Chapter 4 A Heart Out of Place

Layla's POV

My heart recognized him instantly. Every cell in my body vibrated with certainty as I stared across the clearing at him. This was what Elder Garrison had described—the sacred mate bond, the Moon Goddess's greatest gift to our kind.

But something was terribly wrong.

While my soul reached desperately toward him, Ethan's eyes remained closed. His expression was serene, showing no sign of the powerful connection I felt. I waited, my heart hammering against my ribs, for his eyes to open and find mine.

Around us, happy gasps and cries erupted as other pairs found each other across the circle. Some were already rushing toward one another, embracing as if they'd been separated for centuries rather than merely discovering each other moments ago.

"Those who have not yet found their mates," Elder Garrison announced solemnly, "may now open their eyes."

My breath caught as Ethan's eyelashes fluttered. This was it—the moment he would see me and feel what I felt. But when his eyes opened, they roamed aimlessly around the clearing, passing over me without a flicker of recognition. His shoulders slumped slightly, disappointment evident in his posture.

He hadn't felt it. He hadn't found me.

I stood frozen, my inner wolf howling in confusion and pain. How could this be? The mate bond was supposed to be mutual, instantaneous for both parties.

Elder Garrison's gaze swept over the gathering, lingering with particular concern on Ethan. Something in that look—a flicker of worry, perhaps even recognition—made my stomach twist with unease.

"The Moonlight Blessing ceremony is now complete," he announced. "May the Moon Goddess bless those who have found their mates, and comfort those who continue to wait."

As the crowd began to disperse—the newly bonded pairs practically glowing with joy, the others trying to mask their disappointment—I remained rooted to the spot, my mind racing. Ethan. My mate. And yet... not. And worse still, he was the boy Maya had been in love with for nearly a year.

I waited until most had left before approaching Elder Garrison, who was gathering his ceremonial items.

"Elder," I said softly, my voice barely steady. "May I ask you something?"

He looked up, his ancient eyes kind. "Of course, Layla."

"Is it possible..." I swallowed hard. "Is it possible for one wolf to recognize their mate while the other feels nothing?"

His weathered face softened with sympathy. "No, child. The mate bond is the Moon Goddess's perfect gift—it always flows both ways."

He placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "If you believe you've experienced something different, perhaps it was simply a strong attraction. The true mate bond cannot be mistaken, nor can it be one-sided."

His words left me more confused and heartbroken than before. I thanked him mechanically and walked home in a daze, barely registering my surroundings.

When I reached my house, all the lights were off. Strange, since my parents knew I'd be returning from the ceremony tonight. I fumbled for the switch, and the moment light flooded the room—

"SURPRISE!"

Maya launched herself at me, wrapping me in a fierce hug as party poppers exploded around us. My parents stood beaming by a table adorned with a birthday cake and presents.

"Happy birthday!" Maya squealed, stepping back to look at me. Her smile faltered. "Layla? What's wrong?"

My parents' expressions shifted from joy to concern as they took in my tear-stained face.

"Honey?" Mom stepped forward. "Did something happen at the ceremony?"

I forced a smile that felt brittle on my face. "I... I didn't find my mate."

It wasn't entirely a lie. I'd found him, but he hadn't found me.

"Oh, sweetie." Dad pulled me into a hug. "That doesn't mean anything. Many wolves don't find their mates until they're much older."

Maya squeezed my hand. "Yeah, and some of the coolest wolves I know never found their mates during the ceremony. Like Mrs. Steward—she didn't find her mate during her Moonlight Blessing when she was a student. But she met Elder Garrison years later at a pack gathering, maybe your mate was not at the ceremony either."

"Besides," Mom added, "finding a mate isn't everything. It's just one path to happiness."

Their attempts at comfort made fresh tears well in my eyes. If only they knew the truth—that I had found my mate, but something was terribly wrong with our bond.

"Come on," Maya said, tugging me toward the cake. "It's still your eighteenth birthday, and we're going to celebrate!"

She placed a silly crown on my head and dramatically lit the candles with a quick snap of her fingers—a small spark of her magic that never failed to impress me.

Before I could react, she smeared a dollop of frosting on my nose, her laughter breaking through my misery like sunshine through clouds.

"Make a wish," she commanded, gesturing to the flickering candles.

Looking at their expectant faces—my parents' love, Maya's friendship—I felt a moment of clarity cut through my pain. I closed my eyes.

I wish for Maya's happiness, even at the cost of my own.

I blew out the candles, tears spilling down my cheeks.

"Those better be happy tears," Maya warned, hugging me again.

"They are," I lied. "Just overwhelmed."

Later, after cake and presents, my parents tactfully left Maya and me alone in my room. She flopped onto my bed, her expression turning uncharacteristically shy as she twisted a strand of red hair around her finger.

I watched her fidget nervously for a few moments, suddenly understanding what—or rather who—was on her mind. Despite my heartache, I couldn't help but smile at her obvious discomfort.

"Hey girl," I said, breaking the silence, "Ethan didn't find his mate at the ceremony either."

Maya's head snapped up, her cheeks flushing crimson. "How did you—"

"You're not exactly subtle," I teased, forcing lightness into my voice. "You still have a chance with him."

Her face lit up with such hope that it made my chest ache. "Do you really think so?"

She shrieked with excitement and threw her arms around me again, the force of her hug nearly knocking me over.

"I really do," I said, the words like ashes in my mouth.

The school gave us two days off after the Moonlight Blessing—a tradition meant to give newly bonded mates time to adjust to their connection, and the rest of us time to process our feelings.

The break would culminate in the traditional bonfire celebration, where newly mated pairs would dance together, while those who hadn't found mates could pair up for the evening.

Maya spent both days rifling through her wardrobe, FaceTiming me constantly for fashion advice.

"What about this one?" she asked, holding up a flowing green dress that brought out the gold flecks in her eyes.

"Perfect," I said truthfully. "He won't be able to look away."

When we returned to school, Maya was a bundle of nerves. I walked with her through the hallways, offering steady encouragement despite the pain clawing at my insides every time she mentioned Ethan's name.

We found him at his locker, his dark hair falling across his forehead as he sorted through his books. Even from a distance, I felt the pull toward him—my mate, yet not mine at all.

"There he is," Maya whispered, clutching my arm. "I can't do this."

"Yes, you can," I assured her, ignoring my inner wolf's howl of protest. "Go."

With a final nervous glance at me, Maya approached him. I hung back, close enough to hear but giving them space.

"H-hi, Ethan," she said, her voice higher than normal.

He looked up, his smile friendly. "Hey, Maya."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I was wondering... c-can you be my partner for the bonfire celebration?"