...I'm wandering through the forest aimlessly, I don't know what to do or where to go, I've never felt so much pain in my life as I did a few hours ago, at least I'm not alone by some miracle of the goddess, my beings are still with me. You're probably wondering - What happened to her? Well, I'm going to tell you now the story of how I died!

No, you didn't misread, I'm dead, I was actually just murdered, right in the middle of my 21st birthday ball, right after awakening my wolf and connecting with my beautiful mate, (who I'd like to point out couldn't be a more perfect man) tragic, isn't it? Happiness was torn from me in such a brutal way, and to make the story worse, my killer was someone I love so much, or loved, I sincerely don't know what to feel anymore, I can only think, Why?

Nice to meet you, my name is Cora Miller, as you know, I turned 21 today, I'm the daughter of the Alpha of the Southern Pack, Leon Miller, and Luna Helena Miller, I have a twin sister who is also my best friend, Bella Miller, we've been inseparable since childhood, we literally do everything together. We organized our entire ball down to the smallest details, but I never imagined it would end so tragically, me dying in the arms of my mate I waited for so long, hearing the crying and desperate pleas of my parents....

.....The fateful day began as usual on our birthdays, breakfast and lunch with family with our favorite foods, in the afternoon the party atmosphere invaded the house with the buffet staff, the decorators, and all that pre-party joy. When night fell, already ready, I stood watching from my bedroom window all the excitement in the pack house garden, the guests were starting to arrive and my anxiety was only increasing, finally it was today, the day to meet my wolf, and if I was lucky, my mate would be here too.

I walked to the mirror, smoothed my beautiful white lace dress, my long red hair that was given to me on my 18th birthday when I received my phoenix Enna, is partially tied up and falls like a cascade on my shoulders and back, they contrast with my green eyes, I smile broadly at what I see, I was really feeling beautiful.

While looking at myself in the mirror I imagined everything that was about to happen, the terrible pain of my first transformation into a wolf, if I would find my destined mate today, and what would he be like? Tall, handsome, strong, thin? Would he be an Alpha? It would be a problem if he was and I couldn't take the throne with my sister because I would have to go live in his pack, there are so many questions, but I'm torn from my thoughts by the voice of my sister who enters the room jumping, so beautiful in the white lace dress like mine and with her long black hair tied in a beautiful bun, unlike me, Bella doesn't have the phoenix even though we are twins, the powers don't divide, each one has her own and the power of the phoenix of mom came to me.

Bella - Cora, sister, you look beautiful! (Opens a smile and claps excitedly)

Cora - You too sister, you look stunning (She makes a sexy face, puts her hand on her waist and takes a little twirl)

Bella - We are babes sister

I start laughing at the faces she's making and she starts laughing too, I open my arms and she comes to give me a tight hug, I love my relationship with her, Bella has this incredible cheerful, extroverted aura, she illuminates everything she goes through. But during the hug, I feel Bella stiffen

Bella - I'm scared sister, will it hurt a lot?

Cora - I'm scared too, it will probably hurt because it's the first time but we'll be together

Bella - But if our mates aren't here the pain will be worse

Cora - Don't think about that okay? The Moon Goddess will help us, now let's enjoy our party?

Bella - Okay

I give her one last hug, we look at each other, smile, hold hands, and leave my room. When we start to go down the stairs we see our parents who were waiting for us in the living room

Helena - Look dear our babies grew up so fast (and wipes a tear that rolls down her face)

Leon - Yes My Dear our little girls have turned into two beautiful women

Bella - Stop you two or I'm going to cry too (she says already crying)

Cora - You're going to make me smudge my makeup

Helena - We're just emotional to see you so grown up, you grew up so fast and we're proud, you two are incredible people

We finish going down the stairs trying to hold back the tears and hug our parents, my family is everything to me.

Leon - Now let's stop crying hehe and let's go to the party

Bella - Yes let's go I'm crazy to know if my mate is here

Leon - Slow down princess, daddy isn't ready for that yet?

Helena - Stop dear, don't start with dad jealousy right now

Bella - It's okay daddy relax, because I'll only have one mate, You should worry about Cora who may have two kkk

Leon - Don't even remind me of that I even get dizzy my daughter

Cora - Don't worry daddy I know I'll only have one mate because I received Enna when I was 18 if she had a mate of her own I would definitely know it by now

Helena - Okay Daughter but prepare yourself, because we never know what can happen

Cora - Okay Mom

I smile at them and we go to the party, arriving there our friends, family, heads of other packs are already there, we go around greeting everyone but I start to feel strange as if something was going to happen.

Cora - Enna? What's happening?

Enna - I don't know Cora

Cora - Could it be our mate? Or my wolf?

Enna - I don't feel either of them yet, but be careful I have the feeling that something very wrong is happening here

Cora - Okay I'll be careful...

I had no idea what was to come, but if Enna was also restless I should have worried more because it was much worse than I was feeling, but what a pain, did it have to happen today? I waited so long for this day not to enjoy anything of the party, what a pain. Daddy even from afar noticed my restlessness, because he's coming in my direction looking worried and I tried to distract him, now I realize the mistake I made, maybe if I had said something none of this would have happened!

Leon - Any problem my daughter?

Cora - It's nothing daddy (I tried to smile)

Leon - Your little face is saying something else

I said what passed through my head faster......

Cora - I'm just afraid of feeling the pain of the transformation (shit that wouldn't stick daddy knows me so well)

Leon - If it was Bella I would even believe that excuse (didn't say), you are without a doubt the bravest person I know, you endure pain like no one in this pack besides being a great warrior

Cora - Warriors also feel fear daddy hehe

Leon - Alright I'll pretend I believe it, but if you sense anything tell me

Cora - You can let me know daddy

He kisses my forehead and walks away, since I was little I have premonitions and something always happens, little did I know, but if I told him what I was feeling at that time he was quite capable of ending the ball that hadn't even started or would call a war, so I preferred to avoid it....

The Ball was going wonderfully, and so far, there was no sign of my mate. Still, I was having a lot of fun with my sister and our friends on the dance floor. The clock was approaching midnight, and the light was full and glorious. I abruptly stopped dancing when I felt a pain in all my bones. I was agitated and panting.

Cora - Enna? Enna, are you alright?

Enna - It's not me, dear.

Cora - Then what....

?? - Calm down, Cora, don't be alarmed, it's me, Aylla, your wolf.

Cora - By the Moon, Aylla, I was so eager to meet you.

Aylla - Me too, but we'll have time to talk. Right now, I need you to stay calm, breathe, and go to the forest.

Cora - The Transformation is about to begin?

Aylla - Yes.

Cora - But the pain is worse without a mate.

Aylla - Don't worry, he's on his way. I just need you to hold on a little longer until he arrives.

Cora - Do you think I can?

Aylla - Of course you can. I'm here to help you.

Enna - I'll also do what I can to help.

Cora - Thank you so much, girls.

I look around trying to find my dad when suddenly I hear a shrill scream and see my sister falling to her knees on the floor. I try to run to her but I can't move, it seems that if I walk my bones will fall apart like Lego, the pain runs through my body, it's definitely awful. Dad runs towards Bella.

Leon - Daughter, are you okay?

Bella - My wolf, Dad, Ivy woke up.

Leon - Don't worry, Dad will take you to the forest.

Bella - I'm very scared, it hurts a lot.

Bella starts crying desperately and seeing my sister like this breaks my heart, and unfortunately what she feared most is happening, going through the first transformation without a mate. While Dad carries Bella to the forest, Mom realizes that I'm very still and trying to regulate my breathing and comes to me.

Helena - Daughter? Has your wolf woken up too?

I nod in affirmation, and her eyes widen.

Helena - By the Moon, I begged the goddess so much not to happen at the same time.

Mom calls my childhood friend Erick to take me to the forest and he promptly picks me up, and I can't hold back the scream, that's not my mate's touch and it makes my whole body burn and the pain only gets worse.

Erick - Hold on tight, kitten, I'll run as fast as I can.

Cora - Please, hurry, it's burning.

Erick starts running towards the forest with my mom right behind us, but they stop when we hear a menacing growl, there was so much dominance that Erick falls to his knees with his head down, Mom doesn't feel it because she's a Lunna and I because I'm an Alpha. Erick holds me tighter so I don't fall which causes me more pain, I start to squirm in his arms, until I smell the most wonderful scent of my life, citrusy, woody, something exotic but captivating, Enna and Aylla stir and whimper and I open my eyes to see what was happening and I see a man growling and running towards us and looking like he was ready to dismember someone, Shit!

Cora - Erick, let me go now.

Erick - I can't, I need to take you to the forest.

Cora - By the Moon, Erick, put me down and step away.

Erick - But...

Cora - No buts, now go.

Erick does what I say, puts me on the ground and the man stops growling, Erick manages to get up and steps away, standing next to my mom. The man comes close, crouches down, looks me in the eyes and at that moment my whole world stops and I even forget the pain and dive into the blackness of his eyes, I only come back to myself when I hear his voice.

?? MINE, MY MATE

ENNA / AYLLA - OUR MATE

He smiles and what a smile and only then I realize who he is by the goddess.

Cora - SUPREME THEODORO??!!

But there wasn't even time for him to answer because the pain comes back with everything and I scream.

Theodoro - First the forest, then the presentation.

I nod, he picks me up and with his touch everything becomes bearable, I snuggle into his arms looking for more of the peace that his touch gave me, he gets up and starts walking, Mom follows us and when Erick was also going to follow us Theodoro turns around and growls.

Theodoro - NOT YOU!!!

I put my hand on his face and look at him.

Cora - He's my friend and he was just helping me get to the forest.

He looks at me and his look softens.

Theodoro - Sorry for taking so long to arrive.

Cora - The important thing is that you're here now.

He kisses my forehead and we head to the forest, I continue to feel a lot of pain but when we arrive at the clearing I was terrified with what I saw, Bella was desperately rolling on the ground, under the moonlight, screaming, writhing, her hair and clothes dishevelled and Dad trying to calm her down, Mom runs to try to help in vain. Despair starts to take over me, I'm shaking, sweating, breathing fast.

Cora - I'm going to freak out.

Theodoro - I'm here and I'm going to help you.

Theodoro walks with me to where my sister is under the moonlight, my dad when he looks at him his eyes widen, if I could I would laugh a lot at his face but I can't, when the moonlight touches my skin the pain gets worse on an astronomical level, if I'm feeling this in my mate's lap imagine away from him, I can't hold back the screams and tears.

Cora - Please, please don't let me goooo.

Theodoro - I don't want to let you go but I need to put you on the ground, so the transformation will be faster.

Cora - No!!!

Theodoro - I need you to trust me, I won't leave your side, and I'll hold your hand all the time, okay?

Cora - Okay.

I didn't want to but I also can't look like a spoiled girl, it's time to show my mate that I'm strong, I'm a warrior, I can handle it. He puts me on the ground with all the care and the absence of his touch makes the pain unbearable, my screams become louder and mix with my sister's, I try to hold her hand but it's impossible because it also burns and Bella lets go of my hand, Theodoro sits on the ground, holds my hand and caresses my hair, with his touch I can reason and I'm being guided by the sound of his voice.

Theodoro - Breathe deeply, don't fight the pain, the more you fight the longer it will take, pass the command to your wolf and let her awaken.

It's difficult but I manage to do what Theodoro says, I communicate with the girls to help me and Aylla takes control, and that's when things get really serious I hear cracks from my bones, they are all breaking at the same time. Theodoro does exactly what he told me and doesn't leave my side, always encouraging me, I look to the side and see that Bella is finishing her transformation, Mom managed to calm her down thanks to the goddess, at that moment I feel my body change shape, my face lengthens giving way to the muzzle, my hands and feet turn into paws, fur comes out of my skin and like a magic trick all the pain disappears, I look at my mate who is with a wide beautiful smile looking at me with admiration, I see that Bella has already run away and I try to stand up but I can't.

Theodoro - Calm down my little wolf, let's go slowly.

He gets up and with his help I manage to stand up when I fix myself alone, he goes behind the tree and comes back transformed into his black wolf, we walk side by side slowly and when I realize I'm running the feeling is wonderful, I feel free...

Theodoro and I are interacting really well, we run, we hunt, everything is perfect, but we had to go back to the ball (oh, if I knew I was coming back to die, I would never have left that forest). We ran back to the clearing and there was my bag, I think we took a little longer and my parents left with Bella, I wasn't upset that they didn't wait for me, after all I'm with my mate and my sister went through everything alone, she needs the comfort of our parents now more than I do.

Theodoro goes behind the tree and comes back transformed dressed, and helps me back and stays with his back turned the whole time, he's so handsome, a perfect gentleman, I know he must be using a lot of self-control not to jump on me, but he's respecting me and that enchants me. I manage to return to human form and put on the clothes that are in the bag, I let my big hair down, I try to fix myself up as best I can, after all I have to make a good impression on my mate, when I finish I call for him

Cora - All done! (He turns around)

Theodoro - How can you get even more beautiful?

Cora - Saying that makes the Supreme one make me blush (he comes closer to me in such a sexy way that Enna and Aylla get agitated)

Theodoro - For you I won't be the Supreme one, my Queen, you can choose one of those cute nicknames for me

Cora - I can't call you Supreme but you call me Queen?

Theodoro - You got me there, hahaha, so let's introduce ourselves, I know we already know each other from the meetings but it's different, before you were the Alpha successor of the Southern Pack but now you'll be my mate

Cora - No titles then?

Theodoro - Yes, no titles

I extend my hand to him and try to give my best smile

Cora - Nice to meet you, my name is Cora Miller (he shakes my hand)

Theodoro - The pleasure is all mine Cora, I'm Theodoro Scott, Theo for those who are close

Cora - Theo, I like it

Theodoro - Coming from your mouth it sounds so sexy, I'm going to forbid everyone from calling me that hahaha now this nickname is exclusive to my mate

Cora - No need to be silly hahaha I'll come up with my own nickname to call you

Theodoro - Perfect, I have so many questions to ask you that I honestly don't know where to start

Cora - You can ask as many as you want, I'll answer them all

I pick up my bag from the ground, to go back, but he takes the bag from my hand and intertwines our fingers (did I already say he's a gentleman??)

Theodoro - So from what I know about you, you're a Hybrid, right?

Cora - Yes, I inherited the phoenix powers from my mother

Theodoro - The red hair suits you very well, better than the black one before

Cora - So the Supreme one noticed me?

Theodoro - Let's say just a little, what I don't understand is why your phoenix didn't recognize me as a mate before?

Cora - Honestly, neither do I, we were always together at the meetings at the events

Theodoro - I wasted so much time looking for my mate and you were right under my nose

Cora - Don't worry, we'll make up for lost time

Theodoro - For sure, but there's no possibility of a second mate appearing, right? I'm very possessive and Ascher doesn't even talk

Cora - No, we recognize you as Our mate, didn't you hear?

Theodoro - To tell you the truth I was so enchanted by your beauty and Asher wanted to grab you and only focused on your mouth

Cora - Wanted to? Why doesn't he want to anymore? (He stops walking)

Theodoro - If you knew how much I'm controlling myself not to kiss you, you wouldn't have asked that

Cora - You're my mate, you don't need to control yourself, if you want to kiss me then kiss me

Theodoro - You're direct, I'm liking it even more

Cora - Hahaha I just don't like messing around

Theodoro - Then you can let me unravel this now

He puts my bag on the floor, and pulls me to him, the movement is so fast that I let out a little scream of fright and start laughing when I crash into his chest, with one hand he grabs my waist and the other buries in my hair, pulling lightly on the back of my neck lifting my head and glues our lips, the kiss starts calmly but turns in a fraction of seconds, it is charged with desire and really the chemistry between mates is incredible, we can't stop the kiss our bodies stick more in the hope of having more contact. After a long time of making out we let go and now we are panting, and people what a kiss that was simply incredible electric currents passed through my whole body, without a doubt the best kiss of my life

Theodoro - I think I just found my new addiction

Cora - And what would that be?

Theodoro - You my Queen

Him calling me queen is so sexy that I'm getting aroused, Theodoro attacks my mouth again, his hand wanders all over my body the atmosphere is getting tense, suddenly he stops and puts his head on my shoulder breathing deeply in my scent, he is certainly about to lose control and the smell of my arousal is not helping, but the smell of our mate calms us

Theodoro - I just need to stay here for a few minutes ok?

Cora - I understand

Theodoro - I want you so much, but I can't mark you like that, you deserve something special

Cora - Thank you for thinking of the best for me (I hug him tight)

Theodoro - I'll always think of the best for you dear (he gives me a peck) Let's go we need to go before Ascher takes control and kidnaps you

Cora - That wouldn't be a bad idea

Theodoro - Woman don't give me ideas

We start laughing and walk again, talking about our personal life our tastes, family friends those things, everything was so perfect..

When we arrived at the Pack's house, we went past and everyone bowed because of Theodoro, my parents came to meet us to congratulate us on the mate bond, I just found Bella strange and distant, but I thought it was because of everything she just went through, I know I went through it too but I dismissed it.

We sang congratulations, and Theodoro pulled me to the dance floor, I was feeling on cloud nine, but my mistake was forgetting what I was sensing at the beginning of the party and I ended up letting my guard down, and here began my torment. We heard the sound of a shot and I feel my back burning a lot, I feel weak and my legs fail, Theodoro calls me desperately, mom and dad run to me and I feel a hot liquid running down my back, my whole body starts to hurt a lot, I can't breathe

Helena - Daughter please stay awake, Enna will take care of this soon

Cora - Mom

Theodoro - Please hold on Cora

Cora - Theo it hurts a lot

Theodoro - Don't be afraid we're here and you're a phoenix remember you'll come back

I start coughing and spitting blood, did they hit me with a silver bullet? Damn it this hurts a lot it's worse than the transformation and I can't move, I can't feel my body anymore

Cora - Mom I can't feel anything

My mother puts her hand over her mouth and tries to control her crying, dad is shouting at the warriors, Theodoro is in shock, but why can't I hear the girls? Suddenly the shortness of breath gets worse, I try to pull in air and I can't

Cora - T Theo

I see him turn pale, my vision goes dark and I feel life leaving my body with my last breath.....