SIERRA

"Hey, what do you want on your birthday?" I ask Aztec.

We are sitting in the dining hall having dinner. So far dinner is the only time where I enjoy being in this training school. I get to meet Aztec here and be away from the prying eyes of a particular apprentice.

"As long as I have the chances of meeting my mate on my birthday, I do not wish for any other gifts," he says having a dreamy look on his face.

My heart swells with the love I have for him. He thinks so highly of his mate. He would be so delighted to find that we are true mates. I am not a seer but I have the gut feeling that something life changing is going to happen on his birthday. I can't wait to see his expression when he finds out.

It has been a week since that freaky incident. Since then, Fenris has kept out of my business. I find him staring at me occasionally but apart from that I haven't seen him much. It's a huge relief that I haven't seen him in the dining hall especially because I get to meet Aztec only during the dinner timings and I do not want my time with Aztec to be spoilt by some psycho thinking of me as his mate.

"Penny for your thoughts, Ms. Sierra," says Aztec breaking my chain of thoughts.

I shake my head clearing my thoughts about Fenris and that incident to focus on Aztec. His brown eyes are staring into mine with a hint of concern and warmth.

"Its nothing. I was just wondering if you have any expectations regarding your mate?" I ask trying to sound casual. Aztec and me are more than best friends. I know that but we didn't talk about us being mates because we just wanted to live in the present and not keep thinking about our future. Time passed by and Aztec came here to start his training so we never had the chance to have this conversation.

"I do not have any expectations from my mate. But I know she and I will fit like two pieces of a puzzle," he says looking at me. His words make my heart beat faster and I blush. Aztec chuckles and kisses my cheek before starting with his meal.

"You should eat more Sierra. I wouldn't want you to look slim and bony because of the vigorous training schedules," he says between mouthfuls.

I feel loved and cared for when I am with Aztec which is also one of the reasons why I know that Aztec is my mate. I dismiss Fenris and his accusations and start eating my meal so as to not upset my mother hen of mate.

~~~~~~~~

"Hey Sierra. How was your training today?" asks Tatiana when we all retire to our rooms for the day.

I soon came to know that Tatiana is a very reserved girl and doesn't like when an unknown person is just pushed in her personal space. I was that unknown person that is the reason why she felt a distant to me when we first met. But later we warmed up to each other quite nicely. We always ask each other about how our day went by before sleeping. It helped create a bond between us.

"It was quite good. Today elder Fridolf took our training classes, introduction to healing. He is quite a jolly man," I reply thinking about my training. Our weekly schedule is 5 days a week where one day is given to each of the elder and their apprentices. So far elder Raoul hasn't come to take our classes so I haven't come face to face with Fenris.

"Yes, that he is. We used to have a lot of fun when we were fresher trainees like you," she says breaking my train of thoughts.

Lately I have been thinking about Fenris and his claim of me being his mate. I wonder why he did that. Once Aztec claims me as his mate then I guess all these thoughts regarding Fenris will stop bugging my mind. I try to console myself with these thoughts.

"Hey don't mind but I have seen you thinking very hard about something. Whatever it is do not stress yourself. Everything will fall into place once you get used to this place. Good Night, Sierra." Tatiana replies after I ask her about her training.

"Thank you, Tatiana. Good Night." I reply not clearing out her assumption of me being upset because of the new faces and the training school.

~~~~~~~~

(A week later)

"Hey Tatiana. Do you know if we can get a cake here to wish one of our trainee friends?" I ask her even when I know that she knows its Aztec's birthday today. It is a Saturday today so it is an official holiday. That means I get to spend more time with Aztec.

"Oh yes. We will be celebrating Aztec's birthday together that is all the trainee wolves along with the apprentices, at 6 pm in the evening. Then later we can all go for a run to celebrate with his wolf and then retire for the day," she replies.

"But I wanted to spend the entire day with him. I wanted to give him a special cake just for the two of us." I say sounding like a spoiled child.

Tatiana chuckles looking at my anxious face. "You can still spend the day with him, girlie. But you won't be able to get him a cake. You can be with him till the evening then we will join you to celebrate his birthday." She says patting my head as if she is talking to a child.

"Okay then I will go and meet him. Bye Tatiana." I reply before quickly checking myself in the mirror and making a run towards the garden behind the dormitories. I am quite nervous about today. It is 10:15 in the morning and I am anxious about meeting him. What if we are not mates? This is my biggest fear. I stop in my track thinking about it. It is quite a possibility.

"No, Sierra baby, buck up. You are his mate and his Luna. Just because some mental wolf claims you as his mate does not mean that you are really his mate." I say to myself and start marching towards the gardens sensing that he must be there.

But I stop in my tracks again and what I see crushes all the hopes I have for our future.

~~~~~~~~

(Third Person POV)

Aztec is waiting in the gardens upon Sierra's request. It was his birthday today and he knew that she liked to wish him before any of his friends. But today was different. Today he might meet his mate.

Even the fact that the number of matings have become quite rare in the werewolf world could not dampen his hope of meeting his mate. It would be the best day of his life and that was why he was pacing in the gardens wondering what was taking sierra so long to come. She would wish him and then he would be able to go and search of his possible mate.

It was 10:30 am and Aztec couldn't wait more. He thought of meeting sierra later and started moving out of the garden when an amazing scent of lilac and cherries hit him at full speed.

The scent hit him so hard that it caused him to stumble in his steps. Balancing himself, he moved faster towards the source of that smell and came face to face with a familiar green eyed brunette. Avery Lowell, the Moon Stone fresher trainee. He couldn't believe his eyes. The girl he kind of ignored because of her shy behaviour was his mate.

"Oh hey, Aztec, umm sorry, Sir. Happy Birthday," she says blushing when she sees Aztec staring at her as if she is some alien.

"Mate." Exclaims Aztec when he hears her soft voice wishing him happy birthday. The way she said his name sent shivers down his spine.

"Umm, I don't know, Sir. I am not of age yet to recognise my mate," she says and Aztec immediately feels like an idiot for not explaining his claim to her.

"I am going to touch your cheek Avery. Don't get scared. But you will feel the sparks where our skin touches. Your wolf is mature enough to recognise her mate. Okay?" He asks her gently to avoid scaring her or to be too forward with her. 

"Oh.. okay, Sir," she says and stands stiffly as Aztec moves his hand to touch her cheek. As soon as his fingers touch her skin a jolt of electricity runs down her body making a sense of completeness wash over her.

"You will recognise your mate even when you are not of age because of the spark like feel you will feel when he touches you. A sense of contentment is what will confirm his claim of being your mate. So do not allow anyone to make a claim on you without testing these senses. Do you understand Avery?" She remembers the words of her mother, the beta female of her pack, telling her about knowing your mate before age thus, confirming Aztec's claim of her being his mate.

"Do you feel that?" asks Aztec.

"Yes. Yes. I do feel it. You are really my mate," she gushes and is immediately engulfed into Aztec's arms making Avery giggle in delight.

"May I kiss you, mate?" asks Aztec knowing about her innocence.

"Yes." replies Avery shyly.

Aztec doesn't waste any time and kisses her with the intention of a soft kiss but as soon as his lips touch hers, a fire is ignited which forces him to deepen the kiss and claim his mate. He was the luckiest wolf ever.

"AZTEC!" The scream of some she-wolf makes them stop their kissing and looks towards the owner of that scream.

"How dare you! You are mine. How can you kiss someone else?" screams Sierra when she reaches the new mates.

"No sierra. Avery is my mate. I am so lucky to have found my mate on my 21st birthday. You were never my mate, malysh." Aztecs says and pushes Avery slightly behind him.

"No. I was supposed to be your mate. The bitch must have bewitched you. You are mine," cries Sierra and moves around Aztec to go for Avery but is soon stopped as an angry Aztec holds Sierra by the scruff of her neck and pushes her away from his mate causing Sierra to fall on her ass.

"Listen to me well pup. You are not my mate. We might have had some moments but I never claimed that you would be my mate neither did I hint in any way that I want you to be my mate. So, stop acting like this and apologise to my mate otherwise you will have to face consequences you haven't wished for even in your nightmares," growls out Aztec scaring Sierra as she had never seen this side of him. She always thought of Aztec as the sweet and kind Alpha.

Sierra stands up and moves a few steps away from Aztec afraid of him.

"But.. But.. you and me were together since so many years. You played me. You bastard," screams Sierra which makes Avery stand up behind Aztec all ready to defend her mate.

"No Sierra. I sense that Aztec is saying the truth. He never implied that you two were mates. You somehow misunderstood your small affair but it can never hold the intensity of having the same type of relationship with your mate. You should wait for your mate. He will love and cherish you the way Aztec will cherish me. I am sorry for your heartbreak Sierra but you will move on seeing that Aztec has found his true mate," says Avery trying to make the truth sound less bitter but failing to do so.

"I.. I.. No. This can't be. This is not true." Sierra backs away from them. Now sobbing, she realises that both Avery and Aztec are saying the truth and curses herself for her foolish behaviour.

She leaves the couple and returns to her room thankful that Tatiana is not there. Quickly locking the door, she slips into her bed sobbing at her loss and broken heart. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Grazie per aver letto!

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