Wolf under an oak tree.

“Mom, we can explain.” I started hearing a few bits and pieces of the conversation that was going on around me, but I couldn't figure out what they were arguing about.

“Luna, we have a slight problem here and...” and that is when I felt like my life force returned to me, and I abruptly got up from the bed that I was lying on, to come face to face with Walter, Jace, Mike and Jace’s mother.

Wait! What are they doing at my house?

“Iris, how are you feeling?” Jace spoke to me as if I were a toddler, and that is when everything that happened before I blacked out came rushing back. And when I looked at Jace again, I saw him cautiously approaching the bed, and, to every step that he took forward, I cowered behind.

“Don't come near me,” I whispered in a hoarse voice which made him halt in his steps, and I saw the sorrow that crossed his face.

“What are you?” I asked the question for the second time, and this time, I noticed that everyone was awkwardly shifting in their places.

“Iris, sweetheart, I think you should calm down right now, and once you are ready, I will explain everything.” Jace’s mother consoled me, and for some odd reason, I started to relax. After a few minutes of complete silence, Jace’s mother cautiously approached me and slowly took a seat on the bed.

“So sweetheart, I think you must have witnessed my idiot son and his friend changing into huge wolves, am I right?” every word that she spoke had a sort of calming effect on me, which I still couldn't understand.

“Yes, but they changed into abnormally large wolves,” I said, and she nodded her head.

“Darling, I believe as an archeologist you must have an open mind, so hear me out.” she paused for a few minutes before continuing.

“We are werewolves, and this is our pack, Blueblood pack. And Jace here is the alpha, Walter the beta, and Mike is our gamma, and I am the current luna of the pack just till Jace fully takes over the pack.” everything that she explained right now felt as if I am learning Celtic, and for the next few minutes the room was completely still, no one dared to move a single muscle, and I can feel the tension that was building here. And it took another few minutes before I let out a hearty laugh.

“And I am a talking donkey from Shrek!” I replied in between my laughs.

Wow, this must be the best April fools prank that I have ever seen.

I looked around the room to see that everyone was having a serious look on their faces which made me stop laughing, and that is when everything started to sink in.

“So werewolves are real?” I asked in disbelief, and Jace’s mother slowly nodded her head.

“Now the real question is that, who is your mate?” Jace’s mother asked, her tone was sharp, but the question was not directed towards me, in fact, it was directed to the three full-grown men who were shuffling uncomfortably.

“Wait, what do you mean by mate?” I asked her.

“Well dear, you wouldn’t have even known about our existence, if you weren’t mated to a werewolf. A mate is your other half, the person you will eternally come to love and cherish. He is the person that has been already destined to you before you were even born.” The explanation of a mate was so beautifully put, that for a moment, I felt like I was the most gifted human being.

But, before I go too deep into my fantasy world, I guess I need to know who is my mate, right?

“Luna, why don't we ask Iris to tell us who her mate is.” Walter chimed with a smirk on his face.

“How am I supposed to know?”

“Well, when you touch him you will know.” Jace’s mother encouraged me, and with a shaky nod, I slowly got up from the bed and made my way toward the three guys. And I don’t know why, but I had this odd pull towards Jace, and I mentally prayed that it can’t be him.

First I approached Mike, and he gave me a warm smile, letting me know that I am not his mate, before stretching his hand out for me to take, I gently placed my hand on his, and I felt nothing except for my usual tingling feeling that comes before I see a vision and abruptly I was pulled into a whirlwind, my vision darkened and it took a few seconds before I saw Mike, he was in town and out of nowhere someone came from behind him and stabbed him with a knife and after that everything went dark again and I felt my vision clearing, and I saw the horror and shock evident in his eyes. And before he could say anything, I quickly moved toward Walter, but this time, I didn’t get any visions, it was just like a regular handshake.

“Hmm, looks like I am not your mate.” Walter joked with a long face, and I shook my head and finally moved toward Jace.

“You know for better contact we can hug each other,” Jace said with a smug smile, which awoke the sleeping butterflies inside my stomach.

“I think a handshake would suffice,” I muttered and gently placed my hands on his calloused hand. The instant our hands made contact, I felt a rush of electricity course through my body with a tingling sensation that awoke all kinds of emotions that I have never felt before.

“You are my mate,” I whispered and a smirk formed on his face, and before I could react, he pulled me towards him and wrapped his hands around me, for some odd reason, instead of feeling disgusted and scared, I felt safe and loved in his embrace.

“You have no idea how long I have been longing to hug you like this,” Jace murmured in my ear, and a small grin spread on my face.

“So, Iris, I think now you know what a mate truly is?” Jace’s mother asked, and I meekly nodded my head.