Mate

Hey bastard, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the kitchen performing one of your duties? Agatha, the beta's daughter, mocked.

Or are you here to also shift into your wolf and display it to everyone? She scoffed. Amara’s cheeks burned with embarrassment at Agatha’s words, and she could feel the eyes of several onlookers turning toward her.

She clenched her fists, trying to ignore her, but it was hard to keep her head high when Agatha was always so intent on bringing her down.

Ignore her, Amara.

Came a soft voice from beside her. It was Moona, a little cousin to Damon and Darius. “She’s just jealous that today isn’t about her.”

Amara forced a smile and nodded, grateful for Moona’s support. But the knot in her stomach tightened as she turned back to watch the ceremony.

The priest had begun his chants, and the air was thick with anticipation. It wouldn’t be long before the twins would shift and reveal their wolves for the first time.

As the chanting grew louder, Amara felt a strange tingling sensation course through her body. Her heart began to race, and she felt a pull—almost like an invisible thread—drawing her toward no direction in particular.

Without being told, she knew her wolf was about to come forth, and she didn’t want to shift in front of these people.

“Excuse me,” she mumbled to Moona, who gave her a puzzled look.

As she hurried away, Amara slipped past the crowd of pack members, her feet moving of their own accord. She returned to the mansion, sprinted to her room, got in, and closed the door while resting her back against it.

Thick sweat formed on her forehead and her breath came in short, panicked pants. She felt uncomfortable, her body burning from the inside out.

She shut her eyes, but then a low howl resounded in her head, causing a great headache to hit her. Before she could understand what was going on, Amara felt a sharp pain in her bones, a searing heat coursing through her veins.

She doubled over, clutching her sides as the transformation began.

She had heard about the pain of the first shift, but nothing could have prepared her for this. Her bones cracked and reshaped, and her muscles stretched and contorted. Every fibre of her being seemed to be on fire.

But amidst the pain, there was a sense of awakening—a primal force stirring within her. She could feel her wolf emerging, eager to take her first breath in the outside world.

Almost there, a soothing voice echoed in her mind. It was calming and reassuring, helping her through the excruciating process.

Finally, the pain began to subside. She felt a rush of strength and power as her transformation completed. She stood up on shaky legs, glancing at her reflection in the mirror.

Where she once stood, a sleek, red-furred wolf now stared back at her with striking sea-blue eyes.

She didn’t just have a wolf—she had an incredible wolf, a rare breed.

Amara, we did it, the voice in her mind said. I’m Olivia, your wolf.

The voice announced proudly, while Amara gulped, feeling excited yet uncomfortable.

Mate! Olivia howled loudly, and Amara’s breath hitched.

Our mate is here, Olivia revealed, causing her heart to pound in her chest. She could feel her wolf trying to walk toward the door, but she stopped her. She didn’t want to go out in her wolf form.

Our mate is here, mate!

Her wolf’s excitement was infectious, but Amara’s mind was still reeling.

Damon. Could it really be him? The thought of him being her mate was both thrilling and terrifying—or perhaps it could turn out to be someone else entirely.

Come on, Olivia urged. We can’t keep him waiting.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart, and willed herself to shift back. The process was quicker this time, less painful, and within moments, she was back in her human form—naked and trembling, while her dress lay torn and scattered on the floor.

Quickly dressing in a new outfit, her mind spun with nervousness and panic.

She wondered who her mate would turn out to be—and if he would accept her.

Mate! Olivia howled impatiently, pushing her toward the door.

With a panting breath, she left her room and ran down the stairs.

Suddenly, an intoxicating scent hit her nose, setting her whole being on fire.

Mate! Olivia howled again, urging Amara in the direction of the garden where the ceremony was taking place.

As Amara approached the garden, the scent grew stronger, more intoxicating—wrapping around her like a warm embrace. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she could feel her wolf’s excitement coursing through her veins.

Reaching the garden, she was met by the crowd, cheerfully clapping and rejoicing.

She moved forward, and her eyes fell on two pairs of wolves. Without being told, she knew it was Damon and Darius in their wolf forms.

Damon and Darius’s wolves were magnificent, but her eyes were drawn to Damon. His wolf, a striking black with piercing green eyes, stood out.

Her breath hitched as their eyes met, and for a moment, everything else disappeared.

Mate, Olivia whispered with awe, and Amara’s breath caught in her throat, her mind reeling in shock.

Damon was her mate.

“This can’t be true,” Amara whispered, her gaze locked with the piercing eyes of Damon’s wolf.

Mine, her wolf held possessively, sending a cold shiver down her spine as Amara’s heart pounded with the realization that Damon was her mate.

She watched with bated breath, yearning for some sign of recognition from him. But instead of the connection she desperately sought, Damon’s wolf turned away.

The crowd continued to clap and cheer as Damon and Darius stood before the priest, who was still chanting.

Amara’s breath came in shallow gasps as she stared at Damon’s wolf, who remained turned away from her. She had expected him to claim her—to announce her as his mate—but he stood in silence.

“Darius, do you feel your mate here?” the priest asked, as Darius stood in front of him, still in his wolf form.

Darius’s wolf gave a low growl and shook his head while the ladies around let out a sigh. They were disappointed not to be his mate.

The priest then turned to Damon and asked the same question.

With a racing heart, Amara waited for his response.

Damon’s wolf stood tall, his eyes piercing through the crowd. The tension was consuming as every onlooker waited for his response.

Amara’s heart was in her throat, pounding so loudly she was sure everyone could hear it.

Olivia, her wolf, was whimpering with anticipation, urging her to step forward—to make herself known. But Amara knew that would be the wrong move.

Damon’s wolf remained silent. His gaze fixed somewhere in the distance, away from Amara.

The priest, sensing the heavy atmosphere, repeated the question, his voice steady but filled with curiosity.

“Damon, do you feel your mate here?”

Amara held her breath, her fingers curling into her palms as she prayed for him to acknowledge her.

The crowd too seemed to hold a collective breath. All eyes were now on Damon.

Damon’s wolf let out a low growl, the sound reverberating through the air. His head slowly turned towards Amara, their eyes locking once more.

For a fleeting moment, hope sparked within her, her heart fluttering with the possibility that he might recognize her.

But then Damon’s wolf did the unthinkable.

He turned away again, lowering his head as if in submission—or denial.

Amara felt the ground beneath her feet sway, her vision blurring with unshed tears.

“No,” the priest muttered in confusion. “You do not sense your mate here, Damon?” he asked, disbelief etched in his voice.

Damon’s wolf let out another growl, softer this time, and shook his head.

“You can’t do this,” Amara whispered, pain consuming her entire body.

The priest, clearly confused, gave Damon a long, searching look before nodding and moving on.

“Very well. The Moon Goddess has her reasons. The ceremony shall continue.”

The twins shifted back into their human forms, and unable to stand the pain, Amara ran out of the garden, tears falling uncontrollably down her cheeks while the painful whimpering of her wolf resounded in her mind.

As she reached the staircase, a strong hand suddenly gripped her arm, pulling her to a halt.

Startled, she turned around to find Darius standing before her, his eyes filled with concern. The worry etched on his face deepened as he noticed the tears in her eyes.

“Amara, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Darius asked, his voice laced with concern.