Chapter One: “Happy Birthday”

<b>Chapter One</b>

<b>"Happy Birthday"</b>

<b>~Ariyah POV~</b>

It was the early hours of the morning when I woke up, filled with excitement. I had been planning this morning for months with my best friend, Tristan, who was also going to be the Alpha of our pack. It was my birthday, and I would find my mate, the person I'm supposed to be with forever. Tristan demanded that I meet him first thing in the morning trying to not explain that he had a surprise planned. Getting up, I went about my usual routine of showering, drying and dressing. I'd decided to wear a short flowery dress matched with white sneakers. I tied my long black hair into a ponytail before heading down to the pack mess hall. For now, it was empty, later on, it would be filled with the other pack personnel. I walked straight through the hall and into the kitchen grabbing myself a muffin as I kept going towards the back doors.

I exited the building and ran down the steps towards the clearing that lead to the pack training grounds, just beyond that was the forest that boarded off the territory of The Moonstone Pack. Just as I entered the clearing, I could see a shadowy figure coming into view. The sun wasn't fully up yet and the trees still covered us in darkness. I squinted my eyes to see better, making out the body shape.

"Tristan? What are you doing all the way out here in the dark?" I called over, trying not to be too loud. As I slowly crept closer to him I noticed that the wind was carrying the most amazing scent. It made my mouth water and my heart pound. I gulped with anticipation as Tristan's face came into view. The look on his face made my stomach drop. It was a hard stare with no emotion behind it. His fists were clenched at his sides. "W-What's wrong?" I stuttered.

"You know what's wrong Ariyah..." Tristan responded sternly. He scoffed at my confused face, "You can smell it can't you? That scent?"

I nodded slowly, "What are you getting at?" I didn't understand. I hadn't even heard from my wolf yet, it would still be a few hours for everything to properly settle in and for me to become fully aware of my wolf.

"We're mates..." He spat almost as if the idea of it disgusted him. His response to it hurt me, he was supposed to be my best friend. He could see the shock in my face, "You really hadn't figured it out yet..." He said shaking his head and looking away.

"Why is this a bad thing to you, Tris? We're friends, best friends..." I tried to step closer to him, but one look from him and I stopped in my tracks.

"Why would it be a good thing, Ariyah? We're only friends because you're the Beta's daughter!"

My heart shattered at his words. "Why would you pity me like that?" I asked in a low tone.

"Because no one else would and I'm the future Alpha..." He responded softly, "And as the Beta's daughter, you should be a future Beta. I need to befriend my closest allies, whether the others can or not..." I couldn't say anything, I just stared at him. "Did you think that I could just accept this? I've already planned everything..." He shook his head and sighed, "You are not my future Luna..."

My eyes welled with tears, "You can't be serious? You're going to reject me just like that?"

"I have to Ari! This is all wrong! It's a mistake!" There was silence between us before Tristan adjusted his stance and looked me in the eyes, "I, Tristan Silver, Alpha of The Moonstone pack, reject you as my mate..."

I could feel the aura around me change, "You're a fucking idiot Tristan..." I waited for him to say something. When he didn't I closed my eyes, taking a second to think. If he was doing this because I wasn't good enough to be his Luna, then I wasn't going to let him keep me as his lowly bitch Beta. I chuckled as I looked back up at him. "I, Ariyah Del-Maers, Beta of The Moonstone pack, reject you as my mate..."

Pain surged through my body and I fell to the ground screaming in pain. I could hear Tristan screaming slightly through my own. In my blurred vision, I could see him balled on the floor in pain. But I wasn't going to let it end here for him. I pushed myself from the ground onto one knee, placing my right hand in a fist on my chest, "And... I, Ariya Del-Maers... also revoke... my title of Beta of... The Moonstone pack... I sever my ties... And bonds with... The alpha and pack..." More pain washed through me. All I could hear before passing out was my own blood curdling screams.