Chapter 2: The Invitation

“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 told me not to wake you up. She’s in the library with Mr. Gibbs now.”

My brows knitted at the mention of the name. “Mr. Gibbs? I thought it was Miss Emily Schiffer?”

“Miss Emily called yesterday. She said she couldn’t tutor Miss Rose as she had an urgent business outside Clayburrow and wouldn’t come back anytime soon. Master Henry hired Mr. Gibbs instead. He’s the dean’s son of the district’s academy.”

“The dean? You mean Professor William?” I asked. As I was studying in the district’s academy, I met the man. “I never heard he has a son though.”

“Mr. Michael’s mother is living in Rampshire so he stayed there to study. He just recently came back here to help the district’s research about a cure for a rare poison. I heard he’s a friend of our alpha,” informed Martha who must have verified the facts herself.

As the head maid of our estate for almost a decade now, Martha had always researched about the people who had business to do with my family. Her eyes were keen and always cautious.

“He is a man with a clean reputation and seemed to be a smart one, so you have nothing to worry about, Miss Loraine.”

If Dad picked the man himself, then he must really be a notable man. One without even a tiny dirt in his reputation. I didn’t think Dad would just allow anyone to tutor Roselle.

“This is my sister, Loraine,” Rose introduced me to Michael Gibbs when I went to check on them after having breakfast.

The man was young, probably just a few years older than me. Wearing a dark blue button-down shirt with its long sleeves rolled up to his elbows and black rimmed glasses, he could pass as a young professor. His pleasing academic look made me trust he could tutor my sister well.

Roselle was a smart twelve-year-old girl. She excelled in all subjects in school except for one, Science. As a perfectionist father, Dad wanted Rose to be good at everything a girl should have knowledge of. Just like how he honed me. The reason why he hired a Science tutor for her.

Mr. Gibbs and I exchanged pleasantries. He insisted on dropping the honorifics and addressing each other casually which I didn’t refuse. His friendly demeanor made me feel comfortable around him. We had a small talk over tea after his session with Rose and I walked him out when it was time to go.

“Do you also think Mr. Michael is handsome, Lory?” asked Rose, who suddenly appeared by my side while walking to the garden after sending off her tutor.

“He has pleasing looks indeed,” I admitted because it was the truth.

It drew a wide smile to Roselle’s face and I immediately knew what she was thinking.

“He’s a friend of our new alpha I heard. A dean’s son. You two can be a great match.”

“Rose,” I warned.

“I didn’t mean to be nosy but I forced Martha to spill it. I know you’ve broken up with Jacob…” her voice lowered down on the second sentence.

In our household, only two people knew my relationship with Jacob. Martha discovered it first. The middle-aged woman’s very keen eyes couldn’t be fooled. Then I told Rose about it later on. Apart from not wanting to lie to her, she was also my confidant. I want to tell her that part of my life because I knew I would have her back no matter what. It was also fun to share my love story with someone.

“Martha didn’t tell me in full detail because she didn’t know much either, but I think I know what happened. He met his mate, didn’t he?” Roselle’s wary eyes looked at me. For a girl her age, she sure knew many things about couples. Perhaps because she was smart and observant.

“Don’t worry, sister. I’m sure you’ll meet yours in time too.” Rose gave me an assuring smile but I couldn’t smile back.

“How can I do that though? Dad submitted my name to be one of the candidates in the hunt for the Alpha’s wife.”

I didn’t understand why Dad had to do that. What if I would be chosen and meet my fated mate later on? Did he even think what kind of pain he would put me into?

“I don’t understand,” Rose interrupted my thoughts. “Does the alpha have no fated mate? If he hasn’t met her yet, why choose someone else?”

It also occurred to me. Alphas from other districts, most of them, their partners were their fated mates. It was believed it would create a stronger bond that would make the pack prosper. There were also those who had their chosen mates, the one they chose and not the one destined for them. It was either caused by rejection or death of the fated mate.

Rejecting a fated mate could be lethal, the reason why it wasn’t practiced by many. Based on what I heard, most of those who rejected their mates died. The elders said it was the price they had to pay for not abiding by the law of nature. Some managed to survive because of their superior genes that could withstand the effect of breaking a mate bond.

“Rumors had it that he rejected his mate some time ago,” I said what I just heard from the gossiping maids.

I didn’t know much of the new alpha. I didn’t even know his face yet. He just recently assumed the alpha’s position after Alpha Yorrick, the former alpha who was his uncle, stepped down and left Clayburrow to chase his love. Alpha Yorrick was a man in his early thirties who had no child, so the alpha’s position automatically went to his only nephew.

Alpha Calix, the new alpha, didn’t grow up in Clayburrow though. He grew up in Rampshire and only arrived in the district recently to take care of his uncle’s responsibilities.

“An invitation from the Alpha’s residence, Miss,” Martha came to my room later that night.

I read what was written on the card and it said the Alpha’s residence would be hosting a party tomorrow night.

It also said the five selected ladies where the Alpha’s wife would be chosen from would be announced at the party.