Two Mates, One Heart

**MIA'S POV** My hands wouldn't stop shaking. I wiped them on my white dress for the hundredth time, leaving tiny damp spots on the fabric. Tonight was the Moon Festival. Tonight, I might find my mate. "Mia, you're going to rub a hole in that dress," my little sister Lily giggled. She sat on my bed, swinging her legs and watching me pace around our shared bedroom. At twelve years old, Lily had three more years before she could attend her own Moon Festival. "Are you scared?" "Terrified," I admitted, checking my reflection in the mirror again. My long black hair fell straight down my back—Mom had brushed it until it shined. I looked like a proper young wolf lady, which would make Dad happy. But my brown eyes were huge with nervousness. "What if I don't find my mate? What if nobody's scent calls to me?" "Or what if it's someone gross like Bobby Henderson? He picks his nose during pack meetings." Lily made a disgusted face. I couldn't help but laugh. "Lily! That's mean." "But true!" She bounced off the bed and hugged me around the waist. "I think it'll be Jake. He's your best friend. You guys are perfect together. He's always making you laugh and sharing his snacks with you." My cheeks got hot thinking about Jake Rivers. We'd been best friends since we were five years old. We learned to shift into our wolf forms together. We got in trouble together. We told each other everything. Jake had messy brown hair that never stayed neat no matter how much his mom tried to comb it. He had green eyes that crinkled when he smiled. And he was tall—way taller than me. I barely came up to his shoulder. "Jake is... he's my best friend," I said quietly. But secretly, in my heart, I hoped Lily was right. I hoped the Moon Goddess had made Jake my mate. "Girls! Come down for dinner!" Mom's voice called from downstairs. My stomach was too twisty for food, but I followed Lily down anyway. Our house smelled amazing—Mom had cooked all my favorite foods. Dumplings, noodles, stir-fried vegetables, and sweet rice cakes. She always made special Chinese dishes when something important was happening. Dad sat at the head of the table, already eating. He barely looked up when we sat down. Tom Chen was a serious man who worked as the pack accountant. He had black hair with gray streaks at the temples and wore glasses that made him look stern. "Mia, remember to be respectful tonight," Dad said between bites. "Don't run around like a wild child. Don't laugh too loudly. And if you find your mate, let him lead. A good female wolf knows her place." I bit my lip to keep from arguing. Mom, Grace, gave me a sympathetic look but didn't say anything. She never contradicted Dad in front of us. "Tom, it's a celebration," Mom said gently. "Let her enjoy herself." "I'm just making sure she understands proper behavior." Dad pointed his chopsticks at me. "You're not a pup anymore, Mia. You're fifteen. Almost an adult. It's time to act like it." The dumplings suddenly tasted like cardboard in my mouth. Why did Dad always make me feel like I wasn't good enough? Like I was doing something wrong just by being myself? After dinner, Mom helped me put on the jade bracelet that had belonged to her grandmother. "For luck," she whispered, kissing my forehead. "And Mia? Don't listen to your father. Just be yourself tonight. Your mate will love you exactly as you are." Those words made me feel a little better as we walked to the forest clearing where the Moon Festival was held. The whole pack was gathering—hundreds of wolves dressed in their best clothes. Colorful lanterns hung from the trees, casting pretty shadows everywhere. Tables were set up with food and drinks. Music played softly. But I only had eyes for one person. Jake stood near the edge of the clearing with his parents. He wore a gray suit that made him look older, more grown-up. When he saw me, his whole face lit up with his big, goofy grin. "Mia! Over here!" He waved enthusiastically. I hurried over, my nervousness fading a little. This was Jake. My Jake. Even if he wasn't my mate, he'd always be my best friend. "You look really pretty," Jake said, his cheeks turning pink. "Like, really pretty. Not that you don't always look pretty! I just mean... the dress is nice. And your hair. Everything. You look great." "Thanks." I smiled at his awkwardness. "You clean up pretty well yourself." Jake's mom, Beta Linda, smiled at us. "You two have fun tonight. This is a special night—enjoy every moment." As Jake's parents walked away, he leaned closer to me. "I'm nervous," he admitted quietly. "What if we're not mates, Mia? What if the Moon Goddess pairs us with different people?" My heart squeezed tight. "Then... then we'll still be best friends. Nothing will change that." "Promise?" "Promise." Before we could talk more, I caught sight of another familiar face in the crowd. Ryan Cross stood alone near one of the lantern-lit trees. He'd joined our pack a year ago after rogues attacked his family. Ryan was quiet and kept to himself mostly. He had black hair, dark blue eyes, and olive skin. He was tall like Jake, but leaner. Ryan's eyes met mine across the clearing. He didn't smile, but something in his expression made my heart beat faster. Then he looked away. "That's weird," I muttered. "What?" Jake followed my gaze. "Oh. Ryan. He's always staring at you during training." "He is not!" "He totally is. Max and I joke about it all the time." Jake's expression turned serious. "Do you... do you like him?" "I don't even know him! He barely talks to anyone." "But you think he's cute, right?" There was something strange in Jake's voice. Something I'd never heard before. Before I could answer, Alpha Marcus's voice boomed across the clearing. "Welcome, Silverpaw Pack! Tonight, we celebrate the Moon Festival. Tonight, our young wolves may find their destined mates!" Everyone cheered. My hands started shaking again. "All unmated wolves who have reached their fifteenth year, please step into the center circle," Alpha Marcus called. This was it. This was really happening. Jake grabbed my hand and squeezed it. "Together?" "Together," I agreed. We walked into the circle with about thirty other young wolves. Some looked excited. Some looked nervous like me. Some looked like they might throw up. The music stopped. Everyone fell silent. The full moon emerged from behind a cloud, shining down on us like a spotlight. Luna Sarah stepped forward. She was beautiful with long blonde hair and kind blue eyes. "May the Moon Goddess bless you all with your destined mates. May you find love, partnership, and happiness. Close your eyes and open your hearts." I closed my eyes tight. My heart was beating so hard I could hear it in my ears. Jake's hand was still holding mine, warm and familiar. Then I smelled it. The most incredible scent I'd ever smelled in my life. It wrapped around me like a warm blanket. Like coming home after a long trip. Like everything good and safe and perfect. Roasted marshmallows and pine trees. My eyes flew open and locked on Jake. He was staring at me with wide eyes, his mouth hanging open slightly. "Mate," he breathed. My heart exploded with happiness. Jake was my mate! The Moon Goddess had given me my best friend! But before I could say anything, another scent hit me. Just as strong. Just as perfect. Just as impossible to ignore. Rain and cinnamon. My head whipped around. Ryan Cross stood at the edge of the circle, his dark blue eyes glowing in the moonlight. He was looking right at me with an expression of complete shock and wonder. "Mate," Ryan whispered. The entire clearing went dead silent. I looked from Jake to Ryan, my mind spinning in confusion. Two scents. Two mates. How was this possible? Jake's hand dropped from mine like I'd burned him. His green eyes were huge with disbelief. He looked at Ryan, then at me, then back at Ryan. "What?" Jake's voice cracked. "What's happening?" "I... I don't understand," I stammered. My chest was pulling in two directions at once. The mate bond was snapping into place—not once, but twice. I could feel Jake's emotions and Ryan's emotions swirling inside me along with my own. It was overwhelming and scary and amazing all at the same time. People started whispering. Loudly. "Did you hear that?" "Two mates?" "That's not possible." "Is she cursed?" Ryan pushed through the crowd toward me. "Mia, I can explain—" "Don't." Jake stepped between us, his body tense. "Just... don't come near her." "Jake, I'm not trying to—" "I said don't!" Jake's voice rose. He looked at me, and the hurt in his eyes made me want to cry. "Mia... how can you be mated to both of us? That's not... that's not how it works!" "I don't know!" Tears were streaming down my face now. "Jake, I'm just as confused as you are!" Alpha Marcus pushed through the crowd with Luna Sarah. They both looked shocked but tried to hide it. "Everyone, please step back. Give them some space." The crowd didn't move. They just kept staring and whispering. Some looked curious. Some looked disgusted. Some looked like they felt sorry for me. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole. "This is wrong," Jake said, backing away from me. His hands were shaking. "The Moon Goddess made a mistake. She had to. I can't... I can't share my mate with anyone. I won't!" "Jake, please—" I reached for him. He jerked away from my touch like it hurt him. "Don't. Just... I need to think." And then he did the worst thing possible. He shifted into his wolf form—a big brown wolf with bright green eyes—and ran. He ran away from me, away from the festival, into the dark forest. "Jake!" I screamed. "Come back!" But he was gone. Ryan moved closer, his expression gentle. "Mia, I know this is scary. I'm scared too. But we can figure this out together. We can—" "Stay away from me!" The words burst out of me before I could stop them. Ryan flinched like I'd slapped him. But I couldn't handle this. I couldn't handle any of this. "This is your fault! If you hadn't come to our pack, if you hadn't been here tonight, Jake and I would be happy! We'd be normal!" Hurt flashed across Ryan's face. "Mia, I didn't choose this any more than you did." "I don't care! I don't want two mates! I want Jake! Only Jake!" I was sobbing now, ugly crying in front of the entire pack. Luna Sarah wrapped her arms around me. "Shh, sweetheart. It's okay. Let's get you home." As Luna Sarah led me away from the whispering crowd, I caught one last glimpse of Ryan. He stood alone in the clearing, looking completely lost. Part of me wanted to go to him, to apologize. But the bigger part—the part that was broken because Jake ran away—couldn't forgive him for existing. This was supposed to be the best night of my life. Instead, it was the worst.