Maya Blackwood is 22 years old; she learned that she is the last living member of the famous Lunar Pack, a family of werewolves that was thought to be dead. This news completely changes her life. With the weight of her family's history thrust upon her, Maya must handle the dark and dangerous world of werewolves, where nothing is as it seems. Maya has to make a hard choice between two strong alphas: Ethan, the moody pack member she is destined to be with, and Liam, the smart head of a rival pack. After refusing her true mate, Ethan, in favor of a brief romance with Liam, Maya finds herself caught in a web of lies and secrets. Both men don't know it yet, but Maya is carrying Ethan's child. This is a secret that will soon change everything. As a prophecy predicting a great war between the packs looms, Maya must face her fate, fight for her unborn child, and decide where her true interests lie. With a powerful enemy shaping events from the shadows, can Maya beat the chances and find love, or will she lose everything in the process?
Chapter 1 The Awakening
Maya's POV
I walk through the calm streets of Raven's Peak, feeling as if I don't fit. It's an odd sense, like something deep within me wants to burst free. Everyone around me appears so regular, conducting their daily lives, and yet, here I am, feeling like a stranger in my flesh.
Why do I feel this way?
I pass the old bakery and wave absentmindedly to Mrs. Davies, who grins back. But the instant our eyes connect, I get that odd feeling again, like a knot pulling tighter within me. I shake my head, pushing the feeling away, and keep going. The sky overhead is getting darker, the air colder, yet something about tonight seems odd.
My feet carried me near the edge of the bush. It's the one spot that's always offered me peace, but tonight, it seems different. As I near the tree line, a weird feeling runs through my body, and suddenly, my knees fall.
"What... what's happening to me?" I gasp.
The ache is awful. I drop to the ground, holding my stomach, feeling like my bones are breaking. I call out, but no one is there to help. My vision fades, and I hear the sound of breaking bones.
I scream, folding into myself as the shift starts. My hands change into claws, my skin burns, and hair starts to cover my body. I can't stop it...I have no power.
When it's finished, I'm no longer human.
I stumble into the woods, my thoughts fuzzy, afraid, and confused. The smell of wood and dirt is strong. My heart races, and all I can think of is leaving, going far away. But my legs...they're not mine anymore. I try to move, but it's like I'm locked within someone else's body.
I hear footsteps.
"Maya," a voice rings out, deep and strange. "Maya, stop!"
I whirl quickly, growling instinctively. A guy- no, not just any man, a werewolf- stands before me. He's big and strong, with striking blue eyes that lock into mine.
"Who are you?" I sneer, but the words come out as more of a growl than I meant. Fear grabs me. Can he comprehend me? Am I even speaking?
The man, whoever he is, approaches carefully, hands lifted as if to soothe me. "It's okay. I'm not here to hurt you," he says. "My name is Ethan."
Ethan? I've never heard that name before, yet there's something familiar about him, something... comforting.
"I know this is all confusing," he says, "but you need to trust me. You've just gone through your first transformation."
Transformation? My head spins, trying to understand what's happening. Was this why I've always felt different? But how could I not know? I step back, baring my fangs, my reflexes pushing me to fight or flee.
"Don't do that," Ethan suggests, his words calm but serious. "You'll only hurt yourself. Please, let me help you."
"I don't trust you," I manage to say, though it sounds more like a hoarse growl.
He sighs, his eyes relaxing. "I get it. You're scared, but I've gone through this before. I can help."
"Why should I believe you?" I snap, taking another step back.
"Because I know who you are, Maya," he adds softly. "You're not just anyone. You're the last remaining heir of the Lunar Pack."
I freeze. "What did you just say?"
Ethan draws closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "You're special, Maya. You belong to the Lunar Pack. You're their final heir."
"No," I say, shaking my head. "That can't be true. You must be wrong. I'm simply... I'm simply me."
"Maya, listen to me." His voice is urgent now. "You've always felt different, right? You've always known something wasn't right, that you didn't fit in with the people. This is why. You're a werewolf, and not just any werewolf. You're the heir of one of the most dangerous packs."
I take a nervous breath, my thoughts racing. This can't be happening. I've never heard of the Lunar Pack, much less that I'm related to it. This is some type of mistake. But the way Ethan looks at me... it seems like he's telling the truth.
"I don't want this," I say. "I didn't ask for any of this."
"I know," Ethan answers softly. "But you don't have a choice. You're in danger, Maya. The enemies of the Lunar Pack will come for you once they find out who you are. You need protection."
I look at him, my head cloudy with doubt. Who is this guy? How could he know so much about me? And why would he want to help me?
"Why are you helping me?" I ask, my voice shaking.
"Because..." He hesitates, his blue eyes burning with something unreadable. "Because I swore an oath to protect the Lunar heir. And because..."
His voice drops off, but there's something deeper there, something he's not saying. Before I can push him more, a howl echoes across the woods. A bone-chilling sound that sends a shudder down my spine.
Ethan's face darkens quickly. "They're coming."
"Who?" I ask, my heart racing.
"The ones who want you dead," he answers, grabbing my arm. "We have to go, now!"
I yank my arm back. "Why should I trust you?"
"Because," Ethan answers, his eyes meeting with mine, "I'm the only one who can keep you alive."
I wait for a while, torn between leaving on my own and following this stranger who claims to know everything about me. But before I can make a choice, a gang of shadows appears from the woods, their eyes burning red.
"Maya, we need to go!" Ethan yells, grabbing my hand and pushing me along.
As we rushed into the trees, my heart hammered in my chest. I don't know who these people are or why they're chasing me, but I know one thing for sure...my life will never be the same again.
Just as I believe we've fled, one of the shadows comes out of nowhere, knocking Ethan to the ground.
"No!" I scream, my senses taking control.
And suddenly, without thinking, I spring at the attacker, ready to fight.
But before I could strike, everything went dark.