Lydia's POV
My mother nodded and smiled at me. "Yes, you're right."
I sighed deeply, finding everything strange once again. In the world I came from, people got married whenever they wanted not like the werewolves here who had a specific time to meet their mate.
"Okay, Mother," I replied, hiding my confusion.
She let out a soft chuckle and patted my back. "Don't worry, Lydia. You'll get used to it. I assure you, your mate will be lucky to have you and will take good care of you."
I nodded in agreement, though my thoughts wandered elsewhere. I couldn't accept the fact that I would be getting married soon. Like… why?
"Mother, I need some rest," I said.
She smiled warmly. "Good. Rest well."
I left the sitting room and returned upstairs. Opening my bedroom door, I sighed, my mind replaying my mother's words. I sat down on my bed, my eyes scanning the simple yet elegant ancient setting of the room.
"I'm gonna have a mate soon?" I muttered under my breath.
"Yes, Lydia, we'll meet our mate soon," came Delia's excited voice.
A smirk tugged at my lips despite myself. "Delia...? Who asked you to talk?" I snapped, not caring that she was part of me.
Silence followed, and guilt gnawed at my chest. "I'm sorry," I murmured, unsure why I was apologizing.
"It's okay," Delia's calm voice responded. Her gentleness made me smile. Why was I smiling? I couldn't comprehend this new emotion.
One Week Later
Today was my birthday. My mother had baked a traditional cake using ancient methods, which left me amazed. Sometimes, it was fascinating to experience life in an ancient world.
Friends and relatives gathered to celebrate my eighteenth birthday, which was genuinely amazing.
"Lydia! It's been a while. I've missed you," said a girl with light brown eyes and blonde hair as she approached me.
"Oh... and you are?" I asked, trying to understand her connection to me.
"I'm Felisha, your best friend. I'm sorry I couldn't visit after the accident—some things came up," she explained, her smile bright.
I nodded without investing too much emotion in her words. She may have been a friend to the former Lydia, but she'd have to prove herself capable of being my friend now. With that thought, I walked past her, but she followed closely.
"Lydia... are you angry at me?" she asked softly looking at me closely.
I turned to face her, locking eyes with her teary gaze. She looked genuinely sad and sad
"I'm sorry. I don't remember you," I said, studying her expression.
She took my hand and looked directly into my eyes. "Lydia... I'll help you remember."
I observed her for a while before nodding slightly.
After the birthday celebration, I sat alone outside our house, admiring the peaceful environment. The dark sky was illuminated by a crescent moon and shimmering stars. Everything seemed serene—until someone approached me.
"Hey, Lydia," a sharp voice called out.
I didn't respond.
"I'm talking to you, loser!" she barked, her tone harsh enough to make me flinch.
"What do you want?" I asked warily, trying to gauge her intentions.
She let out a mocking laugh. "You're eighteen now and haven't transformed yet, huh? How do you think you'll find your mate?"
Her words stung, but I kept silent, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing my pain.
"You see… you're just useless. We don't need you , you'll bring a curse here if you stay, and you'll probably infect us with it," she spat venomously, her words igniting a fire within me.
Without thinking, I stood up and delivered a resounding slap that made her stagger.
"How dare you!" she barked, attempting to hit me back.
I blocked her strike effortlessly and shoved her hard, sending her tumbling onto the ground. She landed on her butt, crying in pain. Rising slowly, she cast me a furious glare but quickly retreated, avoiding me like the plague.
The weight of what had just happened hit me, and I felt tears prickling my eyes. I bit my lip, determined not to let them fall.
Needing space, I walked down the road, the silent night surrounding me like a heavy blanket. The stars blinked faintly in the dark sky as I inhaled the crisp air. I had told my mother and sister that I needed fresh air, but truthfully, I had no destination in mind.
"Lydia, stop!" Delia's commanding voice echoed sharply in my mind.
I sighed. "I'm not going far. I'm just checking around the environment, okay?"
"Go back home," she scolded firmly.
I ignored her and kept moving forward. There was something drawing me further from the familiar path, an unseen force beckoning me deeper into the night.
"Danger! Lydia, go back now!" Delia's panicked voice rang in my mind, sending goosebumps across my skin.
My heart raced as I scanned the dark surroundings. Suddenly, a pair of glowing golden eyes emerged from the shadows, followed by the sleek, muscular form of a slender wolf.
Fear gripped me, my legs refusing to move. Before I could gather the courage to flee, more wolves appeared, their forms closing in on me.
I gasped, but it was too late. One of the wolves lunged at me, its powerful weight knocking me to the ground. My head struck the earth with a sickening thud, and darkness swallowed me whole.
****
I woke up shivering, the coldness of a damp cloth beneath me seeping into my bones. My entire body ached as I struggled to sit up, only to accidentally bump into someone nearby.
"Hey, watch it," a gruff voice warned.
Swallowing hard, I fought down panic as I tried to make sense of my surroundings.
"Stay calm and lay back down," Delia's gentle voice advised.
Reluctantly, I obeyed, sinking back onto the makeshift bed. Exhaustion pulled me under once more, and I d
rifted into uneasy sleep
When I opened my eyes the next morning, what greeted me left me utterly shocked.