- NEAH - The Destined Luna

POV: Neah

Jane pushed me forward.

“Come on, girl. Don’t be such a party pooper. You promised.”

The glint in her eyes sent a ripple of unease through my stomach.

Why had I ever agreed to this?

“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” she screamed over the music, dragging me toward her group of friends clustered around the bar.

The Bitch Squad. That’s what I called them in my head.

They were dressed to impress—too tight, too short, too deliberate. Overly flirtatious. Pretending to be tipsy. I knew they weren’t. Werewolves didn’t get drunk that easily. But apparently, acting drunk drew more male attention, so they swayed and giggled like it was an art form.

I rolled my eyes.

Alice—the bitchiest of the Bitch Squad, self-appointed leader—turned toward me with a fake smile stretched too wide.

“Aaah, Neah! You made it!” she sang. “We were wondering if you’d show up.”

Her gaze dragged over me, slow and calculating.

“Isn’t a matchmaking party a little low for an Alpha daughter?” she added sweetly.

Then she leaned in, air-kissing both my cheeks.

“I thought you were waiting for your moon-sent Alpha,” she smirked.

I ground my teeth.

I knew this was a bad idea.

But Jane was my roommate, and until I figured out what I was doing with my life, I needed to keep the peace. With graduation a week away, everything felt like it was closing in. I had to decide whether I was going back to the pack.

My heart sank.

After my mother’s passing, the thought of returning to my father unmated made my chest ache. He was already broken from losing his mate. I hated disappointing him—

He just wanted to know his daughter would be safe before he followed his mate to the hereafter.

My heart twisted painfully.

Maybe I should travel between packs. Meet unmated Alphas. Maybe I could even choose a mate… All I knew was that time was running out. I needed to present my father with certainty—with the right future—so he could finally rest easy.

That was why I had let Jane drag me to this secret matchmaking party hidden inside a club in the heart of L.A.

Matchmaking parties were gaining popularity. Austin—the brilliant mind behind these underground werewolf events—was getting rich off them, inviting unmated wolves to his bars and letting the mate bond do the rest.

I liked Austin. He was a friend.

I still hated the parties.

They were nothing like the dignified mating balls my father had organized for my brother Jayden. These didn’t stay innocent for long. With all that testosterone thick in the air, they devolved fast—into plain orgies.

I sighed, averting my gaze from half-naked men dancing with half-naked women on the floor.

Why did they need to be shirtless?

“Come on.” Alice pressed a glass into my hand. “Drink something.”

I eyed the drink suspiciously. Spiking glasses with wolfsbane had become a trend lately, and the Bitch Squad was barely trustworthy on a good day.

I faked a sip, letting the rim touch my lips before turning back toward the dance floor, pretending to be distracted by the men.

“Cute show up,” I murmured flatly.

Alice let out a hard laugh, nudging Macy—another Beta’s daughter and her obedient sidekick—with her elbow.

“Can you believe it?” Alice said loudly. “The ice queen is finally thinking about giving up her V-card.”

The group burst into laughter. Heat flooded my cheeks.

I was already calculating my exit. Apparently, five minutes with my own kind was more than enough for one night.

Jane pushed me forward again. “Come on, Neah. It’s just a joke.”

I rolled my eyes.

They were so fake.

“Oh, don’t be like that,” Macy grinned. “There are a lot of cute guys here tonight. Maybe you should give them a chance.”

She tilted her head, mock-thoughtful.

“I’m sure your father would accept a Beta or Gamma as your mate. You’re twenty-two—you should start considering a chosen mate. Maybe mate beneath your status, since your dream Alpha isn’t showing up.”

She laughed.

“Maybe he already took a chosen mate,” Alice chimed in.

I ground my teeth.

As if they weren’t unmated themselves, and I knew they were secretly hoping to be mated to an Alpha too. The only difference was that I was honest about it, and I didn’t fuck around.

Suddenly, a hand settled at my lower back. Austin leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek. “Hey, babe. I didn’t know you were coming out tonight.”

I turned halfway toward him, smiling despite myself.

Austin was a good friend. Not your typical Alpha—business-driven, money-focused, more underground clubs than packhouse obligations—but still unmistakably Alpha.

Tall. Broad. Effortlessly attractive.

“Hi, Austin,” I smirked, genuinely relieved to have some normal conversation at last.

Alice’s gaze snapped to Austin, her jealousy barely contained.

“Hi, Austin,” she called out, overly flirtatious. “Looking good tonight.”

Her eyes raked over him slowly.

Austin flashed her an easy grin. “Hey, girls. Having fun?” he shouted over the music.

I knew he hated the Bitch Squad as much as I did, but with the party business booming, he was always the perfect host. And if I was being honest, I knew he slept around with girls like them. They were easy, and temptation was temptation.

I couldn’t hate him for it.

I had never been attracted to Austin like that. Or rather—I had never allowed myself to be attracted to anyone like that.

I just wanted to find my mate and step into my happily ever after as Luna.

“I heard the heir of the Mountain Rock Pack is here,” Jane yelled over the music, leaning into Austin, her hand sliding over his chest.

Austin grinned. “Yep. If the rumor’s true, he is. But he’s super private. Nobody knows who he is.”

Alice let out an exaggerated sigh. “Oooh, I hope I meet him.”

She twirled a strand of hair around her finger.

“Maybe were matched. And if not, I’m sure I can make him consider me.”

She winked.

I rolled my eyes.

Alpha Brandon was practically royalty. His pack—the Mountain Rock Pack in rural Canada—sat just outside the Northern Kingdom, yet held enormous influence. Same bloodline. Same legacy. And as King Adrian’s nephew, its Alpha led one of the most powerful packs in existence.

Out of everyone there, his heir was the least likely to be impressed by desperation wrapped in glitter.

“I’m sure you can,” Austin murmured.

I barely repressed a laugh. His hand squeezed mine, suppressing a smirk of his own.

“One dance, babe?” he asked.

I smiled up at him.

Macy giggled loudly. “Why don’t you two just mate already?” she yelled. “You’re perfect for each other.”

She nudged me playfully.

“He may not be your typical Alpha, but he holds the title, doesn’t he? I’m sure your father would be pleased.”

My face fell.

I regretted the day I had ever told Jane about my father’s hopes for me. I had been emotional after my mother’s passing. I had needed a friend. I had never imagined that one innocent remark—that I wouldn’t marry beneath my status just to ease my father’s mind—would turn into a joke everyone on campus knew.

I heard Austin’s chest rumble with irritation, but he reined it in quickly. Without a word, he turned and pulled me onto the dance floor.

I let my head rest against his chest, his arms warm and steady around me. I nuzzled closer, my fingers brushing over his chest.

He lowered his chin to the top of my head. “Don’t let them get to you,” he murmured into my hair. “They’re just jealous bitches.”

I looked up at him, grateful, my eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He brushed my cheek gently.

“I would do it, you know,” he said quietly. His gaze drifted to my lips. “My father would be over the moon if I showed up at our pack with you as my Luna…”

I gave him a small, sad smile.

“I know, Austin. You’re a good friend.”

I looked away. “But you know, I’m waiting for my mate…”

Austin tilted my chin up, his fingers warm against my skin, his eyes searching mine.

“We could pretend,” he said softly. “Give your father the peace of mind he needs…”

My heart pounded. For a brief second, the idea tempted me.

Then I shook my head.

“You know I can’t,” I whispered.

Disappointment flickered across his face before he masked it with an easy grin. “Okay. Well, you know where to find me if you change your mind.”

He leaned in and kissed my cheek before walking away, already slipping into conversation with other guests. He looked unfazed—but I knew that ease was practiced.

I didn’t let myself linger on it. I couldn’t risk our friendship.

And besides—what happened when his fated mate showed up? Or mine?

That was the real problem with these parties. Werewolves rushing to find a match, desperate to force something permanent, pretending fate wouldn’t interfere.

I had seen what happened when it did—hearts broken, promises shattered, messy endings when the mate bond finally claimed its due.

I sighed and made my way toward the balcony.

I needed some fresh air.