Chapter 1: Sacred She-Wolf

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."

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