~ Asteria (POV) ~

“Happy birthday, Asteria.” I heard my father’s lovely voice. I quickly ran out of my room and hugged him.

“So how are you feeling, my angel? Did your wolf talk to you?” he asked me while caressing my hair.

“Yes, her name is Ashlin,” I smiled at him and said. I was really waiting for my eighteenth birthday because I wanted to talk with my wolf and finally she spoke to me early in the morning.

“Sounds good. You’ll find your mate soon, but be careful with boys,” he frowned at me and said. I know he’s not happy with the fact I’m going to be with my mate after I find him. I smiled at him and nodded. I know how much my father loves me, so I always listen to him.

After having a funny conversation with him, he left saying that he should meet our alpha. I looked at the time and found it was already ten in the morning and today was Sunday, so I was going to my favorite place. I changed into a short floral dress with straps and tied my hair into a low ponytail. I walked out of my house and went to the flower garden that was situated at the end of our area. No one comes to this flower garden because they thought it’s a bad sin, but I will never think flowers are bad sins.

As I approached the flower garden, I felt a strong scent. A scent mixed with orange and chocolate. What was that? I’d never felt something like this before.

‘Our mate...he’s here.’ My heartbeat stopped for a second as I heard my wolf’s happy giggle and then it started to beat so fast. My mate? Happiness and impatience grew hard inside of me, and I wanted to see him. I wanted to know his name.

‘We are so lucky, Asteria. He’s so strong. I can feel him.’ I bit my lower lip and I didn’t know how to react. My mind was filled with my wolf’s voice and what she said.

Forgetting all the nervous feelings I was feeling right now, I entered the garden. I looked around for a while and saw a figure who was standing under the big chestnut tree. My mate... I couldn’t see him clearly, but he was familiar. I walked towards him slowly and stood a few steps away from him. Then he turned to me.

Damen Phoenix? Our alpha’s son? Is he my mate? My mind was filled with countless questions. I bit my lower lip and looked into his black eyes. My heart was beating ridiculously fast. He was so handsome, and most importantly, he was the most handsome guy in our pack. Tall, strong, muscular body, sharp jawline, thin lips, silky jet-black hair—simply he’s just amazing. I have really liked him ever since I was a kid.

I knew I was blushing, but I didn’t want to hide it from him. He was my mate and he was the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with.

“So you’re here.” As soon as I heard his voice, my wolf howled from happiness. She was really happy because of our mate. I smiled at him and nodded. I watched his face for a while, but it didn’t show any happiness. Maybe he was training and he was tired now.

“Asteria Griffin. You like me?” Why is he asking that? I really like him. He’s my mate.

“Yes.” I smiled and nodded at him. Then he let out a chuckle and sighed. I think he’s so tired because of training. I really feel upset for him because he is a busy guy and he has so many things to deal with. It’s okay; I’ll be his strength from now on. I’ll help him with everything.

“So you’re going to become Luna of this Blood Moon pack?” I watched his face for a while and smiled shyly. I didn’t know how to react or answer his question.

“I, Damen Phoenix, reject Asteria Griffin as my mate.” His words stabbed straight into my heart. It hurts… Did my mate just reject me? Maybe I heard him wrong.

“Ahhhh.” Unintentionally, I screamed while clutching my dress at the same time. I felt my wolf’s pain. She was crying and whimpering from the pain. My legs went numb and my whole body began to shake.

It hurts. Please, moon goddess, make it stop. Tears came out of my eyes and I felt a suffocating feeling inside of my chest.

“Wh...why?” I finally managed to ask him. As I looked up at him, I saw his eyes were somewhat red. I didn’t know how to understand his intentions or what’s going on inside of his mind.

“Weak and pathetic. I want a she-wolf with alpha blood to be my Luna. You’re such a failure.” That’s all he said. He just turned and left while leaving me here with a heart-throbbing pain. Is this what I got for my eighteenth birthday? Is this my gift? I slowly sat on the ground and looked up at the sky. My mate just rejected me just because I don’t have alpha blood in me.

‘Ashlin… Are you okay?’ After spending more than three hours here, I finally asked her.

‘We have it…we have what he wants. We have everything and we will be a perfect Luna, but why?’ Her broken voice made my heart shatter into pieces. I stayed silent because I didn’t want to hurt her.

I slowly got up from the ground and walked out of the garden. The sky was getting darker and ready to welcome the night. It had been hours since he rejected me, but the pain was still here, and that made my wolf become numb. She didn’t even have the strength to speak to me.

I slowly walked towards my house and found my father was waiting for me with a smile. I forgot all the pain and smiled at him. I strode towards him and hugged him so tightly.

“Get ready. In a while, angel, we have dinner with Alpha Kalen and his family today.” My heart shook with horror. A dinner with Alpha Kalen and his family? That means Damen will also be there. No, I don’t want... I don’t want him to reject me again.

“Can I not go there, Father?” I asked him because I was scared to face the same thing again.

“It’s your birthday, we should go there.” I simply nodded at him and entered the house. My mind was a mess because of this sudden dinner. We’ve never had dinner together, but why today?

There's one thing that I couldn’t understand, and it was Alpha Kalen and Luna Martha. They secretly treat me well and I don’t know why. The way they look at me with love and care has been a real puzzle to me ever since I was a kid. Why do I feel like they are hiding something important from me?