THE SHADOWS OF THE MOON

CELINE'S POV

Seraphina didn't find her soulmate, and now she was even more heartbroken that she had to cut her classes short because of something our father decided.

At least we were on the same page about this decision.

I had better things to do.

The school seemed normal to us both, but the decision to cut our classes short raised questions in the minds of some students. But we had nothing to tell them when we ourselves didn't know what to say.

All of this seemed too sudden and shocking.

But they were doing it for Seraphina, and somehow my plans were suffering because of it.

After school, a van came to pick us up.

We both sat in silence, nervous about our visit to the packhouse. We were only allowed to visit during pack meetings or special celebrations. This was the first time we would meet the Alpha in person.

"What if we find our mate there?" Seraphina whispered in my ear, her voice barely containing her excitement.

I turned to her, frowning in confusion.

Is this what was going through her mind right now?

Really?

This is what really concerned her about this whole situation?

"What are you saying, Seraphina? Are you stupid?" I asked, keeping my voice low.

"No, think about it, Celine. We didn't find our mate in school, maybe because they don't go there at all. What if this is the Moon Goddess's way of arranging our meeting with our mates?" she questioned, her eyes gleaming with hope.

"Whatever, Sera. I am not really sure about that. Do you want an old man to be your mate?" I asked sarcastically.

She gasped dramatically. "No, silly. Only old people don't live there. Maybe our mate is not in our age group. Maybe he is slightly older than us, maybe he is a new warrior or someone else from the packhouse. It's not uncommon."

She wasn't wrong.

It wasn't uncommon for wolves to be from different age groups.

"Sera, we are not going there for a mate hunt, but if we do find our mates there, let's consider ourselves lucky," I said, shaking my head.

She rolled her eyes but nodded in agreement.

With that thought, she seemed slightly less nervous than before. But my heart was not at ease. I knew Seraphina had a purpose there, but what would I do?

Something told me this wasn't just about her training.

Something told me I was about to be dragged into something much bigger than I ever imagined.

________________________________________

The van pulled up to the packhouse, an enormous structure that loomed over us like a silent guardian. The air around it was heavy with authority, and even Seraphina, who had been giddy moments ago, quieted as we stepped out.

Two guards escorted us inside. The halls were quiet, eerily so, and the sheer grandeur of the place made me feel small. We were led to a meeting room where the Alpha waited.

His presence was commanding, his gaze assessing as he looked at us. "Seraphina, you will begin training tomorrow. You have a structured schedule with detailed instructions on what is expected of you."

She nodded, determination flickering in her eyes.

Then, his eyes turned to me. "Celine, you have the option to join your sister in training or sit it out."

I hesitated for a moment before making my decision. "I'll sit it out. I'll support Seraphina from the sidelines."

He didn't seem surprised. "That is fine, but there are rules. You are not allowed to wander freely around the packhouse or its grounds."

I nodded in agreement. "Understood."

Since it was our first day, we decided to take things slow. A guard was assigned to give us a tour. The packhouse was massive, with grand halls, training grounds, and even an enormous library that immediately caught my interest.

The moment I stepped inside, I inhaled the scent of old books and ink, a place I could easily lose myself in.

But just as I was about to follow the guard to another section, an intoxicating smell hit my nostrils. It was unlike anything I had ever encountered-rich, alluring, and overwhelming.

My heart raced, and I lost all sense of my surroundings.

Something inside me shifted, as if waking up from a deep slumber.

And that's when I knew.

My mate was here.

I followed the scent, my feet moving of their own accord, ignoring the Alpha's warning. It led me to the gym, where only one person was working out. His back was turned to me, but the way his body stiffened told me he sensed me too.

A low growl rumbled through the air as he turned around.

Before I could react, he moved-faster than I could comprehend.

In an instant, I was pinned against the wall, his strong hands holding me firmly. My breath hitched as he leaned in, his nose skimming the curve of my neck, inhaling deeply.

I froze at the first contact, my body betraying me as a shiver ran down my spine.

And then, he whispered, his voice a low, dangerous rasp.

"Mine."