One.

Aurora POV

"You are nothing but a lowlife, what do you think of yourself?" My Step mother yelled at me, grabbing a fistful of my hair, as a loud yelp escaped my lips.

"I'm sorry Mom," I managed to stutter, but that earned me a sharp slap across my cheeks.

"Keep your apologies to yourself Aurora, I don't need it!" She barked, releasing my hair slowly, a sense of relief washed over my entire body, but it didn't last.

"The only thing I need from you, is make sure you don't reveal to anyone that you have received the Alpha wolf, or else, you know very well what I'm capable of" She threatened, looking at me with disgust in her eyes.

My sister and I turned twenty today, and the moon goddess was so kind enough to bless us with our wolf, luckily for me, I received mine, not just a wolf, an Alpha wolf.

I was elated and my joy knew no bounds, I couldn't wait to inform my father about it, as I wondered how he would react to this news of mine, even though he hated me, afterall i was nothing other than a result of a one night stand. The biggest mistake of my father’s life.

Just maybe, with this news of mine, he might stop my Stepmother's mistreatment of me, since I'm to become the Alpha of the pack. 

While Scarlett, my Step sister, got an Omega wolf, she stormed out of the assembly ground where it had happened in anger.

But before I could even get to my father's study, Scarlett and her mother approached me with a menace look and I just knew that I'm done for.

"You will not tell your father about your Alpha Wolf" my Step mother declared with a firm tone that left no room for my opinion.

"Mother, I..." A heavy lump grew in my throat as I swallowed hard, this was my one chance of freedom, and once again, she was snatching it away from me.

"Tonight, during the convention, I will announce to everyone that Scarlett has received the Alpha Wolf and you are the omega, do you understand that?" 

"But...I got the Alpha wolf mother," I stuttered.

"And so what if you did? Are you going to disobey mom?" Scarlet sneered.

"No, but I'm only telling the truth..." I answered. 

"And what truth is that?" She questioned, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I..my wolf is an omega and Scarlet is the Alpha" I muttered, saying what she wanted to hear because if I did otherwise, I was surely doomed.

"I'm glad your brain is finally working now, the ceremony will be starting soon, you cannot be late and make sure all the foods are ready and of good taste" She ordered.

"Yes mom," I answered.

"Come on Scar, let's go and get you ready, you have to look the most beautiful today," My Step mother said to her daughter, patting her hair with a loving look on her face, but Scarlet eyes were on me.

"Mother, are you just going to let her go? What if she tells Father the truth?" Scarlet asked.

"She knows very well what will happen to her, if she does something silly like that, I will kill her and feed her body to the dogs, she wouldn't even get the chance to be an Alpha" My Step Mother answered, sneering at me.

I shuddered in fear of her words, because I knew very well that my Stepmother was capable of everything and anything.

"I still don't want her to come to the event, I don't trust her at all" Scarlett insisted.

"You know very well your father will not approve of that, her presence irritates me and if it was up to me, she wouldn't even show her face to anyone in this pack!"

******

I couldn’t tell anyone about my wolf, but I could share this with my mate!

Yes. 

How could I forget about this? During the convention today, all unmated members of the pack will be paired with their fated mates.

And if the moon goddess was so kind to bless me with an Alphawolf, she must bless me with an equal mate.

I nursed my injuries and got dressed as fast as I could, settling for one of my mother’s old dresses. During every ceremony, I’d hoped my stepmom would spare me some new dresses, but she never did and over the years, I buried that hope.

Anticipation coursed through my veins as I approached the assembly hall and my wolf Gem? She wasn’t making it easier for me, she was so restless like she wanted to break out, but if that happens, we will be dead.

“Gem, would you calm down a bit please” I said to heer, stepping into the assembly hall.

“I have a good feeling about today Aurora, it feels like the goddess will answer your prayers” Gem purred.

My lips broke into a smile, “I hope so” I answered stepping into the assembly ground. 

It was the convention ceremony, a gathering for every Alpha and Beta across the land, especially those in search of a mate, plus it was an opportunity for every maiden to find their mate.

My eyes landed on my father and his little family in the middle of the ground, my stepmother and Scarlett had their arms laced around him as he paraded with them.

And there’s me. Nothing but an eyesore with my worn out dress. I took a step back wanting to hide in the shadows where I belong when I caught a scent, causing me to halt.

My heart beat increased as my eyes danced around in search of the scent, and then I noticed the maidens in the group, whispering to each about something with huge smiles on their faces.

What is happening?

I looked around hoping to get a hint of what was happening and then I caught the whiff of that scent again. It was familiar and it soothed my nerves in a way but what could it be?

“Mate!” Gem declared.

“Mate?” I repeated.

“Yes Aurora, that is the scent of our mate, you have to find him and as quick as possible, he will save you from your devilish stepmother and you will not have to hide my identity” Gem added.

“Just calm down Gem” I said softly and instead of moving backward, I took a step forward in search of the scent.

With every step forward, the scent grew stronger and the trepidation in my heart increased. I had mixed feelings about everything that was going on but I decided to trust Gem and that was how I ended up right in the middle of the ground and I stopped walking.

“Mate” Gem declared again, she was so sure that the man in front of us, backing us was our mate.

Immediately, the man turned around almost like he sensed my presence and my breath hitched, it was Alpha Gavin, the most eligible bachelor across the land.

Now, I understood the reason for the whispers and the blushes on their faces. Alpha Gavin was the object of desire of every maiden, me inclusive.

Our eyes clicked as I swallowed hard, rubbing my hands on my dress by the side. At this point, I could feel everyone’s eyes on me as the entire ground turned silent. Watching Gavin and I.

I waited with bated breaths as Gavin covered the distance between us, with an unreadable expression on his face.

“What is your name?” He asked, his smooth voice washing over me like honey. 

“Aurora” I replied, fixing my gaze on the floor because I was too scared to look at him.

“Mate,” He declared. Immediately, loud gasps broke out in the crowd, as my eyes widened in shock, he took the initiative! I did not have to do it!

For the first time in a long time, happiness flooded my entire body, it was happening, my mate was reaching out for me. I was going to be free from the clutches of my stepmother and the tyrants of the pack members.

If Gavin marks me today, my entire life will change for good. I will be one of the most powerful Luna in the land.

“Yes! Mate” I squealed in excitement covering the small gap between us.

Gavin stretched out his hand, stroking my hair slowly, “beautiful” He muttered.

My lips spread into a wide smile and just as I opened my mouth to say something, something flickered in his eyes as he spoke again, his

hands dropping from my hair.

“I, Alpha Gavin of emerald pack, reject you Aurora Gemstone, a lowly omega as my mate!”