Pain — pure, agonizing pain — was all I felt as I watched my fated mate, the one who was supposed to love me forever, the one who had been my best friend for years, take another woman as his mate and Luna. And that other woman was none other than Elaine Wood, the Gamma's daughter and my best friend.

The pack celebrated their union. All I wanted was to run — run away from here and never come back. But I knew that was impossible. I was Azula Rosseltod, Second Beta to Alpha Jace Stronghold, the one who was supposed to be my fated mate, the one who had rejected me without thinking twice. I remember that day as if it were yesterday, even though a year had passed since then.

Flashback...

Today was my birthday — mine and my twin brother's. Our parents woke us up by coming into our room with a cake, singing happy birthday. Yes, I was turning eighteen and still shared a room with my twin, Aron Rosseltod.

We were the children of the pack's Beta, Alan Rosseltod, and his mate, our mother Zara Luna.

They sang to us and left our room after we blew out the candles. I glanced over at Aron, and we locked eyes with matching competitive stares. We bolted toward the bathroom, racing to see who would get in first, and as always, I won. I could hear him behind me, complaining that I was a cheater, while I laughed.

I felt especially strange today — and incredibly excited. Today I would finally meet my wolf, and maybe even find my fated mate.

I showered, came out of the bathroom, and Aron rushed in. I got dressed, laughing at my ridiculous, whiny brother, and ran downstairs. My mother was in the dining room waiting for me. Her arms wrapped around me with love.

"Happy birthday, Azula. I'm so proud of you. I can't believe you're not my little girl anymore. Soon you'll find a mate and leave home and..." My mother looked like she was about to cry.

"Relax, Mom. We don't even know if my mate lives here in this pack. I'm not going to run off and abandon you. Besides, even if I find a mate, I'll still come here. I'll be the future Alpha's Second Beta — I'll still be in the pack, and we'll keep seeing each other for a long time."

"You're right, baby. I'm sorry, I'm getting sentimental."

"It's okay, Mom. I'll always be your baby."

I let go of her arms and kissed her cheek, then walked to the table. My breakfast was already served — pancakes with strawberry jam and fruit, my favorite. My brother arrived and we ate between fits of laughter. I loved my family. The Moon Goddess had blessed me. I believed I had everything: loving parents, a wonderful brother, friends who cared about me. I was the most powerful warrior in the pack and the next Beta to the Alpha. Nothing could go wrong — or so I thought.

When we finished eating, there was a knock at the door. I ran to open it, already knowing who it was. And there stood my best friends: Elaine, Elliot, and Jace. Elaine and Elliot were the Gamma's children, and Jace was the future Alpha. We'd all been raised together, groomed for the future that awaited us side by side. They rushed to hug me, singing happy birthday, and when my brother came out, they ran to him too. We all went out to the yard and sat down to talk.

All of them had gone through their first shift the year before, since they were a year older than us. I was sitting on my brother's lap while he held me. We were incredibly close. Aron was the model for the kind of man I wanted as a mate — strong, affectionate, honest, and always true to his word. Elliot sat beside us, and on the other side was Jace with Elaine. They had been dating since they were seventeen and we were sixteen. Back then, I'd had a silly crush on Jace, but I forced myself to forget it when they fell in love. They were my best friends, and all I wanted was for them to be happy. I got used to seeing them together. I was happy because they looked so happy, always. They weren't fated mates, but they had sworn to reject their fated mates to stay together. She would be his Luna. And in the end, that's exactly what happened.

When night fell, they left and wished us luck with our first shift. They'd said it was a horrible pain, and I could imagine — every bone in your body breaking and resetting itself. Obviously the pain would be terrible. But I was the best warrior in the pack. I could handle anything, especially if it meant meeting my wolf.

Our parents had requested that we go through our shifts privately, just family, since normally the whole pack would be present for the shifts of all new initiates. As the pack's Betas, their wish was granted.

We headed out toward the clearing where our first shift would take place. When we arrived, my heart was pounding in my chest with anticipation. Aron grabbed my hand, giving me strength. When the moon reached its highest point, the first wave of pain hit and we screamed at the same time. My hand slipped from his and I fell to the ground. I felt my whole body shattering into a thousand pieces. Screams tore from my lips — they didn't even feel like mine. All I felt was pain. In that moment, I was sure it was the greatest pain I would ever feel in my life.

Aron shifted first. He came over to me and licked my forehead. I could barely see him through the blur. My body was still convulsing with pain. It felt like hours passed and I still couldn't shift. The pain intensified — I felt like I was going to pass out — when I heard that voice in my head.

"You can do it, Azula. Don't give up. We're almost there" just a little more.

Who are you?

"I'm Luz" Light "your wolf. Talk to me. The pain will pass."

Luz. That's a beautiful name.

"My mother, the Moon Goddess, gave it to me. She told me I was born for you" that I would be the light in your life.

That's... really sweet.

I tried to keep talking to her, but the pain kept building. Suddenly, I felt as if my entire body had burst into flames. My vision went dark, and when I opened my eyes, my hands were furry paws — surprisingly large for a Beta. My mother and father stared at me in shock, tears streaming down their faces.

"We've shifted, Azula."

I walked to the lake and saw my reflection. My fur was pure white, one eye black and the other gold. I had never seen a wolf like this in my life.

"That's because you're special. We're special, Azula. You are a sacred she-wolf" the first in a thousand years.

Aron's wolf approached me and licked my face affectionately. I heard his voice in my head.

"Hello, Azula. I'm Aeron, Aron's wolf."

"Hello, Aeron. I'm Luz, Azula's wolf."

Family.

He began licking me and Luz licked him back, recognizing each other as family. Our parents came to us and embraced us, weeping. My parents looked at me, and I heard their voices in my mind.

"You know, Azula."

"I know, Mother, Father, Brother. I'm a sacred she-wolf. My wolf, Luz, told me."

"We knew. Your mother had a dream before she became pregnant. The Moon Goddess gave the two of you to us and told her that among her children, the first sacred wolf in a thousand years would be born."

"No one can know, Azula. No one can know that you are a sacred she-wolf."

"That's why my mother gave us this gift."

I felt my fur change. When I looked down at my paws, they were completely black.

"This way, no one will suspect the truth."

I walked to the lake and looked at myself. My fur was entirely black now — very similar to Aron's wolf. We were both completely black with golden eyes, like our father's wolf, though my wolf was a little bigger than Aron's.

A howl rose from both of us, thanking the Moon Goddess for blessing us with our wolves. We looked at each other and took off running into the forest — our first race as wolves. We ran and ran, leaving our parents behind. I was in the lead, with Aron falling behind me.

Then, suddenly, that scent hit my nostrils. Pine and gardenias — a scent that consumed me completely. My paws skidded to a halt, and then I heard that damn word.

Mate.

Luz seized control of my body and ran, chasing that intoxicating scent. When we reached Red River — the same river where we always used to go together — there he was. Jace Stronghold. His wolf looked at us, excited, tail wagging.

Mate.

I heard his voice in my head just as Jace pushed his wolf back. He grabbed his clothes and put them on, then looked at me, his face expressionless. I knew what was about to happen.

"He's going to reject us."

The anguish in Luz's voice inside my head hurt me more than knowing my fated mate was about to reject me.

He grabbed his jacket and draped it over my body. "Shift back. Please."

When I shifted and wrapped myself in his jacket, his eyes met mine with surprise and pain.

"Azula." My name fell from his lips in shock.

Neither of us had expected to be mates. The weight of the mate bond settled into me, making me ache for him to hold me, to kiss me, to accept me. But I knew that wasn't going to happen.

"Do it now, Jace. Or do you want me to do it?"

He looked at me with pity. "I'm so sorry, Azula, but I..."

"I know, Jace. It's fine. I understand. Just do it now so I can go. My family is waiting for me."

His eyes dropped to the ground, then came back up to mine. And from his lips came the words that shattered me into a thousand pieces.

"I, Jace Stronghold, future Alpha of the Luna Nueva pack, reject you, Azula Rosseltod, as my mate and future Luna of my pack."

The pain crashed into me like a million knives plunging into my chest. I heard Luz's anguished howls echoing in my head.

I had to end this. Now.

"I, Azula Rosseltod, future Beta of the Luna Nueva pack, accept your rejection."

I saw him clutch his chest and double over. I turned away and was about to shift when I heard him scream after me.

"Azula!"

I just ran. Away from him. Away from my fated mate, from my best friend. Nothing would ever be the same again. Everything was broken.

I heard Aron's voice in my head.

"Azula, where are you? We're waiting for you at the lake."

"I'm on my way. I was just... running around with no direction."

"Okay. We'll wait for you, sister."

That night, I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard his voice rejecting me.

The next morning I woke up late. I went downstairs to eat and everyone was already there. Elaine rushed over to hug me. Her arms wrapped around me and I couldn't help thinking that those arms would hold my mate every night — that she would get to keep what fate had meant for me.

"Congratulations! I'm so happy for you, Azula. Aron told us everything went well."

I looked at her smiling face and all I could think was that this was the smile my mate loved, the lips he would kiss every day — not mine, but hers.

I forced myself to smile back. Elaine wasn't to blame. She didn't know anything, and she never would. Nobody needed to know.

"Thanks, Elaine."

"Come hang out with us."

She grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the others. Elliot caught me in his arms.

"Congratulations, little one. Not so little anymore."

"I've always been the same size as you, idiot."

"Sure. Whatever you say."

I freed myself from his hug and he stepped aside. There was Jace, arms wide open, waiting for me to hug him. I definitely did not want that.

"Congratulations, Azula."

"Thanks."

When he came toward me, I froze. I didn't want him to hug me. I didn't even want to see him. I still wasn't ready to pretend he hadn't rejected me as his mate.

I felt Aron pull me toward him and sit me down at his side.

"Alright, enough hugging. Leave my little sister alone."

Saved by the bell.

Jace forced a smile and sat back down. Elaine settled into his lap and he looked at her with love — a look he would never give me, his fated mate.

Everyone talked while I sat in silence. I felt like a stranger in my own body. What used to feel so good now felt like hell. Everything that had been fine before now felt so wrong. I didn't want to be here.

"I don't want to be here either, Azula. Let's go. I can't take it."

I was about to make up some excuse to leave when I heard them talking about going to Red River. Everyone was set on going and I was absolutely never going back to that river — not unless it was strictly necessary.

"I'm not going, guys. I have some things to take care of."

"What's more important than hanging out with your best friends? Come on, Azula. I want to see what your wolf looks like!"

"I'm sorry, Elaine. Another day, okay?"

That other day never came. Every time they invited me, I refused. Every time I knew they were coming over, I escaped into the forest and practiced my new powers. When they called, I never answered. A year flew by, and they got tired of looking for me. We stopped being friends. Everyone went their separate ways.

I became a lone wolf. My parents wondered what had happened to me, and I always told them I just wanted to focus on being the best Beta I could be. They believed it and nobody said anything more. My brother always seemed worried, but I convinced him I was fine. Everything was fine.

It had to be.

A year had passed since then, and here I was at Jace's inauguration as the new Alpha of Luna Nueva. That same day, he proclaimed Elaine as his Luna, telling everyone she was his fated mate and that they had decided to keep it secret until today. Only I knew that wasn't true, but I said nothing. My brother took my hand and we stepped forward. Today we would swear loyalty to Jace as his Betas. He looked so happy — a grin from ear to ear that faltered the moment he saw me, as it always did during the rare times we crossed paths at training.

Elliot stood beside my brother, and the three of us knelt.

"I, Jace Stronghold, Alpha of the Luna Nueva pack, name you, Aron Rosseltod, First Beta of the Luna Nueva pack. Do you swear your loyalty?"

"I, Aron Rosseltod, swear loyalty to my Alpha, Jace Stronghold, and my Luna, Elaine Wood, of the Luna Nueva pack, and accept my charge as First Beta."

Jace looked at me, and for a moment his gaze shifted to his wolf's, softening. I heard his wolf's voice in my head, and it made me falter.

My Luna.

I felt Luz stirring inside me, surging toward the surface, when Jace shoved his wolf back. His eyes locked on mine with resolve, and he spoke.

"I, Jace Stronghold, Alpha of the Luna Nueva pack, name you, Azula Rosseltod, Second Beta of the Luna Nueva pack. Swear loyalty to your Alpha and Luna."

Those words were a reminder. I was not his Luna. I never would be.

"I, Azula Rosseltod, swear loyalty to my Alpha, Jace Stronghold, and my Luna, Elaine Wood, of the Luna Nueva pack, and accept my charge as Second Beta."

I felt the weight of the Beta title merging with me. My brother squeezed my hand, and I looked into his eyes — always watching me with that protective gaze.

"I love you, Aron."

I slipped into his mind to say those words I hadn't spoken in a year. His eyes glistened. He smiled, and I heard him in my head.

"I love you more, my little Azula."

We turned back to face forward, his hand locked in mine like a lifeline.

Elliot had sworn his loyalty to Jace, and the celebration had begun. I stayed in a corner drinking punch while everyone celebrated, until midnight came. It was tradition for the new Alpha and his Luna to run under the moonlight with their Beta and Gamma, so we got ready. In front of the entire pack, Jace shifted first — his wolf was dark brown with yellow eyes. Elaine shifted next — her wolf was gray with blue eyes. Then Aron. Aeron appeared and came to me, licking my hands in a show of affection. I smiled and let my shift take over. My wolf emerged, cloaked in that disguise of black fur. Luz hurried to lick Aeron's face while Elliot shifted — his wolf was gray too, very similar to Elaine's but a little bigger. Jace howled and the race began. We ran behind him and Elaine. I already knew where this path would lead — we were heading to the river, the damn Red River I never wanted to go back to.

We reached the river and howled together at the moon, giving thanks for our new roles and — stupidly — for the new union of our Alpha and his Luna.

Jace took off running back to rejoin the pack. Aron and Elliot followed. Elaine stayed behind, watching me. I couldn't leave my Luna here alone, so I stayed. She approached me, and I heard her in my head.

"Azula."

"Luna." I bared my neck in submission, and she stepped back. "We should follow the Alpha."

"Alright..."

She ran and I followed behind her. When we arrived, everyone was already there, shifted back and waiting for us. Aron came to me with clothes and a blanket. He covered me, I shifted, and I got dressed.

The party lasted until dawn, and as Beta, I had to stay — even though I didn't want to be there.

After that day, the days flew by. I threw myself into my role as Beta — training the pack's children, managing the night patrols. My brother was the one always at the Alpha's side as First Beta. Occasionally I had to accompany the Luna when she went out, which was almost never, thank the Goddess.

Five years had passed in the blink of an eye. Jace and Elaine had two children — Eliam and Azuma, five and four years old. They were two sweet, loving kids, smart and at the top of all their classes, and my favorite students. It was crazy that my mate's children loved me the way they did, and that I loved them right back. They weren't to blame for what had happened years ago. Really, nobody was. It was simply fate. And no matter how things had played out, they were my best friends' children.

I was wrapping up training when I felt Jace in my head — one of the few things I hated about being his Beta. Hearing his voice, forcing its way into my mind, into my personal sanctuary.

"Azula, when you're done, come to the pack house and bring my kids, please."

"Yes, Alpha."

The connection cut off and I finished up the session. When it ended, everyone hugged me and said goodbye.

"Eliam, Azuma — wait for me. The Alpha wants me to take you to the pack house."

"Why do you always call my father 'the Alpha'?"

"Because that's what he is. Your father is the Alpha of this pack, Eliam, and as his Beta, I owe him respect."

"But Uncle Aron is his Beta too, and he calls him by his name. Doesn't he respect him?"

Always so sweet.

I knelt down and took his little hands in mine. "No, sweetheart. Of course he respects him. He calls him by his name because they're best friends, and best friends can call each other by name."

"But my father told me once that you were his best friend too."

His words left me speechless. What could I say to these sweet little children to make them forget this uncomfortable conversation?

"Aren't you his best friend anymore, Miss Azula?"

"Was my daddy mean to you?"

"No, no. The Alpha has never been mean to me. Your father is a good Alpha. He's good to the whole pack, and one day you'll be Alpha too — a good Alpha who takes care of all of us."

"And will you be my best friend, Miss Azula?"

I smiled, touched. "If that's what you want, of course. I'll be your best friend, Eliam."

They both hugged me tight, and I welcomed them gladly. Those children had won my heart. It didn't matter who their parents were, or the story behind it all. All that mattered was them — and me.