Chapter Two: Shifting for the Better

Ayla's pov

The grand hall was decorated exquisitely, since this was a ball not only for our pack but for other neighboring packs.

The air smelt of fresh pine and the scented candles and the pack members were dressed in shades of midnight blue while others outside the pack wore moon-white dresses, they moved in elegant circles and their laughed filled the air.

Everyone looked perfect and confident.

Everyone but me.

I forced a smile while I stood at the top of the staircase, smoothing my simple white dress and the moon pendant I owned, the only thing I had on me that was mine when father brought me into this pack.

My palms were sweating, so badly that I thought they might actually drip but I could only bit down my lip to hide my tension.

I looked down at my father, Beta Rowan, who I hadn't noticed had been waiting at the foot of the stairs. his arms were crossed as he said.

“You took long enough, thought you'd faint before the ceremony, that would have been… impressive” his tone was dry and i could tell how sarcastic he was.

I climbed down, my father wasn't cruel, not truly, but he had a way of hiding his worry behind sharp words and tonight he was laced with tension.

He took my hand as I reached the last step.

“Happy birthday

“Thank you father"

“You are to make my name proud and this" he looked away from me and towards the ball room filled with people “this will be the day you write your fate"

I forced a smile, I was happy he believed in me but his expectations weighed more than bricks.

“Now go, stay close. The moonrise will be soon"

I nodded but the knot in my stomach pulled tighter.

As I stepped into the crowd, few heads turned, some curious and some judgmental, some surprised I'd actually dared to attend.

Then, like vultures spotting fresh prey, they appeared.

Lila and her waiting maids.

“Oh look," she drawled aloud “the Beta's charity case decided to join in the party" she glided towards me in a gown that was so sparkly it looked like she's dipped herself in stars

“Doubt she had ever attended one" the girl at her right sneered.

“Look at that dress go" the one by her left added as they all stared at my dress.

“Hope you're ready for the big moment?” Lila leaned in "Don't worry if you don't shift we'll still save your seat. At the table of disappointments”

People around them snickered while heat rushed up my neck, I felt their gaze on me and it pushed the urge to run away and forget about everything but before I could turn to leave a loud gong echoed through the hall.

The music stopped and so did conversations..

“It is time" the Alpha raised his arms as he stepped forward “children of the moon. Step forward"

The crowd made a path for me and two others, my legs trembling as I stepped into the only circle the moon shone through.

Then the transformation started, a boy became a russet wolf and the girl, sleek and brown and then me

I was the only one left.

“What if she doesn't shift" I heard in the crowd

“She's not even of this pack"

“She's wasting our time"

I felt cold, I found my father's eyes and he back at me, sternly.

But all I felt was cold then a spark.

I gasped, stumbling forward as something inside me was stunned.

My bones cracked and pain tore through my skin.

A howl ripped from my throat as I shifted into a wolf, white and smaller than the rest.

But still, I wasn't weak, not a disappointment like the mean girls had predicted.

'I am Nyx' a voice purred in my head, ancient and soft and he is ours

A sudden scent, strong, clean and intoxicating hit me like a tidal wave, the air now smelt like sanderwood and earth after rain.

In two words the scent was dark and electric.

We snapped our heads towards the end of the room.

A tall boy… no, a young man stood there, dressed in black and silver, broad shoulders, sharp jaw and dark hair falling slightly over piecing gray eyes

Our mate stood like an unsheathed blade, six-foot-five with the body of an idol.

'MATE!'

His gaze locked onto mine and the crowd gasped again as he stepped through them, his eyes never leaving mine.

He shrugged off his black coat, draping it over me as I shifted back, clothes magically waiting for me the way the elders had prepared.

I went into a room and changed into a silver gown, they wore over my wrist a band that signified a figure to represent the pack's dignity.

Then I came out to face the crown as a newborn.

My obsidian black hair loosed, cascaded over my shoulders and neck adorned with jewels along with the moonstone I always wore, when I came out Killian was already waiting.

“May I?” he asked, offering his hand. I could see the way his eyes flickered with admiration.

I placed mine in his.

Electricity shivered through my body. This was love and I could feel it under my skin.

He led me into the hall, and the music resumed—soft, slow, intimate. We danced in the center of the room, everyone watching, but it felt like only his eyes existed.

“Name," he growled softly

“Ayla Rowan" I said, my chin held high “Silver fang. Beta's daughter" something in me was proud to say ‘Beta’s daughter’

“Killian Reid, Blood moon Alpha" he leaned in closer to me, breathing on my ear “and you are my mate"

His words sent shivers down my spine.

I knew a bit about the blood moon pack, they were the reasons some maidens of silver fang slept with guards out on the border.

Their guards.

And I, I was mated to their Alpha

“You shifted like a queen" he mummered, holding me protectively.

“Very weird way to say I’m a late bloomer” I purred and he chuckled.

“You are remarkable, you know that” he whispered, leaning closer so I could feel his hot breath on my neck “I knew the moment I saw you. And after tonight… I’m taking you home with me.”

My heart jumped. “Home?”

“To my pack,” he said. “Where you belong. With me.”

The world tilted.

And behind him, I saw my father standing tall with eyes widened, chest rising with something like pride. Real pride.

For the first time, he looked at me not as the girl he had taken in… but as the daughter he claimed.

But everything was happening too fast. Too big. Too intense.

Killian’s fingers brushed my cheek in a soft way, “Your life will change from this moment on,” he whispered. “Our life will change"

And as the music swelled, the mean girls casted me death stares and my father looked proud.

I knew he was right.

My life has changed forever for the better.