Madeline’s POV
“Are you ready, Maddie?” Alpha Dimitri asked as he walked out of the house and closed the front door.
I furrowed my eyebrows and glanced behind him. Where was Mike? Both of them insisted on being with me during my first shift. Did Mike change his mind?
“Mike will join us later,” Alpha Dimitri said, taking my hand in his.
I was even more confused than a few seconds ago. Mike was adamant about being with me tonight, and he changed his mind just before we had to leave the house. What was that about?
“There is an amazing place near the Wishing Pond,” Alpha Dimitri said. “It will be a perfect place for your first shift.”
I nodded and let him pull me away from the house. It didn’t make sense to ask about Mike. This wasn’t unexpected. I was surprised that he even remembered my birthday. I didn’t expect him to spend it with me or do anything. I always thought that I would be with my mom during my first shift.
I felt tears gathering in my eyes and a lump formed in my throat. I never allowed myself to think about my mom. I missed her too much and it still hurt. It would always hurt. The pain of losing her would never go away.
“What’s wrong, Maddie?” Alpha Dimitri asked with a hint of panic in his voice.
I looked at him and furrowed my eyebrows. How did he know that something was wrong? Was I crying? I didn’t feel the tears falling down my cheeks though.
“I just miss my mom,” I mumbled. “I always thought that she would be here for my first shift.”
Alpha Dimitri took a deep breath and pulled me into a hug. The pain in my soul lessened a little bit.
“I am sure that she is with you, Maddie,” Alpha Dimitri said softly. “She wouldn’t miss this for the world. She is watching from somewhere and she is so proud of you.”
I hugged him back and smiled. His words and his soothing voice actually made me feel a little bit better.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
“No need to thank me,” he said. “I will always be here for you.”
I let him go and took a step back. He smiled and started walking again. He glanced at his watch and a huge smile spread across his face.
“What time is it?” I asked, making him look at me.
“11:55 p.m.,” he said excitedly. “We arrived just in time.”
I stopped walking and looked around. We were standing in the middle of a small clearing. I looked up and I could see the moon clearly. It made me smile. I glanced to my right and saw a Wishing Pond. The surface was glistening in the moonlight and the sight was beautiful. The trees lost most of their leaves and their branches were swinging lightly in the cold breeze. Alpha Dimitri was right. This place was beautiful and I would surely remember it.
I looked back at Alpha Dimitri. He was smiling and the way he was looking at me made me shiver.
I couldn’t help but notice how handsome he was. He let his beard grow out a little and it made him look a bit older. It only added to his attractiveness.
He glanced at the watch on his wrist and the smile on his face grew. He would tear his perfect lips and those high cheekbones if he continued smiling like that.
“A minute until midnight,” he said as he looked back up at me.
Something started stirring inside me. It made my body shiver and my skin tingle. Alpha Dimitri gulped and clenched his fists.
The wind blew a bit stronger and a mouth-watering scent of cocoa and cinnamon overwhelmed me. I furrowed my eyebrows. What the hell was that?
Alpha Dimitri glanced at the watch on his wrist and I could swear that I saw a little tear fall down his cheek. The pain in my chest caught me off guard. I hated seeing him cry. It hurt me. It caused me pain. Why was he crying?
“Happy birthday, Madeline.”
‘Happy birthday, Madeline.’
Two soothing, melodic voices wished me a happy birthday at the same time.
Alpha Dimitri’s voice sounded a bit different. I tilted my head and furrowed my eyebrows a little.
‘Hello, Maddie,’ my wolf’s voice made me focus on her.
‘Hi,’ I said, trying to contain my excitement. ‘I am so happy that you are here. What is your name?’
‘I am happy to be here as well, Maddie,’ she said softly. ‘My name is Skye.’
I smiled and took a deep breath. The cocoa and cinnamon scent made me relax. Where was that coming from?
‘It is coming from our mate,’ Skye said, making me freeze.
Mate? I hadn’t even shifted yet and I already had a mate. Where was he? Was it really Seth? Did he find me?
I started looking around with a confused expression on my face. Where was my mate? Where was that scent coming from? Where…
My eyes caught Alpha Dimitri’s and I knew.
My heart stopped beating and my breath got caught in my throat.
He was looking at me with so much love in his eyes that I almost crumbled to the ground. No one ever looked at me like that. No one ever loved me like that.
“Hello, my love,” he said softly, his voice trembling. “I’ve waited for this moment for nine months.”
I couldn’t breathe.
Alpha Dimitri was my mate? He knew all along?
“I love you, Maddie,” he said as he took a small step toward me. “I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you.”
My heart started racing. I was going to pass out.
Alpha Dimitri was my mate? My fated mate?
How? I wasn’t a Lycan. I wasn’t worthy of him. I wasn’t meant to be a Luna. I was nothing and I was no one.
Skye was telling me something, but I couldn’t focus on her. All I could think about was the fact that my mate was now standing in front of me. He lifted his hand and caressed my cheek.
My skin exploded with tingles and a wave of heat rushed to my cheeks.
Alpha Dimitri leaned in and pressed his forehead against mine.
“I can’t believe that you finally know,” he said as he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me to him. “These past nine months were the longest of my life.”
He lifted his head and smiled at me.
“I would do it all over again if I had to,” he said softly. “I would do it all over again if you would be waiting for me at the end of those nine months. I am glad I won’t have to, though.”
He chuckled and my knees buckled. I would fall if he wasn’t holding me tightly.
“Mate,” I mumbled without thinking.
Alpha Dimitri smiled and leaned in to place a soft kiss on the tip of my nose.
“Yes, princess,” he said. “I am your mate. Every part of my body and soul is yours.”
He was mine?
He was mine, but I couldn’t accept him. I wasn’t made for him. I wasn’t a part of his pack. I wanted to leave and I would have to reject him.
My heart broke inside my chest and Skye howled loudly.
I ignored both hers and my pain. I couldn’t be his mate. I simply couldn’t.
