Chapter 1 | Last Day Of School

Riley

“Let’s go, Riley!” Dani calls for me. She is basically my mom. I’ve lived with the Ford family ever since I was 7. I’m almost 18 years old now, and this life with them is the only one I really know.

I huff as I get out of bed, throwing on a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, and grabbing a hat to hide my messy dark brown hair, and there’s a knock on my door.

“Yeah,” I call out, and the door opens for me to see one of Dani’s sons, Harry. He leans against the doorframe with a smirk as he says, “Mom says you gotta drive me to school.”

I roll my eyes. Harry and I have gone to the same school since we’re only 1 year apart. Most days, we get along well, and then other times we’re at each other's throats.

I assume that’s normal for siblings, or well, whatever the hell you want to call us.

“Fine with me,” I remark as I grab a pair of black combat boots. I add, “You might have to drive yourself home, though.”

“Why? You want to go off with Zane?” He asks before making smooching noises and turning around, pretending to make out.

I roll my eyes, but the smile that grows from the thought of my boyfriend is unstoppable. Zane and I got together almost 2 years ago, and being around him makes me happy. I shove Harry’s arm as I walk around him and state, “Well, you know, he is my boyfriend. It’d be weird if I didn’t want to be around him.”

Once we’re in the kitchen, I grab a granola bar and give Mom a quick hug as I ask, “Is it cool if I hang with Zane later?”

She bites the inside of her cheek, not wanting to tell me no, but she doesn’t agree with me dating him.

Werewolves normally have a fated mate, waiting out there in the universe to be together forever. She believes, especially since I’m royalty, that I should wait for my mate and that I should remain “pure” for him.

My relationship with Zane is based on a lie. He thinks I’m human just like everyone else in the world outside of my biological parents, my adopted family, and the witch Circe Sunbeam, who concocts the potions to hide my scent and aura and shows up every once in a blue moon to make sure my sapphire blue eyes remain hidden.

No one can know who I truly am until I turn 18, and once that day comes, it’s time for me to return to the Royal Pack so that I can conclude whatever training I need to take my place as the Luna Queen.

Dani is mad at me for leading Zane on, but he is leading me on too. I can sense that he’s a werewolf, and rumor has it that he’s the upcoming Alpha of a nearby pack. He knows that this relationship won’t last unless we somehow defy the odds and are each other’s fated mates.

The likelihood of that is slim. 

Dani lets out a disappointed sigh, “If you want to, that’s fine, Riley.”

I nod, grabbing a bottle of water and the car keys as I head out the door with Harry right on my heels.

Once we’re buckled and halfway to school, Harry asks, “Do you think Zane is your mate?”

I freeze; I don’t want to have the ‘mate’ talk with either of the boys that I view like my brothers. Especially because they have a mate out there, hopefully their mates are better at being a mate than I am.

I know I could be better. I know I could wait until I meet him one day. But I have a whole world of responsibilities waiting for me, and I want to enjoy the normalcy in my life while I still can. I breathe out, “Honestly, Har, I don’t know.”

He nods to himself, turning to look out the window for the remainder of the drive. I’m grateful for it, but I’m more grateful that today is the last day of school. I’m ready for a carefree summer break, the last one I’ll ever have.

By this time next year, I’ll be 18 and out of hiding. I’ll have to grow up and be responsible. But for now… fuck that.

We get to school and go our separate ways. I look for Zane, and when I’m unable to find him, I look for his twin sister, Breanne. I smile when I see her; we had been friends before I got with her brother, and I’m grateful to always have her on my side.

“Hey!” I exclaim as we hug and I ask, “Do you know where Zane’s at?”

She huffs as she shakes her head at me playfully and says, “Always ditching me for my brother.”

“Not true,” I respond with a scoff, and an arm snakes around my waist as I get pulled against a familiar hard chest. I smile, looking up at my boyfriend, but his eyes are glazed over.

I look to Breanne to see that hers are too. They’re mind linking each other; I’m surprised they would do it so obviously with me right here. Neither of them has ever told me the truth about being werewolves.

Zane says, “I need to talk with you, Riley.”

My eyebrows furrow in confusion; normally, he calls me Ri or some cutesy nickname… What’s with the formality?

He grabs my hand as I wave goodbye to Breanne, and Zane whisks me away. What has gotten into him?

He pulls me into a janitor’s closet like he’s trying to sneak around to the closest place with me before we can get caught. I frown, “What’s going on, Zane?”

He looks at me, his lips pinched together, and I lift my hand up, wanting to brush away some of his jet-black hair that’s fallen in his eyes.

But he grabs my wrist, and he places my hand back down by my side.

That’s bizarre.

I frown as I ask, “What’s up with you? You’re acting so weird.”

His ice-blue eyes meet mine, and his voice cracks when he tells me, “I’m sorry, Riley, I can’t do this anymore.”

My frown deepens as I ask, “Can’t do what?”

He breathes out slowly, then spits out words that shake my core: “I, Zane Phillips, reject you, Riley Ford.”

The bond that I wasn’t old enough to notice snaps between us, bringing tears to my eyes and causing so much pain that I fall to my knees.

Zane slips out of the closet, leaving me alone as he mumbles, “I’m sorry, Ri.”

I sit in shock. Zane was my mate. And… he rejected me. Why?

Mates are a gift from the moon goddess. We were blessed and lucky to have her match us after dating for the past few years.

Then I remember… he thinks I’m human. I was never supposed to be more than a fun pastime for him. I wipe the tears from my eyes as I force myself to get up from the floor.

He doesn’t want me as a human, fine. He doesn’t deserve the title that I bring; he doesn’t deserve the great life we could’ve had.

I run out to the car to drive home. I can be strong tomorrow, but for now, I’ll let myself hurt. I didn’t expect this to hurt so bad.

I didn't expect to get rejected. I'm the future Luna Queen, why wouldn't someone want me?