Ashira's POV.
One last look at the mirror and I nodded to myself, content with my reflection. This was the best I could do anyway.
I was completely dressed up, ready to attend the Ball. I fixed my face with a light foundation since I was not a fan of it. I made my eyes in a light smoky black shade, just to emphasize the green, and put some mascara on.
I needed not to contour my face since its contrast was all in the right places — also, I didn't know how to contour. My lips were in the shade of nude pink. My cheeks were naturally rosy and the thin foundation didn't cover it, so no need to put blush on.
My hair fell straight to my waist not needing a straightener.
I grabbed the invitation card, felt my own life depended on this piece of paper, and headed out of the room.
Ava, jump-walking close to me, greeted me. She was fully dressed and ready to go. "Oh, my God! I've waited for you to come out!" she exclaimed.
My eyebrows flickered, I didn't know she was. "What? Why?" I asked and started walking down the hall. I thought Ava get along with the four girls with us.
"Well, the girls will come in twos, that left me without one so I waited for you. I don't want to go alone!" She was hyper. I wondered if her wolf kept running in circles inside her. She was full of energy.
"Sorry, I didn't know. You could've told me," I said, pointing to my head, referring to our mind link.
"I can't reach you at all. Your mind portal was closed," she pouted.
She was wearing a blue long dress with sleeves and a plunging neckline. Her blonde wavy hair complemented the dress.
I stopped walking and looked at her. "What?" I didn't block her or anyone in my mind. I didn't know what she was saying. "I did not block you."
"Oh, I'm not saying you did. It happens sometimes when we have a lot to think about, we unconsciously close our portal. You must be too excited, too." She grinned at me and shrugged. I knew what she was saying but I had full control of my wolf. My portal never closed without my permission. And I had no ounce of excitement in my nerves at all.
My forehead was knotted to the ground floor, bothered by what Ava had said.
'Did you purposely block my mind?' I asked my wolf but she was not talking to me. What game was she playing now?
At 30 minutes to 7:00, a shuttle would pick up every guest in the guesthouse to where the Ball would be held—to the packed building.
I bet their huge hall in that building will be the venue.
I noticed our number was not too much. Every She-Wolf with me came from different packs but we were around 50. No more no less.
Five 18-seater vans were parked outside the building, waiting for us. Anton, who welcomed us yesterday was upfront, eyeing everyone with a smile.
"Okay, I guess everyone's here. Good evening, ladies!" He winked at us. I was guessing this one was a player. "Hop yourselves in the van, a group of ten in each vehicle."
I and Ava hopped on the last van, together with eight ladies.
The van moved now and I heard cheery tiny screams from the ladies with me, Ava as well. Everyone seemed overly excited, I understood that though I didn't feel the same.
At the ball, there was no need for me to be anxious for a mateless wolf. Every male wolf that would be present tonight were those 18 years old and above men looking for their mates, too.
Since Prime Pack members were over 500, I was sure the ball would be packed with males.
"Have you heard? Their Alpha is still mateless!" one of the girls in the van said.
I knew the Alpha's name was Aiden. He was 23 years old and mateless yet. I'd heard stories that he was good-looking and has the perfect sculptured body. Alpha Aiden started his title when he was 15. The late Alpha James, Aiden's father, died early. He needed Aiden to took over the pack at a young age. I read it all on Eric's pack documents before.
"Really?" It was Ava who joins the girls' conversation.
"Really. I wonder if the Alpha will find his mate tonight."
Everyone let out a high-pitched "yieeee" and probably wished it would be them.
I scoffed. I never thought I will mate with an Alpha. When I was yet to know I'm a stealer, I never wished to be mates with an Alpha either. I'd seen how Luna Maria was, Alpha David's mate from Regal. She looked loved, yes, but almost caged.
Alphas tended to be possessive of their mates. Obsessed. It was understandable since pack enemies often go for Lunas’ heads and kill the Alpha's mate. It was one way of winning a war. The Alpha underwent hell pain and its wolf mourned, making them worthless to fight back.
We'd reached the pack building. Loud music and strobe lights were sighted. The Primes' annual mapping party must be modern style. We, at Regal, performed the classic style, hugging the tradition.
Ladies from the first van went inside the pack building hall. When it was our turn to hop out of the van, the girls with me were exhilarating. Ava even clutched my arm tight, letting out a high-pitched yelp.
We were formed in line. One by one, we'd enter the hall where every mateless male wolf would be.
"We're about to start." The host of the party was Nick, the Beta I met earlier today. He was up there where everyone could see him. Not bothering by using a microphone since each of us had enhanced hearing. He took a glimpse of me and nodded his head, smiling.
I guess Nick did not find his Alpha. Alphas were the ones in charge of hosting pack tradition events like this. But since the Beta was the one up there, I was thinking the Alpha was still a runaway.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Before we start this event, I ask every male who can't smell your mates here tonight to go home or get back to your work," he said.
The men inside the hall scattered and only a few of them were left. At first, they were hundreds and now they were down to below fifty.
I guess some of us wouldn't meet our mates tonight.
"Let us begin," Nick said and everyone stood in their tracks, knowledgeable of what to do next while I just followed them. I was unaware of how this ceremony worked. If only Lucy were here then someone might have enlightened me.
I watched what was happening to some girls who were first in line. They walked inside the hall, stopping at a certain point, not too much in the center, and male wolves gathered in a curved line.
A few seconds and one male wolf stepped forward. Low growls came from his lips, looking intently at the lady's eyes.
"Mine," the male said to the She-Wolf. The male's blue eyes turned pitch black, his wolf taking over. His canines were showing as he dipped his head on the girl's neck, smelling her scent before burying his teeth where he should, claiming the She-Wolf in front of everybody.
Soft gasps and growls came from the girl's mouth, savoring the pain and pleasure from the male wolf's claim. I wondered how that felt. I had never been bitten in my whole existence.
Once done, they walked away from the center and moved their way to the side, to the tables. Their eyes shone with affection, bodies close to each other.
The line went on and on. The same thing repeated over and over again. They claimed in front of everyone and settled to the side. Some girls didn't have mates. No one moving forward for them meant their mate might be somewhere else, on a mission, or dead within the last five days. The last one was tragic.
Ava was one of them. No one walked forward for her.
Her mate was not present. And she cried hard once she was sitting on the side. I wanted to hug her and comfort her. She must have felt devastated wondering where her mate was. Or if he still was alive. She was so excited about all of this, yet she didn't find hers.
I wanted to go to her, but Nick called my attention.
"Hey, river girl! It's your turn," he said, waving at me with a smile plastered on his face. I blushed upon realizing I was holding up the line.
I stepped forward and stopped at the point where everyone was stopping. I eyed every male wolf left in front of me and noticed no one was making a move forward.
Thoughts flew in my head. Damned fuck! I had no mate here as well?!
Just before I was feeling pity for Ava, and now I felt agitated. Angry. Almost frustrated. I could not live another year being afraid that danger might find me! I needed my damn mate now!
I needed my wolf to know where she belonged, so I wouldn't be stolen!
"Ohh... I guess your mate's not here too, river girl," Nick said with a pitying voice. That was my cue to step out of there and walk to where Ava was.
"Sucked, huh?" I said to Ava. Not looking at her, just hearing her sobs and heavy sighs. I was far from crying, I was furious.
I needed to find my mate and for all time, he figured to be away now or even dead!
"I hoped for him," Ava cried once again. Hard sobs now, trying to control and not make a loud sound.
I sighed. If only I could tell him how blessed she was.
"Don't worry. You'll find him soon."
"That depends," she cried again, now sounding a bit childish. "If he does not die before that time comes!"
I chose to be silent. She had a point but for me, if her mate will be dead soon, she was lucky she hadn't met him. Or else she won't survive that blow Having a mate bond was like being gifted with another life, another wave of feelings and happiness. Losing them, it was better to be dead.
"Excuse me. Those who didn't find their mates tonight may go back to the guesthouse or enjoy the rest of the party." A She-Wolf attended to us and gave an apologetic smile before turning her back on us.
Five of us failed to meet our mates tonight.
"I'll stay," one said.
"Me, too. Might as well enjoy the night."
Ava wiped her tears and crinkled her nose. "I'll enjoy this then," she said.
I smiled at her slowly building confidence again.
"Their Alpha is not around, right? I didn't see him," one girl noticed.
Not only did I notice it, I was thinking of how irresponsible the Alpha was for running away and leaving tradition like this.
"Yeah. I'll wait for him, maybe he's mine!" one girl chirped and I couldn't help but raise my brows. It was not wrong, what she said, but if they already knew the Alpha left his responsibility, then why dream of having a mate like that?
Every girl with me scattered and start doing what they wanted to do. They ate or get a drink or danced with their she-males. Ava also stood on her feet and asked me if I'd like to eat. I humbly declined, feeling far from hungry.
Ava went to the food table and take her time thinking about what she should have.
I felt someone tap me on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Nick's beaming smile. "Oh, hey," I said, smiling back at him.
"Someone's broken-hearted," he teased. I rolled my eyes at him, my smile fading fast. He became too friendly with me though he just met me earlier. I wonder if he was just warm to people or was it my 'stealer' magnetizing male wolves?
"Shut up," I snorted and lightly punched his arm. That was so unladylike to do now while wearing all this makeup and dress.
He laughed, amused by my misery.
"You got issues," I said, my lips flat. Seriously?
Well, if I were like the rest of the She-Wolves tonight, then failing to have my mate was just meh. But I was in the matter of life and death. Not literally but yeah, death.
He laughed again. I rolled my eyes and looked around. We were attracting audiences because of his noise. I scowled at him and widened my eyes, making him stop laughing.
"Sorry. Nobody spoke to me that way, a female, I mean."
"You're being too friendly with me." I raised one brow as I said that. In my pack, no one except Lucy wanted to be around me. And his actions now made me question it.
"I am? Well, you're not hard to be with." He shrugged. "What are your plans now that you're broken?" He grinned playfully.
I rolled my eyes again and decided to ignore his teasing. "I'll probably go back to the guesthouse. I'm not a party person."
He grunted, probably hating my plan. "You'll waste the evening that way. Come, dance with me." He offered his hand and I just looked at it. He seemed nice, Nick. But not my type.
"You're not my type," I said, ignoring his hand. He laughed hard at my words.
"And now you're being hard to be with. Come, I'm not into you either," he said half-laughing making my brows raise.
He then sighed and snatched my hand, pulling me onto the dance floor. Soft music was played, perfect for slow dancing.
He snaked his arms on my waist, pulling me closer to his body. I rolled my eyes again, feeling uncomfortable with all the eyes lingering on us.
"How does it feel to dance with the Beta?" he playfully said, full of his self-confidence again.
"My Dad is a Beta. You do not affect me at all." I grinned when his face got knotted, hating how I destroyed his confidence easily.
"Not from the strongest pack though." He grinned. I just laughed at how he tried to pull himself up again. I didn't argue with him on that one. He was probably stronger than Eric and Cruz.
"What's your name by the way?"
"I'm surprised you'd ask," I laughed. He got angry with me, whined at me, joked around me, and told me a secret yet he hadn't asked my name but now.
He chuckled. "I forgot to."
"Ashira," I said, smiling.
"You look good toni—"
His words were cut off when a loud growl from upstairs took everyone's attention. From the sound of it, it was from someone powerful. Powerful enough to make everyone's tails tuck and shake. I got scared, too, only slightly; my wolf was too confident right now that I seemed to be less affected by it.
We looked up but before we could see who was up there, a man fell on his feet in front of us, making a perfect dismount. I watched as he bent his knees to support his weight from the impact.
I was welcomed by a pair of deep red eyes, my senses getting all flared up. He was an Alpha. My Alpha!
'Mate!' my wolf joyed! I want to be relieved as well but his anger starts cowering on me. I could feel myself shaking.
Alpha Aiden was my mate!
He was furious. Anger and pain were all over his face. He looked at me with disgust and affection. I didn't know those two expression could be combined but it's what was written on his face.
His heavenly scent lingered in my nose and almost made my mouth water. Despite his anger, I was surprisingly attracted to him, too much that I want to throw myself on him, to have him wrap his arms around my body. I wanted to feel his warmth. Now!
My wolf was making me crazy. I controlled her thoughts before she took me over, scared of being ashamed in front of his people.
He shot a look at Nick and Nick stepped back a few steps, dragging me with him.
Aiden snapped his glare towards Nick's arms wrapped around me. I could smell danger, a feeling that he would burst any moment now. And my instincts didn't fail me!
Alpha Aiden let out a loud growl towards Nick and me, making Nick's hand drop to his side and step away from me.
"She's mine!" he growled loudly, saying the words to Nick who was almost pale, head down, cowering from his Alpha's power. Afraid, tail-tucked.
Aiden grabbed my arm tight, pulling me closer to him. I felt electricity shoot through my being when his skin touched mine. His eyes softened as soon as my body smacked with his, feeling secure over what was his. He sniffed my head and his arm circled my waist, tugging on it tightly that I'm sure his claws ripped through that part of my dress. My eyes closed on their own when his head lowered on my neck, inhaling my scent.
I was lost the moment his breath touched my skin, and when he kissed the part where the claim should be, I moaned softly. He growled softly upon feeling my reaction, I could sense his arousal, his heat was calling for mine.
I blushed at the thought that everyone in this room might smell how aroused I was. With that thought, I hid my face in Aiden's chest.
"How dare you!" His growl was pointed to Nick who still had his head low, eyes focused on the ground. One of my hands clutched on his shirt while the other tugged on his arm. I looked him in the eyes and then at the people around us, sending him a message to not cause trouble in the middle of this ceremony.
He closed his eyes shut and growled before looking back to Nick.
"I'll deal with you later," he snarled at him before looking around, his chin was up, and looking confident... powerful. "The rest of you enjoy the evening," he ordered before walking away from the crowd and the eyes of his people.
Dragging me along with him.