自从狼界受到月亮女神塞勒涅的祝福以来，就一直流传着一个亘古不变的传统：每一匹狼，在出生时，就注定拥有一位由她选择的伴侣。这是一种深厚的联系，通过一种神圣的纽带建立，如果伴侣关系亲密，这种纽带会在他们十八岁时显现。他们之间那种气味、那种吸引力、那种将他们紧密联系在一起的力量，令人无法忽视。但对玛雅来说，这听起来绝不像是一份礼物。

她是个梦想家。而且，与狼群中其他年轻女性不同，玛雅对这强加的命运充满质疑。为什么一个人要不经选择地去爱？为什么盲目地相信女神创造的联系，哪怕是塞勒涅？如果命中注定的伴侣品行不端怎么办？当然，被拒绝的可能性是存在的，但这也很残酷。对狼来说，被拒绝就像失去了自己的一部分。这种痛苦令人难以忍受，许多人都无法承受。

然而，一旦被拒绝，狼人就可以自由地坠入爱河。最终，他们能够拥有真爱。然而，这条路也充满不确定性：如果他们爱上了一个还没找到命中注定伴侣的人怎么办？而到了那一天，他们却被抛弃了？玛雅认为这一切都是极大的不公。为什么他们不能自由地选择去爱呢？

距离她十八岁生日只剩几天了。尽管焦虑感与日俱增，但她对见到伴侣却并不感到兴奋。她最渴望的是最终变身。见到她的狼。我认识她。聆听她内心的声音，知道她的名字，探索她是否拥有某种特殊天赋。这才是她做白日梦的原因。

时间仿佛在嘲笑她，缓缓流逝，分分秒秒都拖着。期盼已久的日子临近，却又似乎越来越遥远。玛雅努力分散自己的注意力，回忆着美好的回忆，比如她哥哥找到伴侣的那一天。

她想起往事，不禁笑了。乔什的命运如此温柔。他在满月节——狼群一年一度的盛大聚会——找到了来自南方狼群的年轻女子艾娃。大厅里挤满了人，火炬和高悬在空中的月亮照亮了大厅。玛雅仍然记得每一个细节。

乔什开始焦躁不安地嗅着空气。有什么东西在召唤他。

“乔希，发生什么事了？你要去哪里？”她问道，努力跟上他。

“这香味……”

“女神啊！这是你的……”

话音未落，他突然停了下来。艾娃就在那里，面对着他。她金色的长发在夜风中轻轻摇曳，湛蓝的眼眸映照着月光。他们凝视着对方，永恒的几秒钟，心中充满了爱慕和渴望。然后，与此同时，那句充满魔力的话语响起。

“药草茶！”

“矿！”

玛雅心里暖洋洋的。乔什即使被本能所左右，也依然保持着镇定。他深情而尊重地拥抱了艾娃，决定等待，驯服自己兽性的一面。他温柔地对待她，仿佛深知爱也需要耐心。

那一刻，玛雅不禁开始琢磨她的伴侣会是谁。他会英俊潇洒？温柔体贴？拥有她欣赏的价值观吗？还是他会粗鲁无礼、空想至极，自以为命运的安排赋予了她一切权利？玛雅不禁打了个寒颤。她知道自己不会轻易接受任何事。如果他不如她所愿，她会拒绝他。因为她有自尊。而这份爱，并非为了神圣的契约而出卖。

自尊就是你不需要任何人告诉你你有多美丽、多迷人。自尊就是你照着镜子，爱自己，无需等待别人来爱你。自尊就是你活在自己的世界里，做自己喜欢做的事，尊重自己，无需等待别人来让你快乐，因为你一个人就很快乐。

这是她最喜欢的一句话，作者是桑德里尼亚·马奎斯。这句话写在她家墙上挂着的一张纸上。她每天早上都会读。

玛雅很单纯。她喜欢湿润泥土的气息，雨水打在树叶上的声音，以及散落在田野上的野花。她喜欢赤脚奔跑，和狼群的孩子玩耍，以及在空地上和乔什一起训练。她和其他母狼不同，这让她很特别。但她心里一直藏着一个痛：母亲的缺席。

玛雅在幼年时就失去了母亲。她甜美的眼睛和薰衣草的芬芳，这些记忆渐渐远去，但空虚感却挥之不去。她的父亲一直陪伴在她身边，充满爱意，坚强无比，竭尽所能地填补着伴侣留下的空白。然而，玛雅还是会在某些夜晚，抱着毯子默默哭泣，思念那份独一无二的爱。

即使胸口受伤，玛雅依然热情地生活。她相信每一天都是一份礼物。她全心全意地做每一件事。狼群的阿尔法狼为她感到骄傲。其他狼也尊敬她、爱她。她拥有罕见的同理心。她总是乐于助人，尤其是最小的孩子。我们经常看到她给孩子们分发手工小礼物，或者教他们无所畏惧地奔跑和摔倒。

但是，尽管她生活得很平静，但有些事情即将改变。

女神塞勒涅早已决定了自己的命运。连接玛雅与另一颗心的无形之线已然伸展开来。当蜕变之日到来，当她的狼觉醒之时，一切都将不同。

这或许是一段伟大爱情的开始，或许是一场伟大的斗争。

她的心跳加速。焦虑感充斥着她全身的每一个细胞。第二天，她将迎来十八岁生日，与她内心的那匹狼相遇。而且，或许，她会找到命中注定的伴侣。

屋子里一片寂静，但她的灵魂却在尖叫。

乔希带着自豪的微笑出现在门口。

“你为明天做好准备了吗？”

“我想是的……”她犹豫地笑了笑。“也可能不是。感觉一切都会在几分钟内改变，这种感觉很奇怪。”

The day dawned with a different glow, as if even the sky shared the anxiety that vibrated within Maya. At eighteen, she was awakening to a new cycle — not just as a woman, but as a wolf. The first transformation was a milestone, a sacred rite of the Northern Pack, awaited with pride and reverence. And now, it was her turn.

Maya got up with a racing heart. The sky was still tinged with orange hues, and the morning air carried the fresh scent of flowers from the woods. After her morning ablutions, she put on a light white linen dress, with thin straps and subtle lace details that her aunt had sewn by hand. Her hair, loose and soft, cascaded in waves over her shoulders. She wanted to be light, simple, like the nature that awaited her for that great moment.

As she descended the stairs of the pack house, Maya was surprised by a scene that made her stop in the middle of the last step. There, standing in front of the stairs with a radiant smile, were Josh, Ava, and her father, Alpha Khalif. A beautiful white cake, covered with wild berries and dozens of small lit candles, shone like a constellation.

"Happy birthday, Maya!" the three said in unison.

Maya brought her hands to her mouth, her eyes filling with tears.

"You did this for me?"

"Of course, sis!" said Josh, already approaching to wrap her in a tight hug. "Today is your big day. Our little wolf is becoming a warrior."

Khalif handed her a small crescent moon pendant. "This belonged to your mother. She received it when she turned eighteen. Now it's yours. Today you enter the history of our lineage. I saw you being born. I felt your first cry, the first time you looked at me. Now… now I will see you become who you were born to be."

Maya hugged him tightly. His chest was a safe haven, and there, for a moment, she was just his daughter — and not the young wolf about to transform.

"Thank you for everything, Dad."

"Always, my daughter."

The day passed wrapped in emotion and expectation. The village filled with movement, with members of the Northern pack and guests from the neighboring pack arriving, bringing offerings, drums, flowers, and incense. The children ran free, the women danced to the sound of flutes and ancient songs. But, within Maya, everything was silence and tension.

She wondered what her inner wolf would be like. Would it be white as snow or black as night? Would it have amber eyes or silver ones like the moon? Would it be strong? And her mate… where would he be? Would he have a good heart? Appearance was a mystery, but what Maya most desired was someone respectful, gentle, someone who saw her soul before her beauty.

And then, the sky darkened, painted with stars. The forest fell silent. Night had arrived.

Josh appeared at the door, wearing his ceremonial robe, with embroideries that told the ancestral stories of the family. His gaze was protective and proud.

"Are you ready?"

Maya nodded, holding her breath.

Josh's gaze softened. He walked over to Maya with a proud smile and visible emotion in his eyes.

"You look beautiful, sis…" he said in a hoarse whisper. "I can't believe the day has arrived. It feels like yesterday that I taught you how to climb the tallest tree in the yard. Now, you will become even stronger."

He extended his hand, carefully.

"Let's go. The moon awaits you. And I will be by your side, as I always have been."

They walked to the sacred clearing, where the light of the full moon touched the earth like a blessing. The stone circle, in the center of the clearing, was already surrounded by wolves and humans. Drums throbbed in a slow rhythm, like beats of a heart about to awaken. Fires burned in torches, and the air was filled with incense that danced in the wind.

Alpha Khalif raised his arms to the sky. "Today, under the gaze of the Mother Moon, Maya unites with the ancestral spirit of the wolves. May she find her essence, and may her wolf reveal herself with truth and strength."

The circle fell silent. Maya entered the center of the clearing. Eyes turned to her. Her heart pounded with strength, as if it wanted to escape her chest. And then, a sudden pain took over her body — a heat that made her fall to her knees.

She screamed, a scream that echoed through the forest. Bones contorted, muscles cracked, skin widened. It was as if each cell was being reborn. Tears streamed from her closed eyes as her body trembled. But in the midst of the pain, something shone — something ancient, sacred. Something alive.

With a final roar, Maya fell onto her paws. No more hands. No more legs. Now, she was a wolf.

A beautiful wolf.

Her fur was silver like moonlight. Her eyes, of a deep blue, sparkled like the sea at dawn. Tall, elegant, with a noble and wild bearing.

And then, a voice arose within her.

"I am Lyra. Your wolf. Your essence. Your strength."

"You are beautiful," thought Maya, touched.

"And you are brave. Together, we are whole."

They ran together through the forest, feeling the ground, the wind, the call of nature. It was freedom. It was connection. It was soul.

But then, something changed.

A strong, warm, sweet smell. Something that made Maya's heart race. The bond. Her mate was there. Close. Lyra felt it too.

"It's him. He's here."

Following the scent, Maya approached the edge of the clearing where the guests from the neighboring pack were. Among them, an imposing wolf watched her. Tall, muscular, dark hair and golden eyes. He smiled as he saw her, with arrogance and certainty.

Kael.

A warrior from the Southern pack. Famous for his strength in battle, but also for his fame with the females — always jumping from bed to bed, treating them as trophies and not as equals. Maya had heard stories. Proud. Arrogant. Never respectful.

Kael walked towards her, confident. His eyes showed no surprise or emotion, only a desire for possession.

"So it's you…" he said, stopping in front of the wolf. "My mate. It was to be expected. The gods would give me someone my equal."

Maya took a step back, her heart pounding. Lyra growled inside her.

"No. He is not what we want."

"Don't say anything," Kael continued, moving even closer. "I will claim you now. We will be one, and you will be my female. You'll get used to it, they all do."

Maya returned to human form in a snap, with a fiery look.

"You will not claim me," she said, with a firm, fearless voice. "That's not what I want."

Kael frowned, irritated. "Are you rejecting your destiny?"

"I'm rejecting you. If destiny wanted this, it was wrong."

There was a murmur among those present. Josh was already approaching, ready to protect her. But Maya raised her hand, keeping everyone away.

"I dreamed of this day my whole life. Not to be dominated by someone who doesn't respect me. I want a companion, not an owner. And if you are not capable of seeing me as an equal, then you do not deserve the blessing of the bond."

Kael gritted his teeth, his ego wounded. But before he could say anything, Alpha Khalif approached with authority.

"The wolf's decision is sovereign. And it will be respected."

Kael retreated, begrudgingly, and disappeared among the guests, under the disapproving gazes of the elders.

Maya took a deep breath. She was trembling. But she felt free. Strong. True.

Josh hugged her from behind, whispering:

"I'm so proud of you, my sister."

Ava arrived soon after, with tears in her eyes. "You were amazing, Maya. Never settle for less than you deserve."

Her father watched her with reverence, as if he were before a queen.

That night, Maya not only transformed into a wolf. She transformed into a woman. Into a warrior. Into herself.

And although her mate was not what she expected —, she knew one thing:

Artemis was with her. And that was enough.

Within her own pack, many supported her, especially the younger ones and the females, who saw her as an inspiration. But outside, in other packs, murmurs began to arise. Some called her ungrateful, others insolent. For many, the bond with one's mate was too sacred to be denied.

Kael, in turn, did not let his wounded pride heal with time. He further inflamed the comments. He told distorted versions of the truth, suggesting that Maya had humiliated him in public, that she rejected him out of arrogance, thinking she deserved someone "better."

Maya did not worry about it—at least, she didn't show it. She immersed herself in training with her brother. She spent hours in the clearing, honing her senses, learning to control her inner wolf, Artemis, who proved to be powerful, swift, and protective.

In her free time, she continued to do what she had always loved: she spent hours with the children, picked flowers for the elders, helped with the preparations for the festivities. But inside, she felt isolated. She carried an invisible weight: that of having gone against an ancient and powerful tradition.

"I know I did the right thing," she said one day, sitting with Josh by the riverbank. "But sometimes I wonder if I will ever be fully accepted again…"

"You will be," her brother assured. "Maybe not by everyone. But you will be truly loved, one day. By someone who will see who you are, not who they expected you to be."

In the field, Maya maintained her focus on training. Her body moved with precision, her blows were firm, and her inner wolf, Lira, vibrated with energy, satisfied. But she did not go unnoticed by the envious eyes of Nayra, a wolf from her own pack, who had long felt threatened by Maya's presence.

Nayra approached when the training ended, her voice dripping with venom.

"You think that because you rejected a mate, you are above us all, don't you?"

Maya wiped the sweat from her forehead and stared at her calmly.

"I don't think anything, Nayra. I just live as I believe."

"That's it. You believe so much that you preferred to be alone than to accept what Selene gave you. You know what they say about that, don't you? That wolves like you end up old and bitter, with no one."

Josh stepped forward, ready to defend his sister, but Maya raised her hand, stopping him.

"Better to be alone than next to someone without a soul."

The phrase had an impact. Nayra laughed, but inside she burned with hatred. She walked away, leaving in the air the silent promise that this conflict was not over yet.

That night, the full moon rose with a strange presence. Something felt different in the air. At dawn, the answer arrived.

A howl sounded at the entrance to the territory. A messenger. Covered in dark cloaks and accompanied by royal guards. He brought an announcement sealed with the emblem of the Supreme Pack.

The council gathered in the main clearing. All members were present. The messenger, with an imposing posture, opened the scroll and read aloud:

"By order of the Supreme Alpha, Darian—sovereign of the Northern, Eastern Packs, and the Valley Territories—it is communicated to all packs:

After two years since the passing of Queen Mirca, a new mate will be chosen, worthy of occupying the throne alongside the King.

All wolves between eighteen and twenty-five years of age, who possess pure lineage or merits recognized by the elders, may present themselves for selection.

A cycle of sacred challenges will be initiated, where strength, wisdom, and spirit will be tested. In the end, three finalists will be chosen. Among them, the Moonstone—a sacred relic of the goddess Selene—will reveal the one who carries within her the true essence of leadership, courage, and honor.

The chosen one will not only be Queen—she will be a guide, a warrior, and a guardian alongside the Supreme Alpha."

And then... the square exploded in reactions.

"Did you hear that?" whispered a blonde wolf with dark eyes, quickly pinning up her hair as if she were already preparing for the challenges.

"The Moonstone…? This is serious…" murmured an elder, his eyes wide. "He hasn't chosen since Queen Elira."

Others began to whisper among themselves, with eager and ambitious looks. Mothers squeezed their daughters' arms, encouraging them with poorly disguised pride. Some young women laughed nervously, others held their chins up, already imagining themselves dressed in royal colors.

"Do you think the Supreme Alpha will attend the challenges in person?"

"He's never appeared before… But they say this choice will be different."

Josh whispered near his sister:

"I bet half the wolves will lose sleep over this."

Maya, however, felt a shiver run down her spine. Something within her reacted to those words, as if Artemis had awakened.

Three days passed. The routine seemed unchanged, but everyone was attentive. No one knew when or where the Alpha would appear.

What no one imagined was that he was already among them.

Disguised as one of the warriors sent to the pack, representing the weight of the Coria, the Supreme Alpha Darian observed in silence. He was tall, with black hair and eyes of such a light gray that they seemed to be made of ice. His presence was contained, cold, almost invisible. He dressed simply, used the name "Darrien," and spoke little.

There was something in his eyes that always seemed to calculate, measure, weigh every action and word. He was accustomed to control, command, and obedience. And for that very reason, what he felt when he saw Maya for the first time disconcerted him.

She was alone, lying on the grass near the lake, reading a book and laughing to herself at some passage. The sun touched her golden skin, and the wind tousled her brown hair.

"You seem happy alone," he said, appearing beside her without warning.

She looked up, surprised, but not frightened.

"And you seem to like to observe," she retorted, raising an eyebrow.

Darian smiled. Rare. True.

"I'm trying to understand some things."

"For example?"

"What makes a wolf reject the mate chosen by the goddess."

She closed the book.

"Ah. So you're just another one curious about that."

"Maybe. But unlike the others, I don't think it was foolish. I just want to understand."

Maya looked at the warrior for a longer moment, evaluating him. He was handsome, that was undeniable. But there was something beyond. A weight on his shoulders, a silent pain hidden behind those cold eyes.

"The bond is powerful, but it's not absolute. Sometimes, the goddess unites paths to test, not to force. I didn't pass the test… Because I didn't accept what hurt me."

Darian felt as if something inside him broke and fit together at the same time. That wolf… She was different from everything he had known. Not by strength, nor by appearance. But by the soul.

"What if someone told you that you were made to reign?"

She let out a light laugh.

"I would say that person should sleep less and walk more barefoot on the earth. It's good to get back to reality."

He laughed. For the first time in years, he laughed lightly. And he knew, there, that he had a problem.

He was starting to feel something dangerous.

Not for just any wolf. But for the one who rejected her mate. Who challenged traditions. Who spoke with children and helped the elderly. Who danced with the wind and trained as a warrior. Who had a free, indomitable spirit.

And that wolf, Maya, had no idea who the strange warrior was who began to surround her presence more often, with subtle questions, restrained compliments, and long looks.

But Nayra noticed. And she didn't like it at all.

She would not let Maya shine again. Not when the throne was at stake.

And Maya? She still had no idea how much her life was about to change.