CHAPTER 04

AVA:

I wouldn't have stepped foot in Damien and Audrey's mating ceremony but I had to be there because he made it a compulsion. Failure to attend, as I was told, would lead to my banishment from the pack and that was the last thing I wanted for myself right now.

In the Blue Moon pack, the rule was that in rare cases like mine, I had to give my permission that I wanted us apart or else, Damien wasn't to get a mate. After that, there will be a ball party but I am not planning to attend.

In an hour, the ceremony would begin so I started my preparations early.

Damien never allowed me to wear makeup or put on skin-tight dresses because that was the way he "liked it."

But today, I was ready to do what I liked so I put on light makeup that enhanced my beauty, then went over to put on a yellow knee-length dress that hugged my upper body but flared downward.

I wore my shoes and jewelry, then applied some oils and perfumes and I was good to go.

******

A while after I sat down, the Alpha arrived. He was donned in a royal blue apparel that spelled power and he had this thing about him that I could not place a finger on. Leila, my wolf was simply happy seeing him and I wondered why.

I had no idea about the activities that took place in the mating ceremony, I stared at everything and everyone but I wasn't physically present. I was as eager to go home as I was to breathe.

My name, the only word I could hear in this place was called and I got up from where I sat and went to the podium to make a speech. That speech to show that they both had my consent.

I could feel Damien's gaze pinned on me. Right now, I guess he must be warning me with his eyes not to ruin his show.

I didn't ruin his show anyway, I just said a few words and ran down the podium in order not to break into tears and embarrass myself.

I decided within myself that I was going to steal out from here once the ball began.

I gasped and pressed my fingers tightly against my lips, someone just poured red wine on me.

"Trying to set the show with your dress?"

I looked up to see Audrey's hand and her glass cup over my head, then she quickly brought down her hand and before I could say a word, she trotted away.

Her single act had destroyed my makeup and dress altogether.

Not knowing what to do, I ran away from the gathering, to the back of the arena, particularly where the entertainers changed costumes.

I settled down on one of the available seats after I locked myself in a closet.

My heart felt heavy and tears of sorrow began streaming down my eyes as I remembered that I had done nothing to deserve all this.

I had done nothing to deserve all the shame, disgrace, and insults I had received. Again I asked myself if it was my fate to be mistreated and stepped on, did the Moon goddess make me of doom?

My silent tears turned to sobs, and then something louder as I tried to release the tension in my heart.

I began hearing the sound of approaching footsteps and I stifled my cries, trying not to attract the attention of anyone because all I needed was my time alone so I could mourn myself.

A knock was rasped at the door of my enclosed space and I looked up, startled. I didn't have any friends that would follow after me and the only friend I had just betrayed me, so I wondered who it could be that was there.

"Are you okay?"

I didn't answer, hoping that the person who asked would go away.

"I know you're in there, come out now." The persistent voice came again and I felt compelled by the force of his voice to unlock the door and step out, my gaze pinned firmly to the ground.

"Are you okay now?" The voice asked again and just as I was about to tell him to mind his business and leave mine, I decided to look up first.

Lo and behold he was none other than Alpha King Leonard. How the hell was I not able to recognize his voice when we met on a few occasions? Damien and I had met with him on a few occasions for business purposes before now. Now, I understand why Damien wanted me to make that speech. Damien didn't want to appear irresponsible before the Alpha King who was soon going to close a business deal with him.

A deal I had engineered with great ideas of mine.

Alpha Leo was someone who could kill with a snap of his finger, yet the man standing before me didn't sound anything like that.

"I'm fine." I managed not to sound bad but he kept on staring at me like I hadn't answered his question.

"Why have you been crying?" He asked and I masked the usual fake smile I had mastered all these years of living with an abusive Damien.

My eyes were dry by now and I wondered how he knew. Was I looking that horrible?

Without waiting for my response, he began walking towards me, and with each step he took, my heartbeat increased.

My back finally hit the wall, meaning I had no means of escape from this deadly yet hot-looking man.

Before I could part my lips to protest, his hand shot to my elbow and he held it. He held my elbow ever so gently like I was delicate.

"You have a cut." He stated firmly and quickly withdrew his hand. My sleeve stopped at my elbow and honestly, I couldn't tell when and how I sustained the cut.

He gently pulled me by the wrist to press the handkerchief against my cut and to stop it from bleeding when I winced and he paused.

His eyes traced the spot he had just touched and his features were covered by a look of astonishment.

"Who did this to you?" From his facial expression, he looked deeply pained like whoever did this to me was going to face his wrath.

Something warm crept into the depths of my stomach. For the first time in three years, someone was showing me that I was someone who could be cared for. It was simply mind-blowing.

"My king, I...I...they are wounds I got from the battlefield while fighting alongside my Alpha." I quickly made up a lie. His tensed face eased up a little and I was glad he believed my lie

"Stay here and you'll get fresh clothes this instant."

His voice echoed in my mind, I was already lost in those ocean-blue eyes of his.