The Forsaken Daughter

Emily’s POV “Emily! Em, it’s time to go!” My friend’s voice cut through my thoughts. ‘Why doesn’t she mind link us?’ my wolf, Kyra, asks. It was time to leave for the gala. Once a year, our pack hosts a gala for unmated wolves. Several neighboring packs are invited. They also host their own galas once a year, but I try to avoid going to these galas whenever possible. I don’t expect to ever find a mate, despite being the Alpha’s firstborn. I’ve always been unwanted. Ever since I can remember, I’ve yearned for a feeling I’ve never felt. My parents didn’t want me. My siblings didn’t want me. I was just alone in the world no matter what I did. I tried everything to get attention and affection from my family. I was the perfect daughter and student; an overachiever really. I woke my siblings and got them ready for school every morning, helped them with homework and even did their laundry. I practically raised my brothers and sisters. Despite all that, I never felt wanted or needed

Easton’s POV I really don’t want to attend another mating event. I’m almost 25, and it seems pointless to look for my fated mate at this point. My parents insisted I attend Blue Moon’s gala this year since I haven’t been to their pack in four years. As we pull up to Blue Moon’s event hall, my wolf, Dallas, perks up. ‘What has you paying attention tonight?’ I ask, but he doesn’t answer. Ryan, my future Beta and best friend, wiggles his eyebrows at me as he opens the door. “You ready to find your mate tonight, Alpha?” he asks. I roll my eyes as I get out of the car. I quickly mindlink Ryan, ‘We’re staying one hour. That should be enough to appease our parents.’ He just chuckles back at me through the link. He hasn’t found his mate either, but he’s in no hurry to do so. Right before we walk in my phone starts ringing. I sneak a glance at the screen and see it’s my younger sister, Megan. “Go ahead, Ryan. I’m gonna take this real quick.” I say before turning away. Megan found

Emily’s POVAs happy as I was for Hannah, I did not want to spend the rest of the night alone. I could also tell her mate was not from our pack, and I wasn’t looking forward to my one true friend leaving. I took a deep breath and went to turn towards my favorite bench in a secluded part of the garden, when I was suddenly hit with the most wondrous scent of espresso and ocean. Kyra jumped in my mind and shouted, ‘Mate!’I turned towards the scent and locked eyes with the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. His blue eyes were so mesmerizing I felt that I could stare into them for an eternity. I was imagining how it would feel to run my fingers through his cinnamon colored hair when Kyra interrupted my thoughts. ‘Walk over to him and he’ll probably let you find out how a lot of things feel.’We walked towards each other and as he approached me, his eyes were wide and he seemed to have also lost his voice. I managed to stutter out my name. I’ve never in my life stuttered so what the hell w

Emily POV Hannah and I return to our mates, and my heart seemed to be trying to leave my body when I saw Easton’s face light up in a smile when he saw me coming back. I never thought I’d see anyone look at me like that in my life. He doesn’t waste any time sliding his arm around my waist and Kyra pranced and preened at the display before gloating, ‘It just feels so natural and right. Mate is already enamored!’ ‘Like we’re not?’ I chuckle back. I’ll admit it, I’m enjoying the fact that he seemed to inadvertently pull me close as soon as I returned. I noticed Easton doesn’t even have to touch me to leave a trail of sparks on my body. I can feel them a couple inches away. I don’t want to do anything other than stay tucked in his side and breathe in his delectable scent right now. Everything is so perfect in this moment. He’s so tall that even though I’m wearing high heels, he’s still about six inches taller than me. I think of how the moon goddess had the perfect mate for me all

Easton POV Dinner was going well until Jake and his flavor of the night approached us. I had forgotten our earlier interaction, but as he came up to our table I remembered I faintly smelled Emily on him before. He spoke to Emily like they were close before walking away, and I couldn't help the low growl that came out as he and his "lady friend" turned to leave. I honestly wasn't sure if it was because of the way Jake spoke to Emily or the death glare the she-wolf gave Emily as they left. I tried to hide the disdain in my voice when I asked Emily how she knew Jake, but Dallas quickly let me know it didn't work. 'Oh, good job, Easton. Make our mate think we don't trust her already.' Her friend Hannah answers quickly, and I notice Emily takes a slow deep breath before speaking. 'Shit, Dallas. I think I pissed her off already.' I grumble to my wolf. I see him huff in my mind before he turns and ignores me. Emily's answer explains why Jake slightly smelled like her earlier, and I can he