ALESTER:

"What do you mean a ball?" Alester nearly choked.

"Well, sweety... it's tradition." His mom wrung her hands, clearly not telling him the whole truth.

It was Alester's 18th birthday, which meant it was the day he would shift into a wolf for the first time. It also meant he stood a chance of finding the one person who could change his world. Every wolf had someone they were connected to mind and soul, someone that they would give the world for, a mate. But for Alester finding his mate meant giving up on his dream of college, because he knew if he found his mate his father would talk him into staying and taking over his roll as Alpha. He wasn't ready for that.

"You just want me to find my mate and stay here don't you?!" He shouted. "Well, that will not happen! Most wolves don't find their mate until 23, if at all! And if I find her, I'm still going to college!"

He shouted, hands clenched into fists.

"And I'm not going to a ball!"

Alester was seeing red. He knew his parents didn't want him to go to college, but he thought they had accepted it. Instead, they were trying to trick him into staying. It was a new low for them, and Alester would not fall for it.

He was so angry he didn't see the anger building in his dad or the tears about to fall from his mother's eyes.

His dad grit his teeth. "You will not speak to your Mother this way!"

Alester stilled. He didn't have a wolf yet, but he could feel the authority his father had. Not just as his father, but as the Alpha of their pack.

"It's alright sweety." His mother patted his father's arm and buried her head into his shoulder.

"His wolf is just getting ready to appear. He doesn't mean it."

A tear rolled down her cheek, and Alester could feel guilt replace his anger.

"I'm sorry, mom."

She sighed sadly. "It's alright sweety."

"It's not alright." His father grumbled into her hair, placing a kiss on her head.

"Don't take that tone with your mother ever again. And if you want to attend school, you will go to the ball." His dad commanded.

"Your mother worked hard to prepare this, and it's to celebrate your 18th birthday, people expect you to be there. Don't let us down."

Alester knew he had no choice but to listen to his father's alpha voice. He would have to attend the ball and chance meeting his mate. A mate he wasn't ready for and didn't want to meet.

Alester wanted to go to college and learn the right way to lead, he wanted to be a better Alpha than his father, and he wanted to see something outside of his pack. A mate could wait for later.

But Fate seemed to have a different idea.

....

"You invited Phiona?!" Alester whined. He had slicked back his shaggy black hair into something more smooth and presentable when the Colts arrived early.

"Of course I did. They are family friends." His dad scolded him.

"Not to me, they aren't. You know Phiona has a crush on me." Alester was upset at just having to attend the ball. He didn't need another reason to want to avoid it.

"To you they are. And maybe that's a good thing. Like you said, many don't find their mate. Phiona is a good option. She is an outstanding leader." His father loved the Colts and saw nothing better than if their children would fall in love. Of course, any mate for his son would be fine.

Alester hadn't thought of that. What if she was his mate? A shiver ran down his spine thinking about the calculated, fake, and pampered girl who had clung to him since they were children. He refused for her to be his mate. There was no way.

"What if I find my mate tonight then, dad? Wouldn't she be angry? Wouldn't it cause a rift?" Alester spat pointedly.

"Now, now, son. That won't happen. They are good sports." He patted his son's shoulder and helped him put his suit jacket on.

"Come down soon. It would be nice if you greeted them before the party...." He looked into his son's vibrant green eyes, and sighed. They were just like his mother's.

"Alright, just come down before your introduction at 5."

Alester looked at the clock, it showed it was 3:58 and he nodded in agreement.

"Don't worry, son, even if you do find your mate, we won't let it disrupt your plans for college unless you want it to." His dad comforted before leaving him to finish getting ready.

It was a promise Alester didn't believe, because he was certain that if he found a mate, his parents would find a way to make him want to stay.

But he wouldn't think of that now, instead Alester sat on his bed and wondered what his wolf would be like. He also wondered if he would shift when his dad thought he would. His dad had planned to present him thirty minutes before his birth time. There was a theory that the day and time you were born were the day and time your wolf would show, 18 years later.

He had been born at 5:30 pm and his father wanted time to present him before ushering everyone out to the back garden. When the time came, a werewolf's body would change from man to wolf instantly. You would want family and friends around you when you did because the first shift was brutally painful. But you also wanted them at a distance so they wouldn't get hurt. The plan was to present him and then go to the covered lawn, where he would have a bubble of safety and wait for the change. But it didn't always happen like that. Sometimes the wolf would come sooner or even later in the day. And Alester worried he would be in one of the latter categories.

He shook his head to get rid of the thoughts in his mind. He would make today as stress-free as possible.

Alester unfolded his college acceptance letter from his desk and smiled. "For this." He said aloud. Putting the very first page of the acceptance letter into his inner suit pocket and finished getting ready.

Alester ran down the stairs. Five minutes until he was supposed to be announced, and he wanted to grab a snack from the kitchen before then. He was less than a foot from the kitchen when he smelled something delicious. He sniffed again and his plans for the kitchen changed.

It smelt much better than the cheese and crackers he planned on grabbing. He changed course to follow the smell. He tried to describe it in his head. It was earthy, almost vegetal. But also savory and salty with hints of sweetness. Cranberry? Wildflowers? He couldn't tell, but it smelled delicious and made his mouth water.

He neared the party and realized they had already brought the food out for the guests. It angered him. He didn't want to share this meal. Alester wanted it for himself.

He had a weird feeling inside him, pulling him. Needing to find the food. He almost reached the side door to the ballroom when a hand grabbed his arm.

He could feel a sensation building in his chest. Anger, but also something else. He could only describe it as a growl, wanting to escape. It almost did as a hand clasped his arm and turned him around.

"What are you doing?! Why aren't you upstairs at the ceremony entrance?" His father shouted.

Alester blinked as his father dragged him towards the ceremony entrance. His anger died down and he was unsure why he had become so obsessed.

"Alright son, just stand here until I announce you." His dad roughly let go of his arm.

Seconds later, he stepped through the draping red curtains, a fake smile decorating his face.

In front of a few hundred people, he gave a half wave, walking down the first stair towards the party. It hit him. That smell was back, the food was here. It was stronger, more delicious smelling. It was here. He looked around frantically, sniffing the air before spotting a server in the back holding a silver tray. She stood rigid in her place. The food was that way. Alester stalked forward, practically sliding down the stairs. He had to get to it. He needed it.

He could feel himself tremble, his body shook. But his mind was so focused on the smell, he didn't understand what was happening.

"Alester?" He heard a familiar shrill voice call his name. He ignored it and stalked forward toward the server. She had thick, curly brown hair and seemed to know he wanted something on her tray. She walked forward. "Alester!" Phiona shouted. His eyes matched with her vibrant dark crystal blue eyes as he heard a single word fill his head "Mate."

His body convulsed, and his bones cracked. His clothing ripped apart around him, fur replaced what he once wore. The screams of agony inside his head were louder than the ones from the people frantically trying to get out of the way.

His wolf was out sooner than expected. His paws padded him forward, and Phiona met him in his path. Her sparkling, light pink dress hugged her curves and wrinkled gracefully as she knelt down. She patted Alester's head. Her crescent moon, and sapphire necklace swung gently as she did.

"It's alright Alester. I'm here." She cooed.

Alester's senses became overwhelmed with an almost sickeningly sweet smell. A beautifully sweet smell. A mix of wildflowers and roses. But also cake and sprinkles. Delicious in its own right. He looked into Phiona's eyes, the same color as her necklace. His vision hazed.

"Mate?" His wolf whined in confusion. He could feel Alester's anger in the background. But his heart pounded in his wolf's chest. Wanting nothing more than to lean into the hand that was caressing him.

"Mate." she announced before kissing his head.

No one noticed the server who left out the back door shaking violently, just like Alester had moments before.