Aitana

Aitana had just come of age. She lived in the north of the Greyson Kingdom, in the Blue Moon pack, where her father served as Beta — a man beloved by everyone, just like his Alpha and closest friend. As a child, Aitana had been promised to the pack's future Alpha, Damian, and the two had forged a tender bond during their early years. Three years older than her, Damian had always been her protector. Their connection ran so deep that both their mothers were convinced they would turn out to be fated mates.

When Damian turned thirteen, he had to leave for Warren Academy, where future Alphas and Betas were trained. That was when Aitana said goodbye — not only to Damian, but also to her older brother Alain, who would one day become the pack's Beta once Damian was named Alpha. When that happened, Aitana would officially become his fiancee and the future Luna of the Blue Moon pack. More than anything, she longed for the day she and Damian would be confirmed as fated mates.

Eight years passed. Aitana grew into a striking young woman, admired throughout the pack for her beauty. Plenty of young wolves hoped she might be their fated mate, but for Aitana, there was only one man — Damian, who would soon return from his training alongside her brother Alain.

"Aitana!" Sam called out, jogging to catch up. Sam was her best friend — blonde, green-eyed, and perpetually curious. "Where are you going?" she asked, falling into step beside her as the school day ended.

"To the Alpha's house. I'm helping Luna Dafne with the welcome party preparations for Damian and Alain," Aitana said, unable to contain her excitement. She walked briskly toward the school exit, wearing jeans that hugged her figure and a loose white blouse, her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail.

"Oh wow, this will double as your engagement party, won't it?" Sam's eyes lit up. Aitana smiled at the thought — soon she would officially become Damian's fiancee. "And maybe he's your fated mate, too. I mean, you turned eighteen last month and nobody in the pack has triggered the bond. It has to be him." Aitana kept walking without a word. Sam accompanied her until their paths diverged.

The Blue Moon pack wasn't enormous, but it was one of the most powerful, thanks to Alpha Elias's strong leadership. He'd not only kept the pack united but had built alliances with neighboring packs for protection against deserters — rogue wolves who'd been exiled for unforgivable crimes, the worst of which was killing one's fated mate. These alliances had made Blue Moon famous for both its warriors and its business acumen. Alpha Elias and Aitana's father had established trade with humans — who knew nothing of their true nature — and the pack prospered.

"Hello, Luna Dafne," Aitana said as she arrived at the Alpha's mansion. Luna Dafne was a beautiful woman who'd aged gracefully, with copper hair and warm brown eyes. She carried herself with a quiet authority that commanded respect, though her warmth drew people in just as easily.

"Oh, my dear Aitana! Perfect timing. I've been looking at some dress designs for the welcome party." Dafne held up her tablet, scrolling through a gallery of stunning gowns.

"Luna, that's too much. I can wear something I already have," Aitana protested, even as she stared at the designs in wonder.

"Nonsense. You need to look more beautiful than ever that night. My son is coming home, and I just know you'll be his fated mate. Oh, you two will be the perfect couple!" Dafne gushed. Since childhood, Aitana had been raised with the idea that she'd become the future Luna and Damian's destined partner. The title didn't matter much to her — what mattered was the boy she'd grown up loving, and the life she dreamed of sharing with him.

"Luna, please don't spoil Aitana too much," Andrea said, entering with a tray of tea. Aitana's mother was a striking woman with black hair and light-colored eyes. She set down three cups, handing one to Dafne and one to her daughter.

"Not at all, Andrea. You know I adore Aitana. She's the perfect woman for my son, the future Alpha," Dafne said, stroking Aitana's cheek with affection.

"But we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. It's possible Damian found his mate at the academy..." Andrea said carefully, watching her daughter's expression dim. She'd considered this possibility herself, and she knew how deeply it would wound Aitana.

"Of course not," Dafne said firmly. "You know the academy is very strict — they barely allow visits or communication. But the few times Elias went to see Damian, he never mentioned a mate. And in every letter he sent, he always asked about Aitana. So don't worry, dear." Aitana nodded, clinging to those words. But Andrea couldn't shake the feeling that it had been a mistake to let her daughter grow up believing she was destined for the future Alpha.

"****************"

Aitana woke before dawn, buzzing with anticipation. Today was the day Damian was finally coming home. She chose a sky-blue dress — his favorite color — and let her brown hair fall in loose waves past her shoulders. Her makeup was light, just a nude lip and the natural flush of excitement on her cheeks. She hurried downstairs to the kitchen, where her mother was already making breakfast. But someone else was there too — a young man with messy brown hair, honey-colored eyes, and a physique sculpted by years of rigorous training.

"Aitana?" he said, his voice deeper than she remembered. She stared, then turned to her mother, who couldn't stop smiling.

"Alain?" she whispered.

He nodded, stood, and pulled her into a tight hug. She squeezed him back.

"Moon above, when did you get here?" she asked, still holding on.

"A few minutes ago. Look at you — you're gorgeous, sis." He grinned, looking her over. "Not the crybaby I left behind."

"Shut up," she laughed, swatting his arm. Then her eyes brightened. "And... did Damian come back too?"

"He went straight to the Alpha's mansion," Alain said with a careful smile. He noticed the way her eyes sparkled and his stomach tightened — their mother had already briefed him on the situation.

"Then I should go say hello—"

"I don't think now's the best time. It was a long trip, and Damian's exhausted. Why don't you wait until this afternoon?" Alain suggested gently.

"He's right, sweetheart," Andrea chimed in. "Besides, breakfast is ready and your father will be here any minute. It's been too long since we've all eaten together." Aitana relented. Before she could say another word, the front door opened and in walked her father — the Beta of the Blue Moon pack.

"Alain! I dropped everything the moment your mother messaged me. Welcome home, son." Marcus was a handsome man with light hair and honey eyes. Beneath his rugged authority, he was someone who loved and protected his family fiercely.

"Thanks, Dad." Alain embraced him.

The family sat down to breakfast. Alain told stories about academy life and the brutal training regimen, but even as Aitana listened, her mind kept drifting to the Alpha's mansion. She was dying to see how much Damian had changed, to throw her arms around him, to tell him how much she'd missed him — and above all, to find out if they were fated mates.

"By the way, an invitation arrived from the Alpha King," Marcus said, drawing everyone's attention. "We're invited to a ball in honor of his birthday."

"I've heard unpleasant things about him," Aitana said. "Are you going?"

"We're all going. Alpha and Beta families from across the kingdom are invited. Start packing — we leave this weekend," Marcus announced.

"What do you think he's planning? The King rarely shows his face in public. He's quite the mystery," Alain said, sounding every bit the future Beta.

"Word is he's looking for a mate. He's been on the throne for years now, and he's reaching the age where he either finds one or his wolf takes over. And given his origins — lycanthrope bloodline, far rarer and more powerful than regular wolves — the stakes are even higher," Marcus explained.

Alain glanced at his sister with a teasing grin. "You could be the King's fated mate, little sis."

Aitana shot him a glare. She didn't want anyone but Damian.

"**************************"

After breakfast, Aitana waited for Alain so they could walk to the Alpha's mansion together. She'd been dreaming of this moment for eight years — seeing Damian in person again, watching their wolves recognize each other as fated mates.

"Aitana, there's something you should know," Alain said, stopping her just outside the mansion doors. She looked at him, waiting. "Mom told me about your feelings for Damian. But you have to understand — the Moon Goddess is the one who chooses fated mates."

"What do you mean? Did you find yours?" she asked eagerly.

"No, not me." His voice was tinged with regret. He watched the smile vanish from her face. "I'm sorry, sis."

Before he could say more, the door swung open from inside. An older household attendant greeted them. "Welcome."

Aitana's gaze dropped. "Damian?" she whispered. But before Alain could respond, a voice called out from inside.

"Alain! Glad you made it." A young man their age strode toward them — blond hair swept back, vivid green eyes, a body honed by years of training. Aitana recognized him from photographs, but in person, he was even more striking. "Oh, you must be Aitana, right?"

"Hello, future Alpha Damian," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. She tried to smile, but the ache in her chest made it impossible. Her wolf hadn't reacted to him at all. No spark, no pull — nothing.

"Come on, don't be so formal. I'm still the same Damian," he said warmly, looking her over with genuine delight. "You've become so beautiful. Come here." He pulled her into a hug, oblivious to the storm raging inside her. Aitana caught Alain's worried gaze over Damian's shoulder. "I missed you so much, little one," Damian said, releasing her and ruffling her hair the way he used to when they were children.

"Yeah, me too," she whispered. She smoothed her hair and exhaled. Her wolf hadn't reacted. It was obvious — Damian was not her fated mate.

"Come inside. Aitana, there's someone I want you to meet. I've been so excited for this — I've told her all about you, and I really hope you two become great friends." He took her hand and led her inside, Alain following close behind, his eyes never leaving his sister.

Damian brought them to the living room, where Luna Dafne sat beside a beautiful redhead with jade-green eyes.

"Oh, my dear Aitana," Dafne said, rising from the sofa. The worry in her eyes was unmistakable — she knew better than anyone how much this moment would hurt.

"Luna," Aitana said with a strained smile.

"Come here, babe," Damian said, crossing to the redhead and taking her hand. He guided her to stand before Aitana. The woman was slightly taller, her body more developed. "I'd like to introduce my fated mate and the future Luna of the Blue Moon pack — Melissa, daughter of the Alpha of the Black Moon pack." Pride radiated from every word. "Melissa, this is Aitana Hunter, daughter of Beta Marcus and Alain's little sister."

"It's so nice to meet you, Aitana! Damian and Alain have told me so much about you. I've been looking forward to this day — I really hope we can be good friends," Melissa said brightly, pulling Aitana into a hug. Aitana stood frozen, not knowing what to do or how to react with her emotions in freefall.

"The pleasure is mine, future Luna," Aitana whispered, struggling to hold herself together.

"Please, just call me Melissa. They've told me so much about you, I feel like we're already sisters," Melissa said sweetly. She was kind and genuine — she had no idea about Aitana's feelings for Damian. Even Aitana could see that.

"She'd be your sister-in-law, really. Aitana is the little sister I never had," Damian added.

That cut deepest of all. While Aitana had spent eight years loving him as a woman loves a man, he'd always seen her as a little sister.

"Well, Melissa, you should go rest. The journey must have been exhausting," Luna Dafne said kindly.

"Right, our room is all set," Damian said. Aitana watched him say our room and felt the last thread of hope snap. Alain placed a hand on her shoulder, feeling the grief radiating from his sister.

"I hope to see you at tonight's party, Aitana," Melissa said. Aitana could only nod.

"Be right back," Damian said, walking Melissa to their room. Aitana watched them leave — his arm around her waist, her hand on his cheek, the easy intimacy of two people who belonged to each other.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, my dear Aitana," Dafne said once they were gone.

"Don't worry, Luna. This is what the Moon Goddess wanted. We can't argue with her decisions," Aitana said, forcing a smile. Her eyes brimmed with tears she refused to let fall.

"I wanted to tell you, I really did. But Damian wanted it to be a surprise. I went along with it until Mom told me what you felt for him," Alain said. Aitana looked at her brother and tried once more to smile.

"It's not your fault." She took a steadying breath. "Listen, I need some air. Luna, if you'll excuse me." She kept her voice even, though it threatened to break at any second. Alain watched her with concern. "I'll be fine. Don't worry." She kissed his cheek and walked away.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***