5. Happy Birthday, Nari!

Romeo adjusted his cufflinks as they approached the front door of Nari’s residence, an ill-suffering sigh escaping his lips. He hates wearing a tuxedo, the garment is too restrictive and a pain to get out of if he needs to shift. Yet here he is, wearing one just so that he can appease Nari. 

“Looking good tonight, Alpha. Our future Luna will be happy to see you.” There was a wolfish grin on Arch’s face and as the biggest player in Bayswater, he is probably thinking about the witches that he’s going to bed tonight. 

They entered the hall and Romeo’s eyes zoomed towards Nari, her coral dress shimmering under the lights. His heartbeat turned erratic as their eyes met and his mouth grew dry. 

When did Nari become so beautiful?

The crowd sang happy birthday, voices merging into a loud synchronized melody as everyone clapped and urged Nari to make a wish. She happily obliged, whispering her wish, her eyes staring on Romeo’s face meaningfully before blowing the candles out.

Nari Montgomery, the raven-haired beauty that stood on the raised platform is celebrating her nineteenth birthday. There was a legend that has been foretold from centuries before, the pairing of a powerful witch and a wolf would culminate in the most powerful lineage, where the offspring would not only be blessed with the strength and capabilities of the wolf, but also the magic that threads within the witch’s lineage. 

This is the legend that Nari hopes for the both of them to fulfill. If it were to be true, then they would not only be the most powerful of their species, but they would unite the two species and their children would also be blessed with his genes and her magical capabilities. 

What if the legend is true? What if his mate is indeed a witch? Would there be sparks tonight, now that Nari has turned nineteen? Romeo wonders, his heart drumming nervously at the thought. 

Will the Moon Goddess bless him with Nari as his mate? He certainly hopes so. He’s been waiting a long time for the Moon Goddess to confirm their bond.

Trav elbowed Romeo in the ribs, raising his eyebrows and winking suggestively at Romeo, making Romeo realise that he has been staring at Nari since they entered the hall. Romeo closed his gaping mouth and averted his gaze, shifting to the dance floor which stood out prominently in the middle of the hall. At the edge of the dance floor, not far from the wall and half covered by the shadows, he could see his younger brother Roman talking to Nari’s twin sister, Alaia.

You might find it weird that Nari is celebrating her birthday in such grandeur while her twin sister sits at a corner, under the covers of the shadows, watching the festivities silently. Despite having a twin, Nari is the one that was blessed with immense magical power, her capabilities surpassed even the most experienced witch while Alaia’s magical capabilities are embarrassingly average. Alaia is ignored most of the time, relegated as an invisible being living among the midst of powerful witches and wizards. 

Coming out of his reverie, Romeo suddenly realized that the large hall had gone quiet. His ears pricked as he looked up, finding Nari gazing expectantly at him, beaming as she beckoned him to meet her on the stage. Returning her smile, he sauntered confidently towards her, unaware of what was about to happen. 

If only he knew, tonight was the night of disasters. And it was also the night that Nari revealed her true self, something which he never thought was possible. 

When Romeo reached her side, he could see her smile widening, her hazel eyes gazing at him warmly in adoration. His body tingled in anticipation, his face overjoyed at the girl who had managed to capture his heart. She extended her hands to him and he willingly took it, because like Nari, Romeo also wanted to show to everyone that they are mates. 

If only both of them knew how utterly wrong they were. The Moon Goddess had other plans for Romeo and they did not include Nari at all. 

Nari placed her hands into Romeo’s and a few seconds later, shock and disbelief morphed onto both their faces, as the both of them noticed no pull, no sparks, no reaction. Only wolves are able to feel the mate-bond and for witches, they may feel a pull, a certain reaction or trigger towards a wolf which they are mated to. 

“It’s okay, Nari.” Romeo said calmly, trying to placate her, giving her a disappointed smile. “You will find your mate, someone more suitable than me.” 

The words felt bitter as they fell from his lips, for if it was up to him, he wanted to scream his frustration at the Moon Goddess, surely the Goddess had made a mistake. His heart broke into a million pieces and he had to shove his feelings down, his servitude to the black onyx stone means he is not allowed the freedom to fall in love and choose his mate.

Yet, fall in love he did and the Moon Goddess refused to acknowledge his feelings to Nari. Is he destined to a life of heartbreak and loneliness? 

Unlike Romeo, Nari refused to accept the fact that they are not mates. 

For this would mean that she will not be the one fulfilling the prophecy, the one that would have created a superb lineage of hybrids between witches and wolves. She would not be his Luna nor the Queen of the Werewolves and Romeo could see her face turning crimson, anger had overwhelmed her, seeping through every pore.

Her lips had thinned into a straight line and he could see the cogs turning inside her head as she turned towards him, giving him a wide smile. The expression scared him, for although her lips were smiling, her eyes were calculative, cold and icy. His blood turned cold, an ominous feeling washed over him as he looked at her warily.

“You can always mark me as your mate, Romeo.” She said huskily. 

His eyes widened and his jaw fell slack in surprise. 

Although wolves were able to choose their own mate, most preferred to seek for the mate that the Goddess had chosen for them. And due to his position as the guardian of the black onyx stone and the King of Werewolves, he can’t. As long as he remains in this position, his life is not his own. 

“No. I can’t.” He replied flatly. 

His role to protect the black onyx stone will never allow him to choose his own mate. The Goddess will choose his mate for him and he will have to accept it without question. This is his accursed fate.

“You know how I feel about that Nari. My mate is out there and so is yours.” He replied brusquely, stepping backwards, wanting to distance himself from her. He shook his head in disagreement. 

Unexpectedly, the stone on his neck pulsed and repulsion festered within him towards the beautiful girl who stood in front of him. Without him realizing, the stone had broken him out of the love spell which Nari had casted on him for many years. Distaste showed on his face causing the crowd to fall silent and gasps could be heard from the floor. Heads bobbed, beady eyes staring at Nari and a titter-tatter of gossip arose from the crowd, enveloping the air in denunciation.

Nari, as powerful as she is, is not the witch who will be fulfilling the legendary prophecy.

All of a sudden, the wind howled loudly from outside and the lights flickered several times before eerily switching off. The hall was bathed in darkness, moonlight casting strange shadows across the floor. Inside the hall, everything fell ominously silent. 

Outside, trees wave their branches around and suddenly the wind picks up, thrashing the trees around so violently that several branches snap off, falling on the earth. The force of the wind was so strong that the doors blew open and a loud explosion was heard as the windows surrounding the hall shattered, shards of glass flying in all directions, huge gusts of wind blowing fiercely into the room, throwing everything in disarray.

Simultaneously, screams were heard as everyone ran in different directions, bumping into each other, falling, trying to get to the exit. Fortunately for Romeo, despite the darkened interior, his wolf vision allowed him to see clearly in the dark. 

Romeo gasped, his head turning towards Nari in bewilderment. 

What is happening? He thought wildly.

A jolt of terror ran through him, sending shivers down his spine, making the hairs at the back of his neck stand on end. His body tense and alert, ready to fight or flight against the danger that he has yet to see. His eyes were already shifting between his own black pupils to his wolf’s heterochromic pupils of blue and green. 

Beside him, Nari had thrown her head back, her eyes rolling backwards revealing only the sclera, the white layer of the eye outside of the eyeballs. Her body glowed ominously, floating upwards, the folds of her dress billowing at her feet, a cloud of dark smoke swirling from her feet to her ankles. Shadows crept behind her figure, disappearing and forming like fragile mist. She circles towards Romeo, a threatening figure which had him captive, frozen under her spell. 

“Nari?” He asked, trying to maintain his composure, projecting the confidence that he did not have. His heart was racing, fear clawed at him, a sheen of sweat forming across his skin.

Although he may be a powerful wolf, he knows not the extent of Nari’s magical capabilities. Besides, he would prefer not to showcase the black onyx’s full power, especially not in front of a group of witches whose fixation with the stone’s prophecy bordered on fanaticism.

“You have REFUSED me. How DARE you reject me?!”

Nari’s voice rang clear and echoed in the large hall, sounding gravelly, layered with another deep voice which he did not recognize.