Eighteen Mates.

SORAYA MOONSPELL. “Huh? You’re putting the mask back on?” I tilted my head, letting my gaze drag down his body. “What a waste. You look way too good to be hiding that face.” Nero paused, then tied the strings behind his head. “Incredible. Do you rehearse this nonsense, or does it just fall out of your mouth?” I grinned. “Oh please. You love it.” He snorted. “Soraya, have you ever considered shutting up? Just once? Or is thirsting over me part of your personality now?” I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “I’m just being honest. You’re hot. Why pretend otherwise?” He stared at me. “Yeah. And you have zero shame.” I smiled brightly. “And yet, you’re still standing here.” “Unbelievable,” he muttered, but I caught the faint twitch at the corner of his mouth. He acts annoyed, but he never walks away. And I love teasing him, even though I don’t mean most of it. We’re both here for the same reason, to meet our fated mates under the full moon. I can’t help wondering what his mate will look like. Will she be soft-spoken? Strong? Beautiful? And mine… what will he be like? The thought makes my heart beat faster. I’m Soraya Moonspell. An omega from the Ashenvale Lineage Clan. Nero Varek and I grew up together. Our families are close. He’s my best friend. He stands about six feet tall, broad-shouldered and confident. Short black hair falls in soft waves over his forehead. Lean but strong. Sharp brows. Straight nose. Firm lips that rarely smile for long. Tonight, he wore a plain white long-sleeve shirt, jeans, sneakers, and a dark mask covering half his face. We stood among the crowd as the full moon slowly climbed into the sky. Wind brushed through the open field, surrounded by thick forest. Wolves filled the land in every direction. I let my brunette hair fall down my back after removing my comb, putting it in my back pocket. I zipped up my leather jacket against the chill and smoothed my hands over my fitted jeans. My boots pressed nervously into the grass. I lifted my arm and sniffed lightly. “I can smell it clearly. It’s still on,” Nero said with a smirk. “I don’t know,” I muttered, sniffing again. “Maybe it’s just my nose. But your cologne smells good.” I narrowed my eyes. “I’m jealous.” He chuckled. “Yeah? And?” “Seriously,” I grabbed his arm. “Give me your cologne.” “Nope.” “Your mate wouldn’t mind.” He raised an eyebrow. “And how exactly do you know that?” “Attention, everyone.” We both turned. Rhydian Rowgar stood on the stone staircase at the center of the field, the Alpha’s right hand. Beta of the wolves. Tall. Lean. Dark suit perfectly fitted. Tattoos inked across his hands. Blonde hair in a messy wolf cut. Glasses on his nose, catching the moonlight. Braces flashed on his teeth. He began. “Tonight is the full moon.” He is as striking as ever. We were close when we were kids. Somewhere along the way, that changed. It left a hollow space in my chest. We could pass each other without a word. We became strangers. Then I heard he had become the Alpha’s right-hand man. When we drifted apart, I never got to tell him how I felt. There was no fight. No warning. It just… happened. And sometimes, I wish I knew why we drifted apart. At least his reasons. When did it start? How did it happen? I can barely remember anymore. I shook those thoughts away, forcing myself to focus. It's all in the past now. “Sons and daughters of the Clans,” he continued, his voice calm yet powerful, “tonight the Moon Goddess watches you. She sees your hunger, your fear, your longing. Tonight, she promises you something greater. A bond thicker than blood. Stronger than war. Stronger than death.” “Ugh,” Nero muttered, wrapping his arms on his chest. “Shut up,” I whispered back, trying not to laugh. “This is not a legend,” Rhydian continued. “This is fate. Let the ceremony begin.” The moon seemed brighter overhead. Around me, wolves closed their eyes and inhaled deeply, searching for the one scent meant for them. My heart pounded so loudly I could hear it in my ears. I closed my eyes. Please don’t let it be someone I already know. I would die of embarrassment. I tried to reach for that invisible thread that would lead me to him. But a scent cut through everything. I knew exactly who it belonged to. Damn. Nero sprayed too much cologne. I tried to block it out. I let my claws slide out slightly, grounding myself. Forcing my wolf to focus. But the scent wrapped around me instead, strong and undeniable. It filled my lungs, thick and suffocating. I felt it. A presence. My breath caught. My chest tightened painfully. Slowly, I opened my eyes. Nero stood directly in front of me. His eyes, intense behind his mask, locked onto mine. It struck deep in my chest, fierce, like something inside me had snapped into place. My fingers tingled. My lungs felt too tight. “Soraya,” he said, his voice strained. For a moment, the world disappeared. My mate had been standing beside me the entire time. “Nero.” “This is not good,” Nero said quietly. His jaw was tight. “You’re not supposed to be the one.” “What do you mean?” I whispered. I’m not even in love with him. He’s like my brother. This makes no sense. “There must be a mistake,” he muttered. Before I could respond, another scent hit me. Sharp. Like smoke. Then another. Sweet, like honey. Another, cool like rain on stone. My stomach twisted. Each scent pulled at me. Many directions. I staggered slightly. Around me, wolves had stopped moving. They were staring. No. They were staring at me. One stepped closer. Then another. And another. “Soraya.” I turned. Rhydian. Disbelief filled his face. “You’re my mate?” My knees weakened. I took a few steps back away. Another voice spoke my name. I turned around. Elandor Kaelric stood a few feet away, staring at me in shock. Behind him were more wolves. Faces pale. Eyes wide. Understanding hit slowly, then all at once. The bond wasn’t pulling in one direction. It was pulling everywhere. My wolf whimpered inside me, overwhelmed. "Our mate, Soraya." My wolf, Shelia, cries out in my head. "They are ours." I took another step back. "That's not possible." I mumbled, looking around me. “She has more than one mate.” “That’s impossible.” “A curse.” “Disgusting.” Those words spread like wildfire. A loud gasp tore from my throat as I clamped my hands over my ears, trying to block out the noise of the crowd. The whispers burned, searing through me like hot coals, shooting straight into my skull. “Eight… nine… twelve…seventeen and eighteen.” A blonde-haired gasped. My chest felt crushed. I could barely breathe. Before I could process anything, Elandor grabbed my arm. “Run.” He pulled me through the stunned crowd. I heard shouting behind us. The sickening crack of bones shifting. “Keep running!” he yelled.