and rolled over in her king-size bed, her hand blindly searching for the annoying little

m kept o

and grabbed the fallen clock, jabbing at buttons until the noise finally

larm clock across her room. It hit the wa

to you, happy bi

how managing to dodge the flying alarm clock pieces. Lexi Chen was the Beta'

so early?" Aria rubbed her ey

d with excitement. She was holding a small wrapped box in

uture Beta. Her older brother Ryan was two years older and

onths ago, and now he was ready to take on the challenge

ce. "Open it now, Aria! Open it right now! I almost g

ried to focus on her friend's eager face

d the gift toward her. "Today

lt. She sat up straighter, her tiredness disappearing. "Wow. I n

hed as Aria jumped t

years old again. "It's my birthday! It's my birthday!" Aria cha

that she was serious ninety-nine p

itics; it all required her to be mature beyond her years. But birthdays were dif

both girls collapsed onto the bed

icking up Lexi's gift. "Le

r with an emerald green bow - the

save it. Lexi was the best gift-giver in the world, and A

most beautiful necklace Aria had ever seen. It was an

tears forming in her e

sked, though Aria's expression

her best friend as she laughed. "Go on

-length mirror to see how it looked. The pendant rested perfectly just below her

clared, admiring her reflection. "It

hift into your wolf," Lexi laughed. "

hough she was still staring

ate. In the werewolf world, even a month could feel like forever when

, but Aria could see the disappoint

of Aria's bed, "I have a good feeling about

cks within their alliance network. It wasn't just about ce

et and possibly find their mates. Everyone hoped th

nt at her throat. "I want tonight to go gr

nts invited over a hundred people. With numbers

urning eighteen was huge for any werewolf, but being t

sed every wolf with a destined partner. But when she did find him,

want to be with a future

an idiot who doesn't deserve you. The Moon Goddess doesn't mak

confidence. "You're right.

ed on my eighteenth birthday. But nervous

rupted their conversation

both beaming with pride and joy. Celeste had

aid, her voice thick with emotion. "I c

ia said, hugging

fly, eyeing the new necklace with sus

" Aria said, touchin

her eyes. "Now, we should start getting ready. The party

party preparations, Aria looked at h

ay. Tonight, she might find her mate, and soon, she wou

was about