Chapter 3: Not Perfect

The party was in full swing. Music pulsed from the speakers, and the air was thick with the heat of late spring, mixing with the energy of excitement and laughter. It was Jeremy’s 18th birthday, the moment we had all been waiting for, the turning point of his life—and mine. The clock was ticking down, each second feeling like an eternity.

I could feel it in the air, the electricity, the way the night hummed with the tension of what was about to happen. My eyes kept flicking back to Jeremy, standing in the middle of the room, the birthday boy, surrounded by our friends and pack members. He was perfect. Tall, broad-shouldered, his dark hair styled just right. The way he smiled at me from across the room made my heart flutter. Everything was coming together.

I couldn’t help but glance down at my dress—a short, sleek black halter with intricate embroidery tracing the front. The fabric hugged my figure in all the right places, and the subtle shimmer under the party lights made me feel a little more than just ordinary. But all that seemed trivial in comparison to what was about to happen. The dress felt almost like a second skin—perfect for tonight, but now it felt like it was pressing against me too tight, like the world had suddenly gotten smaller, suffocating.

The clock above the door ticked louder as it neared midnight. Everyone in the room knew what this moment meant. As soon as the clock struck twelve, Jeremy would officially be an adult—and his wolf would come forward. The bond we shared would be confirmed by the goddess herself.

I couldn’t breathe with anticipation. My stomach fluttered, a mixture of excitement and nerves, as I thought of the confirmation that would soon come. This was it. This moment would define everything.

Then the clock struck.

Ding... ding... ding...

I felt the shift in the room, a wave of power washing over me. It wasn’t just the time that changed, but the very air seemed to pulse with energy. Jeremy’s presence was electrifying, his body stiffer now, his eyes darker as the wolf within him began to stir.

I watched him closely, heart racing. He was looking at me, those familiar brown eyes of his locked onto mine. But something was different. The warmth in his gaze was gone, replaced with something... colder. And then I felt it—his wolf was breaking through.

The air around us shifted, the temperature dropping, and a sharpness entered his features. His eyes were glowing faintly now, reflecting the wolf that pushed to the surface. The bond we shared was about to be sealed. This was it.

I couldn’t wait to step forward, to feel his touch, to feel the connection deepening between us. I smiled, my heart fluttering in my chest. This was it.

My heart thundered in my chest, and I took a step forward, moving toward him, the moment of truth so close I could almost touch it. But then... he stepped closer too, and everything inside me felt suspended in time. My breath caught in my throat.

His voice was low, cold, and sharp.

“Move.”