CHAPTER 3

Pierre's POV

You are invited to attend

A Black Tie Event

Induction Ceremony for the new leaders of the Scarlet Union

May 17,  2021 | 7 PM

The Lunar Shrine Hotel and Casino

As I carefully read the details on the black tie invitation which Alpha Lexington had secured for me and my Beta Jaxon Smith, I was overcome with anticipation.

As this was a fancy event, I made sure to be at my best. For this occasion, I chose to wear a black tie dinner jacket with satin lapels and shawl collar. As for the black tie itself, I selected something that was proportionate to my head. Finally, I finished the look by putting a white handkerchief at the left breast pocket of my dinner jacket and wore a pair of polished black shoes. As the leader of the Legion of the North, I would ensure to leave an impactful image among their circle. As the saying goes, first impressions always last. 

"Nervous, Alpha Pierre?" My Beta and best friend Jax asked. We were currently handing out invitations to the receptionist who asked somebody to lead us to where the function hall was. 

"Psh. Of course not. Why would I?" I smirked. Jax caressed the back of his head  in response. 

"Liar!" A voice inside me had said. It was my wolf Ceres, trying to tease me.

"Shut up, dog!" I responded. "Of course I am nervous. But Jax should not know. The last thing I want is for him to chicken out on this mission. So shut the fuck up!" 

"Whatever!" I saw my grey-eyed wolf turn his back as a sign of surrender before disappearing from my thoughts. It was a relief knowing that he was not trying to be complicated as he normally was. The last thing I wanted for this evening was to pacify a wolf with tantrums.  I was preoccupied with a lot of things already.

Tonight, we would be in a hostile territory. Some said this was a suicide knowing that we would be within the enemy's region. However, we came in prepared.  If a fight would transpire, we wouldn't go down that easily.

In the first place, I wouldn't be an alpha if I was weak. If they would provoke us, hell would break loose. 

We already reached a small table where the guests were approaching to register. Me and Jaxon looked at each other. As the staff read out my name, I saw the horror registered on her face. 

It was normal for her to feel this way. I am the enemy's leader after all.

"Don't worry, I won't bite," I told her. She tried to pose a smile yet continued to tremble at my presence. 

"I know you wouldn't, sir," she responded.

"But I hate those who were revealing my true identity before I can even introduce myself properly," I added. Looking at her more terrified face, it gave me satisfaction. 

 She handed us a couple of papers for some instructions and in return, I made sure to wink at her before storming off towards the door. When I checked the papers, they were already displaying different names. The plan of threatening the staff worked. 

"You sure know how to intimidate people, Alpha." Jaxon chaffed as we entered the hall. I answered him with a devilish smile. 

As we were inside, we saw a couple of notable members of the Scarlet Union. I saw the alpha of the Moon Chasers pack, the largest ally of the union sharing a table with other famous strong-pack leaders. There were some human associates as well. They were those who knew about our world through business and social functions. Some were billionaires in their own rights.

When we reached our table, Jaxon uttered a question. "What do you think the new leader will look like?

"Psh. The hell I care about his looks," I hissed. "One thing's for sure, I'll dedicate my entire life making sure he and his group will no longer taint the werewolf civilization with their rubbish principles."

"Well, cheers to that!" Jaxon said as he raised his glass and gulped the red liquid inside it. 

A few moments later, we heard the voices of the hosts echoing the function hall. The ceremony had started. This is it. It's time to do what we came here for.  

Suddenly, a sweet floral smell engulfed my nostrils. It reminded me of my youth, the time when me and my brother were racing through the Crustwick Mountains during spring time.

Lily of the Valley, I uttered to myself. But unlike the enchanting white flowers hanging like fairy bells, I knew that this smell was different. It gave me a feeling of peace and tranquility. As the scent intoxicated me with it's charm, my wolf emerged from my thoughts jumping up and down wagging its tail like a pup.

"It's her!" Ceres exclaimed excitedly. I rose up from my chair trying to look for the source of the exhilarating fragrance. This alerted Jaxon and with a puzzled look, he asked, "What's wrong, Alpha?" 

"She's here and I need to find her."

"Who?" He continued. "Who was it that you needed to find?"

I gazed at him grinning from ear to ear and whispered, "My mate." 

Jax's jaw dropped on the floor. His eyes twinkled with joy. "No way!" He exclaimed. "Our Luna is here too? What are the odds?"

"Well, that's fate my friend. I dare not question the moon goddess' will," I chuckled. 

"And neither do I," he answered. "Find her and I'll cover for you."

"Like you should!" I joked. I tapped his left shoulder before storming off and tracking the owner of that smell. 

Who would have thought that I would find my long-awaited mate in this event. Of all the parties and social gatherings I had involved myself over the last few years, who would think that I would meet her here? In the very presence of our enemies was my Luna waiting to be found by me. 

A lot of things are going through my mind. Like what the hell was she doing at the enemy's lair? Was she one of the distinguished guests in this event? Or perhaps she was one of the servants being forced to cater to their needs as a slave. The last thought made me clench my teeth and balled my fist. If I found out that my mate was taken advantage of by the Union, blood would definitely spill.

I might have been so preoccupied with the excitement of seeing my mate that I didn't notice the time. I had been scrounging this sea of people for the last 10 minutes trying to find her to no avail. "Where are you, mate?" I asked blankly.

Unfortunately, my mysterious lily of the valley was nowhere to be found. For some reason, her fragrance, which was my only way of finding her, had faded slowly until it disappeared into the thin air. 

Us werewolves were like jars with lids. Everybody has one designated to complete our existence. Our mates, or soulmates in another term, were like an important piece of a puzzle. Our lives will never be completed unless we have found them.

Normally, werewolves would start finding their mates once they had turned 18, the time when they should start transforming on their wolf forms. Some were lucky enough like Jaxon who had found his mate and now wife Lysa a few months after his 18th birthday. Others are like me who are still waiting patiently for our lives to be entwined. But tonight, all of that will change. 

"It's your fault, slowpoke!" My wolf Ceres rolled his eyes on me. "We should have caught up on the smell if you didn't dawdle."

"C'mon, dog!" I complained.  "This is not a good time to put the blame on me. We need to-"

My world fell on a sudden halt. For a moment, I felt like the world had stopped revolving. As my eyes were fixed in that direction, the galvanizing aroma of the darling of spring time engulfed my soul once again. 

There she was, standing in the pool of black and white wearing her gorgeous scarlet dress. The silhouette gown is embracing her curve in perfection, flattering every inch of her damn steamy body. 

It was my mate. My freakin' hot mate!

I had met a lot of girls in my 25 years of existence yet I had never been too attracted to anyone the way I was drawn to this lady in red ever before. This might be the mate bond I kept on hearing about. 

Her pair of emerald eyes glittered like stars in a clear night sky. When she flipped her long and wavy hair, the gesture took my breath away. Damn! This woman bewitched me! I felt like I fell into her love spell that I am ready to do everything she would ask me to. 

Observing her from a distance felt like heaven already. What more could I feel once I branded and claimed her as mine? It would be pure euphoria for sure!

A few moments later, a young man approached her giving a kiss on her cheeks as a sign of greeting. A mild growl escaped my throat unintentionally. Though I know that there wasn't any malice in that kiss and that it was only performed as a social etiquette, I still didn't like the fact that another man was kissing my mate. At this point, I still haven't gotten her name yet the mate bond was already kicking taking over my reasoning and logical thinking in a swift motion. In the blink of an eye, I was out of myself completely.

"What are you waiting for? Go and get our mate!" Shouted Ceres inside my mind. Upon hearing this, I was brought back to my senses. As I inched closer to my mate, my knees began to shake. Drops of sweat formed on my forehead. My heart pounded like a wild horse in the wilderness. I felt like my rib cage was going to explode! 

This couldn't be happening. Nothing in this world could make the great Pierre Morrison intimidated. There is no freakin' way I would get affected by anyone, especially a woman!

Yet my body, mind and soul were stating otherwise. I was completely useless in the sight of this woman.

Damn! What's wrong with me?

"And now, the moment we have all been waiting for." It was the emcee getting into the highlight of the evening. "It is my greatest honor to introduce you to the new leader of the Scarlet Union. Let us all welcome, Miss Shey Alexandra Collins!"

A great round of applause echoed in the function hall after the announcement. I saw everyone stood up, honoring the person that was recently introduced. Honestly, I wasn't prepared to hear that the new head of the werewolf rebels was a woman. But nothing could ever prepare me into what was unfolded right in front of my eyes. 

I saw my beautiful mate move from her direction going to the center stage. As she walked, the spotlight was following her. Everyone continued clapping until she reached the pedestal.

That was when everything dawned on me. I stepped back, feeling that the whole world had fallen on my shoulders. Just when I thought that everything was in order, I was slapped by the harsh reality.

My mate was the new head of the Scarlet Union! I was destined to be paired with the very person I vowed to destroy! 

Oh, goddess of the moon! What did I do to deserve this fate?