~A Broken Heart~

EIRA

“Eira! Hold still — your hair needs to be perfect!”

Mira’s voice was half laughter, half exasperation as she wrestled with my curls.

Mira is my sister and she had taken it upon herself to make me look really beautiful today. According to her, it's my birthday so I need to dress like a princess.

“I’ll hold still!” I giggled, though my heart was racing with excitement.

“You’re bouncing like a pup on her first hunt,” she teased me, giving up and letting my hair fall in loose waves over my shoulders.

“It’s your fault if you look like you wrestled a wind spirit.” she added in frustration.

“I don’t care how I look,” I said, though that wasn’t exactly true.

“Kian’s coming. He’s already here — he called me.” My cheeks flushed, warmth blooming in my chest just thinking about him.

I'm guessing you're wondering who kian is right? Kian is my mate and I have been betrothed to him since we were kids.

Mira grinned. “Of course he’s here. The entire pack’s talking about tonight — about you. Future Luna, shifting under the full moon on her 18th birthday. You're so lucky Eira.”

I swallowed hard in excitement. “What if I can’t do it?” I asked with panic laced on my voice.

“You will.” Mira responded with a calm voice. “You’re stronger than you think. And Kian will be there, watching you. You’re his mate. His everything.”

I smiled as the tension I felt eased a little. Kian. My best friend, my first love — my mate.

“I can’t believe it’s finally happening. Everything’s perfect.” I let out.

“Yeah, well, don’t cry yet, your makeup took me forever.” Mira smirked.

I chuckled, swatting at her. The music from outside grew louder. The party had started.

“Are you ready?” Mira asked.

I took a shaky breath. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

We headed down to the courtyard, where lanterns hung from the trees. The entire pack was here — cheering, laughing, celebrating me.

My heart swelled. This was it.

I scanned the crowd immediately, searching for Kian. He always found me first — but tonight, I wanted to beat him to it but I didn't see him.

“Did you see him?” I asked Mira as I leaned towards her.

She shook her head. “He’ll be here. He's probably talking to his dad or something.”

I nodded, though I didn't like that he wasn't around.

“Eira!” My father’s voice boomed from the stage. He stood tall and proud with my mother standing beside him. “Come here, birthday girl!”

The crowd cheered.

Mira nudged me forward. “Go on, Luna-to-be.” she teased.

I laughed nervously and climbed the stage to stand beside my parents.

“You all know my daughter,” my father started, “Tonight, she shifts under the full moon — strong, beautiful, and ready to embrace her wolf. And with Kian, our future Alpha, at her side—”

He paused, glancing around. The crowd stirred, murmurs starting.

“Where’s Kian?” someone called out.

My smile disappeared.

“He’s coming,” I said quickly, with an unexpectedly loud voice. “He told me he’s here already.”

My father hesitated, then nodded. “Of course he is. He wouldn’t miss this for anything in the world.”

The crowd cheered again, but somehow, I doubted those words. It isn't like Kian to kiss something this important to me.

I stepped off the stage, Mira meeting me halfway.

“Where is he?” I whispered, panic curling in my chest.

“He’s probably—”

“I’m going to find him.” I cut her short.

“Eira, wait—”

I didn’t. My heart was racing faster than my legs as I tore through the crowd. He was here. He has to be here.

I checked everywhere — the garden, the training yard, even the kitchens. I still couldn't find him.

“Kian!” My voice echoed through the night. But there was no answer.

My stomach twisted. Something was wrong. He wouldn’t leave me like this. He wouldn’t.

I stopped near the packhouse, breathless.

A voice drifted from one of the guest rooms, low and muffled. A laugh. A woman’s laughter.

My heart twisted painfully as I froze outside the door. That laugh.

It wasn’t just any laugh — it was familiar. Too familiar. That was Mia’s laughter.

No. No, it couldn’t be. My mind screamed against it, desperate to deny what my heart already knew. Mira wouldn’t.

She couldn’t. She was my sister — my best friend. Kian loved me. He promised.

My legs felt so still, but I forced myself to move. My hand trembled as I pushed the door open wider.

And then I saw them. Kian was there, with his arms wrapped around Mira.

Her hands were tangled in his hair, her lips brushing his neck as they laughed together, tangled in each other like they belonged that way.

The sound that escaped me wasn’t a cry. It wasn’t even a gasp. It was a broken, strangled choke of disbelief.

I felt a lump in my throat, burning with the force of my emotions. Kian turned first. His face instantly paled, his eyes widened in horror.

“Eira—”

Mira turned too, her smile faded the moment she saw me.

Her eyes weren’t filled with guilt. They were filled with shock — like she didn’t expect me to find out yet.

My chest felt like it had been caved in, my heart shattered into a million jagged pieces.

“No,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Not you. Not you.”

Mira’s lips parted, but no words came out. She looked frozen, caught between guilt and something else I couldn’t name.

Kian stepped toward me, panic in his eyes. “Eira, wait. Let me explain—”

My body wasn’t listening. My vision blurred with tears, but something else burned underneath it.

A deep, primal heat surged through me, too wild and raw to be just pain. It was rage.

It was betrayal. It was my wolf.

Suddenly, my eyes burned hotter than my chest. My skin prickled, my veins felt like they were on fire.

My head snapped up, and Mira’s face twisted in shock as her gaze locked on mine.

My eyes were glowing.

I didn’t need a mirror to know. I could feel it — the heat, the power, the fury pouring out of me. The room flickered with the unnatural light radiating from my own body.

Kian swore under his breath. “Eira…” he called out cautiously.

Mira stumbled back a step, genuine fear flickering in her eyes too. She’d seen me angry before — but this wasn’t anger. This was something else entirely.

“Eira, stop,” Kian tried again, his voice softer now, almost pleading.

I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. My heart was screaming too loud, my wolf clawing at me from the inside, desperate to break free.

Before either of them could stop me, I spun and bolted out of the room.

“Eira!” Kian called after me, but I didn’t stop.