Blood Moon Ascendance

Mia's POV.

I came back from one of the neighbor's gardens that I was asked to work on, only to meet my parents and my sister sitting in the little courtyard. They were too busy having a family timeout that my presence was unrecognized.

"Mum, Dad, I'm home!" I said happily as I skipped towards them only to meet the shock of my eye. All my boxes of gifts were outside and my mother was selecting stuff from them carefully.

I stood in front of my parents and tried to fight back my tears as I watched them take everything that belongs to me and hand it over to my little sister.

"What's going on mother?" I asked but she only glared at me and didn't utter a word.

The pain I felt from being mocked by others for the mere fact that all my mates have wolfed out and I still haven't, was nothing compared to the pain I felt when my parents constantly reminded me of how I am so much of a disappointment to them.

"But Mum, I really loved that dress…" I whispered in tears as I clenched my fists and sobbed quietly.

"You were supposed to transform with this dress on, but the full moon came and went, twice! All my friends and neighbors keep telling the stories of how their daughters have transformed yet you keep making me feel even more embarrassed than I already am!" She yelled at me and I moved back a bit in shock.

"Why are you treating me this way? It's not even my fault that I didn't transform!" I cried but she didn't bat an eye and just continued handing everything to my sister. "Father, please do something about this…" I muttered but he threw his face away and kissed his teeth like I said something abominable.

My mother went on and on, giving out everything in my bags to my sister. "That's all, as for you Mai, since you enjoy working in people's farms and gardens, then you'll learn to dress more like a gardener.." she snarled and my eyes widened in shock.

Without hesitating, my father pulled out an old rusty box from under his bench and dusted the top.

"Take this box, everything inside it now belongs to you." He said sternly. There's nothing I can do about the situation at this point, I just gently placed the box on my head and ran back into my room, letting the tears flow freely down my sore cheeks.

I sat in my room crying and didn't realize that the sun had gone down. I heard a slight knock on my window and I immediately knew who it was so I rushed to open it.

"Xavier…" I whispered as I hugged him and buried my face in his chest. He held me tightly and didn't even ask me why I was crying in the first place.

"There, let it all out.." he whispered in my ears as he stroked my hair with one hand and rubbed my back with the other. "Maybe you should lock your door first. I don't want anyone scolding you for only caring about boys and not transforming." he said and I nodded.

The last time Xavier came here, my father lectured him about staying far away from girls that haven't transformed when they're supposed to have transformed. I felt so embarrassed that I locked myself in for days.

"Come on, sit and tell me what's bothering you so much, aside from your inability to transform".

"What else if not my inability to transform? Today my mother gave everything I owned to Penny. I have nothing left, no clothes, no books, nothing. All I have left is this box of old and ragged clothes. They're treating me like it's my fault that I couldn't transform when I was supposed to. Xavier, it's not fair to me…." I said and burst into tears again.

"Come here…" Xavier muttered and pulled me in for a hug.

"Let's go get some fresh air, we'll go to the lake and you can play me some of your tunes..."

"But my parents…." I tried to protest but he placed his index finger over my lips.

"Don't worry about them for now. The sun is already setting and nobody will see us leaving. Besides, I have a gift for you." He said and my eyes glistened at the sound of that.

"Let's go.." I said and took his hand as we both jumped through my window and ran into the woods towards my favorite lake. "Slow down, Xavier, what's so special about the gift?" I asked and tried to keep up the pace.

"You'll see." He yelled and ran farther ahead. We both got there and I sat at the foot of a tree and took out my flute from my pocket.

"Now stop panting and play something for me" he said and sat a few meters away from me.

"How can I just stop panting when you keep running like there's a wild animal after your life?" I whined and closed my eyes for a while.

The rough wind brushed against my bare skin as I shut my eyes and blew air into the flute, letting my fingers do the magic. I let the flow of the tunes fill me with calmness and when I was done, I opened my eyes to see Xavier smiling like he had seen an angel.

"You're crying, again…" he said as he cleaned the corner of my left eye.

"I was just being emotional, nothing much. Now where's my gift, you douche!" I asked and gently punched his arm.

He stared at me for a while, then went ahead to bring out a sealed box from behind one of the trees.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Just open it.." he replied and sat with his legs crossed.

I nodded and gently ripped the seal open. Opening the box, my heart fluttered and felt my eyes burning with tears.

"Xavier…" I cried and he covered my mouth to stop me from crying but it was already late.

"You got these for me?" I asked and ran my hands through the clothes inside the box.

"Well, I was at the market when a lady came with all these clothes. They looked so beautiful on display so I thought to get some for you. Although I had no idea your parents would give your clothes to Penny."

"Oh Xavier…" I sobbed and hugged him tightly. We spent the rest of the time talking and laughing about random things until I remembered the kind of parents I have.

Without wasting time, I ran back home after hugging him goodnight.

The lights in the living room were turned off and so were the lights in the kitchen. I slowly tiptoed to my window and gently lifted myself so I could jump in, when suddenly the lights went on.

"And where are you coming from, young lady?"

I immediately dropped the box and clutched the hem of my dress.

Mia's POV.

"Xavier, come on, let's go to the lake." I said gleefully as I approached his courtyard. He lives alone in his not so big house, ever since his parents died.

"I'm not sure I can make it today Pixie, I have a lot on my plate right now. I'm so sorry" I hung my head in disappointment and sat on one of the benches for some time.

"My mother caught me sneaking in last night" I said and smiled to cover my pain.

"What! What did she do?" He asked.

"Well, nothing new. She just gave me some extra work and she wanted to seize the box but someone came looking for her.

By the time she got back I already exchanged the contents in the box"

I replied.

"That was very close! I'm really sorry I can't go to the lake with you today. You'll just have to go without me…" he said and I shrugged my shoulders and left.

The path to the lake was cold and lonely. I barely came here alone and the last time I did, it's been a long time now.

I skipped and twirled around as I got to the lake and splashed water around, playing my flute and listening to the wind. This was my only way to cope and escape reality.

"Why do I feel like someone is watching at me?" I asked myself as I paused and looked around for some time. I may not be able to transform yet, but my senses work perfectly.

"Maybe I'm just overthinking, It's probably just an animal." I reassured myself and continued playing my flute.

I suddenly heard a twig snap under someone's foot and immediately turned around to the direction of the sound but nothing and nobody was in sight.

"Who's that?" I asked and gently replaced my flute in my pocket and dusted my dress.

"Don't be afraid, I don't mean to scare or hurt you.." the voice said and I paused before gently turning around to face the beautiful creature in front of me.

His eyes glistened under the sun rays and his long silky hair fell on his shoulder. I stared at him as though he was an angel…

I fought the urge to ask what god he is, because someone as drop dead gorgeous as this can't be a human like everyone else.

I tried to say something but my words were suddenly lost.

"Who are you?" He asked but I was too busy admiring him, to know the answer to his question.

"Hey…" he whispered and snapped his fingers over my face.

"Uhh umm I'm Mia…Mia, that's my name." I stuttered and removed the stray strand of hair on my face.

"Hello there, Mia, I'm Hazel…" he replied and my eyes widened.

"Hazel, as in the soon to be alpha king?" I asked.

"I guess everyone knows me now" he replied and I quickly took a few steps backwards.

"My apologies, courtesy demands that I show respect to you.." I said and immediately bobbed a curtsy.

"That won't be necessary anyways.

By the way, you play the flute right?" He asked and gestured for me to sit with him on a log of wood.

I slowly took his hand and lowered myself on the log. Such a gentleman he is…

Just as I was about to play some tunes for him, I remembered that I had some things to do at home. Did I really stay here for that long?

"I need to get going, my parents would be mad at me for staying out too late. We could meet again, if destiny is willing.." I said and ran off without letting him say anything.

I ran without looking back so I could get home on time.

"Where's mum and dad?" I asked my sister as I barged into the living room breathing heavily.

"They're not back yet." She replied.

I let out a sigh of relief and ran into my room.

"Isn't he so dreamy…." I whispered as I danced in front of the mirror and thought of his gorgeous face.

"Maybe I should tell Xavier about this. He'll be blown away when I tell him that the soon to be alpha king asked me to play him a song!" I shrieked and danced around like he had already asked for my hand in marriage.

"Can you keep it down?!" My sister yelled from the living room and I rolled my eyes.

***

Xavier's POV.

I sat on the balcony and stared at my painting. A smile crept on my face as I admired its beauty. It was not just any painting, it's a painting of the love of my life.

Thoughts of everything about her filled my mind, from her laughter, to the sound of her voice. Even to the way she walks with so much grace.

"If only I can actually tell her about how I feel…" I said to myself and dropped the paintbrush in my hand.

"Maybe I should tell her about it.." I said but then the thought of being rejected also discouraged me.

"I'd rather keep this feeling to myself than tell her about it. I can't even tell anyone about it.

Maybe when the right time comes, I'll make it known to her." I said and covered the painting up.

I took the board into my study and placed it with other paintings of Mia. She has never seen any of these paintings and I've sworn to keep them to myself for as long as I can.

At least for the sake of our friendship, I can't afford to lose it.

"Or maybe, the more I keep my love for her to myself, someone else will take her away from me.." I muttered.

Feeling confused, I roughly ran my hand through my hair and buried my face in my palms.

Just tell her how you feel, Xavier, there's nothing else you can do at this point…

After all, what's the worst that could happen?

I thought to myself and got up immediately to pick out a dress and maybe write her a letter and probably pick out some flowers.

I'm her best friend so I know exactly what she likes and what she doesn't.

"It's either her, or nobody else..”