Fate’s Forbidden Mate Novel – Ever since we were kids, I, like everyone else in the pack, had harbored a crush on the future Alpha. But not everyone’s feelings matched the depth of mine. We barely exchanged words—just that one accidental collision—and yet, he never seemed to notice me, even though I couldn’t help but stare at him endlessly. He consumed my thoughts like a wildfire. Maybe it was obsessive, but no matter what I tried, I couldn’t stop daydreaming about him. Sure, I might have been pretty, but no one ever mentioned it. I liked school, had friends, but I was never remarkable. Not like his stunning, naturally blonde, statuesque girlfriend who held everyone’s gaze for most of high school. She knew exactly how to captivate a room.
That all changed the summer after I turned eighteen, right after graduation. On the morning of my birthday, before my parents woke up to begin our tradition of making far too many pancakes and binge-watching movies to recover from the late-night celebrations, I decided to take a walk past the training grounds. Then I caught a scent—something mouthwatering, but also soothing, almost hypnotic. It reminded me of the woods after a fresh rain, even though the sky was clear and had been for days.
There, blocking my path, stood Noah—the future Alpha. My throat went dry. His dark brown hair clung to his forehead in damp strands, and his matching brown eyes shimmered, flickering to an intense midnight black. “Mine,” he growled low and possessive. Suddenly, a storm of butterflies erupted inside me; my entire body buzzed, rooted in stunned disbelief. I couldn’t believe it. Everything I’d ever dreamed of, every secret fantasy I’d never dared speak aloud, was happening right then. That day, he claimed me—completely and irrevocably. From that moment on, my world orbited him even more than before. It’s been over a year now, and I still can’t fully grasp that he’s mine—only mine.
Things aren’t perfect. We’re both scrambling to master the roles we’re about to inherit in just a few months, when he officially steps into his position as Alpha at twenty-one. When that happens, I’ll stand proudly by his side as his Luna. Still, it sometimes feels unreal. I look at him the same way I did in the cafeteria—filled with longing and desire—the difference now is he meets my gaze with the same intensity. “Switch the forks. You know this, Wren.” Naomi, the current Luna and Noah’s mother, chided me sharply. My lessons in becoming a Luna mostly involved planning parties, memorizing the names and faces of influential members from other packs, learning to balance warmth with stoicism, and daydreaming about Noah.
Honestly, I struggled with everything except the last. All the beige shades looked identical to me; I wasn’t even sure there was more than one color of peach. “Sorry, Luna,” I muttered, catching Naomi’s stern glare. No mumbling allowed. “Luna, Wren.” Jason, Noah’s future Gamma, entered the room. “Claire’s here and wants to see you.” “Wonderful,” Naomi said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. My stomach sank. Claire—Noah’s high school girlfriend? She was supposed to be at college. “You can finish the setup, right?” Naomi asked me. I nodded. “Of course, Luna.” I smiled, though my heart twisted with curiosity and, probably, misplaced dread. “I’ll help,” Jason offered, grabbing the tray of silverware from Naomi. “Thanks,” I whispered as she left the room. “This is torture,” he joked. “I couldn’t agree more,” I replied. “I’d rather have back-to-back training than sit through another Luna lesson.” Although I wasn’t a regular in training sessions, I sometimes joined in. But after mating with Noah and becoming his future Luna, I was required to stop completely. “Wren, someone I want you to meet.” Naomi appeared at the door.
Moments later, Claire herself strolled in. Her gaze flicked over the place settings before landing on me.