Chapter Two

Didi

Tonight was supposed to be magical. But the magic faded away when I find out I was being rejected even before I find out about the mate bond. Jay’s coming-of-age ball the night he officially became the alpha-to-be. Every she-wolf in the pack had been talking about it for weeks. Dresses, perfumes, hair, makeup… it was like our own version of the Oscars, except with more fur and fewer speeches.

I stood in front of my mirror, tugging on the sleeves of my gown. It was a soft silver color that shimmered under the light not bad, really. It hugged my curves a little too honestly, but at least it didn’t make me look like a walking cupcake.

I sighed and stared at my reflection. My hair was done, my makeup was… decent, and yet my stomach twisted like I’d swallowed butterflies dipped in anxiety.

“Moon,” I called out quietly, trying to sound calm. “Do you think… we’re going to feel pain if we get rejected?”

My wolf stirred gently inside me, her tone calm but unsure. I doubt it, she said after a pause. The bond isn’t there, Didi. This hasn’t happened before, but… I don’t think rejection will hurt if the bond never truly connected.

I blinked hard, trying to keep my voice from shaking. “So… you’re saying he could reject me, and I’ll just what? Walk it off like a bad breakup?”

Something like that.

I forced out a weak laugh, but it cracked halfway through. “Wow, Moon. Comforting as always.”

Silence filled the room for a moment. My wolf didn’t respond, and honestly, I didn’t blame her. What could she even say?

I looked at myself again. The silver dress, the slightly puffy cheeks, the nervous eyes. Same Didi. The weird one. The “fatso sister.” The girl who people smiled at but never really looked at.

All my life, I’d been the other twin. The one who stood behind Linda in photos. The one who got the polite compliments. “You have such a nice face, Didi.” “You’re so sweet, Didi.” The kind of comments people give when they’re too scared to say what they really mean.

Linda was the perfect one slim, gorgeous, confident, the pack’s golden girl. And me? I was the… background character in her story.

A tear slipped down before I could stop it. I wiped it quickly, annoyed at myself. “Great. Crying before a party. Classic Didi move.”

Moon’s voice was soft. You’re not unwanted, you know.

“Yeah,” I whispered, managing a small smile. “Tell that to the mirror.”

For a long moment, I just stood there staring at my reflection, at the girl who wanted so badly to belong, who wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, the Moon Goddess hadn’t made a mistake with her.

I took a deep breath, straightened my shoulders, and grabbed my clutch. “Alright,” I muttered to my reflection. “Fat or not, rejected or not, tonight I’m walking into that ball like the main character I was never allowed to be.”

Moon purred approvingly in my mind. That’s my girl.

And with that, I left my room with an heart heavy, smile forced, and hope clinging to me like a stubborn shadow.

Because deep down, even if I couldn’t feel the bond… part of me still wanted Jay to look at me, just once, like I was enough.

The pack’s grand hall was glowing like something out of a fairy tale. Gold chandeliers, soft music, laughter that echoed through the air it was the kind of night people would remember forever.

Except, of course, I had this pit in my stomach that screamed you’re walking into emotional disaster, Didi.

I smiled anyway. Fake it till you make it, right?

People turned to look as I entered not because I was stunning, but probably because I looked like someone who got lost on her way to the buffet table. I ignored the stares and kept walking, pretending I belonged. My heart was doing gymnastics, but my head kept whispering, Don’t trip, don’t trip, don’t trip…

And then I saw them.

Jay. And Linda.

He was standing in the middle of the room, looking every bit the perfect alpha-to-be in his fitted suit. And Linda my twin sister was wrapped around him like she’d never heard of personal space. They were close. Too close. Her lips brushed his cheek, and his hand rested on her waist like nothing had changed.

My chest tightened. The air around me suddenly felt too heavy to breathe.

“Oh, for crying out loud…” I muttered under my breath. “Didn’t we just have the ‘you’re not my mate’ conversation? What is this an emotional sequel?”

Moon whimpered softly in my mind. Don’t look at them, Didi.

“Too late,” I whispered.

My heel caught on the hem of my dress because of course it did and before I could even curse, my world tilted. One second I was standing, the next I was flying, and the next….

“Didi!”

Jay’s voice cut through the music as he reached out, catching me before I hit the floor. His arms wrapped around me, strong, warm…  how the fuck did he get to me so fast…

But the scent that hit me…  was something I was never expecting.

A rush of heat flooded my chest. My heart raced, my skin tingled, and my wolf who had been so quiet all day suddenly howled inside me.

MATE! Moon screamed so loud my knees nearly gave out.

My breath caught. I looked up, wide-eyed, straight into Jay’s startled face. His pupils dilated. For a split second, I saw it in his eyes too that flicker of connection, of realization.

But then, as quickly as it came, it vanished. His jaw tightened. His grip loosened.

And he shoved me away.

I stumbled back, the rejection sharper than I could’ve imagined but before I could hit the ground, another pair of hands caught me. Firm. Steady. Powerful.

The scent hit me first strong, intoxicating, commanding. It wasn’t Jay’s scent. It was something older, deeper… the kind of energy that made every wolf instinct bow in recognition.

I slowly looked up and froze.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dark hair. Silver eyes that looked like they could see right through my soul.

The Supreme Alpha.

Every story I’d ever heard about him came rushing to mind the ruler of all alphas, rarely seen, untouchable, powerful beyond reason. And yet… here he was, holding me.

His gaze locked on mine. His lips curved slightly.

And then, in a low, certain whisper though he didn’t even speak aloud I felt it more than heard it:

MATE.

My mouth fell open.

Moon went completely still, then gasped. Didi… what the hell just happened?

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest as the Supreme Alpha’s hand lingered against my arm.

What the actual fuck… Two mate.

One who is about to reject me.

And one who could destroy the world with a word.

“Oh, Moon Goddess,” I whispered shakily, barely holding it together. “You seriously have a twisted sense of humor.”