That morning felt like any other as I got dressed, though deep down, I knew it wasn’t. Birthdays had lost their thrill over the years, but this one was different-I could sense it. There was an excitement buzzing beneath the surface, a hope. Today, I had a chance to find my mate, the one person who could change everything for me. Sure, Leonardo and his friends would still make my day at school hell, but this day opened doors. If my mate was from another pack, maybe my mom and I could finally leave this place behind. I couldn’t imagine my mate being someone from here, where most people my age barely acknowledged my existence.
I ran a brush through my freshly cut light brown hair, appreciating how much easier it was to manage now. A month ago, I had grown tired of my waist-length locks constantly getting in the way. My mom, ever supportive, had happily chopped it off for me. Now it stayed out of my face, not getting caught on things, and it felt like a small weight lifted-literally and figuratively.
After finishing up, I headed downstairs. Mom had long given up on making breakfast every morning. After burning countless batches of pork, she stuck to leaving maple sauce, sausages and frozen pancakes for me instead. On the counter, as expected, was a small birthday cake and a note, just like every year.
“Happy Birthday, Isabella! Had to leave early for work, another mess with Mr. Benedetti. Hope you have a good day-and fingers crossed you find your mate!”
I couldn’t help but smile at the note. I wondered who would have the worse day, me or her. Mr. Benedetti had been relentlessly pursuing her for years, though he was harmless-a bit old and senile, more bark than bite. He always claimed to have been strong and muscular in his youth, though no one really believed it anymore.
I stabbed a fork into the cake, taking a few small bites for the sake of tradition. I didn’t love cake, but Mom always got chocolate-my favorite. With a sigh, I grabbed my bag and ran out to the bus stop, my heart lifting slightly when I noticed Leonardo’s car wasn’t in his driveway. A small mercy. I’d have a few minutes of peace at the stop without his bullying. Pulling out my frayed notebook, I flipped through the worn pages. Music had become my connection to my dad since he passed, and this book held the lyrics he had sung to me every night before bed. I had even tried writing my own songs once, but it wasn’t a skill I seemed to possess.
The lyrics to one of Dad’s songs, stood out more as I glanced over the pages:
“(Verse 1)”
“I was buried deep, where no light could shine,
A treasure lost, beneath the waves of time.
There you found me, quiet and still,
Awoke my heart with a tender will.”
Dad had always told me that music held many meanings, that you had to look beyond the words. I struggled with that, both with music and life in general. To me, people were usually what they appeared to be, hiding behind masks only when they needed to. Leonardo’s mask, for instance, was one of cruelty and indifference. He never touched me, never directly participated in my torment, but he allowed it-his silence screaming louder than words ever could.
By the time the bus arrived at school, I had lost myself in the pages of the book, failing to see the hidden meanings in the lyrics, but still feeling them echo in my soul. At school, Bianca was the first to greet me at our lockers. She’d taken it upon herself to be my protector, trading lockers with some freshman just to be beside me. Bianca was like that-wild and unpredictable, but never pushing too far.
The morning passed uneventfully. Only Bianca remembered my birthday, which didn’t bother me. I’d grown up with these kids, but they’d long since moved on from the birthday parties we once shared. A wad of paper hit the back of my head in first period, thrown by Francesca, while Livia and Fabio hurled insults my way. It was nothing out of the ordinary. None of them stirred that unmistakable mate bond feeling, and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment each time I met someone’s gaze and felt nothing.
When lunch came around, I sighed. I had most of my classes with Bianca, but lunch was my own private hell. Leonardo and his friends dominated the cafeteria, and even though I tried sitting as far from them as possible, they always seemed too close. Most days, I opted to eat in the bathroom to avoid the ridicule.
As I made my way down the hall, I suddenly found myself face to face with Leonardo, Francesca, and Fabio. My heart sank. I had meticulously memorized their schedules, yet somehow, I hadn’t seen this coming. Francesca spotted me first, elbowing Fabio, who flashed his signature smirk. I turned quickly, hoping to slip away unnoticed, but Fabio’s hand clamped around my shirt, spinning me back toward him.
“Happy Birthday,” he sneered, his eyes gleaming with malice. I clutched my book tighter, dread washing over me as his gaze locked onto it.
“No, not this-please,” I whispered, but it was too late. He snatched it from my hands, the fragile cover tearing in the process. I could feel my heart breaking along with it. Fabio dangled the book in front of me like a cruel joke, and I glanced toward Leonardo, silently begging him to stop this.
His piercing grey eyes met mine, and time seemed to stop. I had never seen him look at me like that-like I was more than just the target of his friends’ bullying. In his eyes, I saw something else, something that resonated deep within me. My wolf stirred, whispering one word: “Mate.”
It hit me like a tidal wave, the mate bond snapping into place with undeniable force. I saw Leonardo in a new light, his strong features and sharp jawline suddenly taking on new meaning. He was mine.
But then he looked away, his eyes falling on Francesca, and reality crashed down around me. Francesca’s eyes filled with tears, and I remembered-he had been hers for two years. My wolf howled in agony, jealousy burning through me, but I couldn’t blame Francesca for loving him. She wasn’t evil, just a girl in love, clinging to what she thought was hers.
“Please, Leonardo,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Don’t let him ruin my book.”
For a moment, something flickered in his eyes-something soft, almost compassionate. But then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by the cold, distant mask he always wore. He turned to Fabio and gave a single nod.
And with that, my heart shattered.
Fabio ripped the book apart, the pages fluttering to the floor in pieces. I couldn’t bear to look, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away either. Leonardo had made his choice, and it wasn’t me.
“I, Leonardo Grimstone,” his voice cut through the air, smooth yet rough, “reject you, Isabella De Luca, as my mate and Luna.”
Just like that, my world collapsed.