Four
1348 Words
Matthew
The ballroom pulsed with candlelight and murmured conversation, the scent of expensive perfume mixing with roasted meats and wine. I stepped inside and scanned the crowd. My wolf, James, prowled the edges of my mind like a storm, restless, claws scraping against my thoughts.
James, what’s going on?
I can feel it, he growled, his voice a low thunder. Our mate is here tonight.
A jolt went through me. Are you serious?
Deadly serious. She’s here somewhere.
Before I could ask more, James snapped the link and retreated, leaving me hollow and buzzing. I stood still, heart hammering, until my eyes found her.
The Beta’s daughter. The Beta who served my uncle, the Alpha.
Lirella stood near my uncle and aunt, the flickering light painting her skin with gold. She had grown since the last time I’d seen her, her curves filling out the midnight-blue dress that clung to her figure. Her hips swayed as she drifted among the guests, and my body answered with a heat I couldn’t control.
“Matthew, are you alright?” my mother asked at my side.
“Yes, Mom,” I lied.
We mingled, but my attention stayed locked on her. When the time came to greet the birthday girl, she approached me with a smile that made the noise of the ballroom fade to nothing.
“Prince Matthew, thank you for coming. It’s so kind of you.” Her voice was smooth as honey.
“The pleasure’s mine,” I said softly. “It’s not every day you turn eighteen and get your wolf.”
She bowed slightly in thanks, the movement revealing a glimpse of her cleavage, and I had to dig my nails into my palms to stay still. She blushed under my gaze, and I prayed silently to the Moon Goddess that she would be mine.
Midnight crept closer. The twins—Lirella and Owen—retreated to their rooms to meet their wolves before their first shift. The grand clock began its midnight chime, echoing through the marble halls.
⸻
Lirella
I held my breath as the twelfth chime rang out.
Hello, Lirella. My name is Desiree. I’m your wolf. It’s so good to meet you. We’re going to do great things together.
Hello, Desiree. Finally. But what do you mean—great things?
You’ll know soon. The Moon Goddess herself chose me for you. I’m no ordinary wolf. I’m one in a million.
Why me?
All will be revealed, she said warmly. For now, breathe. We’ll talk until it’s time to shift.
We spoke for nearly forty-five minutes before it was time to meet Owen. I ran to him, excitement bubbling in my chest.
“Owen, what’s your wolf’s name?”
“Chance,” he said proudly. “He sounds like a warrior.”
“That’s amazing! Desiree says she’s special, but I don’t know what she means by that.”
“That name…” Owen frowned. “It’s familiar. I’m sure I’ve read it somewhere.”
“Well, no time to figure it out now. We’re expected in the forest.”
Hand in hand, we returned to the ballroom. The moment I stepped inside, a scent wrapped around me—blueberries and vanilla, sweet and intoxicating. My wolf went wild. Mate. Mate. Mate.
My gaze collided with Prince Matthew’s. His eyes darkened; his wolf must have been screaming the same thing. We walked toward each other, meeting in the middle of the room.
“Mate,” we said together.
The ballroom went silent.
The Queen came forward. “Matthew, are you sure this is your mate?”
“Yes, Mother.” His voice was iron.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. His stare burned through me, filled with a hunger that made me flush. My father appeared at my side and asked us to follow him. In the Alpha’s office, we sat—Matthew beside me on a small couch, our parents and the King and Queen nearby.
“This is a pleasant surprise,” King Darius said, chuckling.
“Lirella, are you certain?” my mother asked gently.
“Yes.”
King Darius smiled. “Matthew, your mother and I are overjoyed. Lirella will make a wonderful Queen and Luna.”
The Alpha rose. “I’m glad you found each other, but Lirella, you still need to shift.”
“He’s right,” Matthew murmured, his voice low and rough. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
As I reached for the door, he leaned close, his breath hot at my ear. “Later tonight, after you shift, I’m going to ravish you.”
Heat flared through me. I opened the door before my knees could give way.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the Alpha roared to the ballroom, “Prince Matthew has found his Queen! May I introduce Princess Lirella Grace Banks!”
Applause thundered through the hall.
⸻
The First Shift
We stepped into the forest, the air cool and damp under the moonlight. Owen went first.
Chance: Ready? It’s going to hurt the first time, but you’ve got warrior blood.
Owen: I’m ready. Tell me what to do.
Chance: Picture yourself as a wolf. Let me take control.
Bones cracked. Screams echoed. Then a massive red-and-amber wolf stood before us, larger even than the Alpha’s. Gasps rippled through the crowd.
I ran to him, burying my fingers in his thick fur. “Who’s a big, good boy? You are, Chance.”
The enormous wolf melted under my touch like a puppy.
“Lirella, your turn,” my father called.
Lirella: Desiree, how?
Desiree: Picture yourself as a wolf. Let me take control.
Pain tore through me, my bones bending and breaking. Then it was replaced by pleasure as my body shifted for the first time.
When I opened my eyes, everything sharpened—sound, scent, sight. My fur glowed gold. My eyes burned blue.
I threw back my head and howled.
Around me, wolves shifted and bowed—even the King, Queen, and Prince.
⸻
Matthew
She was magnificent. Glowing gold, the embodiment of power and grace. James clawed at my mind, demanding release.
Now, he urged.
I gave in. Pain flared, then faded. When I looked down at my paws, I was glowing too.
James, what’s happening?
I think our mate is the Golden Wolf—the daughter of the Moon Goddess herself. The legend is true. Something is coming, Matthew. Something dangerous.
Shock rippled through me. My mate was the Golden Wolf—and somehow, I was glowing too.
Lirella’s howl echoed, and instinct drove me to answer her. Together, our voices lifted into the night sky.
⸻
Lirella
Desiree, why is James glowing too?
Because you’re the Golden Wolf, and the Moon Goddess chose James—Matthew—to be your protector, your guardian.
So the stories are true? I’m the Golden Wolf?
It appears so.
I severed the link. Desiree took over, and we ran into the forest, Matthew’s wolf at my side. Our glow intensified, a blazing light filling the night sky.
When we returned to the pack house, everyone shifted back. I stood, naked and breathless, staring at Matthew. His body was a masterpiece—sculpted, powerful, magnetic. Desire surged in me, but I had questions first.
I dressed quickly and turned to my parents. Their eyes told me everything—they knew more than they’d said.
⸻
Matthew
Back at the pack house, Lirella moved toward me like a goddess, the scent of her still wild and heady. Every inch of her called to me, but I reined myself in. We needed answers.
“I don’t know what’s happening,” she whispered, tears shining in her eyes.
I cupped her face. “Hey. We’ll figure it out together. I prayed to the Moon Goddess for you. She heard me. Whatever this is, I’m not going anywhere.”
Her tears slowed. We turned to find our parents in the crowd, their faces pale and solemn, as if the stories of old had stepped off the page and into our lives.
- Writer
