As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the window of Skyler’s bedroom, she was already wide awake, buzzing with excitement for the day ahead. Her heart was racing with anticipation as she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling of her small but cozy room. Today was the day she had been eagerly anticipating for years—the day she would be united with her mate, Caleb Howler.
It was a tradition among werewolves to find their mates at the age of 15 and get united on their 18th birthday. Skyler had turned 18 just a week ago, and tonight she would be taken to the ShadowClaws pack, where the union would take place. You should know that werewolves do have a unique way of uniting with their mates. They have a special ceremony that takes place under the light of the full moon.
The ceremony involves the couple declaring their love for each other and exchanging vows. They are then marked with a symbol that represents their bond—a symbol that stays with them for the rest of their lives. And today was Skyler’s day. She jolted up from her bed, feeling a thrill of excitement run down her spine. She looked around her room with a big grin on her face. The room was painted in shades of blue and gray, reflecting Skyler’s love for the night sky. The walls were adorned with posters of constellations and galaxies, and a small desk in the corner was cluttered with books on astronomy and werewolf lore. Her room was a reflection of her personality.
Skyler couldn’t contain her excitement as she got ready for the day. She ran to the window and took in the beauty of the forest that surrounded her. She took a deep breath and exhaled, feeling the cool morning air fill her lungs. As she walked to the bathroom to get ready, she couldn’t help but feel grateful for her mate. She had heard stories of werewolves who never found their mates or lost them to tragic circumstances. But here she was, standing on the threshold of the most important day of her life, about to unite with the person who was meant to be hers. Skyler quickly had her bath, and after a while, she stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a fluffy towel.
She walked over to her closet and pulled the doors open, searching for something to wear. Her eyes scanned over the hangers, but nothing seemed appropriate for such a special occasion. She frowned, wondering what she could do. As she stood there, deep in thought, there was a knock at the door. She turned, curious, and called out, “Come in.” The door opened, revealing a maid holding a beautiful white dress. Skyler’s eyes widened with surprise and happiness. “What’s this?” she asked, a smile spreading across her face.
“Good morning, Miss Skyler,” the maid said, greeting her with a curtsey. “I have brought you a dress for the ceremony tonight.” Skyler couldn’t believe her luck. “Thank you so much!” she exclaimed, taking the dress from the maid’s outstretched arms. She held the dress up, admiring the delicate lace and intricate beading, and she couldn’t help but smile. The maid helped her put it on and fastened the buttons down the back, smoothing out any wrinkles in the fabric. Skyler took her time getting ready, accessorizing her dress with silver jewelry.
She looked at herself in the mirror and couldn’t believe how beautiful she looked. She knew that Caleb would appreciate the effort she had put in to look beautiful. “Thank you again,” she said to the maid, her heart overflowing with gratitude. “It was my pleasure, Miss Skyler,” the maid replied with a smile. “You look stunning.” Skyler grinned from ear to ear as she stepped out of her room and made her way to Caleb’s pack, where the ceremony was taking place. Skyler’s heart was pounding with excitement and anticipation as she was led to Caleb’s pack.
She had been looking forward to this moment for years, and she couldn’t wait to finally unite with him. She couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as she walked toward the center of the pack, where Caleb was waiting for her. But as she approached him, she noticed that something was off. Caleb had a stern look on his face, and his eyes were fixated on her. “Skyler,” he said in a cold, harsh voice. “The mating ceremony will not be taking place between you and me. Instead, you will be with my elder brother Grey.”
Skyler’s face fell, and her heart sank to her stomach. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. All her hopes and dreams of being united with Caleb were shattered in an instant. She looked at Caleb with disbelief, her eyes filling with tears. “Ca…leb? What... what do you mean?” she stammered. “I thought… I thought we were meant to be together.
You are my mate, Caleb, not Grey.” Caleb shook his head, his eyes filled with disdain. “I’m sorry, Skyler, but things have changed. Grey needs a mate, and you are the only option we have.” Skyler was shocked by Caleb’s words. She knew a few things about Grey, and he wasn’t someone that she’d like to get mated to. Grey was without a wolf, and not only that, but he was also crippled. She never imagined that he would be her mate. She looked around, hoping that someone would come to her rescue, but all she saw were werewolves looking at her with pity and disgust. Her heart sank, and she felt a wave of sadness wash over her. How could Caleb do this to her? Why did he lead her on all these years, only to reject her at the last moment? Her eyes locked onto Caleb’s, and she saw no hint of emotion on his face. He was cold and unfeeling, as if he didn’t care about her at all. “I’m sorry, Caleb, but I refuse to get mated to your brother.” Skyler blurted it out. Caleb was shocked. “What??” “You heard me. I am not getting married to your brother.” Caleb laughed hysterically, much to Skyler’s surprise. She stared at him in confusion. Everything seemed strange to her, and she didn’t understand what was going on. Before she knew what was happening, Caleb grabbed her arm and dragged her to a lonely corner. “Listen to me; if you don’t get mated with my brother, I will make sure your mother takes her last breath. I will kill her.” Skyler’s eyes widened in shock as she heard Caleb’s threatening words. She couldn’t believe that he would threaten her with her mother’s life. “You don’t have a choice, Sky. You either agree to this or lose your mother due to your stubbornness.” Caleb said it with a low voice. “Caleb, please. Why are you rejecting me all of a sudden? What did I do? Please don’t do this.” Skyler said as she tried to touch Caleb’s face. But immediately after her hands touched Caleb’s face, he pushed her away and gave her a dirty slap. “Don’t you dare touch me again!" He thundered, staring at her with so much hatred in his eyes. “Are you going to get mated with my brother or not?” “I…I will. I will.” Skyler stammered as she held her cheeks. The slap hurt her, but not as much as Caleb’s words did. Tears welled up in Skyler’s eyes as she tried to hold back her emotions. She felt hurt, betrayed, and rejected all at once. Her face twisted with emotion as she struggled to contain her feelings. She knew that she had no choice but to comply with Caleb’s demands, but the thought of mating with his brother filled her with disgust. Caleb dragged Skyler back to the pack, and her heart pounded in her chest as they approached the group of wolves. She could feel their eyes on her, judging her, and she knew that Caleb was about to reject their bond. Caleb’s voice was cold and unfeeling as he spoke, “I, Caleb, reject this bond between myself and Skyler.” Skyler’s heart sank, and she felt a sharp pain in her chest. She had thought that Caleb cared for her, but now she knew that she had been wrong. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Caleb, her heart full of hurt and anger. She could see no hint of emotion on his face, and it made her feel even more alone and rejected. Caleb turned and walked away, leaving Skyler standing alone in the middle of the pack. She felt their eyes on her, and she knew that they were judging her for being rejected by their next Alpha. But Skyler had no time to dwell on her rejection. She was taken to Grey’s chamber and left alone. When she walked into the chamber, she searched for Grey but couldn’t find him—not until she walked into his bathroom and stumbled across his lifeless body. Her heart stopped as she saw the sight before her. Grey’s body was soaked in a bloody bath, and a large chunk of flesh was missing from his neck. Skyler’s hands flew to her mouth as she let out a piercing scream.