Okay, let's jump to present day—2021.
I'm now a high school student, and my crazy best friends are always by my side: Thomas, Daniel, Kayla, and Amira. We practically grew up together. Somehow, despite our different ages, we all ended up in the exact same class.
Thomas is the oldest male in the group at seventeen. Danny is sixteen, Kayla is eighteen, and Amira is nineteen. As for me? Well, I'm the same age as Thomas.
Our moms swear Thomas and I are destined mates because he refuses to let me out of his sight.
Personally, I think she's a little crazy.
Unlike most teenagers our age, I've never felt the mate bond. Honestly, I thank the Goddess for that because it lets me focus on training and my studies instead of getting distracted by romance drama. I want to get into the college of my dreams, even if it's out of state. Being born in Washington has its perks, but you also learn quickly to stay alert. Hunters roam these lands more than people realize.
Years ago, before the Great Battle, my parents traveled across the sea to visit our sister tribe in Italy. I was only three at the time, but I still remember how breathtaking it was. The Alpha there was a true gentleman—one of a kind.
That trip was also when I had my first shift outside of our territory.
For my age, everyone thought it was strange. Three-year-olds weren't supposed to shift.
But I did.
My wolf's name is Serenity, though I call her Serena for short. Even as a pup, she was beautiful beyond words. Her fur was pure white with silver-tipped strands that shimmered in the sunlight. Her claws carried faint golden streaks, and her eyes were a crystal blue softer than sapphires.
The Luna in Italy called her "moonlight brought to life."
Their elders were stunned that I shifted so young—and without pain or fear. They told my parents the Moon Goddess had enormous plans for me and warned them that no outsider should ever see my wolf.
"She carries more of the Goddess's power than we have ever witnessed," one elder had whispered.
Now I understood why my parents were so strict.
Midnight curfews.
No wandering.
No sneaking off.
Especially during full moons or new moons, when Serena became restless and powerful beneath the moonlight. During those nights, I had to stay within the special clearing deep in the woods my parents had built for future heirs to safely shift.
My friends had never seen Serena.
And honestly?
It hurt.
I had met all of their wolves—Max, Rick, Macy, and Mist—but every time I asked when the pack would finally meet mine, my parents always answered the same way:
"In due time."
Well, hell, when exactly was "due time"?
Most of the younger wolves assumed I didn't even have a wolf. Some even whispered that I'd grow into a weak Luna.
Which was funny considering I could beat half of them in combat training.
Mom always told me it wasn't "ladylike" to insult people.
Like I gave a damn.
"Hey, Yui!"
Kayla's voice snapped me from my thoughts during lunch one afternoon.
"Why don't you come out with us tonight? It's our last free night before we're stuck in this miserable place forever."
"That actually sounds great," I admitted. "I need a distraction."
Danny leaned back in his chair with a grin. "If you need a distraction, I can help with that."
I rolled my eyes. "Uh… no way, cow-wolf. You kno—"
"Danny, keep your sexual organs to yourself."
Thomas cut me off as he slid an arm around my shoulders possessively.
"She's with me, and you know it."
Amira dropped her tray onto the table with a laugh. "Thomas, you still think she's your mate?"
"I know she is," he answered confidently. "The Goddess herself told me."
The table burst into laughter, but Serena stayed silent inside my head.
Too silent.
She'd been uneasy all day.
I tuned everyone else out.
Serena, what's wrong?
Her voice came low and tense inside my mind.
"Something bad is going to happen, Yui. Worse than the battles before us. Someone will discover us… and try to take us away."
A chill crept down my spine.
No one knows about us, Serena. Not even our friends—
Before I could finish, the lunch bell rang.
And with it came the smell of death.
As we walked toward our next class, Thomas noticed immediately that something was wrong.
"Princesa," he murmured, "what's bothering you?"
"Something feels wrong today," I whispered. "And I don't think it's going to end well."
When we stepped into the classroom, the atmosphere felt off. Heavy. Suffocating.
Like a predator lurking in shadows.
"Thomas," I mind-linked quietly, "something's wrong."
"You need to relax," he replied carefully. "It's the last class of the day."
But I couldn't relax.
Mrs. Combs' classroom was usually warm and welcoming, yet today it felt cold enough to freeze bone.
Then I heard it.
A growl.
Low.
Dangerous.
Not human.
"Thomas," I mind-linked sharply, "there's a rogue wolf in here."
"Princess, calm down—"
The growl exploded into a vicious snarl.
Chaos erupted.
Students screamed as a rogue wolf lunged across the classroom straight toward me.
I barely had time to whisper, "I'm sorry, Mom and Dad," before Serenity took over.
The transformation came instantly.
The rogue charged again, but Serena dodged and went straight for his throat.
"Well, well, well," the rogue sneered, circling us. "Looks like I found the crown jewel of the Silver Lake Pack."
"Why are you here?" I snarled before launching myself at him again.
Before I could land the attack, my father burst through the classroom doors in wolf form.
Great. Now we're really in trouble.
Serena pushed me aside protectively and turned her attention toward the rogue threatening my father.
The fight ended quickly.
Very quickly.
Once the rogue was down, I shifted back into my human form. Luckily, unlike most wolves, my clothes returned with me—a rare ability tied to my gifts.
Before the shock around me could settle in, Thomas, Daniel, Kayla, and Amira hurried me out of the classroom.
Then I heard my mother's voice echo through the mind-link.
"Come home. Now."
I knew exactly how this conversation was about to go.
The second I reached home, Mom was already waiting at the front door—and she looked furious.
"Yui Amelia, are you out of your mind?" she snapped. "Actually, forget that. Are you insane? You are not supposed to show your wolf to anyone! How dare you shift in the middle of class!"
"MOM, IT WASN'T MY FAULT!" I shouted back. "SERENITY FELT SOMETHING WAS WRONG ALL DAY! SHE SMELLED THE ROGUE! WHAT DID YOU EXPECT ME TO DO? SIT THERE WHILE HE KILLED MY CLASSMATES?"
The house fell silent.
Even Mom froze slightly when my Luna voice slipped out.
I took a shaky breath and forced myself to calm down.
"I'm sorry," I said more quietly, "but I couldn't let innocent people die because I have to keep Serena hidden. She's a gift from the Moon Goddess, Mom. She deserves to run freely."
Pain flashed through my mother's eyes.
"We're trying to protect you."
"I know," I whispered. "But I can't live hidden forever. I'm going to college next year. You and Dad can't keep treating me differently because I was born special."
Just then Ashley walked through the front door.
I wrinkled my nose instantly.
"Mom, check Ashley. She smells like Bradford Davis from the football team."
Without another word, I headed upstairs while Mom immediately dragged Ashley toward the pack doctor.
The second I got to my room, my phone exploded.
Group Chat:
YŌ YU?!
WHAT?!
HOW?!
WHEN?!
ENOUGH, I typed in all caps.
Questions flooded the chat from everyone except Thomas.
"It's not my fault. My parents told me to keep her hidden. No more questions."
"She's right," Thomas finally wrote.
Kayla immediately started typing, but Thomas cut her off again.
"Her parents were protecting her. If people knew about her wolf sooner, other packs would've started wars just to take her."
Silence followed.
Finally, Amira changed the subject.
"So… we're still going on the birthday hike next week, right?"
"Yep," I replied. "Dad's Beta and extra guards are coming too."
Danny groaned instantly.
"Wait… that means my dad's coming."
"Ouch," Kayla typed.
"That sucks," added Amira.
Thomas just sent laughing emojis.
"Alright, enough," I wrote. "Webcams on. Study session starts in 3… 2… 1."
And just like that, things felt almost normal again.
We studied from math all the way through English until Amira's little sister Aya burst into the room to interrupt us.
"Mira! Mommy wants you!"
"Aya, tell Mom I'll be there in a minute!"
The girl nodded dramatically before disappearing again.
"I still can't believe she's only twelve," I laughed. "She looks exactly like your mom."
"She's not the one I'm worried about," Amira groaned. "It's Ayano. That girl is starting teenage rebellion early. Every argument with my parents is about boys or sex."
Danny nearly choked laughing.
"I swear," Amira continued, "the messages she sends boys are terrifying."
"Honestly," I teased, "how are you and Kayla twins when she's the complete opposite of you?"
Amira shrugged. "Mom blames Dad. Dad blames Mom."
Eventually everyone signed off for the night.
But while they worried about our birthday trip…
I couldn't stop thinking about the rogue wolf.
Because something about him didn't feel right.
And deep down, I knew he wasn't working alone.