Today’s my 16th birthday, and I’m finally meeting my wolf and potentially my mate! The Riverside pack, led by Alpha Ryker and Luna Winter, is one of the largest and most respected packs in our country. Axel, their son and next in line to become alpha, has grown up alongside me. Our families have always joked about us being fated mates, given our fathers’ close relationship – my dad is Alpha Ryker’s beta. We’ve been like siblings, and the idea of becoming a real family has always been a tantalizing possibility.
Deep down, I’m thrilled to meet my wolf and potential mate, but my heart belongs to Axel. I’m not just infatuated with him; I’m in love with him. However, he sees me as the weak little orphan girl he’s sworn to protect. He’s made it clear our relationship is purely platonic, and I’m just a responsibility he’s taken on.
My past is marked by tragedy. Alpha Rouge attacked my pack when I was six, killing everyone I loved. I was at school when it happened, and the memory of returning home to find my family and pack members dead still haunts me. Alpha Ryker found us survivors among the carnage and took us in, giving us a new family and home. My new parents tried for years to conceive a child of their own but were unsuccessful. When their alpha brought me back, they took me in without hesitation. They’ve been with me through every bad memory and nightmare, helping me through therapy and taking turns sleeping with me at night.
The five of us – Ace, Dash, Blaze, Ophelia, and I, Bella Snow – formed an unbreakable bond, united by our shared trauma and outcast status within the pack. We found solace in each other, supporting and protecting one another from the taunts of our peers. They dared me to tell on them, but I never gave in. It all stopped when Ace, Dash, and Blaze started fighting back.
As I prepared to meet my wolf and potential mate, I wondered if Axel would ever see me in a different light. Ophelia, my best friend, was waiting in my room, eager to help me prepare for my first shift. Her birthday was just days away, but she wasn’t allowed to attend the shift ceremony, as it was believed that seeing the transformation before your time could instill fear and potentially cause you to lose your wolf or die during the shifting process.
“Ready to party, birthday girl?” she asked, her bright red hair and piercing green eyes sparkling as she grinned from ear to ear. Her tone was full of life and joy. Ophelia was petite, with a heart-shaped face, porcelain skin, and a slender yet curvy figure she loved to show off in tank tops, skirts, and shorts. Today, she wore a white tank top and denim shorts, while I had opted for a comfortable tracksuit to hide my skinny frame.
As I finished braiding my hair, I joked, “Ready as I’ll ever be! Hopefully, my wolf will give me some meat on these bones.” But deep down, I meant every word. I longed to feel more confident and powerful, like Ophelia. “Stop it, you’re gorgeous just the way you are,” Ophelia said, her words genuine and heartfelt. But I needed to believe it myself to truly accept myself.
Just then, a knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. “Come in,” I said, finishing my braid. My mom entered, tears streaming down her face. “My baby is about to shift for the first time,” she sobbed. I sometimes wondered why I ended up with them, but the day I arrived, we just clicked, and they took me in as their own. Even my pack’s alpha, Ryker, treated me like family. I lost my biological parents but gained new ones that day – a true blessing from the goddess.
I wiped away my mom’s tears, and she wiped away mine. “Stop crying, you’re going to make me cry,” I said, trying to hold back my sobs. Just then, my dad walked in and enveloped us both in a warm hug. “Now, mate, see what you did? You’re going to make her think she won’t survive the shift,” he teased, causing me to tense up. My mom playfully hit him on the arm. “Don’t scare us like that! My baby is strong and will make it through just fine.”
As we arrived at the woods, the scent of pine trees and soil filled the air. The pack had gathered around a huge fire, and I saw all the unmated males, including Axel, waiting for me. My heart raced as I prepared to meet my wolf and potential mate.
The alpha’s voice echoed through the clearing, “Today, one of our own will experience their first shift. According to tradition, all unmated males must be present to determine if she is their fated mate.” The males removed their shirts, revealing chiseled abs and muscular physiques. I blushed, looking away.
My parents approached me, and my dad said, “It’s time.” They led me under the moonlight, and my mom instructed, “Remove your clothes.” I felt a mix of excitement and nerves as I did so. My dad continued, “Take a deep breath and connect with your wolf. It’s midnight, and she’s eager to emerge.” I closed my eyes, focused, and reached within. I felt Arial’s presence, and with a gentle nudge, she emerged. “Hey, I’m Arial, your wolf,” she said, her voice gentle and reassuring. “Hey, Arial, I'm Bella... let's shift."
My bones cracked and contorted, and everything hurt. But my mom's soothing voice helped me through the pain. "You're doing great, honey, just breathe." And then, I stood on four paws, my fur white as snow with two red markings on my right leg. My ocean blue eyes remained the same, and I felt wonder and excitement. I approached the water's edge, saw my reflection, and marveled at my beauty. Others chorused "Pack!" and we started running, chasing each other and rabbits. I spotted Blaze and played until I caught an intoxicating scent. "Mate," my wolf said, and we ran towards it.
We arrived, and the smell of earth and muscularity led me to a stunning red wolf with two white markings on his right leg. Our eyes met, and those big brown eyes looked into mine... we approached each other, and he licked me. I rested my head on his, knowing exactly who this was - Axel, the one who had always talked about his unusually colored wolf, symbolizing power and strength. But our moment was cut short by a foreign smell. "Not pack," my wolf warned, and before I could react, Axel stepped in front of me, and the rest of the pack followed his lead, forming a protective barrier around me. I couldn't see my mate anymore. My alpha instructed my mother to take me away, and we quickly dressed and returned to our pack houses. Back in my room, I cuddled up next to Ophelia, who was sleeping, and thought about how a foreign wolf had ruined my dream come true - the happiest day of my life, when I met my wolf and my fated mate. I drifted off to sleep, thinking of Axel.