JULIEN

Finally, I will be free today. I woke up early and was excited for the hours to pass and the night to come. Full moon nights are the only nights I can be free from this house, at least for some hours. Since the day I was born, when my parents couldn’t hear my cries, they knew I was taken by that curse, the mermaid’s curse. When I was seven years old, my nana told me something about an envious witch that cursed one of our ancestors and took her voice, leaving her mute. My late grandma was the last one to get the curse, and when I was born, it came back again.

My parents were paranoid about me having the curse, so they locked me up in the house, teaching me sign language, everything about the world, and devoting all my time on full moon nights learning to speak. Until the day I turned 15 years old, they let me go to the lake for the first time. Telling me it was a safe place for me, safe from rogue wolves because of the local pack and it was also close to home.

A few years ago, my parents figured out the only way to lift the curse was to find my fated mate. Every now and then, I would meet some egocentric and rich alpha merman from a prestigious family to find my fated one but always failed at it. At this point I was just annoyed every time my parents arranged a meeting for me, they were all the same and even if they were handsome, they were not enough to make my heart flutter. I just wanted to meet my fated mate, someone handsome and loving just like the ones described in the book I was reading.

“Sweety, it’s almost time.” I heard a knock on my bedroom door and the voice of my Papa telling me to come out so we could head to the lake.

Excited, I left the book on my bed and stepped out of the room. My Papa was smiling, waiting for me, but I could feel his insecurities. He didn’t like me going out but he knew it was the best for me. 

“It’s going to be fine Papa, it’s not the first time,” I told him using the sign language I learned when I was little.

He kissed my cheek and took my hand guiding me to the car where my mom was waiting. When we were out I looked at the sky and it was already turning dark, as soon as my Papa and I got in the car, my mom started driving to the lake. I looked out the window admiring the beautiful view and looking at the moon as it started to come out. When we arrived, my mom opened the car’s door, and then I ran towards the lake. Taking my clothes off as fast as I could on the way, I jumped into the cold water as the moon shone above.

“Sweety?” While underwater, I heard my Papa’s worried voice calling me from outside the lake. Swimming to the surface, I looked at him.

“It’s okay Papa, I will be fine,” I said smiling and kissing his cheek. Soon after they both left, not without telling me to be careful one last time. 

Feeling the water against my fins was the best sensation in the world, the lake was not that big but it was deep enough to swim for a while. Bored, I sat on the top of a big rock that was near one of the borders of the lake, staring at the beautiful full moon. I started to get lost in my thoughts.

When will I really be free? 

When will I find my mate?…my alpha…

When will I be able to speak every day? 

To be able to sing every time I want to? 

'Sing…'

Singing to the moon was the only way to express all the feelings I was going through right now.

BYRON

Another full moon ceremony. Another night being annoyed by my dad. Always telling me to mate with Tiffany so he could give me the Alpha title. For 3 years, since the day she was chosen to be my mate, I’ve been bothered nonstop by him. Not gonna lie; Tiff was a gorgeous woman with a great body and good looks, but personality-wise, she was…difficult. If it weren’t for that voice I hear every full moon and my desire to find my fated mate, she would be my Luna by now.

First time I heard that voice I was 16 years old. I’ve tried to catch the source since then, but every time I get to the lake it’s not there anymore. I always try to get there on time but the full moon ceremony combined with my dad’s scolding stops me from getting there faster. But this time was different. 

I could hear the voice already so I ran as fast as I could in my wolf form, as I got closer the sweet smell of freshly baked apple pie, my favorite kind of pie, filled the air.

'Mate.'

I heard my wolf, Boris, say in my mind. When I arrived at the lake, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. On a rock close to the edge of the lake was a man, an ethereal-looking man, singing to the full moon. Something shiny caught my attention; it was a tail, a merman’s tail. 

'Mate.'

I heard Boris say again. Carefully walking closer to him, I broke a tree branch beneath my paw causing a slight noise. The merman was startled as he looked in my direction. He gasped, then jumped back in the water, hiding from me. I turned back, I didn't want to scare him with my wolf form. I got closer to the edge of the lake looking at him under the water. Gorgeous emerald eyes looked at me with fear and curiosity, I was hypnotized by his beauty.

JULIEN

Under the water, I looked at the man standing on the edge of the lake, a werewolf, a handsome werewolf, and an Alpha too. Before jumping in the water, I caught a whiff of his scent, chocolate cookies; the ones Nana used to make for me when I was a little boy. My heart was beating fast, he was just like I dreamed of, just like the book I read described alphas. Tanned skin, tall, muscular body and his eyes, I could get lost in those green eyes.

He made a sign with his hands telling me that he wouldn't hurt me so I could come out, but I didn’t trust him. What if he was a rogue? But is a rogue that handsome? Was my heart beating this fast because I was scared or because of something else? Gathering courage I got to the surface 

“Who are you?” I asked, curious to know more about him.

“My name is Byron.” I got shivers down my spine when I heard his deep voice. “What’s yours?”

“I’m…Julien.” I heard a car getting closer to the lake, checking the sky I noticed how the moon started to hide.

“You have a beautiful name.” He said smiling at me, I could feel my cheeks turning red. 

I looked past him, noticing my mom’s car. They can’t see him, I don’t know what will happen to him if they do. Byron was telling me something but I couldn’t pay attention, taking his hands I pulled him into the water with me. I climbed, sitting on the edge of the lake, as I saw my Papa get out of the car with a towel and a robe. My tail was on Byron’s head, not letting him come out to the surface. 'I’m really sorry, handsome.'

Papa handed me the robe and the towel. I quickly dried my tail and put the robe on, hurrying him back to the car in order to let Byron get out of the water. Confused, angry, and soaked, Byron was looking at me before I got in the car. I gave him a small nod and a smile in return.