The Alpha's Invisible Mate

New school, new me. But I wished it was the case. It was just the same endless cycle of bullying.

I stared at my reflection in the oval mirror of the room, at the baby fat that had refused to disappear even at the age of sixteen. At the dead blue eyes that stared at the failure I had become.

I had tried everything I could—taking 10,000 steps, skipping, going to the gym—anything that could help me shed this extra weight, but it was all useless.

The stubborn rolls of fat around my stomach were still here, a stark reminder of my failure and it didn’t help that I went out of breath after a light jog.

Today was my birthday, sweet 16 they call it, and it was the annual blessing ceremony at the pack. I could remember my brother had told me that once we turned sixteen, we could make any wish to the moon goddess.

It didn’t matter how silly it was, whether it was strength or a mate, and she would grant it.

Yet, I couldn’t feel any bond. But I should have expected it; the moon goddess would never grant someone like me a mate.

I held the navy blue dress over my body. It was plain blue so as not to draw attention, with long sleeves and a length reaching way past my knees. I wore the dress over my body and tried to smile as I saw the fitting.

The dress had covered my fat arms and the fleshy thighs that I had struggled with. But it would have been perfect if I didn't have to suck my stomach whenever I was around people.

My makeup was a mess, the foundation 2 shades lighter than my skin in a bid to cover my dark circles and the redness in my eyes, while the faint red on my lips was an attempt to add color to my face.

I stared at my reflection again. I had managed to look slightly less pathetic than my usual self. “Tonight is the night.” I told the person staring at me in the mirror. “I am just here to pray, and no one will notice me.”

But fate had a way of playing dirty.

I closed the door behind me and stepped outside when I spotted three boys, all from the upper class. I froze as I caught sight of Ryan, Tyler, and Luke, dressed in the red basketball jersey of our school, and I lowered my gaze, praying under my breath that they wouldn’t notice me.

But they quickened their steps towards me, their eyes focused on me, and I knew there was no way I was escaping their hold.

“What are you doing, piglet?” Ryan snarled, his messy blond hair slick with sweat stuck to his face. The rest thundered in laughter, clutching their bellies when Tyler saw the blessing ribbon I was clutching.

I put up no resistance when he snatched it from my hands; instead, I tightened my fist in anger. “What?” He barked as he saw my face crumble. “Guys, I think she is trying to make a wish.”

Again, their laughter haunted me, and I blinked back the tears that had begun to pool in my eyes. “Maybe she wants to meet a mate, get pregnant, and make more piglets.”

Their laughter cut deep into my heart, even more painful than my impact on the floor when they pushed me down.

At that moment I wished an alpha could just appear from nowhere and yell, “Mine!” Like I read in those fairy tale books. That he could chase them away and scoop me up in his arms like a princess.

I closed my eyes, holding my breath just in case, but it was hopeless. I was all alone, and none of that would be happening.

I heaved myself up from the floor, panting as I got back to my feet and I dusted off the loose earth that had clung to my body before I hurried back to class.

That night, I dragged myself to the moon altar limping, having hit my leg as I fell, but the ceremony was already over. However, I knelt at the center of the altar, the hem of my dress caked in mud.

“Please help me…” I croaked out, my voice barely above a whisper. “Please, Moon Goddess. I want to be slim.” My hands were shaking, nails digging into my palms as I made my request known. “I want to be slim. I want to be slim.” I cried, the tears rolling down my eyes.

“Please… make it stop. Please end this pain. Please let me become someone else—someone they won’t laugh at. Someone…someone who deserves to be loved.”

If I got thinner, maybe they would stop mocking me?

If I became more beautiful, lighter, and stronger, maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t feel this lonely anymore?

I don’t even want a mate. I just didn’t want to be hated anymore. I was ashamed to even note that I had no friends around because no one wanted to be associated with me.

My mouth kept moving, repeating the words like a spell. I don’t know how long I continued chanting, only that the moonlight grew brighter, like a drop of silver liquid settling on the back of my neck.

The air around me stirred and the moonlight flickered in the horizon.

And something—deep, cold, and ancient—shifted.

The hair on my skin stood on end, my body charged as the wind blew and I knew I could feel the energy in the air. I could tell that something up there was watching me, and my skin tingled from the sensation.

The feeling was neutral. Not cruel. Not gentle.

Just…curious.

Then in a flash it was gone, leaving no trace of the energy I had felt, and I shook the thoughts from my head.

It had all been my imagination—it was just a miserable attempt to cope.

Standing up from my spot, I went back home, climbed into my bed and fell asleep.

I woke up to the gentle rays of the sun on my face, and I raised my hands, stretching my limbs. But my eyes widened as I caught sight of the mark on my wrist.

I brought my hand closer to my face, noting the tiny crescent moon there. The skin was slightly raised, the color an angry red against my pale skin, yet it shimmered faintly under the sunlight that had flitted to my room.

I reached a finger gingerly to touch it, ready for the pain that followed, but there was nothing. It didn’t hurt. However, I could tell that something inside me had changed.

It felt like a string had been tied around my ribs, like a magnet pulling me toward something I couldn’t see—or someone.

That night, I dreamed.

The forest was drenched in moonlight, every leaf painted silver. The trees bowed with the wind, as though whispering secrets I couldn’t hear.

And then—I saw it.

A wolf.

Towering and still, standing atop a ledge like it had been waiting for centuries. Its fur gleamed under the moonlight, and its golden eyes locked onto mine with something deeper than curiosity.

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe.

Then, I heard it.

A voice. Low, ancient, close as breath.

“You called. Now you’re mine.”

I turned sharply—

—and woke up, drenched in sweat, heart pounding like a war drum.