VERA POV

“Make sure to find your mate at the hurdle today. Don't come home early, stay there, your mate might just be somewhere around,” mum admonished as Tricia was brushing her hair backward.

“I'm not a fan of parties so yeah, I'm coming home right after the hurdle is over,” Tricia said, which caused mum pulled her hair a bit.

“My statement wasn't even meant for you. I'm talking to Vera.” mum retorted while I just smiled, too excited to say a word.

“Why are you putting a lot of labor into it? It's the Luna's ceremony not finding our mate,” Tricia commented as I touched up my makeup for the hundredth time now.

“It just doesn’t feel right,” I said, beaming with smiles as I twirled around in the mirror staring at my outfit that I had done my best to make sure it looked extravagant.

It was just last week I saw the Alpha and I was able to talk with him even if it wasn't up to 2 minutes that I figured out that he was my mate. Even he must have noticed it as well.

“Vera, your makeup is perfect as it was 5 minutes ago when you touched it up and ten minutes ago when you did the same thing,” Tricia commented and I just nudged her a bit swaying my gown before grabbing my purse.

“I’m sure tonight would be one of the best nights ever, at least for me.” I squeaked and Tricia held me by the arms.

“Are you girls going in or not?” Mother asked, we’re now in front of the location the hurdle was to take place.

“In!” I said excitedly and jumped out of the car.

“Careful there. You might end up falling.” Mum said.

I nodded frantically as I smiled to myself when I heard people murmuring to themselves about the outfit.

My outfit looked nice, I know. And if he's going to pick me as his mate, I would have succeeded in giving the pack members two things they could gossip about in their leisure time.

“Quick. The front roll is almost getting full.” I pulled Tricia with me as we practically raced to the front row.

“Slow down. What is wrong with you? There are barely people on the front row and you're racing because it would be hard for us to get a seat in all these empty chairs. We're an hour early.” Tricia commented staring around and I looked around as well.

“It's good to be here early and gain good spots rather than fighting for good spots later when you can't see what's happening in the front row,” I said though only I knew that there was more to it than I had divulged.

I wanted it to come as a surprise to her and everyone else when they finally saw the Alpha mark me and I was declared Luna—that's my main reason for sitting in the front row, so he can find me quicker.

“What are you smiling at? What's running through your mind?” Tricia asked and I shook my head in negativity.

“Yeah, what is a disgrace doing in the front row? Are you trying to jinx the Luna ceremony?” Someone asked and both I and Tricia turned to see Lana, the all-time diva flipping her hair while glaring at me.

“Who is she referring to?” I whispered to Tricia, leaning towards her a bit and she tugged my hair from the back.

I wasn't normally this brave, I always scrambled to my feet whenever I saw Lana approaching but everything was about to change. Everything was about to have a glorious turning point.

“Who else is a disgrace to the Werewolf pack here except from you?” Lana asked and I badly wanted to yell that I was going to get back at her once I became her Luna but it was better to have a glorious comeback.

Not all information should be spilled.

“Whatever. The head maid is calling you.” Tricia informed me while gesturing outside of the door and I took a deep breath.

“The head maid? Whatever for?” I questioned genuinely.

“How could you ask me that? Aren’t paupers supposed to recognize paupers?” Lana flipped her hair dramatically again and Tricia placed herself in front of me.

“Don't you feel ashamed of yourself? You're always humiliating my sister showing just how low you think. A bully, seriously? You think that's a flex?” Tricia questioned and I pinched her arm.

“You're going to stand there and watch your little sister defend you? You're way more pathetic than I thought you were.” She stated and I let out a deep breath that I wasn't aware I was holding.

“Lana, in a few hours; I will give you an answer befitting your status.” A smile tugged on my lips and they stared at me strangely before she walked off with her minions.

“Sissy, what's happening in a few hours? You've been referring to it and it seems something big is about to happen. Tell me please.” Tricia urged, staring at me with pouty lips and teary eyes and I smiled.

I was almost giving in when the sound of bells jingling cut me off and we turned to the entrance of the hall.

“Just wait a few more hours. It won't be a surprise if I tell you now.” I said and she nodded as the whole pack stood up in reverence of the Alpha who was about to walk in.

There he was! My hero.

My heart fluttered a bit as I saw him walking through the doorway and I smiled to myself wondering what good I had done in my past life that would make the goddess find me worthy.

After he walked in, the whole pack settled down while my wolf wouldn't stop jumping up and down inside of me.

“Calm down, Nyx,” I said inwardly and she wagged her tail at me.

“We're going to be Luna soon.” She squealed and I jumped around, wiggling her tail and rolling on her tummy.

Despite all the humiliations that I had gotten from pack members for having a wolf that was hairless and couldn't do any other thing than shift, this was the happiest moment of Nyx with me and I cherished it with everything in me.

“As you all know, the Alpha is going to be searching for his mate today. It's all going to be way better if he already found her.” I giggled softly and rolled my eyes at the lady beside me who was basically squealing and fawning over my mate.

“Who is going to be the lucky one?” The beta said before handing over the mic to the priestess and she called the Alpha to the stand.

“Find your Luna.” She stated and he began walking into the crowd and my eyes shone as I saw that he was coming towards my direction.

I knew he had already realized I was his Luna before, so I was unperturbed.

I shut my eyes as my heart drummed in my chest, knowing that custom demands he marked me immediately and declared me his Luna.

My heart burst with joy as I heard everyone clapping in joy while some shouted of ‘Luna’ in the air but strangely, I hadn't felt any sting.

I opened my eyes wondering when the custom had changed, but my heart fell deep into my stomach when I found his teeth buried in the corner of Tricia's neck.

He marked her instead of me.