ALPHA RYDER'S LUNA

MAYA'S POV

"Do you know that Caleb will be choosing his mate and our next Luna today at the party? He's planning on marking her in front of everyone," Elena, my sister, said excitedly, her voice filled with anxiety as we rode in the car to the party.

I gave a quick smile, knowing fully well I was the one she was anticipating to know. It had been a few months now since I found out Caleb, our pack's alpha, was my mate, and of course, Caleb himself knew, and so did my best friend, Layla.

I reached to my stomach, recounting how I met Caleb and how we made the baby that was now growing inside of me. I could vividly remember the day he walked up to me in the gardens, the beginning of our love story.

FLASHBACK

I had just clocked 20 years when I began to feel so drawn to Caleb. Even now, as I stood in a crowd of werewolves celebrating the festival of the moon goddess, I could easily pick up his alluring scent that was beginning to drive me crazy, and at different times, I had seen him steal glances at me. I guess he knew; he must have known for years that we were mates. Yes, for years. Caleb was 24 years old, a cheering 4 years older than I was.

I calmly set my eyes on Caleb's amid the crowd, but as soon as they did, I averted my gaze, shy and embarrassed that I had been caught staring. I stood and began to make my way out of the hall where the party was being held.

Within a few seconds, I found my way out and began to walk towards the garden behind the building we were at; the full moon lit my path as I walked in the night's darkness.

The garden had a nice view to it; the planted flowers were in full bloom, reminding me of how I had just bloomed. Sighting a long seat in the middle of the garden, I walked towards it, then allowed the events of the last few days to replay in my mind.

It's a great thing. I now had a mate, and by the looks of things, he must like me, since he couldn't seem to get his eyes off me. I smiled. I was lost in my thoughts, but the sound of a twig snapping brought me back to reality. I looked around sharply; there was no one, but I knew someone was there. He was here; I could sniff him.

"Now I know you are as intelligent as I thought," he said, stepping out of the shadow from behind a tree.

"'Maya, right?" He asked as he sat beside me.

I nodded affirmatively, as I couldn't seem to be able to form words; the devastatingly handsome alpha beside me had that kind of effect on everyone.

"No one could have thought an omega would be so smart." He