The Hidden Magic She Never Wanted

Aria's POV.

I stood in my room, surrounded by my maids, my heart pounding in my chest. My eyes were fixed on the dresses spread out across the bed, each one more elegant than the last. Tonight was the night. It had to be. The night I'd been waiting for, longing for-and secretly fearing. The night I might finally shift into my wolf.

It had been a month since my eighteenth birthday, the age when most werewolves experienced their first transformation. For others, it had seemed so easy, so natural. But for me? Nothing. No shift, no wolf, no mate. And the longer I waited, the more the whispers grew. I was the daughter of Alpha Xavier Nightshade, heir to one of the most powerful packs in the region. I was supposed to be strong, destined for greatness. Yet, here I was, standing in my room, feeling incomplete. 

The dresses shimmered under the soft light of the chandelier: silver, gold, deep crimson. They were beautiful, elegant, befitting of a princess-or so I hoped. Tonight was my first royal gathering, held at the grand Silverfang Castle. Every Alpha and next-in-line Alpha from neighboring packs would be there, and the thought of walking into that room, surrounded by leaders who had already shifted and found their mates, made my stomach churn. 

The door creaked open behind me, and I turned to see my father, Alpha Xavier, step inside. His presence was commanding, as always. He dismissed the maids with a wave of his hand, and they scurried out of the room without a word. 

"Aria," he began, his tone firm but not unkind. "Are you ready for tonight's gathering?" His sharp eyes swept over the dresses on my bed. "This is an important night. I hope you can finally shift tonight-and perhaps find your true mate. All the next-in-line Alphas will be there." 

I let out a sigh, my hands gripping the back of a chair. "I don't know, Father. I'm trying to stay hopeful, but I'm stressed. What if it doesn't happen?" 

He stepped closer, his gaze softening slightly. He rarely showed tenderness, but I could see it in the way his shoulders relaxed, the way his voice lowered. "You are my daughter, Aria. You were born for greatness. Do not let doubt cloud your mind. Trust in the Moon Goddess and in yourself." He gestured toward the dresses. "What about this silver one? It suits you." 

I picked up the gold dress from the bed and held it against myself. "Or this one?" 

He nodded, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Both are beautiful, but decide quickly. We only have two hours before the gathering begins, and it's at Silverfang Castle. I need to leave early to meet with the other Alphas, but the driver will take you in the limo. Don't be late." 

I gave him a small smile, trying to mask my nerves. "Don't worry, Father. I'll be ready. It's my first royal gathering, after all." 

He rested a hand on my shoulder briefly before turning to leave. "Good. I'll be waiting for you there." 

As soon as the door closed behind him, I let out a shaky breath. The pressure was suffocating, but I couldn't let it show. I chose the silver dress, its shimmering fabric catching the light as I slipped it on. The maids returned to help me style my hair, curling it into soft waves that cascaded down my back. I looked like a princess. At least, I hoped I did. 

I was almost done when my phone buzzed on the dresser. I picked it up, my heart sinking as I read the messages. 

**"Maybe Aria isn't the real daughter of Alpha Xavier Nightshade."** 

**"She doesn't seem royal like us. Maybe she was adopted."** 

My hands trembled as I read the words, venomous and cruel. They were from my so-called friends from high school, people I hadn't seen in months but who clearly hadn't forgotten about me-or my failure to shift. Tears pricked my eyes, and I fought them back, unwilling to let their words break me. But the sting lingered, sharp and painful. 

I walked to the window, staring out at the moonlit forest. My reflection stared back at me in the glass, a mix of beauty and doubt. Closing my eyes, I whispered a prayer to the Moon Goddess. "Please, help me shift tonight. Let me find my true mate. I can't do this alone." 

Three hours later, I was ready. My silver gown clung to me like moonlight, the heels adding a regal height to my frame. My maid followed me down the grand staircase, and my guard was close behind. The driver opened the door to the sleek black limo, and I slid inside, my nerves bubbling in my chest. 

The tension was unbearable. I had to do something to calm myself, something I'd never done before. "Give me a glass of wine," I said to my maid, my voice sharper than I intended. 

Her eyes widened. "But-" 

"No buts. Just give me one."