Chapter one - The Girl Without a Wolf

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Chapter One – The Girl Without a wolf

The first howl came just after dawn.

It echoed through the valley, deep and commanding, carrying over the towering pines that surrounded Blackridge Pack territory. Every wolf within miles paused, heads lifting instinctively toward the Alpha House perched on the cliff above.

He was awake.

Alpha Kael Ashwood.

Twenty-eight years old. Six-foot-Six.

The strongest Alpha Blackridge had seen in generations. Feared by enemies. Respected by allies. Worshipped by his pack.

Kael was idolised by most of his pack, and the she wolves loved him, each day a new She wolf wanted to warm his bed. Who could blame them, he is Tall, tattooed head to toe, has piercing icy blue eyes, with midnight black hair.

Yet none of that mattered when he stood alone on his balcony, staring into the endless forest.

His wolf paced beneath his skin.

Mate.

The word had become torture.

For ten years he’d watched wolves younger than him find their fated partners while his own bond remained silent.

Every birthday.

Every mating ceremony.

Every mating ball.

Every full moon.

Nothing.

His Beta insisted fate was simply waiting.

Kael was beginning to think fate had forgotten him entirely.

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Far Away From the Alpha House, in the centre of the village- the spotlight of the town.

old orphan lodge is hidden away, from the bustling town, behind the forest the forgotten building lay falling apart at the edge of the territory. Not too far from the rouge lands but who cares about the orphans anyway.

The garden had long since become a patch of weeds. Where vegetable gardens used to thrive, now hold weeds taller than the windows. The grass yellow and dead, the building is falling apart.

It’s paint peeled, the roof leaked, the windows were cracked and the porch is falling apart but hidden inside is Ivy- no matter her surroundings she’s a bright light to everyone around her. Ivy is 5’5 has long blonde hair and Green eyes, she has a petite figure and is timid but has a golden heart and she cares deeply for those around her.

Eighteen-year-old Ivy curled tighter beneath her thin blanket as another draft slipped through the cracked window.

Someone banged on her door.

“Ivy!”

She groaned.

“What?”

“You’re late again!”

She sighed dramatically before throwing the blanket off.

“I’m awake.”

“Barely.”

The voice belonged to Martha, the elderly human woman who had raised every abandoned pup the Blackridge Pack had ever taken in.

Ivy smiled despite herself.

“Coming.”

She dressed quickly in faded jeans, worn boots and an oversized jumper she’d repaired so many times she could no longer remember its original colour.

The mirror above her sink reflected Blonde curls that refused to behave and pale Green eyes she’d never seen in anyone else.

No one knew where she’d gotten them.

No one knew where she’d gotten anything.

She had been left on the orphanage steps as a baby with only a blanket embroidered with a silver crescent moon.

No note.

No name.

No family.

Just…

nothing.

“Ivy!”

“I’m coming!”

She hurried downstairs.

The kitchen already smelled of fresh bread.

“You’ll miss breakfast.”

“I won’t.”

“You always do.”

“I’ll eat while walking.”

Martha sighed.

“One day you’ll learn.”

Ivy kissed the older woman’s cheek.

“And ruin my reputation?”

“You don’t have one.”

“Exactly.”

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The village was already alive.

Children chased one another.

Warriors returned from patrol.

Shopkeepers opened their doors.

Everyone greeted everyone.

Except Ivy.

Not cruelly.

Just…

carefully.

She was the orphan.

The wolfless girl.

At eighteen she should already be feeling her wolf stirring beneath her skin.

Most wolves shifted between sixteen and eighteen.

It was a week until her birthday.

If nothing happened…

People would start whispering.

Again.

She kept her eyes on the ground until someone deliberately stepped into her path.

“Morning, Omega.”

She stopped.

Brent.

Of course.

The butcher’s son.

His friends laughed behind him.

“Heard your birthday’s coming up”

She said nothing.

“You think you’ll finally get a wolf?”

More laughter.

“What if you’re actually human?”

“I heard rogues dumped you.”

“No,” another added. “Maybe she’s cursed.”

Ivy clenched her fists.

She’d heard them all before.

Human.

Weak.

Broken.

Worthless.

No wolf.

No mate.

No future.

Brent leaned closer.

“If I were you, I’d leave before everyone realises you’re defective.”

She looked him directly in the eyes.

“If you were me, you’d need a personality.”

His friends burst into laughter.

Brent’s face reddened.

“You—”

“Morning, Brent.”

A deep voice cut through the tension.

Everyone froze.

Even Ivy.

The warriors moved first, bowing their heads.

“Alpha.”

Kael strode through the marketplace wearing black combat trousers and a fitted charcoal shirt, his leather jacket hanging over one shoulder.

Power rolled off him like heat from a wildfire.

Conversations stopped.

Children stood still.

Even birds seemed to fall silent.

Brent immediately lowered his head.

“My Alpha.”

Kael’s golden eyes swept over the group.

“What seems to be the problem?”

“Nothing.”

“So I imagined six grown wolves surrounding one girl?”

“No, Alpha.”

Kael’s gaze shifted.

For the briefest moment…

His eyes met Ivy’s.

Green.

Golden.

One heartbeat.

Then another.

Nothing.

No pull.

No spark.

No mate bond.

He looked away.

“Get to work.”

Brent practically ran.

Within seconds the square emptied.

Kael turned back toward Ivy.

“You alright?”

She nodded too quickly.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“I’ve looked worse.”

Something almost resembling amusement flickered across his face.

Almost.

“You should report them.”

“It wouldn’t change anything.”

“It would if I dealt with it.”

She shrugged.

“They’ll just wait until you’re gone.”

He couldn’t argue with that.

For a strange moment they simply stood there.

Neither speaking.

Neither moving.

Then one of his warriors approached.

“My Alpha, the council is waiting.”

Kael nodded.

He looked back at Ivy.

“Take care.”

“You too.”

He walked away.

She watched until he disappeared around the corner.

Strange.

For just a second…

Being near him had felt…

Safe.

She shook her head.

Ridiculous.

He was the Alpha.

She was nobody.

Their lives would never cross again. She ran the rest of the way to the Bakery to get to work, already running late.

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That night…

Kael couldn’t sleep.

Again.

His wolf was restless.

Uneasy.

As though searching.

For what…

He had no idea.

Far across the village, Ivy stood beneath the stars outside the orphanage.

A week until she turned eighteen.

Would everything change,

Or…

Nothing would.

She wrapped her arms around herself as the wind whispered through the trees.

She prayed once more to the Goddess to grant her her wolf and her mate. Before going to back inside to sleep before her shift at the Bakery

Hidden deep within the forest…

Something ancient opened its eyes.

And smiled.

The Moon Goddess had waited eighteen years.

One more Week wouldn’t hurt.

…