to an empty corridor near the library.

Evelyn turned towards him nervously.

“You are… my mate?” she asked softly.

“I think so,” Liam admitted, rubbing his neck shyly.

I almost laughed because I had never seen Liam this shy.

There was an awkward silence for a moment until Liam said,

“You are so pretty.”

A cute smile appeared on Evelyn's face.

“Thank you. I love your eyes. They are like the ocean.”

Watching them together felt strangely comforting.

Maybe the Moon Goddess wasn't cruel after all.

My train of thought was interrupted when a familiar scent filled my nostrils. My body stiffened immediately.

Alpha Ronan.

What was he doing here today? Why didn't he go to the training center today?

I slowly turned around and found him close to the corridor, watching us with an unreadable expression.

I bowed respectfully and I walked towards the class, with Liam and Evelyn walking behind me.

As we got to the class, people started whispering.

“The Alpha is attending today's lessons?”

“He's so handsome…..”

“Today's going to be so interesting.”

Evelyn completely ignored her seat beside me and chose to sit next to Liam instead. They both sat in front of me, leaving the empty spot at my side for Alpha Ronan, who slid into it without hesitation.

My heart raced in excitement.

Liam and Evelyn kept stealing glances at each other during class. It was honestly adorable.

Then Amara stepped into the class and instantly glared at me when she saw Alpha Ronan sitting beside me.

She angrily walked to her seat, and I smiled victoriously.

After class, as I packed my things to leave, Alpha Ronan asked,

“Can I have a moment with you? We need to talk.”

“I'm sorry. I need to help my mom at home, so I have to get going,” I said as I rushed out of the class quickly because I wasn't ready to talk about the “mate” issues.

Liam waved at Evelyn as she excitedly jogged away.

“So you've finally found your mate, huh?” I said, teasing him as we walked to my house.

“Like you've not found yours yet? What did the Alpha say to you?”

“Nothing much,” I replied.

When we got home, he left, saying he wanted to help his parents unpack and settle into their new home.

“How was school today, darling? I heard Liam has found his mate.”

“You scared me, Dad.” I jumped in shock because I wasn't expecting him to be at home. “Yeahhh, news does spread around so fast.”

“Is she pretty?” he asked with an excited smile on his face.

“Yeah, she's my friend too.”

“That's nice,” Mom said as she walked into the living room.

“Speaking of mates….. I need to talk to you guys about something.”

“What is it?” Mom asked curiously as she sat on the couch.

“I found my mate….but I can't feel the mate bond” I said.

Both of them stared at me in utter shock, like it was impossible for me to have a mate.

“Really? Are you sure he's your mate? Who is he, and what's his name?” Dad asked.

“He's the Alpha. Alpha Ronan.”

“Alpha Ronan? The Alpha King's heir? That's not possible” Mom shouted in disbelief.

I nodded, feeling confused about their reactions. They looked at each other for a while, talking with their eyes until I realized they were communicating through the mind link.

“Can someone please talk to me?” I asked frustratedly.

Mom then walked to me and said, “Darling, you know we want what is best for you, right?”

I stared at her without replying.

“Do you like him? I don't think he's going to accept you as his mate tho? It's fine if he doesn't,” Dad asked.

“What do you mean? He's not going to accept me as his mate? Why are you both even acting this way? Is it because I don't have a wolf? Does that make me unworthy of having a mate who will love me for who I am?” I cried, my voice filled with hurt. “I want to be loved too. I want to be accepted. I want someone who will choose me without caring about what I lack. It's so frustrating that I'm getting this attitude from both of you too.”

I wiped my tears angrily before continuing.

“Well, for your information…. I might actually have a wolf.”

“What do you mean?” Dad asked in confusion.

“I wanted to talk to you about it, so I might as well say it now. There's this voice in my head that has spoken to me a few times last week, and I think it's my wolf, but I'm not so sure.”

“That is not your wolf,” Mom said calmly.

“Then what is it? Because I'm losing myself here,” I muttered tiredly.

“When the time comes, you will know. For now, go and get some rest,” Dad said sternly.

I left them without arguing further because I was too exhausted to keep fighting.

“Do you think the beast is finally showing itself?” I overheard Mom ask Dad after I walked out.

“We need to visit Alpha Lucian(the Alpha of the Nightfall Pack) and ask him what to do,” Dad answered, sounding scared.

What beast are they talking about?

Do I have a beast inside me?

Is that why I don't have a wolf?

Or am I the beast?