Chapter 1
1499 Words
CHAPTER ONE
Shattered Dreams.
Nina's POV.
“Nina, wake up!” Today is the day. ” It was my mom, I could tell from the cheerful tone of voice.
I yawned and tossed on the bed. Then it dawned on me. My 18th birthday. The day I would find my soulmate.
I sat up abruptly and yelled, “Coming, Mom!”
I felt my heart beating fast as I leaped from the bed. This was it. The day I used to wish would come in my life one day. I dashed to my room and took the dress I had chosen a few weeks ago.
“Can I help you with something sweetie?” Mom said, opening the door and entering the room.
“So how are you?” he asked cheerfully “I’m good, thanks,” I answered smiling back. "Just nervous. "
She entered the room and said hello then she took me in her arms and hugged me. “Get well soon. Your mate will love you. ”
I just hoped that she was right, as I simply nodded to indicate that I had heard what she had said. I kept thinking about what kind of mate I would be getting as I got ready to meet the stranger. Tall? Short? Funny? Seriously? It didn't matter. We are a perfect match, a perfect couple I should say, I mean we both are from the same state and the same city for that matter.
An hour later I was as ready as I was ever going to get. Looking into the mirror one more time I said to myself. Brown long hair, which parted in the middle, fell in soft waves on both sides of the face, and green shining eyes. The blue dress fitted me well and accentuated all the curves a woman desires to have.
“You look beautiful,” Mom said, her eyes welling up a little.
“Thanks, Mom,” I said, hugging her tightly. “This cannot be real,” – She exclaimed, I think this is one of the best quotes to describe disbelief.
We proceeded to the pack grounds which was to be the venue for the ceremony. I was completely uneasy; my stomach was filled with butterflies. Realizing this, we moved further and I observed other girls of my age coming in with their families. It was clear that some of them were looking forward to the experience while the rest had deathly looks on their faces.
”There’s Sarah”, I said pointing at my best friend. “I think it is time to go over and greet them. ”
Mom nodded, and I quickly walked over to Sarah. We embraced and shouted like little boys and girls.
“Are you not excited that it’s finally here?” Sarah asked, jumping on her toes.
“Oh I know that I feel so nervous,” I replied. ‘‘What if he continues to dislike me or even dislikes me even more?’’
Sarah rolled her eyes. ”He’s your mate and of course, he will like you”
I nodded my head and tried to accept it from her words. We continued talking for a few more minutes until our Alpha gathered us for attention.
“Well my friends, let the mating begin, and what better way than to kick start this year’s mating ceremony,” he declared. “Today young wolves will choose their partners for life. May the Moon Goddess be with them. ”
I was excited as he began to describe the steps. We would just stroll around letting the wolves inside of us lead us to where our partners were. When we felt the bond, we’d know.
“It is time for the ceremony to start,” the Alpha said.
Sarah squeezed my hand. "Good luck!"
With that, I drew a lungful of air and began to move. Everyone was walking, and they were walking either slowly or quickly. I tried not to get angry, and let my instincts take over, as I am a werewolf.
Then I felt it. A pull, such as a string being pulled at the heart. I followed it, moving from side to side in the crowd. My steps got faster as the feeling grew stronger. That is just a partial summary of the movie’s plot, but it will do for now.
I entered a new aisle and there it was. Hunky, dark-haired with blue eyes and a muscular body and quite a tall one at that. Beta Marcus. My mate.
His eyes met mine and all the space around me changed. This was it. This was real.
“Hi,” I uttered quietly, moving closer to him. This is me, I am Nina. You are my mate am I right?
Marcus looked at me for a long moment and his expression was blank. This silence went on and I became uncomfortable.
‘Yes,’ she replied quietly, ‘did you?’ ‘Um, yes,’ I said, my voice slightly trembling.
He let out a breath, rubbing his head. “Look, Nina, right? I felt something but…. ”
My heart sank. But what?
‘I can’t be your mate,’ he said bluntly.
I felt as if someone had punched my stomach and knocked the breath out of me. "What? Why not?"
Marcus looked uncomfortable. ” I have a mate already. We have been together for one year now.
I still did not get it and so I shook my head not knowing what to do. “But. . . but how?” We felt the bond, I know we did.
”Sometimes it happens,” he said, still not looking at me. ‘Sometimes,’ but it does happen,” Sorry, but I don’t want the bond, I want my current partner.
Tears filled my eyes. This couldn't be happening. Not today. Not like this.
"You can't," I whispered. ‘’Oh come on, can we just discuss this?’’
Marcus's face hardened. : “It’s as simple as that then, you and I are through, there is nothing else to discuss. “
He just walked away from me and that took me by surprise, there I was all by myself. Some individuals began to look at the two of them rudely. I was getting murmurs and could feel the look of sympathy on their faces.
Shame flooded me and I had never been rejected like that before. In front of everyone. On what should have been the best day of my life.
This I could not endure any longer. I ran. Beyond the gawking neighbors, beyond my panicking mom, beyond it all. I followed him until I came to the end of our property and I fell against a tree.
Then the tears rolled down her cheeks, streaming down her face. How could this happen? I don’t know what, with me, was wrong. Why would the Moon Goddess let me feel the bond if it was not real?
Perhaps I don't even know how long I have been seated there, sobbing my heart out. It was getting dusk when I finally raised my head and with my eyes red-ridden and my vision a little blurry.
That was when I caught the sound of it. A twig snapped nearby. Footsteps approaching.
“Nina?” a deep voice said. "Are you out here?"
I froze. It was Marcus. What on earth was he doing here?
‘Get lost,’ I shouted back to her, tears choking my voice.
The footsteps got closer. It must be a rather urgent conversation because the name is followed by a request for conversation, which is written in capital letters.
I rose from my seat and the anger that came into me kicked out the sadness that I was feeling. ‘You crawl to me now, but weeks ago you had no qualms about stripping me in front of the entire pack!’
Marcus emerged from the crowd blushing. “I’m sorry that I panicked and didn't know what to do. ”
‘So you decided to crush my dreams?’ I angrily said. ‘Thanks a lot for that. ’
He sighed. She sighed and looked me straight in the eyes. “I know I messed up, but there is something you need to know… Something important. ”
I folded my arms and looked at him angrily. ‘What could there be that is so significant?’
Marcus took a deep breath, his blue eyes intense. "It's about the bond. And why I reject you? Nina, you're in danger. We all are."
My anger faded, replaced by confusion and a hint of fear. "What are you talking about?"
He glanced around nervously. "Not here. It's not safe. Meet me at the old oak tree at midnight. I'll explain everything."
Before I could respond, he turned and disappeared into the woods.
I stood there, stunned. What just happened? What danger was Marcus talking about? And why did he want to meet in secret?
- Writer
