"Hey wake up" Malia stirred awake when she felt someone shake her gently by her side. She came in contact with the serene eyes of her best friend.

"Hey?" She stifled a yawn.

"Don't tell me you forgot what today was?" Lydie asked as she strode to the windows and opened the curtains, allowing light to enter the room.

"What is today?" Malia mumbled sleepily.

Lydia scoffed playfully. "You are unbelievable. Today is the mating ceremony "

As she said that, Malia jumped down from her bamboo bed, the sleep clearing from her eyes in the blink of an eye.

"Mating ceremony?" She gasped.

"I almost forgot" She exclaimed excitedly as she ran out of her shabby room, to the poor bathroom made specially for omegas where she had a cold bath as usual.

She wondered when she would ever be able to have a hot bath.

Maybe when Derek finally chooses you.

Malia smiled at that thought. She would get to do a lot of things when Derek finally chooses her.

She smiled when she saw the blue gown on the bed that belonged to Lydia.

Lydia has been the only one who treated her with respect. Lydia had never looked down on her the way other werewolves in the pack did, and it made Malia love her with each passing day.

Most times, Malia wondered how she would have fared if she hadn't known Lydia. Lydia has always been good to her.

Malia quickly got dressed. She had never been one to like heavy makeup, so she just settled for her light makeup as usual.

Today would be a big day in her life. Derek, her boyfriend, would present her to the pack as his mate. People would never look down on her again.

Once she's announced as Alpha Derek's mate, she would make sure to lessen the ill-treatment given to omegas. It's not their fault that they were born that way.

A note caught her eyes. It was from Lydia.

'Meet me outside'. The note read.

Malia twirled around in front of the body-length mirror Lydia had specially given to her.

Satisfied with her look, she turned and left the room.

'Today is a great day'. She muttered to herself.

Outside, she saw Lydia talking to Brad, Alpha Derek's beta. The guy had been making advances on her, but she kept turning him down. She had eyes for Alpha Derek alone.

Lydia noticed that Brad wasn't paying attention to what she was saying as he was staring at something behind her. She turned to see what got his attention.

"Wow!!!" She exclaimed as her eyes landed on Malia.

"She looks breathtaking right?" Brad asked, his eyes not for once leaving Malia's face.

Malia blushed as she lowered her head.

Lydia felt a pang of jealousy as she watched Malia. Must Malia look good in everything she wears? Even when Malia wore those rags of hers, she still looked beautiful. The gown never complimented her curves the way it did Malia.

But when Lydia remembered the big activity ahead, she smirked. Malia didn't know what awaits her in the hall.

"You look gorgeous," Lydia cleared her throat.

"Am sure Derek wouldn't be able to take his eyes off you" Lydia whispered, making Malia blush.

If only this naive friend of hers knows what she has in store for her" Lydia thought.

"Thank…"

The tower bell rang, thereby cutting Malia off.

It is time.

"Go on, I'll catch up with you soon," Lydia said as she turned and walked away to the backyard.

'It is time'. Malia smiled as she walked behind other omegas.

She smiled when she saw the way the big hall was decorated.

Today was indeed a great day. Everyone in the pack has been anticipating a day like this. They have all looked forward to it.

She took her seat in the back row that was arranged for omegas. Yes, that was how lowly the omegas were treated. That's the main reason she had always looked forward to this day.

Not long after she settled on her seat, Derek walked in with his beta, Brad, and his gamma, Edwards. They would choose their mates too.

Derek didn't even look her way, but she just shrugged. Lately, he's been acting so distant from her. He never asks about her as he did when they started dating. It could probably be the stress of being an alpha.

It was the stress that comes from being an alpha. She told herself. After today, she would get to be with him forever.

It crossed her mind that Lydia has never talked about her mate. She wanted to see Lydia happy. She silently prayed that Lydia's mate be revealed today.

Or maybe she doesn't have one?

No Lydia should have a mate.

"Nervous right?" She heard a familiar voice say behind her.

Lydia was supposed to be seated among the wolves with high rank, but no, she sat beside Malia. More reason why Malia loved her.

"Ye…yeah, I guess," Malia stuttered.

Lydia chuckled. "I understand dear, but don't be. Soon Derek would come to take you"

Malia smiled. "I guess that's why I'm nervous"

The ceremony started sooner than Malia thought.

"Today is indeed a great day for everyone. You'll all choose your mate and present them to us" The crowd cheered as one of the elders spoke.

"Let's begin"

She watched as some of the male werewolves began to pick their mates and presented them to the pack.

Now it was Derek's turn to pick his mate.

"Relax". Lydia squeezed her hands when she felt Malia's nervousness.

"Breathe in. Breathe out" Lydia told her calmly.

Malia did as she was told.

Derek strode towards Malia's direction, his eyes trained on her face.

Malia smiled nervously as she watched him approach her. It took him almost forever to reach where she was, and he finally did, stopping right in front of her.

Malia smiled, as she held out her right hand to him, but instead, he ignored her and took Lydia's hands.

She had a confused expression as she stared at Derek. Did he mistake Lydia for her?

"Derek?" She called out. It could be that he had mistaken Lydia for her.

"What?" Derek asked in that cold voice of his.

"What are you doing? I am Malia, and she is Lydia. I'm sure you are making a mistake here"

"Oh come on dear, he isn't making any mistakes. You are too naive and weak to be an alpha's mate" Lydia smirked.

Malia couldn't believe her ears as she heard what Lydia just said.

"I thought you were my friend?" Malia said, still finding it hard to believe the scene unfolding before her eyes.

"Oh! You thought?" Lydia chuckled.

"I was never your friend. I can't be friends with a low-bred like you"