Chapter 2 The Letter

• Anila POV
• “Mate?”
• My voice came out as nothing more than a whisper. Xaden, this incredible werewolf Alpha, stood in front of me pouring his forest green eyes into me like I was some kind of precious gem.
• “I have been waiting a while for this moment,” he said, taking hold of my hand and bringing it to his lips. “What is your name?”
• My face immediately warmed from his touch alone.
• “Anila Montgomery,” I whispered.
• “Anila…” he spoke softly, testing my name on his tongue and I loved the way it sounded coming out of his mouth. Then his eyes narrowed, and he looked at me with recognition. “Montgomery?”
• I nodded, not trusting my voice.
• His brows furrowed and then he reached into his pocket to grab a folded piece of paper. He unfolded it and scanned it momentarily before meeting my eyes.
• “You received a letter this morning inviting you to Lunar Academy. Have you thought about accepting it?”
• I nearly choked on my saliva.
• I didn’t see any letter besides the acceptance letter for college. Except I didn’t actually see that letter.
• As my thoughts started to run wild, Xaden caught my eye.
• “Did you not receive it?” He then asked.
• I shook my head, my mouth going dry.
• Had Claire lied to me?
• “How is this possible? I’m just a human girl…” I asked, still shaking my head in disbelief.
• “You are not a human,” he told me. “Despite you living in this human town. Who are your parents?”
• I thought about it for a moment; my father died when I was 6 years old, and my mother died when I was an infant. I didn’t remember much about either of them, but I knew my father loved me more than anything and wanted the best for me.
• “My father was 100% a human,” I told him.
• His brows furrowed together.
• “Was?”
• I broke my eyes from him and stared at the ground.
• “He died when I was 6,” I explained.
• “I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, and from the hint of sadness in his voice, I knew he meant that. “And your mother?”
• I was quiet for a moment; I didn’t want to bring the mood down like this, but I also didn’t want to lie to him. I stared at the ground sheepishly.
• “She died when I was an infant. I don’t know anything about her,” I admitted.
• He placed his fingers under my chin, lifting my head so my eyes would meet his.
• There was something in his eyes that I was unfamiliar with because I had never seen it in the eyes of anyone who had spoken to me before. But I knew what this look was.
• It was understanding.
• “The only way you could be my mate is if you were a werewolf too,” he explained. “A strong one at that for them to accept you into the academy automatically. Your mother must have been special.”
• I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping my lips which seemed to have surprised him because his brow arched.
• “I have lived my whole life feeling lesser. There’s no way I’m a werewolf.”
• I hadn’t meant to say that, but as soon as the words left my lips, I pressed my mouth shut and felt heat rising into my cheeks.
• His brows furrowed together.
• “Lesser? Who would make you feel lesser?”
• I opened my mouth to answer him because I wanted him to know everything about me and not lie to him. But then the thought of Claire finding out that I was speaking ill of her invaded my mind, silencing my words.
• Realizing I wasn’t going to say anything more, he took hold of my hands again. His thumb caressed my knuckles gently and sent a wave of tingles through my entire body. It was a strange reaction for my body to have; I just met this man and he had already captured my heart.
• Could I truly be his mate?
• “When do you turn 19?” He surprised me by asking.
• “In a little over a month,” I told him.
• “When you turn 19, that is when you’ll get your wolf and shift for the first time,” He explained. “We don't have much time left. Leave with me tonight.”
• “Leave where?” I asked in a whisper.
• “To the Lunar Academy,” he answered, pulling away from me.
• He handed me another piece of paper I hadn’t realized he was holding, and my eyes widened when I read the first line.
• Congratulations, you have been invited to attend the Lunar Academy in Stardust Valley.
• I continued to read the invitation, holding my breath.
• “Is this real?” I whispered, still in disbelief over the situation.
• “There’s a private plane that is leaving tonight at midnight,” he explained, taking a step away from me. “I will come to get you and we will leave together.”
• I stared at him as he continued backing away from me.
• About a million questions were running through my head but the only thing I could think to ask was, “Do you need my address?”
• He smiled and his smile was radiant.
• “I’ll just follow your scent, little mate,” he said and then he winked at me, sending my heart into turmoil.
• I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off him and when he turned and went back to the small group he was there with, I couldn’t will my legs to move. I knew I had to get this letter back to Claire and tell her that I was leaving tonight.
• I was going to the Lunar Academy.
• This letter in my hands was my ticket to freedom.
• I was finally able to pull my eyes away from Xaden who was now busy speaking to others. I rushed in the direction of my home. Excitement filled my body, and it took everything I had not to jump and cheer.
• When I stepped into the house, Claire was sitting on the couch, flipping through the TV. A surge of anger and betrayal rushed through me. I knew she was awful, but to hide this acceptance letter from me?
• “Did you know?” I found myself asking as I stared at her from the doorway.
• She turned and pressed her lips together in a thin line.
• “Why aren’t you at work?’ She asked, narrowing her eyes at me.
• I held up the acceptance letter.
• “I was accepted to Lunar Academy. Did you know about it?”
• Her eyes grew round as she quickly stood to her feet and rushed toward me. She ripped the paper out of my hands, nearly cutting my flesh in the process.
• Without a single word, she ripped the paper in half, making me wince. I was brought back to this earlier when she ripped the acceptance into pieces.
• “It was the same letter you ripped up this morning… wasn’t it?” I asked, realization dawning on me.
• She let out a bitter laugh.
• “If you think you are leaving here, you are mistaken. You are never going anywhere,” she seethed, a fire burning in her eyes and making me shudder.
• My heart was shattered by her words.
• I shook my head, taking a step toward the door.
• “I’m leaving and I’m not coming back,” I said through my teeth.
• I went to turn, but soon she was grabbing my arm with so much force I whimpered.
• “Think again.”