The Luna Awakening

Aria's POV

"Stop it, guys," Chloe says, playfully protesting against our teasing, her cheeks turning pink from blushing too hard. "There's nothing going on between me and Drake. And if there is, you guys will definitely be the first to know about it," she says, and we're forced to withdraw from teasing her further.

"Okay Chloe, we'll let you off our hook this time. But just remember; we've got our eyes on you," I say with a mock–stern look while Raymond nods in approval. Together, we move two of our fingers from our eyes and back at Chloe. After this gesture, we all laugh in unison.

Raymond chips in just when the laughter dies down. "Come to think of it, we get to see the full moon tomorrow, same time as your birthday, Aria." A small gasp escapes my lips as I remember the full moon event taking place tomorrow. My stomach flips in excitement; my birthday alongside the full moon event. It just can't get any better than that.

"Wow. Aria, that's nice. Your eighteenth birthday lands right on a full moon. Not many wolves are that lucky, you know," Chloe says as she playfully nudges me by my shoulder.

My lips curl upward in a smile. "You're really lucky, Aria. A full moon on your birthday. That's double your blessings from the Moon Goddess." Just when Raymond utters this, Chloe cuts in. Her face brightens as though something pops into her head.

"I have an idea, guys," she says, and our gazes drift to her. "How about we shift and go for a run in the woods near the park borders, after Aria's party and the Full Moon event?" My face and Raymond's suddenly wear satisfied looks.

"Wow. Way to go, Chloe, that's a great idea," I say, while she smiles and Raymond agrees with a raised brow accompanied by a head gesture.

Chloe tugs onto my arm, with a warm expression framed against her face. "Kiara and I can't wait to see your wolf, Aria," she says. "Our wolves will be the best of friends, just like us." She adds, and we all chuckle while the sound of the whistle shifts our focus. It's Raymond's coach hinting at the end of their break.

Raymond rises to his feet. "Gotta go, girls. I have a basketball tournament to practice for." He stretches and warms up to return to practice. Practice ends at around 5:00 pm. By then, the sun is dropping below the horizon. We all set out to our various houses in a bid to rest for the next day.

I arrive at the park house a little too late, my heart beating frantically in my chest. As I make my way up the stairs, I hope Mum doesn't have any clue I stayed longer than promised. Once in my room, I slowly shut the door behind me, trying not to make a sound that could alert her.

She doesn't notice, I realize once I'm ready for bed. Guess she gets caught up in birthday preparations and Full Moon event planning.

Tired from today's practice, I collapse into my bed, my whole weight sinking in as I think of tomorrow's event. My mind reminisces about what tomorrow holds for me. The Full Moon event, coupled with my eighteenth birthday, looks like a good sign from the Moon Goddess. At this point, I mumble a silent prayer, hoping everything goes as planned. And Mara!! She is definitely the last of my worries. I know she doesn't stand a chance against me. And with this thought, I slowly fall into a deep sleep.

In the Morning,

The rays from the sunrise filter into my room, warm against my skin as my eyes flicker open to another lovely morning. The atmosphere feels lighter than usual. The thought of me turning eighteen settles in my mind, causing a smile to tug on my lips and sending a flutter of excitement through my heart.

"Rise and shine, sleepyhead." My eyes widen in surprise as I pull myself into a sitting position on the bed. My eyes scan my room for anyone. I didn't see anyone around, causing me to wonder who might be pulling such stunts. Then the voice comes again, now with a laugh that feels all too real.

"It's me, your wolf, Alera." A strange blend of awe and nervousness surges through me.

"Alera," I mutter under my breath. It sounds pure, powerful, and soft at the same time.

"What a nice name. I love it," I tell her.

"I'm glad you do," she says and proceeds to add, "Now get out of bed, we don't have all day. Mila has already sensed my presence, and she can't wait to meet her pup." I peel myself out of bed, freshen up, and get dressed for the morning.

As I glare into the mirror to assess my look, my eyes drift to a small package. It's wrapped in white paper, with a red bow sitting perfectly on top of it. The package is placed on my dressing table, and beside it is a note.

I move over to the package, picking up the note resting on top. A light smile settles on my face as I read Lucien's familiar handwriting:

"Happy birthday to the best sister in the world. A little gift for you on your big day; wear it to your party."

A soft chuckle escapes my lips as I lower the note. While I move to the package and begin tackling the ribbon; then the white wrapping paper follows. Soon my hard work pays off as it exposes a medium-sized box. From its packaging, I can tell the item inside is luxury itself.

As I open the box, I shudder in surprise at seeing the lovely gift inside.