The Luna and The Beast

Unexpected Mate

Maya POV

Maya woke to the faint glow of sunlight streaming through her window. For a moment, she stretched lazily, savoring the warmth of her blanket and the quiet of the morning. Then it hit her—today was her twenty-first birthday.

A small smile tugged at her lips as excitement bubbled in her chest. She reached for her phone on the nightstand, the screen lighting up with a flurry of notifications. Messages from her friends, pack members, and even Adrian lit up her screen. Her heart fluttered when she saw his name at the top of the list.

Happy Birthday, gorgeous. Can’t wait to see you at the party tonight.

Maya’s smile widened, her fingers brushing over the words. Adrian. He’s definitely my mate, she thought, the certainty settling in her chest like a warm embrace.

The faint aroma of coffee and pancakes wafted through her door, pulling her from her thoughts. Tossing aside the covers, she got up and pulled on a cozy sweater before heading downstairs, her stomach rumbling in anticipation.

The sounds of her family’s voices drifted through the hallway, mingling with the clatter of dishes. As she stepped into the kitchen, the warmth of the scene made her heart swell.

The kitchen was bustling as her family gathered for breakfast. Magnus, her seventeen-year-old brother, was already halfway through a mountain of pancakes, syrup dripping from his fork. Alexandra, her fifteen-year-old sister, sat primly at the table, carefully cutting her food into tiny pieces, her posture perfect as always.

And Anthony, he wasn’t there yet. He was probably still training the warriors.

“There’s the birthday girl!” her dad’s booming voice greeted her as soon as she stepped into the kitchen. He stood, pulling her into a tight hug that lifted her off her feet. “Happy birthday, kiddo.”

“Thanks, Dad,” she said, laughing as he set her down.

Magnus waved a sticky hand in her direction, his mouth still full. “Happy bir—”

“Magnus, swallow first!” Alexandra scolded, rolling her eyes.

“Whatever,” Magnus muttered, shoving a small, sloppily wrapped package across the table. “Here, Maya.”

Maya grinned, picking up the sticky package.

“You really outdid yourself,” she teased, ruffling his dark hair.

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get all emotional,” Magnus grumbled, but his faint smile gave him away.

Alexandra huffed. “It’s not even wrapped properly. You’re seventeen. Act your age.”

“Oh, please. You’re fifteen and already act like you’re thirty,” Magnus shot back, smirking.

“Enough, you two,” her mom said as she brought a plate of pancakes to the table, her tone gentle but firm. She leaned over to kiss Maya on the forehead.

“Happy birthday, sweetheart. The Moon Goddess has blessed you. Today could be the start of something extraordinary.”

Maya’s smile faltered slightly. Her mother was always going on about the mate bond and how it was a sacred gift, but she didn’t want to think about that. Adrian was her future, and she wasn’t about to let the Moon Goddess change that.

“I already have everything I need, Mom,” Maya said, sitting down and picking at her pancakes.

Her dad gave a good-natured chuckle from the other side of the table. “Let the girl enjoy her birthday, Mackenzie. No need to pile on the pressure.”

Her mom sighed but didn’t press the issue.

“Well,” she said, her voice softening, “we’re all looking forward to tonight. It’s not every day our little girl turns twenty-one.”

Maya smiled despite herself. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Adrian’s coming, right?” her dad asked, his grin widening.

Maya nodded with a smile. “He is. He already texted me this morning.”

Her dad’s approval was clear in the warm smile he gave her. He’d always liked Adrian, and his support made things easier.

“Good. I hope he knows he’s got competition for the first dance with you,” he teased.

“Dad,” Maya said, rolling her eyes, though her cheeks flushed.

The conversation turned to the day ahead, her dad reminding them all about the regional Alpha meeting. The lighthearted atmosphere shifted slightly as her mom brought up the importance of making a good impression, while Magnus and Alexandra argued over who had to help clean up for the party afterward.

Maya tuned them out, her thoughts drifting to the night ahead. She imagined Adrian pulling her into his arms under the glow of fairy lights strung across the garden, their friends and family celebrating around them. It would be perfect.

She pushed the thought of the meeting aside. She would get through it—it was just a formality. Tonight was what mattered.

The drive to the Blue Mountain Pack was quiet, the lighthearted atmosphere from breakfast fading as the packhouse came into view. Maya couldn’t shake the sour twist in her stomach, though she forced herself to smile for her mother and brother.

She could see Alpha Christian—Gabriel’s father—and Gabriel standing on the packhouse steps, ready to greet them.

Her dad’s jaw was set, his usually relaxed demeanor hardening as they pulled up to the packhouse. Maya knew the tension came from his lingering resentment toward Christian, but he rarely talked about it in front of her.

“Remember,” Her father said sharply, “we’re here to represent our pack. Act accordingly.”

Maya nodded curtly, hiding her irritation. As they stepped out of the car, she felt the shift immediately. The air was heavier, charged with an energy she couldn’t place. Her wolf stirred again, her growl low and insistent.

Then she smelled it.

The scent hit her like a tidal wave—earth and smoke, raw and wild. Her wolf surged forward, howling with joy, as her gaze locked with piercing blue eyes.

Gabriel Hatchett.

“Mate,” his voice growled, a storm of emotion packed into that single word.

The bond snapped into place, an invisible chain that pulled between them. Maya’s heart thundered as Gabriel stepped forward. His presence was overwhelming—raw, primal, and dangerous. The stories about the Beast of Blue Mountain flooded her mind. This was no ordinary wolf. This was something more.

“Maya,” he said again, his voice softer, tinged with disbelief and need. The air crackled around him, his power radiating like heat waves.

“No,” she whispered, her fists clenching. Her father’s warnings roared in her ears. That boy will bring ruin to anything he touches. This can’t be happening.

Antonio’s furious roar shattered the tension. “You have got to be f*****g kidding me!”

Gabriel’s gaze snapped to Antonio, his jaw tightening as the power around him surged. The tension in the air thickened, charged like the moment before a lightning strike. Clouds above darkened unnaturally, the sky responding to his rising fury.

“Gabe,” Christian’s voice cut through the chaos, calm but commanding. He placed a steady hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. “You’re scaring your mate.”

The words landed like a blow. Gabriel’s eyes flicked back to Maya, his expression torn between anger and longing. The storm’s intensity eased, though the tension remained electric.

Maya’s legs felt like lead, her body frozen under Gabriel’s intense gaze. Her wolf howled for her to move closer, to accept him, but fear kept her rooted. She could barely breathe, let alone speak.

“We need to discuss this in private,” Christian said, addressing Antonio directly. “Take this inside.”

Antonio growled low, his glare fixed on Gabriel. Mackenzie laid a calming hand on his arm, her soothing presence keeping him from exploding further.

Maya’s legs felt like lead as she followed her parents into the packhouse, her heart pounding so loudly it drowned out their bickering. She didn’t dare glance back at Gabriel, though she could feel his gaze like a physical weight on her shoulders.

Her wolf whimpered, but Maya gritted her teeth. She wouldn’t let herself be swept away—not by him, not by this. Whatever the bond was, it didn’t change who he was. And it didn’t change the fact that she didn’t want him.