The Unexpected Queen

LEAH

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Leah!” Mom’s voice rings out as she bursts into my room. I’ve been dreaming again, the same dream. The silver-gray wolf, the longing to touch its fur. Am I losing my mind?

I sit up in bed and Mom sets a tray of my favorite breakfast foods on my lap.

“Thanks, Mom,” I say, grinning.

“Anything for you, sweetheart.” She grins back and settles next to me. We share the breakfast, chatting about life, reminiscing, laughing. I love her company, and I know I should be thrilled about my birthday, but I’m not. The day I’ve been waiting for is finally here, but I feel off, distracted.

“Your dad is so strong, mentally and physically, and I see so much of him in you,” Mom says, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Thank you, Mom,” I reply, hugging her. Our moment is cut short by the doorbell.

“Who could that be this early?” I wonder aloud. We head downstairs and I cautiously open the front door. I’m stunned to see Jake, standing there with a bouquet of flowers.

I wait for that incredible feeling of finding my mate, but it doesn’t come. Our eyes meet and—nothing. His lips are moving, but I can’t make out the words. Everything seems to fade into the background, and it’s only when Jake grabs my arm that I snap back to reality.

“Leah, what’s wrong?” he asks, looking worried.

“Oh, nothing… I just… Never mind,” I stammer, trying to regain my balance.

“Well, anyway, happy birthday,” Jake says, extending the bouquet to me. I take the flowers and see they’re my favorite—pink lilies.

“Thank you,” I manage to whisper.

“Hey, Jake! Want to come in?” Mom appears next to me, an arm around my shoulders.

“Hi, Mrs. Hartley!” Jake greets her with a charming smile. “No, thanks. I need to get going. But I’ll see you tonight for the celebration.” He winks at me.

I look up at him and nod. “See you tonight,” I say, my voice flat. The truth hits me—Jake isn’t my mate. All those years of longing for him and he isn’t mine. I wave goodbye in a daze, close the door, and head back to my room. Mom says something, but I don’t catch it. I set the bouquet on my desk, crawl back into bed, and pull the covers over my head. I let the tears flow, soaking my pillow. Jake is everything I’ve ever wanted in a mate. He’s kind, funny, sweet, and, let’s be honest, incredibly hot. But he’ll be someone else’s mate; someone else will get to hold him, love him, start a family with him.

I sigh into my tear-soaked pillow. I must cry myself to sleep because the next thing I know, I’m standing in the magical forest again, wearing the same white dress. I take a deep breath and look toward the spot where the silver-gray wolf always appears. But tonight it’s empty. The full moon lights my path, and I start walking, moving away from our usual meeting place. Suddenly, the most divine scent of male musk, honey, and forest fills my senses. I quicken my pace, heading toward the source of the scent. The closer I get to the edge of the forest, the stronger the scent becomes. I break into a run, emerging from the trees, and stop short when I see where I’ve ended up. My eyes widen in shock at the sight before me. I’m standing at the edge of a meadow filled with glowing orange poppy flowers. Beyond that, a long stone wall encircles a massive castle.

A branch snaps behind me and I whirl around. There he is—the wolf. His eyes, once black, are now a warm golden-brown. I smile at him, take a deep breath, and whisper, “Hi.”

The scent is coming from the wolf. We lock eyes for a moment, then the wolf steps forward. I reach up and touch his forehead. A rush of tiny sparks spread from my palm, shooting up my arm. I yank my hand back in shock, clutching it to my chest. The wolf growls, sounding displeased. He’s about to step forward when I wake up from my dream.

“Honey, are you okay?” Mom asks, stroking my arm.

“Mom?” I feel disoriented. The scent of musk, honey, and forest still hangs in the air. “Do you smell that?”

“What, sweetheart?”

“The smell… It’s in here.” I sit up in bed.

“I don’t smell anything, honey. How are you feeling?” Mom looks at me, worried.

“I don’t know, Mom. Maybe I’m going crazy…” I scratch my head, then rub my face. “I probably just need a shower.”

“Okay, honey, you take a shower. Then we’ll go shopping for a dress for the ball. There’s a sale at Collins Boutique today, so we should get there early.” She gives me a reassuring smile.

“Okay, Mom, I’ll be down soon.”

I shower quickly and get dressed. By the time I’m out of the shower, the scent has disappeared from my room. Am I really going crazy? And did I actually feel sparks when I touched the wolf? I’ve heard about the sparks that mates feel when they touch. But can I dream about my mate? Is that normal?

I push thoughts of wolves, mates, and forests to the back of my mind as I descend the stairs to meet my mom in the hallway. She grins at me, her smile bright and warm. I do my best to mirror her enthusiasm.

We take a short bus ride, then disembark and navigate through the bustling city center. Our destination is Collins Boutique. I’m aware that the only way we can afford a fancy dress is if it’s on sale, so I’m hoping we’ll find something suitable at the boutique.

The moment we step into the store, a loud ping echoes around us. Dresses of all colors and styles hang from the walls and fill the racks in the aisles. I spot a large sign in one corner that reads Sale and immediately head in that direction.

“Hi, girls!” Rosie, the owner and sole employee of Collins Boutique, greets us cheerfully.

“Hi, Rosie,” my mom responds warmly, trailing behind me as I make my way to the sale section. I sift through the dresses until I come across a white one that catches my eye. It’s adorned with beautiful lace sleeves that extend onto the bodice, and the full skirt is made of a soft, lightweight fabric.

“Try it on, honey!” my mom encourages.

I nod and take the dress into the fitting room. I shed my jeans and pull my T-shirt over my head, then carefully step into the dress, sliding my arms through the delicate lace sleeves.

“Can you help me with the zipper?” I call out to my mom. She zips me up, and I hear her gasp as she takes in my reflection in the mirror.

The dress is stunning. It fits snugly over my bust and waist before flowing down into the skirt. I give a twirl and the skirt flares out around me.

“Oh, sweetheart, you’re so beautiful,” she says, her eyes welling up with tears.

“Mom, don’t cry, please,” I plead, meeting her gaze in the mirror.

She dabs at her eyes and sniffles, prompting me to roll my eyes at her.

“Can we afford this one?”

She glances at the price tag, her eyebrows shooting up as she bites her lip. “Ummm…yes, honey. If this is the dress you want, then yes.” She smiles at me.

I know we can’t afford it. I plan to keep the price tag on and tuck it inside the bodice where it’s hidden. That way, I can return it after the ball.

“Okay, let’s buy it then,” I say, returning her smile. The dress is truly beautiful, and I feel like a princess in it.

“Should we check out some high heels too?” Mom suggests.

“No, thanks. I’m going to wear sneakers. The dress is long enough to cover whatever shoes I wear, and I hate heels,” I reply.

We pay Rosie for the dress, exit the boutique, and head towards the bus stop. In a few hours, Maria and Jake will be coming over, but I really don’t feel like celebrating my birthday.