CH-1

Vincenzo’s POV

Standing in the middle of the large gathering, surrounded by the restless murmurs of the crowd, my eyes wander aimlessly across the clearing. Unlike the other teenagers beside me—who stand practically vibrating with excitement, their eyes darting around in anticipation of finding their destined mates—my gaze searches for no one.

I am not looking for a mate.

In fact, the very thought of having one makes something inside me twist uncomfortably. The idea alone is enough to make my stomach churn.

If anything, I wish the exact opposite.

How I wish the Moon Goddess had simply decided not to create anyone for me.

Life would be far easier that way.

The possibility that somewhere out there a girl exists who might be bound to me by fate fills me with an uneasy sense of guilt. I know, deep down, that if I ever do meet my supposed mate, I will most likely reject her.

And for reasons I cannot fully explain, that thought weighs heavily on my conscience.

No one deserves to be rejected for something they had no control over.

But neither do I deserve to be trapped in a bond I never asked for.

My gaze drifts again toward the curious crowd gathered around the clearing—the people who proudly call themselves a pack.

This is not just any pack.

This is one of the richest packs in the world.

Every single member here is a billionaire. Power and wealth flow through our pack like blood through veins. Our members hold influential positions across industries, politics, finance, and international corporations. Some run empires; others control markets.

Unlike traditional werewolf packs that live together in a massive pack house, tightly clustered under the Alpha’s roof, our pack functions very differently.

We are a modern pack.

No one lives together here.

Every family owns their own mansion, often located in different cities or even different countries. Our members are scattered across the globe, yet our influence keeps us tightly connected. Whenever something important arises, we gather like this—wealthy, powerful wolves standing side by side.

And despite our modern lifestyle, we remain one of the strongest packs in existence.

Not just because of our wealth.

But because of the positions we hold in the human world.

We are everywhere.

And tonight, every single one of them has gathered here for one reason.

My awakening.

The thought alone makes a bitter taste rise in my mouth.

I want to run.

I want to escape this place, this clearing, these eyes staring at me as if I am some kind of spectacle meant for their entertainment.

Curious gazes follow my every movement.

Some curious.

Some judgmental.

Some simply waiting to see something interesting happen.

A painful smile slowly stretches across my lips as I look at them.

Hypocrites.

I wonder what twisted pleasure people get from watching someone suffer. What satisfaction they feel from pushing someone down—lower and lower—until that person finally breaks.

My gaze slowly shifts toward the opposite side of the clearing.

The elders stand there in a semi-circle, dressed in ceremonial robes, their faces calm and solemn as they wait to witness my awakening.

According to tradition, tonight marks the moment when I will finally meet my wolf.

But the Moon Goddess seems to have other plans.

Above us, the moon repeatedly disappears behind thick clouds before reappearing again, as if playing an irritating game of hide-and-seek. Each time it vanishes, the clearing grows darker, the tension heavier.

It feels as though even the moon itself is testing my patience.

I take a slow breath, trying to keep my growing annoyance under control.

My eyes wander again, scanning the crowd until they land on a familiar figure standing at the far corner.

My mother.

She stands there with a radiant smile on her face, her eyes shining with excitement and pride. Her hands are clasped together tightly, as though she has been silently praying for this moment for years.

For her, this night is something special.

Something hopeful.

Directly in the first row stands my so-called father.

His expression, as always, is completely unreadable.

His face remains stoic, emotionless, as if he is merely attending another routine gathering rather than witnessing the awakening of his own son.

Beside him stand two people who matter far more to me.

My grandfather.

And my stepbrother.

When my eyes meet theirs, both offer small, reassuring smiles.

My lips tilt upward slightly when I look at my stepbrother.

Technically, he is my stepbrother.

But in truth, he has always been far more than that.

More like a father figure.

More like the man I looked up to when I was growing up.

He is everything someone could possibly want in a man.

A powerful Alpha who has led countless battles to protect his pack.

A respected leader.

A devoted son.

A loving husband.

A caring father.

He carries responsibility with ease and commands respect without even trying.

He is everything a true Alpha should be.

And everything I am not.

I already know what he will ask me after tonight.

He will want me to stand beside him.

To become his Beta.

But he also knows the truth.

There is not the slightest possibility of that happening.

Tomorrow, I leave for my higher studies.

And when I leave…

I have no intention of ever looking back.

My thoughts shatter the moment the air fills with the sound of holy chanting.

The elders begin reciting ancient words in a deep, rhythmic tone. Their voices echo through the clearing, growing louder and stronger with each passing second.

The ritual has begun.

A sudden, brutal pain shoots through my body.

It feels as though every bone inside me is shattering at the same time.

My knees buckle slightly as a wave of agony crashes over me.

A strangled gasp escapes my throat as my bones begin to crack.

The sound is horrifying.

Sharp.

Loud.

Unavoidable.

Tears stream down my cheeks as I clench my teeth so tightly my jaw aches.

I knew this would happen.

Every werewolf goes through this pain during their first shift.

It is one of the curses of our existence.

The elders shout commands, urging me to shift.

But their voices barely reach my ears through the roaring pain flooding my body.

Whether they order it or not…

I am going to shift.

A burning sensation spreads through my eyes, making my vision blur. My fingers tremble as sharp claws suddenly burst through the tips.

My hands twist painfully, bones bending and reshaping as they slowly transform into paws.

My legs follow soon after.

The pain becomes unbearable.

My balance collapses completely, and I fall forward as my newly formed paw slams against the dusty ground.

More bones snap.

More muscles stretch and tear before reforming.

Within moments, my human form disappears.

In its place stands a wolf.

Black fur spreads across my body like dark smoke.

For a brief second, everything goes silent.

Then—

Scents explode into my senses.

Hundreds of unfamiliar smells rush into my nostrils at once.

Perfume.

Sweat.

Food.

Flowers.

Wood.

Dirt.

The overwhelming mixture makes my head spin.

My stomach churns as the scents attack my senses all at once.

My breathing becomes uneven.

My heart races wildly as I look down at myself.

Black fur.

Thick.

Dark.

Powerful.

Slowly, I close my eyes and reach inward.

And that is when I meet him.

My wolf.

He stands inside my mind, strong and silent, watching me with intelligent eyes.

His name comes to me instantly.

Nate.

As if he has always been there.

Nate quickly senses my confusion and discomfort. Without needing words, he understands exactly what I am feeling.

Calmness slowly begins to spread through my mind.

He reassures me.

And for the first time tonight, my breathing steadies.

I silently thank the Moon Goddess for giving me a wolf who understands me.

Opening my eyes again, I look around the clearing.

Usually, when someone completes their first shift, the pack erupts into cheers.

Tonight…

There is nothing.

No applause.

No excitement.

No celebration.

They are only here because their Alpha ordered them to attend.

My awakening brings no joy to this pack.

It never has.

They have never truly considered me one of them.

Among the hundreds of people standing here, only three look genuinely happy.

My mother.

My brother.

My grandfather.

No one else cares.

According to tradition, the next step of the ritual begins.

In front of me, a line of unmated she-wolves stands quietly.

They were called here in case one of them happens to be my mate.

My stomach tightens at the thought.

Honestly, I do not want to look at any of them.

I want this entire ritual to end as quickly as possible.

But time seems to slow to a crawl.

I feel irritation bubbling inside me.

Anger begins creeping through my veins for no clear reason.

A dangerous instinct stirs within me.

For a brief moment, I feel the sudden urge to rip someone apart.

I force myself to breathe slowly.

Then I lift my head and look toward the line of she-wolves.

Ironically, they appear just as uninterested in me as I am in them.

Some stare at their perfectly manicured nails.

Others glance around the clearing with bored expressions.

A few whisper quietly among themselves.

Their discomfort is obvious.

None of them want to be here.

And honestly…

I cannot blame them.

I am certain they are silently praying not to be my mate.

Trust me, ladies.

I am praying for the same thing.

Taking a slow breath, I begin looking at them one by one.

Nothing.

No spark.

No connection.

No overwhelming pull like the elders always describe.

Just silence.

My gaze quickly finishes scanning the line.

Still nothing.

A small sense of relief settles inside my chest.

My attention drifts back toward the crowd.

Most people now appear far more interested in the feast prepared nearby than in watching me stand here doing practically nothing.

My eyes find my mother again.

Her smile is still there, but I can see a hint of sadness hidden behind it.

She understands what has just happened.

I did not find my mate here.

She has always wanted me to find someone.

Someone who could belong to me.

Someone who could share my life.

Someone who could ease the loneliness she believes I carry.

But what she does not know is this—

Not finding my mate tonight is the only thing about this ritual that brings me any relief.

In fact…

I do not want to find my mate.

Not today.

Not tomorrow.

Not in this lifetime.

My gaze shifts toward my brother again.

He catches my eyes and gives me a playful wink, as if silently saying,

“It’s not the end of the world.”

I nod slightly in response.

But behind my wolf’s calm exterior…

My human self wears a wide, satisfied smirk.

*