It seemed the rain had chosen tonight to let her fury pour on Liam's birthday party. He was turning twenty-four and I was sure every member of the pack under the age of twenty-five was here. I didn't want to come in the first place. Don't get me wrong, parties were great, but they weren't really it for me. I didn't like the attention being a member of the Alpha family, brought to me. Even more so after the past couple of days. Everyone was still talking about what had happened at the bonfire and I wasn't ready to face the social life just yet.

Everything had gone back to normal after the incident, no sirens had gone off and the soldiers weren't as restless as they were the following nights after it. The thought of a rogue on our territory had definitely made everyone anxious because it had been years since the last attack on the Pack. It seemed until now everyone had forgotten what had happened, mainly my mother's dead, but I hadn't. I was young but I could picture how everything had gone down. I didn't like thinking about it and this time it was no different, it was worse.

Ever since that night not only sad memories of my mother had invaded my thoughts, but I also couldn't shake the feeling that something was not right. Not only I had been wondering what the hell I had felt when I touched the blue-eyed man but also about my wolf. I'd heard her for the first time in my seventeen years, just once and I hadn't heard her again. Not one peep, no trace of her existence even if it was in my mind only.

She had whispered.

What was that supposed to mean? The more I thought about it, the more I narrowed it to the only three things I knew. The basics and what everyone in the pack was taught. My father never wanted me to know more because according to him I didn't have to worry about it especially now, that he was going to choose my mate with or without my support.

The first thing I knew was that werewolves had only one mate for life. You couldn't switch partners or regret who you had mated with. There was no going back... at all.

Next, it was known that females had to complete the mating process in order to awaken her wolf and secure her safety. Once she was able to shift, she could protect herself.

Last, the female was supposed to bare her mates' pups. Everyone knew once the male chose his mate, the female would be in heat and ready for the last step.

Honestly these facts didn't help much and made females look weak as hell, like they were only good for mating and bearing pups. It bothered me and it certainly didn't appease my thoughts one bit. None of it made sense, just like it didn't make sense that my wolf had awakened if I hadn't completed the mating process. It was unsettling and I couldn't ask anyone.

"What are you doing here all alone?" I heard behind my back and turned around to find Liam watching me from the front door. I was sitting on the front steps, the ceiling sheltering me from the rain.

"Just...thinking." I shrugged and gave him a grin. My eyes went down his body and my subconscious nodded, liking what she saw. Liam looked good. He wore a pair of dark jeans and a tight t-shirt that made his muscled torso stand out. He was not playing with his very well-trained figure and to top it off, the black jacket he wore gave him a bad boy vibe.

"It's raining, aren't you cold?" he walked towards me with a small grin and sat.

"It's not too bad." he furrowed his eyebrows at my answer.

"I can hear your teeth chattering. Here." he said placing his jacket on my shoulders, both of us ignoring the fact that his hands lingered for a few seconds on them before going back to his sides. "We don't want you getting sick."

"Thank you." I said with a chuckle, knowing werewolves barely got sick, they were strong. We stay quiet, listening to the rain and the party music coming from the inside, in a somewhat comfortable silence. I didn't mind Liam's company; he was a nice person to talk to and I felt safe around him. Ever since the bonfire, my father had ordered him to never leave my side. He said it was for protection but deep down I wondered if he had done it with the intention of bringing us closer. I wasn't bothered, after all he was becoming someone I could lean on and I honestly felt good around him. What bother me was that the actions of my father were only proof that I would not have a say in who was going to be my mate.

I glanced at him; his sharp features contrasted with his kind personality. I sighed deeply... Could he really be my mate? I knew he was a good choice, soon to be Beta, handsome, smart, respectful and deep down I knew we could make it work. However, a part of me didn't want to "choose" a mate, I wanted to feel it, to know it was the right thing to do.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Huh?" I said surprised, coming back to reality.

"Yeah, you know after everything that has happened. Are you really okay?" He frowned. "You're different. I can see something's troubling you."

"I..." I was lost at words, not knowing whether to tell him or not. Maybe I could trust him. "I'm fine. Everything is so confusing, and I feel trapped, you know? Everything I decide or my father decides for me will impact on my future and... I don't even know what I want..." I was interrupted when his right hand cupped my cheek and he leaned his face close to mine.

"What are you doing?" I asked in a whisper staring right at his chocolate irises. This was the first time he invaded my personal space in this kind of way and I didn't know how I really felt about it.

"Serena, I..." He closed his eyes for a second, like if he was thinking for a minute about what he would say next. "I know I said I would give you time and let you make a decision, but we both know your father has already decided. If you allow me, I promise I won't make it harder on you than it already is." He sighed giving me a sympathetic look as I stared at him speechless. All he had said was true and I wanted to try. To give him a chance.

I had less than six months before I became the Luna and if Liam was by my side, I knew everything would be easier. Still, something was off, and I couldn't accept just yet that I had lost. That he would be my future mate. So for now, I would take advantage of the time left to find out what was really was going on with me, my wolf and my true mate.

"You are so beautiful." he whispered; his other hand moved to my hip slowly. "I think you'll be the prettiest Luna we have." His comment softened my decision and I let him continue. "Ever since we were kids, I knew our paths would cross but I didn't think it would be this way...."

His gaze drifted to my lips and he opened his mouth, his eyes speaking what he really wanted to do. He was going to kiss me if I didn't stop him.

I had never kissed someone before, didn't know what or how to do it, yet I didn't push him away as I stared back at his plump lips. If I was going to share a life with him then maybe a kiss would be the start.

His nose touched mine and when his lips grazed my own, I heard it.

It was too soft I almost missed it and I instantlybacked away, his touch fading. The spell broke and his hands fell. His lips pressed into a fine line and my mouth opened to apologize but nothing really came out. I didn't know what had happened. Even though part of me was trying to let him in already, my wolf had interfered.

"I need some air." I stood up and turned away from him.

He nodded with discomfort. "Right, uh I'll see you inside okay?"

"Okay."

Once I was sure he was out of sight, I sighed heavily. I think I was starting to figure out how I could listen to my wolf again. Maybe she had awakened because I was looking for my mate and it all had started at the bonfire night.

I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling anxious about it all. What was really going on? I had no idea, but everything seemed to lead me to the blue-eyed man. I could still remember the burning sensation I had felt when I had touched him, the way he had looked at me. I felt a low growl erupt from within me and I took in a deep breath.

This was a mess. I needed answers but they would have to wait until tomorrow. For now, I just needed to go home.

I walked down the road from the Beta House to the Alpha House. I held tighter Liam's jacket to my body and walked faster. I would be soaked in a matter of seconds. I rounded the Beta's and my house appeared in the distance. The Alpha House closer to the woods than others in our territory.

I was meters away from it when I heard something crack. I turned and looked at the trees but didn't see anything. There was only darkness, so I continued my walk, and then I heard it again and felt my insides churned, uneasy. I stopped and turned to the woods again. I could feel it, as if someone was watching me yet I was faced by the pitch black night.

"Who's there?" I asked, my voice breaking.

Most of the people in the pack had congratulated me for being brave during the hours I disappeared the day of the bonfire. Truth was, I wasn't. Just because I was one of the few females that couldn't shift and yet, had come out alive from the woods didn't prove anything. If only, it proved that I had been lucky.

I heard a noise again and I saw them. Two blue orbs, hiding behind some leaves not far from where I was standing. "Who are you?" I whispered nervous, but there was no response. I glanced at the Alpa House. I was so close but if I wanted to find what was going on I needed to follow my gut, so I stepped forward. "Why are you here?"

Nothing.

I slowly walked further into the woods, following the blue orbs but then they disappeared. "Wait!" I shouted. I ran after them. "Please wait!" I lost track and stopped. "Where are you?"

I scanned the area, but it was useless. I couldn't see a thing anymore. Damn! I was once again engulfed by the darkness. I looked up at the sky and through the branches I saw the crescent moon. It was beautiful, just like my birth mark. My hand touched my right shoulder, where it was.

I had to clear my mind up from all the thoughts that had eased into my mind, swirling constantly on it and get a grip. My father decisions on my future were probably for the best and if my wolf had awakened, it was maybe because I needed to start focusing on the pack duties. Sooner or later I'd become the leader of the pack... The Luna.

I turned around in order to return home, but I caught a glimpse of the bright blue irises once more and I stared at them. They were so familiar. I knew those eyes; I knew who they belong to. They started to move forward until the person I was thinking about became visible.

There he was, the man I had found in the woods.

He was shirtless, his chest rising up and down slowly as his gaze drifted all over my body like it had that night. I stood still, not knowing whether to run or to thank him, to be scared or to feel safe around him, but I couldn't move, just stare.

He stepped closer and I was gasped, torn between the decision I had to make. I tried to calm down and my eyes dropped to the ground. I was definitely scared but I wasn't sure if it was because of him or because of the way I was feeling.

"Thank you." I heard his deep voice murmured and I lifted my head in surprise. All my worried thoughts dissipating as I looked into his eyes this time only a couple of feet away from me.

He was really tall in comparison to me; my head at the level of his broad chest. Every single muscled defined in an athletic, brawny shape. I could feel his heat radiating as we both stare in silence, his gaze never leaving mine. Beautiful was the perfect word to describe him, from his unruly dark hair, his piercing blue irises, to his strong jaw and chiseled structure. Also, he had a five o'clock shadow that gave him a mysterious look.

"Thank you for saving my life." he whispered with a low, deep voice that rumbled in every part of my body.

"What are you talking about?" I asked raising my voice a little, feeling a bit more courageous.

"That night, you helped me. Had you not stopped the bleeding; I would have died. I was injured pretty badly."

I nodded, "Right...although I have to thank you, for taking me home."

He silently stared at me as the corner of his lips raised up in a grin. I bit my lip, stopping me from smiling back. This was weird and not the interaction I thought we would have.

He frowned and stepped to me, immediately taking my hand into his and there it was. I felt the pull like the last time. It was like electricity, like a current, there. Just with a touch.

He looked as surprised as I was the moment he took my other hand and the pull intensified, the electricity flowing through one to the other, binding us.

. My wolf purred with affection, making her great entrance back into my mind and that's when I knew. I had been right about her. Ever since I had touched him that night my wolf had appeared, and the pull was another prove of what I dreaded the most, and part of me had known all along. He was my true mate. That's why we both were feeling the pull between us and tonight it had brought us together. I didn't know how to explain it, but I could feel it.

He startled me again when his hands left mine and gripped my hips pulling me into his body, my hands resting on his chest, as our skin made contact. I looked up, to find him staring at me, but something was different. His bluish eyes sparked with something unexplainable.

He leaned close enough for our noses to touch and I stopped breathing, only to hear him say, "Mine."