It was dark when you felt someone crawl in your bed. You didn't have to look to know who it was. Kisaki. Your stepfather.

"Almost your birthday,"

he murmured.

"Then my omega will be old enough to mate. We're going to be fated mates. I can feel it. I always worried that something was wrong with me because I couldn't find my mate. Now I know it's because I had to wait for you."

You lay silently, your heart racing. The Moon Goddess wouldn't actually make Vic your mate. She wouldn't be that cruel. Right?

Kisaki held you a while longer. Eventually, he got up, running his hand through your hair before slipping back to his own bedroom with your mother. She was probably passed out on some drug she'd scored the night before. She was never coherent enough to understand what was going on.

Several hours later, you left for school, trying not to think about Kisaki. As you put your stuff in your locker, you got shoved from behind.

"Hey, tiny,"

Baji Keisuke, the Alpha's son, snickered. He'd bullied you for years. He never beat you, but he'd push and mock you. You learned to tune him out, but that didn't stop him from being irritating.

The week before your birthday passed quickly. It was just before midnight. You knew you couldn't stay. You shifted to your wolf form and slipped out your window, running to freedom.

You yipped happily as you made it to the forest. Pack territory ended on the other side. You were so close.

A sound made you stop. Someone was there. And a scent, leather and musk. It was so strong.

A copper wolf stepped out of the shadows. The scent was from him. You crept closer, feeling drawn to him. He looked equally interested. He touched his nose to yours. A jolt of electricity passed through you and you instantly knew. Your mate.

You bounced around excitedly, your mate matching your energy. You danced around each other like puppies before sitting nose to nose. You began to shift as he did. Your smile faded as you realized the wolf, your mate, was Baji.