SIXTEEN YEARS LATER

Elise Pov

My eyes glinted as I stared at Jason.

His perfectly fitted brow and the blonde hair that dropped down to his shoulders. The most handsome and eligible bachelor in the Moonsville Pack.

And the man I had loved since the day he saved me from rogues three years ago. I wanted him as my mate, yet sadly, I couldn't get my wolf even after my eighteenth year birthday.

It's been a year of ridicule in the pack but Jason had always supported me.

“ Are you alright, Elise?” Jason asked, frowning.

“ I am fine, Jason,” I responded, smiling broadly.

He sat beside me, a familiar scent wafting through my nostrils. This was strange and I wasn't supposed to feel any of this. What exactly was happening?

Was I about to get my wolf?

“ Elise, you are my mate. I am glad you are my mate,” Jason blurted out, drawing me closer to himself.

Something inside me swelled and I could feel my heart thumping against my rising chest. Jason was close, too close to me that his scent invaded my very being.

Did I hear that right or was I hallucinating?

“ You-you are my mate? I am your mate?” I asked, trying to contain my joy and jumpy heart.

Jason drew me even closer, attempting to kiss me. I was overjoyed at the prospect of being mates with the man I had always loved. But I was also sad that I didn't have a wolf to affirm it.

Jason kissed me and I responded hungrily, allowing his hands to roam all over my body. He was my mate and had every right to my body.

The kissing continued, until I felt his hands trying to remove my clothes. But I wasn't ready. I wanted to have my wolf too.

Although my wolf hadn't appeared, I kept praying to the moon goddess. It will be the full moon in five days. I prayed that the moon goddess would show pity on me.

“ Jason, I love you and I am happy to be your mate. But can you give me till the full moon in five days? I am sure I will get my wolf then and-”

“ Are you doubting me?” Jason asked, a flash of anger on his face. Not just anger but a flash of disgust seemed to disappear as soon as it appeared.

Tongue tied, I tried to explain with a stutter, “ Of course not. I just want to-”

“ Fine,” he cut me off, smiling faintly.

Feeling glad, I tried to hug him but he suddenly stood up. Confused and frightened that I might have offended him, I looked up.

“ I just received a summon from the Alpha. I need to be at the palace right now…”

I felt relieved at his words. He definitely wasn't angry that I rejected his advances. Feeling happy, I stood up and gave him a light peck.

Jason didn't respond to my affection, instead he turned around and left immediately. He seemed to be in a hurry to leave my room. It's understandable. Everyone was afraid of the new Alpha.

He was a bloodthirsty demon.

As soon as Jason left, I slumped on the bed as tiredness invaded my very being. Not just tiredness, but also confusion on the growing sensitivity around me these past few days.

Why was I able to sense the scent of almost everyone in the pack when I don't have a wolf? It was strange.

With those thoughts, I slowly shut my eyes, ready to embrace the long awaited sleep. Alas, the goddess of sleep must have a kind of grudge against me.

A shrill yet hateful voice pierce through my nap. My eyes instinctively flung open and I sat up straight immediately.

“ Where the hell is my fruit juice, loser!”

That was Lilith’s voice, echoing through my room. I rolled my eyes at how she was comfortable ordering me around.

“ You have hands, Lilith. I have been working all day-”

I couldn't finish my words before the sound of a crispy slap filled the air and the stinging sensation that followed, made me forget all about the sleepiness.

I clenched my fist, hard and long. Strangely, I felt a power surging through me. Or could it be the bottled up anger?

I was supposed to be used to it, yet I couldn't stop the tears that had made a pool around my eyes.

"What are you staring at, you lousy bitch!" Her voice drew me from staring at the smug look from her.

My eyes darted everywhere except the person standing before me, akimbo with eyes glaring with brimstone.

Then it moved back to the same person that just yelled as I lifted my eyes to look at her. Her lips pouting, my young glamorous and beautiful stepsister was looking at me. Her fangs displayed, in obvious mockery of me.

Yes, mockery. That's because I hadn't gotten my wolf. I was a disgrace and a freak in the pack, even my father hated me.

Except for my late mother and my boyfriend, Jason, I was able to go through all these hellish periods.

“ Get me the juice or get ready for another round of beating from dad,” Lilith threatened as she got closer to me.

“ Please, don't!” I mouthed, biting my lower lips.

Something seem to steer inside of me as I perceived the familiar scent Jason also had. I looked around frantically for the sight of Jason, but he was not here.

Disappointed, I discarded the thought before making my way towards the refrigerator to get the fruits.

I glanced at the sky, the clock ticking faster than I had imagined. With my body aching badly, I had barely finished my chores when I heard a faint whisper.

And a powerful pull.

It was so powerful that I had no control over my feet. With the little strength I could muster, I tried fighting the force.

Yet, I failed miserably.

I glanced over at the deep forest just outside my window, my heart kept pounding non stop. What was calling out to me in the forest?

I decided to take a stroll to calm my nerves while waiting for Jason. As I made my way out of my room, I bumped into the devil herself.

Again.

“ Watch where you are going, loser!” She spat out, pushing me harder as I fell to the cold and hard floor.

Biting hard on my lips, I managed to stand up. I stared at Lilith, “ I know you hate me, Lilith. But Jason won't be happy with you all-”

I couldn't finish my words before her mocked laughter rang in my ears. With a scoff, she threw me a dirty look.

“You still believe you are his mate? Oh, it looked like he still hadn't rejected you," Lilith scowled, her voice filled with mockery and a hit of jealousy .

Was that a joke?

"Jason would never do that. We are mates and he was already my boyfriend before-" I countered, angry at her words.

"Oh… you must be dreaming if you think you are his mate," Lilith said, a smirk on her face.

What does she mean by that? I waited for her to finish her words but her smirk grew bigger.

I stared at her again yet there was no reaction on her face except disgust. I was desperate to hear what my sister meant by that statement.

Wasn't Jason my mate?

He told me himself! That must be the truth. I can see that he was angry with me because I refused to sleep with him. Nevertheless, rejection wasn't child's play.

“ You are joking, right?" I asked, my heart pounding at the obvious answer that I refused to accept.

I looked at my sister again.

Obviously her stare was scornful as disgust was evident in her eyes. I felt humiliated as I quickly looked down on my feet with my hands clenched tightly. I dare not oppose this person before me.

“ What do you think, loser?” She asked, rolling her eyes.

“ I want to see Jason-” I managed to let out, like a whisper amidst the winds.

"You want to see Jason? Are you worth his time, weasel," my gorgeous attractive sister spoke, poking my shoulder with her sharp looking nails.

"Lilith, I am not here for you," I stammered, not daring to look at her.

" Ohh!" Was all I heard before I felt something hard on my butt.

How could she do that to me?