Chapter 1 The Beginning Of The Suffering

• I will tell you about the great misfortune that befell my life. A misfortune that will stay with me until my bones crumble into dust.
• The stupidest misfortune that I will regret for the rest of my life began when I was 18 years old. The age of maturity, where during the full moon, young werewolves will meet their mates.
• My friends in the Moon Pack called me Grace. I was the daughter of a Delta genius who successfully invented the infertility vaccine potion, which had become a frightening scourge for all werewolves.
• Since childhood, I have grown up with Alex in warrior training. Alex is the son of Alpha Moon Pack, and he is four years older than me. We became friends because my father knew his father well.
• Alex often said that he wasn't concerned about mate bonds and didn't even believe in the destiny outlined by the Moon Goddess. He could say that because, until he turned 22 years old, Alex had not met his mate.
• And therefore, he could not ascend to the throne because the requirement to become an Alpha in the Moon Pack was to have a mate.
• On the full moon, I turned 18 years old. The coming-of-age ceremony and the tradition of meeting one's mate were attended by hundreds of young werewolves, including me.
• The atmosphere of the ceremony that night was cold. In the middle of a dark forest, there was a field that had been prepared with all the equipment for the ceremony.
• The distinctive scent of the forest wafted by the nose, feeling refreshing even in the middle of the pitch-black night. Around the ceremony venue, the sounds of werewolves gathered from various directions could be heard.
• The voices were melodious and loud, making the atmosphere even more festive. There was also a strong wind that made the leaves of the trees sway and added to the beauty of the atmosphere.
• There are bonfires lit around the ceremony site. The red glow of the fire rolls around, making the atmosphere even more special. The light of the full moon illuminates the entire ceremony venue.
• The light is so beautiful and charming, making the forest bright and beautiful. And the voices of the gathered werewolves grew stronger, and the atmosphere became more festive. Even on this dark night, the atmosphere of the forest was warm and pleasant.
• “Grace, calm yourself,” Alex said to me. I looked back and found Alex stepping closer to me.
• For a moment, I held my breath because my best friend was looking good tonight. He was wearing a black polo shirt that hugged his muscular body tightly. Black jeans clung to his long legs, and white sneakers wrapped around his feet. His charcoal-colored hair was neatly styled up using a special gel, so his sexy forehead was on display.
• “How can I calm down? Tonight, I'm going to meet my mate.” My body twitched as the lemony scent of his body entered my nose.
• My blood flow churned as his big hands squeezed my waist. My tongue licked my suddenly dry lips. And my dirty brain began to string together memories of his gentle manner on the bed, his firm body enclosing mine as we came together, and my white skin coming into contact with his warm tan skin.
• Alex snorted loudly. “The little girl who always believed in a fairy tale destiny.” His big fingers brushed my cheek, then his full strawberry-colored lips kissed the tip of my tiny lips that were smeared with grape-flavored lipstick.
• I looked up at him deeply. “Of course, I believe in fate and karma. Finding a life partner is essential for werewolves and is considered part of our way of life. We are born into the world with a mate. If you haven't found a mate yet, then be patient.”
• He growled lowly, then all ten of his long fingers grabbed my shoulders. “Grace, I will never meet my mate. Either she's dead or I'm not meant to have a mate.”
• I held his hand, which was perched on my shoulder. I felt sad every time Alex talked about his mate. He was the pack's future Alpha, and if he didn't have a mate, then his cousin would take over the leadership of the Moon Pack.
• “So, what are your plans for the future?” I knew he was training very hard to become an Alpha who could protect the pack. All I could do was give him my full support.
• His green eyes shone brightly, and his full lips were drawn into a smile. “I have a brilliant plan. But this plan won't work if it doesn't have your approval.”
• I was immediately enthusiastic about his words.
• “Tell me your plan, Alex,” I said impatiently.
• He tugged on my arm, leading me towards the end of the field. My heart skipped a beat as Alex led me towards a large, square rock with wolf heads carved around it—a sacred place that only Alpha and Luna were allowed to step foot on.
• “Alex, stop.” My feet stopped moving, and he did the same.
• Alex turned his head, looking at me with a pair of eyes that turned dark green as I shook my head.
• “We're friends; there should be no complaints from you.”
• “But--”
• “In ten minutes, the maturity ceremony will begin. I would rather not waste any more time,” he said quickly as he pulled me closer to the boulder.
• I forcefully withdrew my hand from his grasp. “You haven't told me your plan, so I won't obey you!”
• He rubbed his face, then held both my palms. “I'm sorry if my behavior made you uncomfortable,” he said softly. “Grace, I want to claim you tonight in front of the whole pack. I would like to make you my mate, the new Luna Moon Pack. So, will you be my soulmate and the mother of my children?”
• My eyes widened as soon as I heard his words. “In a few minutes, I will meet my mate. I can't possibly reject my mate because that would definitely hurt him and his family.”
• “If you accept my proposal, then we will be together forever. We will lead the Moon pack together, and our strength will make the pack stronger,” he said in a heavy voice that sounded like an order as it entered my eardrums.
• Alex and I weren't an official couple because I'd never felt those thrilling vibes depicted in werewolf history books. The feelings I felt were purely from being comfortable by his side, and I loved him as a friend. There was no real reason why I loved a stubborn guy like Alex.
• “Grace, accept my proposal for the glory of the Moon Pack. The pack needs a strong future Luna like you. Don't you pity me, who hasn't found a mate yet? Do you want to see the Moon Pack led by my stupid cousin?” Alex groaned while grabbing his black hair.
• I had heard rumors that if Alex didn't find his mate by the full moon this year, the leadership would be transferred to his cousin. Of course, the pack and I would not agree to that, as Alex's cousin had no leadership instincts.
• “What do you do when your official mate turns out to be alive and waiting for you?” I asked seriously.
• Alex smiled slightly. “If my mate lives, then I won't be a lonely he-wolf! And your mate may not accept your flaws. I'm the only one who can tolerate your bad behavior; I'm the only one who understands you,” he said as he pulled me closer to him. “And I'm pretty sure your mate would be furious if he found out you're not a virgin,” he added with a smirk on his lips.
• I could only look down deeply as I held back the tears that were about to come. I tried not to sob or shout at him. His words made my confidence plummet.
• I lost my virginity when I was 16, and the person who took away my purity was Alex. He knew my weakness and used it to pressure me.
• “I accept your proposal, Alex. However, treat me well as if I were your true mate,” I said pleadingly.
• A bright smile broke out on his handsome face. “Of course, my Luna. You made the right choice because I am the only one who deserves to be your mate. And I promise, you are my only mate.”
• I had no other choice. If I rejected Alex's proposal and chose my mate, then things would be even more chaotic. My mate would reject me for not being a virgin, my family would be disappointed, and my position as a warrior in the Moon Pack would drop to a lower level.
• I don't want my hard work at the academy to end in vain; at least I'll end up as Luna instead of Omega.
• Until after the maturity ceremony was held, one by one, werewolves my age began to find a mate. Meanwhile, I silently waited for my mate. Suddenly, my body froze when the scent of citrus entered the small hole in my nose. My heart skipped a beat when I heard footsteps approaching me.
• “Hey.”
• His raspy voice sounded heavy; somehow, his tone made my heart calm. However, the sense of comfort I was feeling was suddenly interrupted when Alex squeezed my hand.
• Ah, I almost forgot that he kept standing beside me. I saw Alex's jaw harden at the sight of the figure behind me.
• My jaw seemed to be about to drop when I realized that the figure greeting me was Gabriel Otieno, the son of Beta Moon Pack. How could I not recognize his smell when he was my classmate back in school? I can't believe that my mate is my childhood friend.