He was the most special person that had ever entered my life.
I was 12 and I thought I was in love. I mistook adoration for love. I mistook his smile and charm for something more, something that I now know would never happen.
Not from him towards me anyways.
He was 19 and gorgeous. A young alpha and next in line to lead my pack, the StoneHeart pack. His name is Royal Hale and I thought we would become mates once I became 17. 17s the age of when we, the werefolk, can set out and look for our wolfs other half.
I was so blind by my misplaced love that you could not even tell me that he wouldnt be mine because I just knew, I felt it. I thought I must have really been blessed by the moon goddess herself for letting me find my mate early and always thanked her for it.
Until that day happened.
Like most days I woke up and got dressed in something not so babyish, definitely nothing with any characters on it. I wasn't really good at styling my hair so as long as it was brushed and neat I was happy with it.
I remember staring at myself for hours in my bedroom trying to look older than I was. My makeup was a mess, everything I applied was always wrong. In those days makeup tutorials were only small tips in magazines. Was YouTube even a thing back then?
I once stuffed my bra with socks just to see what my future body would look like, but I wouldn't dare leave my room looking like that.
I would beg my mom to let me shop for my own clothes in the teen section. After some compromise she agreed, only if with her approval would I be able to buy some decent clothes that didn't scream little kid. I guess her hesitation came from not wanting to see her little girl grow up to fast.
But no matter how much I tried to change my appearance, I could still only look like a 12 year old.
I would imagine that my height would equal his perfectly, that my curves would be to his liking, and that he'd mark me in just the right spot at the back of my neck.
Everything I did in my life from the moment I realized that I loved and lived for him was only ever to make him think better of me. I figured as future Luna why shouldn't I take up more responsibility within the pack.
I became the current Lunas disciple basically. I thought who best to show me what being a Luna was all about then from the Luna herself. After school I would rush to her side, visiting the newly born babies and their mothers, handing out food to those to old to head down to the pack house, running errands for those who needed an extra hand. Thanks to the Luna I had personally gotten to know each and every member of the pack, already establishing myself as a kind and selfless pack member.
That day that forever haunts me started with me leaving my home after getting dressed and ready for the day.
I had made it to the pack house where it served as a communal dining hall and entertainment center. I had rushed to hug Royal once I saw him. I hadn't noticed who he was with or what he was doing.
"Just stop already!" He yelled turning around to slap my face.
"Just stop!" the look in his eyes terrified me. All the hair on my body stood up.
"Royal." I heard a soft and gentle voice come from behind him. I saw how she reached up and stroked his arm up and down to try to calm him down.
"No, she needs to learn to not bother me anymore." His voice still held some anger in it but his eyes still looked at me like I was the most disgusting creature in all existence.
"Royal... she's just a kid." She stepped in front of him and handed me a cloth towel.
I was in shock, to terrified to even take it from her.
People had started to walk out of the pack house, they must have felt Royals anger.
Before I knew it Luna Sonya had rushed toward me grabbing the cloth from the gentle sounding girls' hand and placed it on my face. It stung.
"We'll talk about this later Royal." Her voice was full of spite as she looked at him.
I followed her aimlessly. I wasnt even aware that I was being treated for the big gash on my face from the claws Royal used when he slapped me.
My mom had came in the room where Alpha Ben had just finished giving me my last stitch.
She rushed to hug me after seeing my face, "my baby girl." She cried hysterically.
I was to numb to really feel anything. All I knew is that the person I adored now terrified me.
