Chapter 1

Light slowly creaked through the covers that Ivy used to shield herself from the outside world. But before she could do anything to further distance herself, an alarm went off.

She growled as she threw the covers away. She was definitely not a morning person but as she glanced at the calendar, a smile made its way onto her face.

Without skipping a beat, she moved to the imaginary tune that was playing in her head as she walked over to her bathroom. She walked out almost forty-five minutes later and got dressed. It was a beautiful day.

Without bothering to take the door, she peered out of her window. Her neighbourhood was usually quaint around this time of day. She took her phone and plugged in her headphones before jumping out the window and landing squarely on the ground. Yep, she was special.

Ivy was what one would call different and while some would look at it as a curse, she had grown to see it as a blessing. She was faster, stronger than most humans. She healed incredibly fast and was capable of things one would call miracles. She pushed some strand of hair away from her face as she stabilized herself from the landing before racing down the street.

Warm emerald green eyes darted around as she watched out for any of her friends, making sure to slow her pace so as to not attract attention. She was what a lot of people would call a myth or fiction. Bullocks was what she said to people like that. She was not a myth nor was she fictional or a folktale told to scare children. She was a Werewolf. A shapeshifter.

That was the reason she was the way she was and honestly if she wasn't one herself, she would have had a lot of trouble agreeing that such a creature was alive. She had been one her entire life and had seen what it was. It wasn't all ups and downs but it was a life she wouldn't trade for anything in the world.

Their society was a lot closer when it came to bonds. They had a greater sense of family, all the moreso if they were tied by blood. Her thoughts were digressing though. There was a reason she was as happy as she was and it was something tied to werewolf lore.

Once a female werewolf came of age, eighteen to be precise, a ritual was performed. A ritual inciting the power of the moon to foretell her mate. Seemed too good to be true and she had huge doubts about it. It wasn't until ten years ago that her mother had informed her that the ritual was what brought her parents together. She was excited and all trace of doubt left her thoughts. She couldn't wait for her turn to undergo the ritual and finally know her mate. The entire pack would be there because it was a celebratory event. A mate was a sacred concept to werewolves and the moon goddess was never wrong. Mating was for life and werewolves been influenced by the moon had their mates chosen by the goddess. Ivy didn't know if the goddess was real or not but it was

best to play along with it.

She couldn't contain her excitement as she leapt across a car to cross the road, slowly increasing her pace 'cause she couldn't wait. The ritual took place at night and on a full moon, but she wanted to make sure everything was in order with her. This was the only time she felt she could undergo the ritual because the moon was in the right position.

"I'm here!" she yelled as she reached a hut in the forest. She didn't hear any reply so she walked closer to it.

"Stop!" a voice came from inside the hut. "What are you doing here so early?" emerald green met silver white as she stared at the woman that came out of the hut.

"Sorry," she replied as she looked at her. "I was just excited about the ritual."

The woman arched an eyebrow. "So excited that you came this early in the morning for a ritual that takes place at night? Honestly you young'uns are something else."

Ivy just smiled sheepishly as she scratched her left hand. The woman shook her head at the display before heading inside the hut.

She came back some minutes later to see Ivy sitting on the ground and doodling with a stick. "Here, eat this." She handed a wooden bowl to Ivy and what she saw was borderline disgusting. Her face twisted as she tried not to vomit at the sight of the food – if she could even call it that – in the bowl.

"Wipe that look off of your face. It is a lot sweeter than it looks."

Ivy shook her face and took a sniff of the stew or soup and she smiled. It smelled divine. She took a spoonful before turning to the elderly lady. "How did you know I was hungry?"

"Elderly guess."

Ivy didn't say anything as she continued eating the meal.

"I'm going to start making preparations and please do not disturb me, okay Ivy?"

Ivy nodded with a smile as she watched the old lady disappear into her hut before a look of boredom made its way to her face. What was she going to do?

…

Ivy woke up to the sound of people. She had spent the last few hours sleeping and before that she was just content with imagining who she wanted her mate to be.

"Ivy," a voice called out and she turned to see her brothers, all four of them, and her dad.

"Hey kiddo," her father said as he watched her illuminated by the glow of the moon. His baby girl had come of age. Before anything could be said though, the elder walked out of her hut. "Let the mate selection begin."