Chapter 1 – The Dream.
Aria moved through the woods with no idea where she was or why she was there. Her bare feet crunched softly over the forest floor, every step feeling both heavy and weightless, like she was trapped in a haze. She didn't know where she was going. It was too dark to see more than a few steps ahead, but something inside her kept pushing her forward.
The trees stretched high above her like dark towers. Shadows twisted between the branches, and every rustle of leaves made her flinch. She felt lost, like she was stuck in someone else's nightmare. Then she froze.
A man stood ahead of her.
He was tall, his figure half-hidden by the shadows, his face just out of view. Her heart pounded. She swallowed hard, taking a cautious step back.
"Hello?" Her voice cracked as it broke the silence. "Who's there?"
Nothing. Just silence. The man didn't speak. He didn't move. It was like the night itself had swallowed her words.
"Can you hear me?" she tried again, but her voice came out smaller this time.
Then, without warning, the man began to walk toward her. Slowly. His steps were deliberate, each one echoing in her mind like a drumbeat. Fear coiled in her chest. She stumbled back, her hands shaking as she tried to keep her eyes on him. But the deeper he moved into the shadow, the less she could see of his face.
It was as if the darkness clung to him like armor.
She kept moving back until her heel hit a root, and she stumbled slightly. Her breath grew shallow. The man stopped, just a few steps away now. He tilted his head slightly, studying her like a predator might study its prey. Then his back moved, almost unnaturally, landing against the branch of a tree as if he'd climbed it in a single, silent motion.
"What do you want from me?" she whispered, but her voice barely made it out.
The man raised a hand slowly, reaching for her face.
"No…" Aria's breath hitched. Her whole body trembled as she tried to back away, but she couldn't move. She was frozen in place, as if her feet were glued to the ground.
His hand came closer, the pale shape of his fingers brushing the edge of the moonlight. She could almost feel the heat radiating from him as he reached for her—
…
Aria shot upright, gasping for air.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to calm herself. Her bedroom came into focus: the faint light from her alarm clock, the soft sheets tangled around her legs, the pale blue curtains swaying slightly from the morning breeze. Her alarm was ringing loudly on the nightstand.
Aria groaned and slapped at it until it went silent. For a moment, she just sat there, heart still racing, trying to shake off the dream.
"What was that?" she muttered under her breath. "What kind of dream was that?"
She rubbed her face, trying to shake off the unease. Then her eyes drifted to the calendar pinned to her wall. A small red heart was drawn on today's date.
Her birthday.
A smile slowly spread across her face. Today was special—her eighteenth birthday. The day her life might change forever.
"Mate," she whispered to herself. "I'll find out who my mate is today."
The thought made her stomach flutter with excitement. She'd waited for this day for so long, wondering who the Moon Goddess had chosen for her. Somewhere out there was someone destined for her—and she was ready to meet him.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She grabbed it and saw a message from Mona, her best friend.
Mona: Happy birthday, birthday girl! I hope you're ready to find your mate today. I'm dying to know who he is!
Aria grinned at the screen, warmth spreading in her chest. She quickly typed back a reply.
Aria: Thanks, Mona! I'm excited too. See you at school?
She tossed the phone onto the bed and hurried into the bathroom. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her chestnut-brown hair fell messily around her shoulders, and her green eyes still looked tired from the dream, but nothing could ruin today. Today, everything would change.
She undressed quickly and stepped under the warm shower, letting the water wash away the last traces of sleep—and the unsettling dream. By the time she was done, she felt lighter, more awake. She wrapped herself in a towel, humming softly as she imagined who her mate might be. Would he be someone from her pack? Someone she'd known all her life? Or a complete stranger?
…
Downstairs, the smell of fresh pancakes greeted her as she entered the kitchen. Her mother was already there, flipping a pancake with practiced ease.
"Happy birthday, sweetheart," her mom said warmly, pulling her into a hug.
"Thanks, Mom," Aria said, hugging her back.
Her mom kissed her cheek. "Eighteen already. The Moon Goddess has big plans for you, I can feel it."
Aria laughed softly, though nerves tugged at her stomach. "I hope so."
She sat at the table, quickly eating her breakfast. Her mom fussed over her like she always did, asking about her plans for the day. After finishing her meal, Aria grabbed her school bag.
"See you later!" she called, giving her mom another quick kiss before heading out the door.
…
The morning air was crisp as Aria made her way to school. The small town streets were quiet, with only a few cars passing by. As she walked, she couldn't help but wonder if today was the day she'd feel the mate bond for the first time—the pull that everyone talked about, the feeling of being connected to someone in an unshakable way.
By the time she reached school, Mona was already waiting by the gate, waving at her excitedly.
"Happy birthday!" Mona said, pulling Aria into a quick hug. "So? Do you have any clue yet? Any strange feelings? Anyone you can't stop thinking about?"
Aria laughed nervously. "No. Nothing yet. But maybe today."
"It's going to be someone amazing. I can feel it." Mona grinned.
Aria hoped her friend was right.
…
Classes dragged on, and Aria tried to focus, but her mind kept drifting. At lunch, she overheard a group of students whispering about something unusual.
"They say the Lycan Alpha is coming here," one girl said. "Like, the actual Lycan Alpha."
Aria frowned slightly. She'd heard rumors about the Lycan Alpha—a ruthless leader with power beyond anyone's understanding. But why would he come here? And why would anyone care? Today was about finding her mate, not worrying about some Alpha she'd never met.
She brushed off the whispers and headed to her dance class. Dancing had always been her escape, the one place where she could let go of all the pressure and expectations. She threw herself into practice, determined to enjoy her birthday.
…
The day passed faster than she expected. As school ended, Aria stepped outside, ready to head home. But something felt different. Everyone seemed to be gathered near the entrance, murmuring excitedly.
"What's going on?" Aria asked Mona, who was standing nearby.
Mona pointed toward the parking lot. "Look."
A sleek red car was parked there, its surface gleaming under the afternoon sun. Standing next to it was someone who immediately caught Aria's attention. Her breath hitched. He wasn't just handsome—he was striking, with sharp features and dark eyes that seemed to pierce through her. For a moment, everything else faded.
Their eyes met, and Aria froze.
The man started walking toward her, his steps slow and deliberate. There was something in the way he looked at her that made her heart pound, like he'd been searching for her all his life.
He stopped a few feet away, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips.
"I finally found you, mate."