Chapter 1 My Mate

Sierra Lee. I gaze into his eyes, momentarily lost in their depth, and feel a magnetic pull towards him. Slowly, I lift my hands and place them softly on his cheek. His eyes are locked onto mine, as if he's trying to read my thoughts. As I move closer to him, I inhale his musky scent mixed with a hint of pine. It's a heady aroma that fills my senses, making me feel dizzy with desire. I slowly place my head on his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heart against my ear. His touch around my waist sends shivers down my spine, making me feel both alive and vulnerable. I don't want to break away from his embrace. "Mate," his cold voice rings through my ears, causing a chill to run down my spine. But as he places his warm hand on my cheek, I close my eyes and let myself melt into his touch. *Moonhowler* As I wake up, I squint in the bright morning light and take in the sight of my room. Today is my 18th birthday, and I can't help but feel excited to finally feel a connection with my mate. I get up, ready for school at the Moonhowlers Academy, a school built for werewolves struggling to control their powers. After putting on a light makeup and a blue dress, I grab my backpack and rush out the door. As I descend the stairs, I catch a whiff of bacon sizzling in the kitchen, and see my mom bustling around, preparing breakfast. "Morning, mom." I kiss my mom on the cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin against my lips, and found myself walking over to the front door, my excitement palpable. As I reached for the handle, my mother's voice stopped me in my tracks. "Sierra," she called out to me, her voice tinged with a hint of concern. I stopped and turned towards her, taking in the sight of her standing there, her hair pulled back in a loose bun, her eyes scanning my body for any stains or imperfections. I could smell the faint scent of her perfume, a comforting mix of lavender and vanilla. "Yes, mom?" I replied, a smile spreading across my face. We stood there in silence for a while as my mother continued to inspect me, her hands moving over my clothes. I gently pulled her hands away, holding them in mine as I reassured her. "It's okay, Mom. I'm 18 now, you don't need to worry so much about me," I said, my voice soft and reassuring. She smiled at me, but I could see a tear forming in the corner of her eye. I pulled her into a hug, feeling the softness of her sweater against my cheek, and the warmth of her embrace. As she whispered her worries to me, I could feel the weight of her sadness in my heart, like a heavy stone. I pulled away from the hug, using my fingers to wipe away the tears that had fallen down her face. I knew that finding my mate would mean leaving her behind, and the thought of it made me feel a deep sense of guilt. I could sense that she felt it too, as she looked up at me with tearful eyes. "I want the best for you, Sierra," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. I took a deep breath, trying to push away the sadness that threatened to overwhelm me. "I know, Mom," I said, my voice strong and resolute. "And I'll always love you, no matter what happens." I try pushing the tears that were about to come down my eyes, as I smile once more. "It's ok, mom. Just be happy for me," I say. I ran out without even eating my breakfast. The fresh morning air hits me as I step outside, and I take a deep breath in. The sun shines brightly in the clear blue sky, and the birds are chirping their songs. After a minute, I arrive at school on time, and I take another deep breath before entering the school gate. The smell of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers fills my nose. "Hey, birthday girl," Alex and Nora say in unison as I turn around. I see their smiling faces, and I can't help but smile back. I move towards them, and we share a group hug. "I'm so happy for you, girl," Nora speaks as she holds my hands. "I didn't know I'd have to say this, but please, Sierra, turn back to 17. I can't bear not seeing my best friend. What am I going to do when you leave us after finding your mate?" Alex says jokingly. I smile, seeing how much Alex cares about me. These are my childhood friends, the ones I grew up with, and since we were little, we had done everything together. I pull the two of them closer to me as I hug them tight, feeling their warmth. "Girls, no matter what, I'll always come to visit, okay?" I say, hoping to reassure them. After a little chat, we both walked into our classroom where everyone once started wishing me a happy birthday. Most times, I look around at all the guys to see if I could feel any bond with them, but all I got was nothing. I noticed how most of them tried to flirt with me in saying they were my mate. As I sat in my chair, Mrs. Ellia, the maths teacher, walked in, announcing that the Lycan Alpha was coming to our school today. I could see how everyone grieved and how scared they were. The sight of their fearful faces and the smell of their sweat filled the room. The sound of whispers and shuffling feet filled my ears, and I could feel the tension in the air, thick like a fog. The Lycan Alpha was one of the most arrogant men that had ever lived. I heard he killed his father just to take over his throne and was cursed by the moon goddess. He was coming to our school, and for a moment, I felt uneasy. After a while of hearing nothing but talk about why the Lycan Alpha was coming to the Moonhowlers Academy, we could hear the voice of the principal announcing for everyone to come out; the Lycan Alpha was already on his way to the school. Everyone was scared as they all ran out, but that wasn't the case on my side. I wasn't scared that he was coming; I was just curious to know why. Soon, Nora and Alex ran to my class, dragging me out without giving me time to put my book in my backpack. As we emerged, everyone was lined up, looking at each other with fear in their eyes. I walked in the middle of the line and took a deep breath, unsure of what was about to happen. Suddenly, a red car pulled up at the school entrance, and everyone turned to look. The car door opened, and we could see a leg step out. All heads turned towards the car, waiting to catch a glimpse of the Beast Alpha. Then, someone emerged from the car, but it wasn't a human shape. Instead, it was a real wolf, standing on two legs without a human skin. Gasps and sobs erupted from the crowd, as people recoiled from the sight of the wolf. But I couldn't take my eyes off him. His eyes held me captive, and I felt something different. As he walked towards us, everyone else moved away from him, but I remained rooted to the spot, drawn to him like a magnet. I looked him up and down, still unable to find a way to describe him. His massive figure moved over towards me, and he stood in front of me. As I gazed up into his eyes, I noticed how enormous he had become. His presence was almost overwhelming. The scent of him was earthy and musky, like a forest after a rainstorm. I could hear the sound of his breathing, deep and steady, like a predator on the prowl. As I lifted my hands, I felt the weight of his gaze upon me. His fur was soft and velvety under my touch. Looking back into his eyes, I felt a primal urge within me. My wolf growled, responding to his presence. Slowly, I lowered my hands, aware of the students around us. I turned to see them watching us with curious eyes. Turning back to the Lycan beast, he moved closer and placed his hands on my cheeks. They were surprisingly soft, like a gentle breeze on a summer day. "Mate," he whispered, and I felt my heart skip a beat. "I have found you." It was as if everything around us had faded away, leaving only the two of us in that moment, connected by an unbreakable bond.