The moon had decided my fate, and tonight, it would finalize it.
Cruel fate. A mate. A soulmate to spend the rest of my life with if I was lucky, a cruel and wicked one.
Mates were supposed to be life companions, people you could trust, lean on. But mine? Mine would be my greatest nemesis.
The pack buzzed with anticipation. I could hear their whispers, soft and excited, as everyone either sat or stood, barely containing their glee.
"It's tonight."
"I can feel it."
They were expecting their mates to be someone true, someone who would love them forever. But as for me, Ariella Frost, an omega… what would I be expecting for the rest of my life?
Torture. Hate. Wickedness.
Who would want an omega anyway? A weak, miserable omega who had to be thankful for whatever the moon decided on my fate.
A loud squeal cut through my thoughts.
"Ohh, I can't wait for the moon bonding ceremony to start!"
The voice belonged to a chubby, light-skinned girl who jumped past me in excitement. Her eagerness stung. The moon bonding ceremony. A fitting name for an event like this. "Bonding ceremony" as if I had any say in the matter. What did it even mean? "Fate mating ceremony?" No. Not in my pack. Here, the moon chose everything. The moon decided every step of my life.
"Ariel, you're shaking."
Lysa's soft voice broke through my dark thoughts.
I turned to look at her. She stood there, tall, confident, a beautiful light-skinned woman with dark eyes filled with warmth. She was everything I wasn't strong, independent, and the mate of our pack's beta, Alex Nightfang. She was my best friend, my family though we weren't related by blood.
"I'm preparing for the worst," I replied honestly, my voice small.
Lysa studied me for a moment before her lips curved into a soft smile. "You're stronger than you think, Ariel. The moon may have chosen for us, but you'll survive this. You always do."
I wanted to believe her. I really did. But tonight was different. Tonight, the moon would decide everything. And I wasn't sure if I could survive what was coming.
Before I could respond, a voice interrupted me. A gross, hungry voice.
"Wow!"
I turned to see a tall, ugly male wolf eyeing me, his gaze far too focused on me. His eyes locked on my chest, and the sickening smell of his arousal flooded the air. I froze. How could someone be so disrespectful?
He licked his lips with an obnoxious sound before muttering,
"So full. So thick, with erect nipples."
I felt bile rise in my throat. How could he,how could anyone talk to me like that? The worst part was that I was speechless. I didn't know how to respond.
"How—" I began, but his words were cut off by Lysa's growl. A low, dangerous sound.
"You hungry-looking animal!" Lysa's voice rang out, full of fury. She stepped between us, her eyes glowing with protective rage. "How dare you speak to my mate like that!"
I blinked, stunned. Mate? The word made no sense. My mate? Lysa was… my mate?
The male wolf laughed, his tone mocking. "Mate?" He smirked, his eyes narrowing. "How can both she-wolves be mates? Prove it."
I opened my mouth to say something, but Lysa didn't give me a chance. She grabbed my face gently, her hands warm against my skin. Before I could react, she slammed her lips onto mine. The kiss was quick, hesitant at first, but she grew more confident as she pulled me to her, pressing me closer until I could feel the heat of her body against mine.
She pulled away, her breath quick, eyes alight with challenge. "Now, if I catch you anywhere near my mate again, I'll feed on you."
The male wolf stepped back, his expression shifting from bravado to fear. He mumbled something under his breath and turned away, his arrogance crumbling. He had been put in his place.
I stared at Lysa, my heart racing. She hadn't had to do that. I didn't know how to react to what had just happened. Her protection, her kiss, everything… it left me in shock. "You didn't have to do that," I whispered, my voice trembling.
Lysa burst into laughter. "Yes, I did. Don't worry, Ariel. I won't let anyone disrespect you like that."
Before I could respond, a sudden, deep growl echoed through the hall. My blood froze.
It wasn't just any growl. It was the kind of growl that rumbled through your bones, powerful and commanding.
Everyone in the hall immediately bowed their heads, submitting without a word. The atmosphere shifted. The air thickened with tension. Alpha.
The pack fell silent, their attention entirely focused on the man who had entered the room. Kael Nightfang. The Alpha of the pack. He stood tall, his presence dominating, his eyes sharp and unwavering. His gaze swept over the room before resting on me.
The bond. It snapped, like a cord being pulled taut, and my heart leapt in my chest.
Tonight, the moon had chosen.
And it had chosen me.