Cruel Twist Of Fate

Madison Frost I awoke to the sun warming my face. I opened my eyes and smiled. My mate, Scott Cypress, was standing by the window in his boxers, glancing down at the phone in his hands. I sat up on my elbow, “Why are you up so early?” I covered a yawn, eyeing the clock beside my bed. When he looked at me with his dimpled smile, my heart melted. It was the same smile as always, but it never gets old. Scott is the future alpha of the Cypress Ridge Pack. He turned twenty a few months back, and now his father is ready to hand the pack down to him. We’ve been together since my nineteenth birthday. That’s when werewolves can identify our fated mates. Being a gamma’s daughter, I was surprised when my wolf claimed the future alpha. He had all the women in the pack after his attention. We had grown up together, but I was never one to get my hopes up. My life has never turned out how I expected. “Baby, it’s still early. Go back to sleep,” he said. I reached out to him, “Only if you come back to bed.” He grinned, taking my hand, and he kissed it before sitting on the edge of the bed. “You know I would if I could, baby.” He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Today is a big day,” he mumbled. It was the most important day of my life. Tonight, Scott would be named alpha, and he would claim me as his mate in front of the entire pack. Then we can finally mark each other. “Are you excited?” I asked him. He kissed my cheek, “You’ll officially be mine,” he purred, dragging his lips down my neck to my shoulder. I hummed in approval as my nails dug into his forearms. This loving, sexy, thoughtful man would be mine, and everyone would know who owns his heart. I groaned when his phone chimed. “I have to go, baby,” he grumbled, pushing me back with his lips against mine. This kiss was over too soon, and he was up, getting dressed. “Don’t pout, baby. I’ll see you tonight.” He leaned over me as I lay on my bed. I gave him my best puppy eyes as I gripped his shirt. He chuckled. “Soon.” He pecked my lips before I watched him leave my room. I threw my head back and sighed in satisfaction until my alarm went off. Now, it was time for me to get up and head to training. I showered and dressed before going downstairs to the kitchen. My father, Gamma Max Frost, was staring out the window above the sink. “Was that Alpha Scott sneaking out again this morning?” He grumbled. “Yes, Dad,” I exhaled, opening the fridge. “He’s my mate.” “So you say,” he mumbled. I took out the milk and closed the door. He was leaning against the counter with a mug of coffee. “I understand you’re worried, but after tonight, we will be official. Besides, he’s our alpha’s son. He’s a good guy,” I defended. He sighed before taking my hand. “You are my only child, Maddy. I want the best for you.” “I know, Dad.” I placed the milk down on the counter and hugged him. “I love you.” “Yeah. Yeah,” he muttered but squeezed me tightly. “Get going before you’re late.” I kissed his cheek before pouring some coffee and milk into a travel mug. Then I was out the door. I arrived just in time for roll-call. It would look bad for my father if the gamma’s daughter were late. Most of the time, I was early, unless Scott spent the night. “That was close,” the future Delta, Ryan, leaned in and whispered. I’ve known him all through my school years, and he is the closest person I can call a friend. In school, I wasn’t like the other girls. I wanted to make my father proud. He raised me to hunt and fish. I can track and survive in the wilderness on my own, with or without my wolf. I never wore dresses. Always sporting jeans, sneakers, and an old flannel shirt. My copper hair was always braided, and my face free of makeup. My father didn’t know how to teach me girlie things. I could have looked it up on the internet, but I never got around to it. I wore my first dress on my nineteenth birthday. Now, after tonight’s announcement, my life will change. I would be Scott’s Luna. Things would be expected of me. I was unsure I was ready, but my mate had assured me he would help me adjust to my new lifestyle. My mind raced as I ran the twenty-five kilometres. Then the obstacle course was next. I had run all of them so many times that I could do it with my eyes closed. Lastly, it was hand-to-hand combat. I excelled at all three as my gamma father taught me. When everyone else was done training for the day, he would push me to be the best. When I was ready to give up, he would always say, ‘I need to know you can protect yourself, my little wolf. I won’t always be around to take care of you.’ When training ended, I was winded as I sat on the field. “You’ve been quiet today,” Ryan panted as he leaned over with his hands on his knees. I shrugged. “Just not much to say.” He chuckled, giving me a pointed look. “You? Not much to say? Are you feeling alright?” I let out a mocking laugh. “You’re funny!” Someone called out to him, and he stood up, waving before turning back. “I’ll see you tonight?” “I’ll be there,” I smiled. Out of everyone here, I was closest to Ryan, but the other guys acknowledged me. I would get invited out to the bar, and sometimes I would accept. It was fun, but I was happy alone. He nodded before approaching his friends. I was the only woman who chose to enter training when the mandatory training had finished. Everyone in the pack was expected to know how to fight. You never knew when a rogue attack would occur, and everyone was responsible for protecting the elders and pups. When the training field was empty, I got up and went for a walk through the forest surrounding the arena. It was also the long way home. It was peaceful, and I was able to clear my head before heading home. Tonight, I would embrace the Moon Goddess’s plan, the fate she had handed me. I won’t let her or Scott down. I will be the best Luna and mate. I entered the empty house, knowing my father would be at the pack house. With the few hours I had before I had to get ready, I cleaned the house and did laundry. Soon, I would move in with Scott, but I would make time to care for my Dad. I was the only thing he had left of his mate. I couldn’t think of my mother without feeling a sense of guilt. I survived, and she didn’t. I pushed the feeling down and climbed the stairs to my room. Turning on some music, I prepared to shower. My wolf whimpered. “I know,” I sighed, turning on the shower. “I miss her too. It just hurts too much.” After taking a much-needed shower, I sat at my desk with the fluffy towel wrapped around me. I looked at myself in the mirror that hung above it. Now, it was time to turn myself into a Luna. I had bought some makeup and a hair dryer. Grabbing my phone, I looked up some tutorials for a style that would look best with the lavender sundress I had purchased. “What about this?” I asked my wolf. She nodded and gave me a toothy grin. “Let’s see if it's as easy as she claims.” My wolf came to me when I was twelve—the average age for a werewolf. I had named her Topaz after her furry coat. She is beautiful, and she has been my best friend ever since. She might not talk back, but she listens. We are a team that works effortlessly together in training. Our shifting was flawless and put many wolves to shame. I struggled a bit, but when I was finished, I slipped into the dress. “What do you think?” She howled in satisfaction, and I giggled as I spun around. The makeup was neutral, but it allowed my natural beauty to shine through. The red lipstick complemented my fair skin well. The sales girl at the store knew her stuff, and I felt beautiful as I stared into the mirror. With an apron neckline, the fabric overlapped over my chest before flaring at my waist. The dress fell just below my knees. It was modest, but elegant. The salesperson at that store had been helpful to me. I felt thankful to everyone who helped me pull this off. I would have been lost without them. I glanced at the clock, and it was time to leave. My father took his truck this morning, so I had to walk the thirty minutes to the pack house. Not that I minded. I was used to walking everywhere. I was saving up to buy a vehicle. I sat on my bed and pulled on my new white sneakers. I was planning on wearing the wedged sandals I bought, but I didn’t trust myself to walk that far in them without breaking an ankle. Even without the heels, the look I was hoping for still worked. The shoes made me feel more like myself. Grabbing my small purse and phone, I left the house. I couldn’t stop smiling as I walked closer to the rest of my life. This was it, and soon I would have everything.