AMANDA’S POV

I woke up quite early, my heart filled with anticipation. Tomorrow was my birthday, and also the day I was supposed to find my mate.

It's my eighteenth birthday, and as a she-wolf, that was the day I was supposed to find my mate. But I already anticipated who my mate would be.

Donovan Reed.

Donovan was the Alpha’s son and the future leader of Silver Moon Pack. He had been my best friend since we were kids. And he was the only boy who had ever made my heart beat way too fast even when he was just breathing next to me.

So yeah… I prayed to the Moon Goddess to confirm my expectations tomorrow.

While I showered in the bathroom, I hummed like some Disney character. I came out of the bathroom, got dressed and practically floated down the stairs.

The smell of bacon was the first smell I heard as I descended down the stairs.

Mom already had breakfast ready. “Morning, sweetheart,” she said, a wide smile on her face. She was also eagerly expecting me to find my mate tomorrow.

“Good morning Mom,” I responded and took a seat at the dining table.

Max, my little brother who usually lived to annoy me, didn't look like his mischievous self today as he lifted his eyes to mine and said, “Happy early birthday, Mandy.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Max, what changed?”

He shrugged. “Tomorrow’s important for you. I'm just trying to be nice.”

Mom chuckled softly. “We're all happy for you, Amanda. I honestly pray the Moon Goddess blesses this family by giving you a good mate. Preferably Donovan.”

Just that statement alone left me blushing. Mia, my fifteen-year-old sister noticed how my cheeks turned pink and rolled her eyes and scoffed. “Can we please stop talking about the mate ceremony? Amanda already has Donovan. Everyone knows that.”

Mom frowned. “Mia, don’t be mean. It's your sister’s eighteenth birthday tomorrow. The least you can do is wish her well.”

I leaned over and ruffled her hair. “Don’t be salty.”

“Please,” she muttered. “I don't know what you see in that Donovan. I just hate how everyone treats him like he poops gold.”

I grinned. “You like him, Mia. Admit it.”

She scoffed. “Never.”

We all laughed, until Mom shushed us and reminded us about table manners. Of course, we obeyed.

Breakfast ended quickly, and soon I was out the door, heart racing. Donovan promised to meet me at the willow tree before school. He said he wanted to spend the whole day with me, just the two of us, before my birthday.

But when I got to the willow tree…he wasn't there.

I waited from 7:10 a.m to 7:35 but he didn't show up.

So I decided to send him a text. “Hey, Donny, where are you?”

A few minutes passed with no reply.

Then I called him but it went straight to voicemail.

My excitement twisted into worry. Donovan wasn’t the type to leave me waiting. He never missed my calls. He always answered me on the first ring even when he was in the middle of Alpha training, just because I’d had a bad dream.

He wouldn’t do this to me. Especially now, on the eve of the most important day of my life…

I called a dozen more times, each ring echoing emptily before cutting to voicemail. Torn between waiting and going to his house, I finally called his best friend—and future Beta—Deven.

After my fifth relentless call, Deven finally picked up. “Amanda. Stop calling.”

“Deven, where is he? Is he okay?”

“He’s… fine. Look, he’s not coming. Just don’t wait for him, alright?” There was a strained edge to his voice, a hesitation I was too panicked to dissect at that moment.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I jumped on the bus, desperate to get to school and find my boy. Something must be wrong, and he’s shutting me out to protect me?

But the situation at school was even worse.

People stared at me with unfamiliar glances. Whispers trailed me like shadows. Some even snickered as I passed. I tried to ignore it all, clutching the straps of my backpack.

By break time, my anxiety had spiked. Donovan was still nowhere to be seen.

I was heading toward the cafeteria when I overheard a group of girls huddled by the lockers.

“Did you see Donovan and Gloria together this morning?” one girl asked, her voice buzzing with excitement.

“Oh my goddess, they look so perfect together!” another gushed. “Gloria told half the cheer squad.”

“Wow! I'm so jealous of Gloria. It's Donovan,” a third sighed. “How many girls dream of getting close to him?”

“Don't even fantasize. We all know how possessive Gloria is. Rumor is they kissed! A hot, steamy make-out session! Gloria said once they confirm they're mates at the ball tonight, they'll mate. Donovan will mark her! She'll be our future Luna.”

My feet froze to the spot, heavy as stone.

"What did you just say?" I blurted out, my voice shaking.

It couldn't be. Donovan had told me I was the only one he ever wanted as his Luna.

The girls turned, their smiles sharp and knowing.

"You didn't know?" the first one asked, feigning sympathy. "Gloria and Donovan. They're probably fated mates—"

"That's impossible!" I cried out, cutting her off. "Donovan wouldn't... he would never just..."

"Guess he would. No one can fight a mate bond. You've lingered around him long enough, you stinky Omega. It's time to give him back to the one he truly belongs to."

They walked away laughing, their words coiling like a serrated blade in my gut.

Was it true? Had Donovan found his mate early, and that's why he'd cast me aside? But what about all the sparks between us? I had been so sure we were destined. He promised me… he promised he would mark me as his Luna, mate or not.

I needed answers.

I ran, sprinting across the courtyard, my lungs burning, straight toward the open practice field.

And there they were.

My breath seized. My hand flew to my chest, clutching at my shirt as if to hold my heart together.

There, under the stark morning light, stood Donovan Reed—my best friend, the boy I had sworn the Moon Goddess made for me.

His arms were wrapped around Gloria. His closest teammates stood around them, cheering and whooping.

And he was kissing her, deep and claiming, as if I had never existed at all.

The world didn't just stop—it shattered into pieces. "Donovan…?" His name escaped my lips, a broken whisper, and I felt my heart crack wide open.

As if finally noticing my presence, Donovan slowly pulled away from Gloria. His gaze was cold, devoid of any guilt. Gloria leaned lazily against him, a smug smirk playing on her lips.

"Well, well… Look who decided to show up. The little puppy finally caught a whiff."

Laughter erupted around them, but I hardly heard it. My eyes were locked on Donovan.

An explanation. I needed to understand why everything had changed overnight. If he would just speak, I would listen.

"Donovan—"

He cut me off, his voice sharp and merciless. "Don't call me that. You lost that right."

The anger in his tone confused me as much as it hurt. I wasn’t certain, but it felt like he was glaring right through me.

"What were you doing just now?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

"Are you blind?" he sneered. "We were enjoying ourselves. Something you wouldn’t understand."

"Enjoying yourselves?" My voice cracked. "You promised me…"

"I don’t recall promising anything to an Omega like you," he retorted, a mocking glint in his eyes. "You’re all the same—full of sweet lies. Only a fool would believe a word you say."

The way he looked at me shattered what was left of my heart. The contempt in his voice was something he had never shown me before. I had never felt less in his eyes.

"What’s wrong with you—" I choked back tears, stepping closer, my hand reaching weakly for his sleeve. But he shoved me away, hard. I stumbled and fell, my knees scraping against the rough ground. A faint twitch flickered near his eye, but he only took a step back.

"I’m done with Omegas like you. Stay out of my way from now on, Amanda. Or I’ll make your life here a living hell."

With that, he turned and walked away with Gloria, not once looking back.

My knees were bleeding, but the pain was nothing compared to the sting of their laughter echoing behind him. This isn’t the Donovan I knew. I remembered when I fell during training as kids—how he panicked, rushing me to the medic as if my scraped knee were a life-threatening injury.

Now, he looked at me like I was nothing.

What had happened?

Before I could even begin to process it, my phone rang, pulling me abruptly from my grief.

I swallowed hard and answered. "Mom?"

Her voice was tense, urgent. "Amanda, you need to come home. Now."

"What’s wrong?"

"Something’s happened. Just get home. Quickly."