THE DESTINED MATES

Chapter 1

Not my mate

Clara had been tossing and turning on her bed, unable to sleep. Deep emotions filled her heart as it raced. She couldn't help but blush when she thought of the reason she was feeling so flustered. It was her best friend Jethro's birthday today.

Clara had been in love with the beta wolf, Jethro, who was actually her brother's Beta. Clara's brother, Richard, was the Alpha of the "StarGate wolf pack," the most powerful pack in their city, Osaka. He was the most feared and also the strongest wolf in the city. Clara herself didn't have a low standing in the pack. She had been blessed by the moon goddess from birth with extraordinary power. Even though Clara had just barely reached eighteen, the age when a werewolf makes their first transformation and is recognized by the pack, she was already famous for her extraordinary strength and ability.

Jethro had always been her childhood friend and grew up together with Clara and her brother. Clara had always had a crush on Jethro. Although it was a secret crush, Clara had always prayed to the moon goddess to make Jethro her fated mate; it had always been her secret prayers. Her mother, Luna, had always told her that the goddess knows what our hearts wish for and will always give us what is best for us.

Clara had always believed that Jethro was the best for her and had been really hoping that he would be her fated mate. She heard the honk of a car horn and jumped down from the bed. She was only wearing pyjamas and a pink singlet; the room looked very girlishly decorated, with pink being the dominant colour, even the teddy bear lying on the bed was pink, including the bedsheets.

Slipping into her slippers, cute girls' slippers with a bunny head, she headed straight downstairs. Today, she had specially made a birthday cake for Jethro. She had wanted to surprise him and really hoped he would love it. She had invested her all in making the cake. To her, it was a sign of her love for him, and the cake was actually decorated in the shape of a heart. It wasn't a coincidence.

She already knew beforehand that Jethro would accompany her brother Richard. He always had as his Beta and also his childhood best friend. She hurried downstairs and could hear some footsteps making their way to the living room. It seemed like they had just entered the sitting room. Her heart raced against each other. She had prepared for this day for a long time, but for some unknown reason, she seemed to feel a deep uneasiness in her heart.

Reaching the living room downstairs, she saw her brother Richard, Steven, another one of their childhood friends, and Jethro. There was a woman sitting beside Jethro, and they were actually sitting in a very intimate position. Her heart skipped a beat.

She looked at the woman closely. She was wearing a blue gown, the gown looked very revealing. "Where the hell did Jethro find this woman?" she thought to herself. Her eyes moved to her neck, and her heart tightened; she was filled with grief. There was a faint fresh mating mark on her neck, and judging from the way they were acting intimately, she could already guess what was going on.

She felt like crying at the moment, but her eyes had no tears. Her brother Richard stood up and patted her on her shoulder. The look in his eyes was like he was saying, "I am sorry, things didn't turn out the way we expected." He was well aware of her sister's feelings for Jethro.

"Clara!" Jethro called out to her as he flashed a very heartwarming smile. But at that moment, his smile looked like a mockery to Clara.

Clara looked at him and managed to make the "hmm" sound.

"Are you alright?" Jethro asked, seeing her lack of response. If it was before, Clara would have been all over him once she saw him, wishing him a happy birthday. But now she was barely responding.

Clara only nodded her head. Jethro continued, pointing at the woman who was seated next to her, "Meet Stacy, my fated mate."

Clara's heart felt shattered. Even though she already knew that the woman beside him must be his fated mate, she had so dearly wished that it was a misconception on her own side, yet fate was so cruel to her.

She managed to force out a smile and, surprisingly, didn't break out crying in tears just as she so much wanted to do right now.

"Congratulations," she congratulated him with a forced smile.

Jethro nodded and turned to his mate Stacy, "She is the one I told you about. My childhood friend. The two of you will make a good pair if you become friends. She is very kind-hearted."

Stacy nodded and extended her hand to Clara, "Hello Clara, it's nice to meet you. I hope we can be friends," she said with a beautiful smile on her lips. Her voice was very soft, and even a block of ice could be moved by her voice.

Clara looked at her, the woman who took her man from her. She really wanted to hate this woman but couldn't bring herself to. She took her extended hand in her own dainty hands as they shook hands lightly before she pulled her hand back and excused herself.

"I am feeling sleepy; I will be going upstairs," she announced as she walked away without looking back. Her back looked weak as she made her way upstairs.

Richard could feel her sister's pain. Steven followed her upstairs. Reaching her room, Clara rushed inside and threw her body on the bed. She was sobbing. A light knock sounded on the door, but she turned a deaf ear and continued weeping.

The door opened lightly, and Steven walked in. "Clara," he called out. Clara wiped her tear-stained face as she protested. "I am okay; don't bother."