1.
“Happy Birthday, baby girl!”
Strong arms wrapped around my shoulders as my mother’s warm, bubbly voice sounded in my ears. Her excitement was impossible to ignore, pulling a smile from me so wide my cheeks hurt.
I squeezed her back. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Nineteen,” she exclaimed, pulling back to look at me, her emerald eyes shining with unshed tears. “I still can’t believe it.”
Neither could I.
As she moved around the kitchen, preparing my favorite breakfast—French toast with berries and Earl Grey tea—I sat at the island in my black silk pajamas, absentmindedly threading my fingers through the black curls that fell down my back.
Long ago, when my ancestor Aiyira was nineteen years old, she made a covenant with Lunara, the Moon Goddess: in exchange for survival, Aiyira’s bloodline would serve as living vessels through which wolf spirits enter the world—not as individual creatures, but as part of the human soul itself, awakened through the sacred Waters. From that moment onward, it became tradition for all people, regardless of what pack they belonged to, to step inside the Waters of Aiyira at the age of nineteen.
Today would be my turn. It wouldn’t be the first time I went there, but now, I wouldn’t just stand at the edge and watch. With Elder Samuel and my parents by my side, I would step inside the still waters and see what the Moon Goddess Lunara had in store for me—meet the other half of my soul, my wolf.
Turning off the stove, my mother brought two plates over and slid into the chair next to mine, its wooden legs screeching against the tile. The sweet smell of cinnamon and warm bread filled the air, and I dug in immediately, oblivious to my mother’s satisfied look as she watched me eat with quiet approval. Between bites, we discussed tonight’s plans. The ceremony would be held at sunset with my birthday celebration starting afterward. Our pack’s head chef would do the catering for the party. And my entire family, the Beta family, and my closest friends would be there. Everything sounded perfect.
As I lifted the last strawberry to my lips, my phone buzzed, the screen lighting up.
Soren.The Beta’s son and my best friend. My heart fluttered in my chest involuntarily, and I bit the inside of my cheek.
Soren: Happy Birthday, Taliah. Another year older, another cougar born. I’ll see you at your house tonight for the party. Try not to get into too much trouble...
A quiet huff of amusement escaped me, a grin tugging at my lips despite myself. I was only six months older than him. I quickly typed back: A cougar?? Thank you, but no promises... See you tonight.
“Soren, hmm?”
Clicking off my phone, I was startled by my mother’s downright mischievous and knowing look. I felt my face become hot, and before she could tease me, I hurriedly thanked her for breakfast, cleared my plate, and excused myself to head upstairs to my bedroom. Her giggle resounded behind me, and I rolled my eyes in mild exasperation.
Having lived in this house my entire life, this room was my safe place away from the daily stress and responsibilities of being the Alpha heir. Cream-colored walls with off-white string lights were offset by dark furniture and brownish-grey wooden flooring. A queen-sized mattress sat in the middle, covered by a white duvet spotted with bright red and orange tulips. Photos of the people I loved lined each wall and rested on the nightstand next to my bed. In one corner, there was a door that led to my own bathroom, affording me a degree of privacy that I greatly treasured. And to the right sat at a desk stacked with romance novels and textbooks on wolf combat, battle strategy, and Alpha duties.
It was nice to take a day off. Most of the time, I was in the boardroom with my father, learning the different defensive strategies we used to keep the pack safe and secure from those who would harm us, especially Rogues. They were lone wolves who were pushed out of their packs for treason or violent crime; living in that kind of physical and social isolation made them more wild, more reckless, and resentful.
I also usually had combat training first thing in the morning. The drills were second nature by now, having started training when I was six, but I still pushed myself to improve. I couldn’t afford to slack, not when one day this pack would be my responsibility.
Seeing the bright tendrils of late morning sunlight bathe my room in a soft, pale glow, I walked over to the window above my desk to close the blackout curtains. I then languidly walked to the bed and dropped onto my back, staring up into the darkness in thought.
I should figure out what I’m going to wear tonight.
But the longer I lay there, the heavier my body felt. I’d stayed up late last night helping Sara through her breakup with Josh. While I was glad to do it, I was definitely paying the price now.
A little nap won’t hurt. Curled into the softness of my mattress, it was only a matter of time before sleep took me under.
Green—so vivid it almost burned to look at.
Grass in a hundred shades blanketed a large meadow, weaving between the roots of towering trees whose leaves largely blocked the sunlight filtering down from above. Yellow daffodils dotted the clearing like drops of sunlight, their clusters standing in stark contrast to their darker surroundings, taking my breath away with their beauty.
As I took it all in, a feeling of deja vu settled over me before recognition finally hit.
This was a clearing somewhere in the Ashwood Forest, about a mile from the Waters of Aiyara. My classmates and I used to take field trips to the adventure park nearby and to the Waters of Aiyara to learn about our history. I’d stumbled across this place once before after getting separated from the group, convinced that I’d seen the shadow of a man slipping through the trees.
I’d only been eight at the time, but even then, my instincts were sharp, allowing me to track the stranger. I eventually got so close that I could hear their distinct heartbeat, but before I could venture further, Instructor Lydia had found me, gently reprimanding me before leading me back to our convoy.
That was eleven years ago. Still, I hadn’t forgotten this place.
How could I? It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
A warm summer breeze drifted through the clearing, brushing against my skin and tugging at my curls, sending them spilling behind me. I sighed softly, leaning into the sensation.
With my eyes closed, and amid the sound of insects chirping and birds calling to one another, I caught it.
A scent.
Faint at first... But when the wind shifted, it hit me fully.
Pine and cardamom.
My breath caught.
Drawn forward, I took a step, then another, needing to find the source, needing to know—
I woke with a gasp.
The dream shattered instantly, replaced by the weight of a large, calloused hand on my shoulder and a deep voice laced with amusement.
Warm brown eyes, dark like melted chocolate, stared down at me, glinting with quiet laughter.
“Well, hello, birthday girl,” my father said.
I shot upright, heart racing, and snapped my gaze to the clock across the room.
My stomach dropped.
“5:30?!” I yelped, scrambling out of bed so fast I nearly collided with him. “I overslept!” We had to be at the Waters of Aiyara by 7:30, and the drive there was an hour away.
My father chuckled, the sound relaxed and full of mirth, completely at odds with my rising panic. “So I gathered.”
“I have one hour, Dad,” I stressed, already darting toward my closet. “That’s barely enough time to shower, get dressed, and not look like I crawled out of a cave.”
“You’ve never looked like that a day in your life,” he replied easily, sitting at the end of my bed with his arms crossed. “Besides, your mother has been ready since noon. You know how she gets about these things.”
I frantically dragged out a red dress with lace butterflies before immediately second-guessing it and tossing it onto the bed. “That’s exactly why I can’t be late. She’s gonna freak out.”
“She won’t,” he said calmly. “But shewillfuss. A lot.”
I groaned ruefully and rushed past him toward the bathroom, pausing just long enough to press a quick kiss to his cheek. “Thank you for waking me. And happy being-my-dad day!”
He laughed, catching my wrist briefly before I could disappear. His expression softened, something deeper flickering behind the humor. “Hey.”
I stilled, meeting his gaze.
There was pride there. And something else... something almost like concern.
“You ready for tonight?” he asked quietly.
The question settled over me, heavier than it should’ve been.
Although excitement flared, I couldn’t help but wonder, what happens if my wolf doesn’t come to me? It rarely ever happened to wolves of Alpha lineage, but that did nothing to quell my nerves.
“I think so,” I said finally, though the words didn’t come out as confident as I wanted them to.
I could tell he wanted to push, but instead, he squeezed my hand once reassuringly before letting go. “That’s my girl. I’ll see you downstairs.”
I nodded, offering a small smile before slipping into the bathroom and shutting the door behind me. I could hear my bedroom door shut right after.
As the shower roared to life and steam filled the space, I leaned against the sink for a moment, staring at my reflection.
I was glowing. Rosy cheeks, visible even on my honey-toned skin. But... the worry was there, plain as day.
Pull your shit together, I thought.You are going to be fine. You are an Alpha.
With a deep breath, I pinned up my hair and stepped inside my shower, making sure to wash quickly. When I was done, I styled my curls, ensuring they were defined and framed my face nicely.
I ultimately settled on a beautiful, white babydoll dress. It was simple and appropriate, but the way it subtly hugged my curves was what sold it for me.Perfect.
In the mirror, my hazel eyes caught the light, the green and amber within them deepened by the contrast of my dark lashes. I quickly dabbed some raspberry tinted lip balm and, finally, took a deep breath.
I was ready.
