I woke up by the alarm of the phone. It was 7:00 in the morning. I looked out of the window. The sun just rose from the forest and the sky was slightly lit up. I got out of bed and started to get ready for school.
It had been a year since I left home and settled down in this pack, which was called Blue Moon Pack. The house in front of which I fell in a faint was a student dormitory of a local high school. I was quite fortunate that I wasn’t driven away. The girls allowed me to stay in that dorm. Thank god I was even admitted to the school. Although I had been alone in this pack since outsiders were unwelcome here and no one would make friends with a werewolf from another pack, life here was quite peaceful. That was enough for me.
But sometimes I did desire to have someone accompany me. Wolf lives in groups, you know. I believed that my dream would come into reality and something would be different from today. Today was my birthday and I had just turned eighteen. By the age of 18, every werewolf would be able to scent out the smell of its mate and find it. Today, like other werewolves have done for generations, I finally got to find my mate.
I had been suffering from pain and loneliness for 18 years. Today was the day that I had been longing for. I would meet my mate. He would embrace me with his warm and strong arms and kept me away from loneliness. He would notice my scars and bruises and protect me from harm. Wolves over the years, watched their faces light up with joy when they claimed each other as their mates and saw how much happier they were afterward. Who wouldn't want that?
I couldn’t even wait a single second longer. I quickly washed my face and brushed my teeth before I started to get dressed. I put on eyeliner and rouged my lips red like other girls in this pack did. Then I stood in front of the closet to decide what to wear for today. It didn’t take me long to pick up a white sweater and a red plaid skirt from my tiny closet.
As soon as I got dressed I walked out of my room. Other girls were still asleep so I tried my best not to make any sounds. Girls didn’t want their sleep to be interrupted, especially by me.
I stealthily walked into the kitchen and grabbed a sandwich from the fridge. I rapidly ate up my sandwich before I left the dorm and headed to the bus stop.
The snow falling from the sky reminded me it was already mid-December. Christmas was just around the corner. I had never celebrated any Christmas with my family and friends. My dad certainly would not spend such a day with me and I had no friends. Never mind. At least this Christmas would be wonderful since I would find my mate this year.
The school bus came soon. I was happy that no passengers were on it so I wouldn’t be whispered by others. The bus quickly drove me to school. I took a deep breath before heading towards the school gate.
To find my mate, I had to make eye contact with every boy I came across until I finally found the one. That was how I was told. It took great courage for me as I was quite afraid of people’s curious eyes towards an outsider, which made me a little bit uncomfortable and awkward. But it was not that difficult to bear if it could help me to find my mate.
I let the anticipation build and then opened my eyes and looked around. First, I saw Max, the boy I kind of hoped was my mate, standing in front of the lockers. Max was hot and charming, with a muscular body and short black hair. He was quite tall and had charming bronze-colored skin. He was the basketball team player of the school, but not one of those arrogant guys. He was dynamic and cheerful, and I could bet no girls at school didn’t like him. You could say he was perfect, but if he were my mate, I would ignore his flaws. That was just how finding a mate worked.
Max noticed my sight towards him before he looked in my direction. My breath strained and my heart pounded as I met his wide-eyed stare. I waited for something amazing to happen between us, but the world didn't shift on its axis and I didn't get any special feelings at first sight. For a split second, neither of us moved. Then, he frowned with confusion showing on his face and I quickly looked away.
It was really a pity that Max wasn’t gonna be my mate, but if the Moon Goddess didn't choose him for me, there was nothing I could do.
I kept walking on my way to find my mate. I saw Joshua coming up to me. He was also one of the most popular guys at school. Compared with Max, he was a little shorter and skinny, and maybe that’s the reason why he was less popular than Max. She-wolves were always attracted by strong and masculine werewolves. But I could almost guarantee that Joshua was the most gentle guy I had ever seen in my life. No matter who he came across, even strangers, he would always responds with a charming smile. Just like what he was doing then, I replied to him with a shy smile with my eyes gazing at his. Regretfully, nothing happened before he walked past me. He is not my mate either.
As I kept walking along the corridor, I stared into eyes of all shapes and sizes, large and small, narrow and wide. Eyes as blue as the ocean or as brown as chocolate fudge. I looked at each face I saw, into each guy’s eyes, but every time I did, I felt nothing. What I got were merely eyes with confusion and suspicion.
Anxiety started to emerge in my heart. Did it mean that I would not have a mate? That didn’t make sense. Every werewolf would have a mate.
I attempted to stay calm and took a deep breath. I closed my eyes briefly, savoring the moment. I inhaled slowly, catching a hint of perfume, an extremely sweet smell, the most amazing scent I could have ever imagined. My wolf guided me to follow this fragrance, and I obeyed.
I turned one last corner and I saw him before I gasped.