Two

The ballroom was the pack house’s center room decorated fancily by the maids. Not that it was not good, the maids were really good and it felt like an actual ballroom with its fancy decors and the lights. It was really golden, yeah… because that was kind of the theme, it was a golden ball. What I did not certainly expect was for every one there to be wearing gold colored dresses or similar colors like beige, cream, off-white, I was the only one that wore a bright red color and it felt odd, I stuck out like a sore thumb.

It was not hard to find Ava, who was by no surprise sitting at the snack table but holding a bottle of champagne. Ava was no typical alpha’s airhead daughter, she was blonde, and she was wild, also very smart and daring, I spent most of my time covering for her, I had to or else, I’ll be in big trouble.

But she was very nice and loving, we were really close and she tells me every pack gossip, like how Jamie just aborted another pup, or how Luke was banging a human guy.

She waved at me as I approached and downed almost half of the content of the bottle at a go. I quickly rushed to her and snatched it from her.

“Do you want to kill yourself?”, I asked her.

She giggled in response, “Relaxxxxxxxxxx”, she slurred out and I shook my head, she was already tipsy and the night was just starting.

“Daddy dearest told me to be on my best behaviour, for when the big bad alpha comes”, she hiccupped loudly in my face and I moved back immediately scrunching up my face in disgust.

“Sorry”, she looked at me sheepishly smiling, “I’m just-“

“Hey, it’s fine.”, I noticed she was acting weird, “What’s wrong baby?”, I asked as I pulled her into a side hug.

“My dad said he plans on mating me to the alpha to seal the alliance”, she sniffed looking up at me, “What if he’s not my mate? My mate would be out there and I’ll spend the rest of my life with someone I don’t love because of some stupid pack”, she said bitterly.

“I should go rogue”.

My eyes widened as she declared, then she turned to me, “You will help me pack my bags this night and you’ll follow me right?”

What?? I was not even following her.

“We’ll first have to sneak out of here quietly”, she made a move to stand up but stumbled as she was still under the influence of alcohol.

I quickly brought her down to her seat, “We are not going anywhere”.

She pouted as I said that but I just shot her a blank stare, “You just have to have a nice conversation with the alpha and make him tell your dad that he does not want to mate with you, or pray he already has a mate”

She thought for a second and nodded, then smiled, “You’re the best Sera”, she hugged me taking my scent in before pulling away, “You were with that human guy”, she frowned as the made the speculation.

I sighed and nodded, “His name is Ryan and you know I love him”

She scoffed, “you’re a wolf and when you find your mate, what will become of your ‘love’”, she made a quotation sign with her fingers as she said ‘love’.

“I’m sure my mate died along with the rest of my pack, I can’t be lonely for the rest of my life waiting for a mate I don’t know, or I am not sure exist”, I tried to defend.

“It’s against the rules, Sera. You’ll be in big trouble if anyone finds out. You can’t keep it a secret forever”, she sighed holding my shoulders then her expression changed as she smiled brightly, “besides, I have this great feeling you’d meet your mate today’, she closed her eyes. “I see you, with your hot mate, holding hands, caressing… who’s Riley?”

I rolled my eyes, “It’s Ryan”

“Shushhhhh”, she shushed me as she continued, “Now, this mate of yours will come in a regal way, on a horse, and oh- he’s carrying you away, the both of you ride on the horse, into sunset, where you have wild sex and make cute babies”, she giggles as she finishes.

“Are you done?”, I asked sarcastically.

“No”, she shook her head and continued, “You guys have a man servant and guess what his name is? You’re correct. Fucking Rhinocerus”

I threw my head back groaning as she laughed, I knew she did not like him for me, or even liked him at all.

“You’re incorrigible”

“Yip. Yap. You know what you’ll do now?”, she started, “You will stand up, and we will go tto the dance floor and show them dogs how it’s done yo!!”, she whooed raising her hands in the air.

A werewolf that was passing by growled at the word ‘dog’, it’s like an insult and many people get offended, like this bearded guy that looks like he’s going to beat uus to a pulp.

“Oops”

“Sorry”

We said at the same time, laughing nervously. I did not want to get beaten to a pulp

He huffed and walked away and we shared a quiet giggle watching him walk past us.

Ava then turned to me, “like I said before, let’s forget about every guy, especially Ryan and-“

“Why do you want to forget about me?”, Ryan sneaked his hands up my waist making me jump slightly then I relaxed in his touch.

Ava just rolled her eyes and downed an entire glass of alcohol. Where did hell did she get it from again?

I turned to Ryan, causing his grip to loosen, “Ava wants it to be a girl’s night”.

I rolled my eyes to make my white lie look believable.

“Ohh, then I guess I’m not invited?”, he asked.

I thought for a while, “Except you have a vagina, I don’t think you are”, I sassed causing him to chuckle slightly.

Everyone knew we were friends, but that was all. We couldn’t be spotted hanging out in a way more than friends do or they’ll get suspicious and I did not want to cause a ‘wolf-human’ war 4 due to petty love issues.

“I’ll leave you to it then”, he stepped back and took a small bow, “M’ladies”. Then he left.

Waving at his retreating figure, his sexy butt caught my attention, the way it moved, God, he really had a sexy butt.

I’m a lucky wolf. I could feel my wolf roll her eyes at my thoughts as I shut her out, she gets really invasive sometimes.

Ava let out another irritating noise causing me to look at her, “What now?”, I called out. “I know you don’t like him, but I love him and you should understand”

“Whatever, let’s just go and dance”, she grabbed my hands and twirled before dragging me to the dance floor.

We danced together to an upbeat music for a while, and spent half the time giggling and laughing.

When it was time for the waltz dance, we decided to stay because why not, she was royalty and I was her date. I could tell she was using it to challenge her parents, but she probably had something to tell her parents so they wouldn’t throw me into the dungeon.

We decided to stay and dance it, neither of us had the skills but we were free styling like pretty good drunkards.

I could suddenly feel an eerie air in the room, my skin started tingling and I started to feel uncomfortable.

“Is everything alright?”, Ava questioned loudly over the music which was not really loud.

I nodded, “yes, I don’t know why I’m feeling somehow but I’ll be fine”

I canceled the feeling out, it’s probably before I did not eat earlier.

The feeling got worse and I started to feel heat, the heat rushed to my head and I got lightheaded, I decided to exit the ball room to clear my head.

“I’ll be right back”, I whispered to Ava and tried to leave the ballroom.

I turned, and suddenly, I bumped into a solid, icy face, and it was like the entire world hit pause. My heart raced, and my eyes met his, a complete stranger with an expression as cold as ice. His face, framed by silver, tousled hair, was etched with surprise, at the same time mirroring my own astonishment.

The whole world stopped, and I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through me. My head spun as if oxygen rushed to my brain all at once. It was an ecstasy I couldn't put into words.

In that fraction of a second, time seemed to freeze. The swirling dancers and the melodious music faded into the background, like a tune played far away. It was as if a magnetic force beyond our control had drawn us together. Our eyes locked, and in that intense gaze, it felt like we were the only two people in the world.

My eyes was still locked with his dark ones, black as my hair was, so soulful, and beautiful, there was a line of silver there that swirled around his dilated pupils.

His hands moved up to touch my waist that was bare so slightly, making him make contact with my bare skin, and I jumped as another jolt of electricity passed through my veins, his touch brought butterflies to my stomach and I suddenly found myself clenching my thighs to make sure I stay calm.

My wolf had other plans though as it awakened in it’s full self, struggling to claw its way out, it howled inside my ear and I could feel it trying to communicate with me. While I tried to block it out, I could see him struggling to do the same, it was obvious from the way he held his hands in a fist and growled quietly.

The growl made me whimper as my wolf bowed in submission, what was happening to me?

My eyes widened in realization

Could it be-

“Mate”, his deep husky voice came out as finally spoke.

What? No!!

He’s not even riding a horse. How could it be possible?

“Mate”, I whispered in disbelief and my wolf howled in joy. It was true, I could almost feel his wolf’s presence now as I just realized that I’ve sealed the first step in the mate bonding.

Confirmation