Born to Reign
Since the world of wolves was blessed by the moon goddess Selene, there had been an unshakable tradition: every wolf, at birth, already had a destined mate chosen by her. It was a profound connection, forged through a sacred bond that manifested upon turning eighteen, provided the mates were near each other. It was impossible to ignore the scent, the magnetism, the force that united them. But to Maya, this never sounded like a gift.
She was a dreamer. And unlike the other young women in the pack, Maya questioned this imposed fate. Why should anyone love without choice? Why blindly trust a connection created by a goddess, even if it was Selene? What if the destined mate was someone of dubious character? Of course, there was the possibility of rejection, but that was also cruel. For a wolf, being rejected was like having a piece of oneself torn away. The pain was excruciating, and many could not bear it.
Yet, once rejected, the wolf could fall in love freely. They could, at last, experience true love. However, this path was also uncertain: what if they fell in love with someone who had not yet met their destined mate? And when that day came, they would be left behind? Maya considered all of this a great injustice. Why couldn't they just choose for themselves, love with freedom?
There were only a few days left until her eighteenth birthday. And though her anxiety grew, she was not excited to meet her mate. What she desired most was to finally transform. To see her wolf. To know her. To hear her inner voice, learn her name, discover if she possessed any special gift. That was what made her daydream.
Time seemed to mock her, passing slowly, dragging the minutes. The long-awaited day was approaching, but at the same time, it felt increasingly distant. Maya tried to distract herself, reliving happy memories, like the day her brother found his mate.
She smiled just remembering it. Josh had been blessed with a gentle fate. He found Ava, a young woman from the Southern pack, during the Full Moon Festival—the great annual gathering of the packs. The hall was full, illuminated by torches and the moon itself hanging imposingly in the sky. Maya still remembered every detail.
Josh began sniffing the air, restless. Something was calling him.
"Josh, what's happening? Where are you going?" she asked, trying to keep up.
"That scent..."
"By the goddess! It's your..."
Before she could finish the sentence, he stopped abruptly. Ava was there, facing him. Her long blonde hair swayed gently in the night breeze. Her blue eyes reflected the moonlight. They stared at each other for a few eternal seconds, full of admiration and desire. And then, at the same time, the magical words were spoken.
"Mate!"
"Mine!"
Maya's heart warmed. Josh, even overtaken by instinct, maintained his composure. He embraced Ava with care and respect, deciding to wait, taming his animal side. He treated her with delicacy, like someone who knows that love is also made of patience.
At that moment, Maya found herself wondering who her mate would be. Would he be handsome? Gentle? Would he have values she admired? Or would he be rude, arrogant, one of those who think the bond of destiny entitles them to everything? Maya shuddered. She knew she would not accept just anything. If it wasn't as she hoped, she would reject him. Because she had self-love. And that love was not for sale for a sacred bond.
"Self-love is when you don't need anyone to tell you how beautiful and amazing you are. It's looking at yourself in the mirror and loving yourself without waiting for someone to love you. It's living in your own company doing what you love to do, having respect for yourself without needing to wait for someone to make you happy, because you are happy alone."
This was her favorite quote, by Sandrinha Marques. It was written on a sheet of paper hanging on her wall. She read it every morning.
Maya was simple. She loved the smell of wet earth, the sound of rain hitting the leaves, the wildflowers scattered across the fields. She liked to run barefoot, play with the pack's children, and train with Josh in the clearings. She was different from the other she-wolves, and that made her special. But there was a pain she kept only to herself: the absence of her mother.
She lost her mother as a pup. The memory of her sweet eyes and the scent of lavender grew increasingly distant, but the void persisted. Her father was always present, loving and strong, doing everything he could to fill the space his mate had left. Still, there were nights when Maya cried silently, hugging a blanket, missing that unique love.
Even with this wound in her chest, Maya lived intensely. She believed each day was a gift. She did everything with dedication and soul. The Alpha of the pack was very proud of her. And the others respected and loved her. Her empathy was rare. Always willing to help, especially the younger ones. It was common to see her distributing small handmade gifts to the children or teaching them to run and fall without fear.
But no matter how peacefully she lived, something was about to change.
The goddess Selene had already decided her fate. The invisible thread connecting Maya to another heart was already stretching. And when the day of transformation came, when her wolf awakened, nothing would ever be the same again.
Perhaps it was the beginning of a great love. Perhaps of a great struggle.
Her heart raced. Anxiety dominated every cell of her body. The next day was not just any day. She would turn eighteen, the day she would meet her inner wolf. And possibly, she would meet her destined mate.
The house was silent, but her soul screamed.
Josh appeared at the door with a proud smile.
"Are you ready for tomorrow?"
"I think so..." she replied with a hesitant smile. "Or maybe not. It's strange to feel that everything could change in a matter of minutes."
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