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Chapter 1

Athena! It’s 10 o’clock! Get your ass out of bed!” My brother is trying to shake me awake but I refuse to get up.”

“Ugh, go away!” I moan and put a pillow over my head.

“Then you leave me no choice.” Then blankets are ripped off and Aiden throws me over his shoulder.

“Hey put me down!” I screech as I start to hit my fists on his back. “

“No can-do sis if I do, you’re going to crawl back into bed and not get up till two, Dad has something to tell us.” He said and exits my room with me still over his shoulder. He starts climbing down the stairs everyone we pass laughs at him carrying me. This is a regular thing with everyone in the pack house looked forward to most mornings. Aiden’s torment. Finally, we reach the kitchen and find mom making delicious pancakes and waffles for the wolves who live in the pack house and dad sitting reading a newspaper. Aiden finally puts me down and I glare up at him. He will pay for that later.

“Thought you would never join us. Athena, you got to stop sleeping so late. Pack responsibilities wait for no one. Your mother and I wanted to talk to you about your 18 birthday. Please sit you two.” Dad says. We take our seats across from dad and mom stops cooking to sit next to him. They look at us with an excited gleam in their eyes. “So next weekend is your 18th birthday and its tradition to throw you two a party to celebrate your first transformation. Every Alpha, Beta, and Gamma in the region along with their children will attend.” Every alpha’s child receives a huge party to gather all the unmated wolves to find their destined mate. It’s the same concept as soul mate, there is that one person who you are tied to all your life unless you are rejected. Rejection is something no wolf wants to go through. It’s painful emotionally and physically. Some say it’s worse than death.

“That sounds like fun, what do you think Athena?” Aiden smiles with enthusiasm. “I think so too. Is everyone in the pack invited?” I ask. “Yes, everyone is invited. It will be held next Saturday, and preparations will start tomorrow. I expect you two to help your mother.”

“Oh sweetheart, you know I can handle it. Besides I love this sort of thing.” Mom gets up smiling and goes back to preparing breakfast. “No problem! I love helping mom. Even though she doesn’t want me to” I said. Mom turns and frowns at me and without saying anything she grabs a platter of pan cakes and places it in the line of food. When breakfast is finished, everyone starts filing in to get their portion. Aiden and I get our plates and sit down by our friends.

“Hey you two! Is it true?” My best friend Celeste pipes up. We’ve been besties since we were toddlers. She is Beta James’s daughter and a month older than me. She has powers to influence nature with her wolf Persephone. It’s just like how my mom can manipulate nature, but powers are unique for every wolf, and they are not all the same. “Is what true?” I ask while cutting a pancake. “Obviously the party next Saturday!” She jumps in her seat.

“Yea, it’s true.” Aiden pipes up.

“Oh! That’s exciting, do you think you’ll find your mate?” A voice says that has haunted me since middle school. Selene Taylor, her father is one of the commanders of the pack. Throughout school she has always took it upon herself to make my life miserable. She always spits mean comments and never passes up the opportunity to humiliate me in front of the school. She is the captain of the cheerleading team, dance team, and the volleyball team. Being beautiful with her long blond hair and slim hips made her the most popular girl in the whole school and because of that privilege she is convinced that she is Aiden’s mate and will be the future Luna. Ha! If she became Luna, the pack would be known for STD’s. She opens her legs to any guy in the pack. She is so shameless.

“Um, I’m hoping I do.” Aiden says with a weird look, and she gives him her a signature slutty smile. Ugh, gag me. She looks at him like a piece of meat or a prize to be won.

“What about you Athena? Do you think you’ll find your mate? I can just imagine you being swept off your feet!” Celeste winks at me. Then a loud laugh from Selene and her friends vibrates the table.

“As if anyone would want a fat cow for a mate! She will most likely be rejected on the spot.” She cackles. I’ve never seen myself as fat, but there were many points where she made me feel so insecure, I would not eat for a week at a time. I stop eating and look down at my plate. These pancakes aren't appetizing anymore.

“What the hell did you just say about my sister?” Aiden says angerly. The laughter dies and he glares at them. He and Celeste always defend me. I just wish I had the courage to stand up to her.

“N-nothing. I didn't say anything.” Selene’s sadistic smile vanishes, and she goes back to eating her food.

Then Celeste puts her arm around me and whispers. “Hey, don’t let her get to you. You’re not fat you are beautiful. You are the most beautiful she-wolf in the pack.” I smile and whisper a thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without her. I try eating again, slowly so my stomach won’t retaliate. Goddess, I hate it when she makes me feel this way. Before she started saying awful things to me, I thought I was average looking with my long dark brunet hair I got from Dad and ocean blue eyes I got from Mom. Aiden inherited Mom’s light brown hair and dads’ dark brown eyes. My height is also average, a solid 5’8” and even though we are twins, Aiden towers over me with his 6’2” height. I wish the she devil would leave me alone and she will not become Luna as long as I live. “And yea, I hope I do find my mate.” I shrug my shoulders and try to laugh off my self-pity.

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