“I’ve met my mate, Lory.”
As if what my father said earlier wasn’t enough, Jacob’s words added fuel to the fire. It was like a bomb to me. With my family forcing me to offer myself to the new alpha, I thought I could find my way out of it through him.
We had been in a relationship for two years now. As someone from a family of omega serving those in the upper class, Jacob’s status hindered us from being out in public. Dad would kill me if he found out I was associating myself with a boy of lower status. So we loved each other secretly, waiting for the right time to tell everyone what was between us.
But now I didn’t think that was possible. Earlier this morning during breakfast, Dad said the alpha asked for five ladies of marriageable age from the most respected families in the pack where he’d be choosing a wife prospect after a thorough screening. Dad informed me he'd be submitting my name in the registry and it wasn’t something negotiable.
After hearing it, my mind went haywire to the extent that I thought of asking Jacob to run away with him to a place we could freely be together. But his words broke my hopeful heart.
At eighteen, he was the only boyfriend I had and I always thought he’d turn out to be my mate. Once werewolves hit a certain age, they would be able to shift and recognize their mates. Omegas, both male and female, usually got their wolves at later age due to their inferior genes, that was why twenty-year-old Jacob Wells just got his wolf recently.
I was waiting for him to tell me he recognized me as his mate. I would at least have something solid to back up my disapproval of Dad's plan.
I stared at the only boy I ever risked my heart for with teary eyes. I couldn’t understand why it didn’t have to be me.
“I-I don’t understand, Jake…” my voice trembled.
“Hush, Lory,” Jacob took my hand. His eyes that once held so much affection for me now only had pity which made my tears pour harder.
“Lory please, I know it hurts but you have to accept it. I’m sure you’ll meet your mate soon too. You’re already eighteen, it’s only a matter of time before you get your wolf.”
I pushed his hand harshly. “You don’t understand! I don't want anyone else! I want you, Jake!” I yelled in between my sobs. “Or maybe you’re just telling this because of Dad? Are you afraid of him and this is your way of breaking up with me?”
“You know me more than anyone does, Lory. I was willing to fight for you. I always believed you were the one…” His eyes held tenderness like how he always did in the past, but now it didn’t give me butterflies. It made my heart ache. “But there are things in life we can’t control. As we were young and naïve, we assumed it was the mate bond we always had. But trust me, whatever you feel for me now, it will pale in comparison to what you’d feel for your mate.”
“Are you telling me you’ve forgotten all those happy moments we shared? That what you had with me is nothing compared to what you have now with her?”
I had read about mate bonds, seen couples who had it, but as of the moment I couldn’t put myself in Jacob’s shoes. My emotions were clouding my mind I couldn’t think straight.
I admired the love between those mated people and wished myself a love like that. I also witnessed how those young love got broken like what happened to Jacob and me. I was well aware of the reality. And perhaps… at the back of my mind, I knew this could happen. But instead of bracing myself for the worst, I stayed in the fairytale world I built.
“Because that is how it is supposed to be, Lory. You know mate bond is the strongest tie our kind has,” Jacob tried to reason with me.
I shook my head, my tears blurring my vision. Accepting my defeat, I ran away without looking back. I skipped my bridal class today even though I knew Dad would give me a handful of preaching for it, if not beating. I just wanted to see Jacob and tell him my dilemma.
I met him in the town’s market at the back of the store where he was working. Running back to the front of the store where I could find a cab to drive me home, I felt my body almost get thrown when I hit something hard in the middle of my careless run.
“Careful, lady.”
I realized it was a man I bumped into. I raised my head and wiped my tears to clear my vision. Although his words indicated concern, his tone said otherwise. It was hard and cold, like his words meant to be a warning.
The man was towering over me. Wearing a black overcoat and a black vintage cap, his dark eyes watched me like a hawk. His features were hard and sharp and the way he held himself with unmistakable confidence, I knew he must be a man of a notable background.
Knowing that I must have looked like a mess, I hurriedly said my apologies and walked past him, embarrassed that a stranger saw me in such a pathetic state.
“Lady,” just after two steps, the man suddenly spoke. I stopped to give him a look.
“Your handkerchief,” he glanced at the piece of cloth lying in the ground near his shoes. He then brought his scrutinizing gaze back to me like he was inspecting a product in the market.
“Thanks,” I uttered as quickly as I picked up my handkerchief.
I glanced at the man for a moment before I turned and walked away, wondering why he was staring at me oddly. Perhaps he recognized me? As a beta, Dad was quite famous among the pack. But I was sure I hadn’t seen the man before.
“Would you like some tea, Miss?” asked our head maid, Martha, when I woke up the next morning.“Has Dad left?”Growing up, I only had Dad and my younger sister, Roselle. Mom died giving birth to Rose when I was only six, which didn’t give me a chance to have fond memories of her. I could even barely recall how she looked in my memories and if not for the pictures she left, time would have swept out everything that was left in the mind of a young child.I looked at the clock on the wall and saw it was already eight. Dad had surely left for work. As one of the trusted betas of a huge district pack, he had a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders.“Why didn’t you wake me up? I promised Rose I’ll accompany her in meeting her new tutor.”“Um, you slept so late last night, Miss. I thought you might need more rest since yesterday didn’t go well…” Martha trailed off, looking at my face wearily. The buckets of tears I shed last night must be obvious with my puffy eyes now.“Miss Rose also to
“Make sure not to make a single mistake, sweetheart. Am I clear enough?” Dad said with a gentle tone but the way he looked at me spoke warning.When we finally arrived at the Alpha’s residence, Dad held the car’s door for me and lent me a hand. The ends of my long dress touched the ground when I stepped out. It was a black dress with shining stones all over it. My long brown hair was elegantly done in updo with some curled strands purposely left around the corners of my face.We went inside the mansion with me holding Dad’s arm. I had always been trained to be a graceful flower for special occasions like this. Whenever Dad requested my presence in events, refusing wasn’t an option. So it wasn’t new to me.However, this time I found it hard to stay calm. I was anxious. The way most of the guests greeted and looked at us, it was like they were expecting I’d be one of the selected ladies. That giving me a spot was a given because I was Henry Sullivan’s daughter.And I hated it because I
Alpha Calix went in front to give a brief speech. He said it was the councilors’ idea to give him a homecoming party and although he didn’t like parties that much, he agreed because it was an opportunity for him to meet the district’s people as the new alpha.“And since everyone important is gathered here tonight, at the end of this evening, I will announce the five ladies I selected who are eligible to be my luna,” he added in his speech which made most ladies gasp in anticipation.“These five ladies will come to live in my mansion for a month. I will observe each of them for me to know who is the best candidate among them. The parents shouldn’t worry though. I will ensure these ladies will be treated as the princesses that they are, and I will sign an agreement to promise not to sully these ladies’ honor.”“Who cares if the Alpha sullies my honor? I would gladly offer myself to him if I’d be chosen!”I heard giggles behind me and I wasn’t surprised how these girls could throw themse
When I went back inside, I was still dumbfounded. I wanted to think that whatever I heard back in the garden wasn’t true but who am I kidding?Why did fate seem to be playing with me?When the most anticipated time arrived, I stood there frozen among the crowd, my toes were curling on my shoes. If I was just any girl, it would have been a privilege. I would feel blessed for receiving the Alpha’s attention and making my father proud, but that wasn’t the case.All my life I felt like I was chained. Dad honed me to be the person he wanted me to be. His principles were unbreakable rules. The world he gave me felt like a cage and all I ever wanted was to break free. I was under his control all my life, and now am I going to be controlled by another man?“I know most of you are waiting for this,” said Alpha Calix with a smirk on his face. After looking around, his eyes found mine once again.An unfamiliar shiver ran through my spine.“Now I’m going to announce the five ladies who will be su
The butler of the Alpha’s mansion, Mr. Judson, was waiting for me at the gates when my family car arrived. The middle-aged man was with some maids to assist me. “Welcome, Miss Loraine. Let us help you with your things.” “Have the others arrived?” I asked. “Yes, they are at the dining hall with Alpha Calix. They are all waiting for you.” I nodded and followed the butler. The maids took care of my belongings. I didn’t want to bring more than necessary but Dad insisted on bringing more than what I would need in my one month stay here. I guessed he was expecting I’d be chosen to be the Alpha’s wife and there was no need to come back home. “Alpha has arranged everything for all the ladies. Your rooms are ready and I will let you see them later,” said Mr. Judson. When we arrived at the dining hall, I realized what the butler said was really true. Everyone was already present at the table. Alpha Calix was sitting at the head of the table, on his right were Genevieve and Lea, while on h
“How was your sleep? If there is anything you don’t like about your rooms, just tell Judson. He will make the necessary arrangements,” said Alpha Calix during the next day’s breakfast. Our places on the table were still the same. Genevieve and Marianne had the seats nearest to the Alpha while I took the farthest among the five ladies. Last night, I thought about what Roselle said to me when I left our mansion. She said something like turning off the alpha so he wouldn’t choose me. It actually made sense. If I would just mind my own business and wouldn’t try hard on pleasing Alpha Calix like what everyone else was doing, then probably he wouldn’t see me as a wife prospect. I should also try doing the opposite of what he was expecting from us. The quicker he’d get turned off, the quicker I could leave. “Loraine.” When Evelyn, who was sitting beside me, kicked my foot under the table, it was only then I realized that Alpha had been calling my name and I wasn’t paying attention. I lift
Even when I was already in the car with the girls, I still could feel my cheeks burning hot. I knew Alpha Calix was flirty but I didn’t know he was shameless! How could he say words as scandalous as that? I really wasn’t wrong when I thought the agreement he signed about not sullying the ladies’ honor was an empty promise. He was good looking and powerful, I got that, but did he expect every woman would be pleased with his advances and bite his trap mindlessly? “Your cheeks are flaring, Loraine. Not feeling well?” Evelyn asked which made Genevieve’s head turn to me. We were inside one van while Alpha Calix had his own car. “You should have told Alpha that you’re not feeling well, dear Loraine. You don’t have to try so hard even when you can’t make it,” Genevieve’s tone indicated concern, opposite to what she was implying. “I’m alright, Genevieve. Thanks for the concern. I’m just feeling a little feverish due to the cold weather. I can manage just fine.” I really didn’t understand
“Are you heading back to the mansion now?” Michael asked after the match. Even when it was the first time he joined Clayburrow’s equestrian match, Alpha Calix aced the game. There were a fair number of participants who knew well what they were doing, but Alpha seemed to be a little more aggressive than the others. The way he moved with his horse, it felt like he wanted to burn the whole arena. Thinking about how he looked at me before the match started made me feel a hollow in my stomach. If it was really me he was looking at, did I get him annoyed? But I only changed seats. Did he say something like the girls should stick together at times like this? I couldn’t remember. “Loraine?” Michael called when I didn’t answer his question. I offered him an apologetic smile. “Sorry. Yes, I think so.” “We should go to our favorite café, Lory! Mr. Michael can go with us too!” Rose butted in. “I’m sure the Alpha doesn’t forbid you going out?” I shook my head. “Then that’s great! What do you