"He's here!" Maddie screamed in a shrill voice.
My head snapped in the direction of the entrance door along with many others.
There had been a rumour earlier this week that there was a new Alpha in Foxtown. He relocated from Alaska due to a clash with the cold ones; he had killed one of their royals and was suspended from his pack for two moons to maintain peace.
According to the rumour, he was going to be attending Torin College, which was my school.
"God, he is so hot!" Anna screamed.
"Cut it out!" Betty snapped at me and my two best friends, Maddie and Anna.
Betty was Maddie's distant cousin, and the Luna of the most powerful werewolf pack in Foxtown; her family was what you call royalty in the human world.
The rumour says that Betty shifted during spring break, and this had Alphas lining up and waiting, hoping the moon goddess would favour them with such a powerful Luna.
I drew my besties backwards as Betty walked forward to meet the new Alpha; the smile on her face showed that she had claimed him already.
I sighed and pulled at my friends, saying, "Let's get back to class already," Anna grumbled, making a face.
"What? You know we stand no chance next to Queen Betty.
"But he hasn't chosen her, and no one said anything about him choosing her," Anna said while Maddie nodded in agreement.
"Come on, guys, it's a match ordained by the moon goddess herself. Can you ask yourself why the Alpha of a powerful pack relocates to Foxtown just when an equally powerful and stunning Luna shifts after the long wait?
"It could be just a coincidence, Jovita. Why don't you see the bright side of things?" Maddie asked with a pout.
"I guess I see the reality," I said, pushing my reluctant friends toward our classroom. "You guys stand a chance anyway, but look at me —I haven't even shifted yet". "What would he want with me?"
"Everything, Jovita. Maybe he wouldn't want anything with us, but you're the most beautiful werewolf I've ever seen," Maddie said.
"Stop trying to make me feel good, Maddie.
My friends shifted last summer, the month we turned 18. Coincidentally, our birthdays fell in the same month.
According to tradition, a female werewolf shifts and also finds a mate at 18. But I was 19 already, and nothing!
Anna found her mate the month after our birthdays, while Maddie found hers three months after, and I was left alone, the unlucky and lonely werewolf.
"Jovie move", Anna said, pulling me out of the way. I turned to stare at what or who I was obstructing, and my gaze came to a lock with the new Alpha.
For a moment, I was stunned, and then a wave of excitement hit me as I realized something. I could hear his heartbeat! When a werewolf hears another werewolf's heartbeat, it means two things: they are either mates, or they are related. And in my case, the latter was the only logical explanation.
Eric, the new alpha, turned to stare at me; the look of surprise on his face showed that he could hear my heartbeat too, but then he turned back to Betty, continuing his walk like I never existed.
My besties noticed the exchange and turned to me for an explanation.
"What?" Anna said, curiosity boldly written on her face.
"I don't know; I think I heard his heartbeat.
"Woow, Anna, does that mean Jovie has found her mate? But how can that be possible? She hasn't even shifted yet.
"It happens sometimes," Maddie said. "Sometimes a werewolf fails to shift until they meet their mate, though on rare occasions. It said that the couples become an unbeatable pair.
"That's not happening, Maddie," I said. "Yeah, he probably heard my heartbeat too, but he looked away uninterested. Who wouldn't with a Luna like Betty on their arm?
"We don't choose our mates; the moon goddess does," Maddie said. "Well, I definitely won't want a mate that won't want me, no matter how good-looking he is. Let's go to class, guys.
During lunch break, my besties and I sat around our table, talking about the latest gossip-worthy events that occurred during the summer.
I felt someone watching me, and I turned to see who it was. It was Eric. For a moment, I was flustered. I was used to guys staring at me, but this was different. Why was he staring at me now? He ignored me just a moment ago, I thought.
I tried to steady my breathing, knowing fully well that he could hear my racing heart.
Just then his gaze flickered to something else, and mine followed.
A stunning, hot, handsome guy was walking towards him, and he stood up to meet him.
"OMG! Who the fuck is this hottie!" Maddie screamed. "How many surprises do we get in one day?"
All heads turned to stare at the newcomer. He was dazzling, I mean, literally dazzling. He was tall and well-built, with a shock of long ebony-black hair that fell across his shoulders, complimenting his tanned skin. The air around him spoke of authority and power.
Eric said something to him, and he turned toward my table, a slow smile spreading on his face.
"What were they talking about?" I mumbled, trying to stop my racing heartbeat.