Chapter 11: Party Accident

Bonnie's POV

After the run with the Alpha, I recognized his unique scent. I was dazzled by Damian, and I was sure he was my mate. He kept resonating the words, "Mate, Mate!" I felt the mate pull me, and I couldn't resist it. Sheena wanted to place her snout next to his neck, and I had this overwhelming urge to nip him.

However, after the run and frolicking in the forest all night, reality struck. The following day, we ran back to the pack house. But before we reached there, I didn't want to shift with the Alpha. I paused in the clearing and signaled to him that he should go ahead of me. He shifted back as I mind-linked him and said, "We can't show up together because Elise will have a fit, and what about her parents and yours?" He agreed, "Okay, we'll have to address this soon, but not today." Then he left me alone. When he was gone, I ran to where my T-shirt and shorts were placed and shifted back. Then I quickly dressed and ran to the pack house.

As I approached, I saw Elise, who was shooting daggers in my direction. I quickly found Nathan, and he said under his breath, "You smell just like Brian; tell me, What were you two up to? Everyone else came back hours ago except you two." I explained that I shifted late, and I also told him I had fallen asleep in the forest, and the Alpha didn't want to wake me up. He waited until I was ready, and then we came back.

Nathan said, "Okay, let me take you home before you know who comes close enough and smells his scent on you." We left promptly. My thoughts were all over the place. What would I do when Nathan leaves? I would have no one to cover for me. I was already missing this guy before he left.

Before I knew it, it was Monday morning. Classes were as usual, and I realized my first assignments were due. I called Stella, the secretary, and asked her to let the boss know I would be at the office in the afternoon at two. My studies had to take precedence over everything else, so I went to the library after class, completed my first research, and began the introduction of my assignments. After that, I headed to the train station and then to Walters.

As I entered the fifteenth floor, my sense of smell was heightened after the shift, and I could smell him stronger than before. My mate! I heard Sheena say, Mate, Mate! I told Sheena, "Be careful. He needs to handle his business with Elise before we can accept him." Sheena was upset and started prancing back and forth in my head. I told her, "Sheena, settle down." She was an obedient and gentle she-wolf, so she settled down. His scent got stronger as we approached the CEO's office.

I entered Alpha's office, and he saw me approach. Brian walked over and hugged me, burying his face in my neck. I could now hear Damian saying, "Hello, Little Mate." Sheena came forward and replied, "Hello, Big Boy!" She nuzzled him as well, and both Brian and I could feel the love and closeness of these two wolves whose bond transcended beyond time.

In my mind, I knew I had to make my request known to the Alpha. We couldn't behave like this without someone discovering that we were fated mates.

I backed away after the hug and said, "Alpha, we need to talk." He said, "I have fifteen minutes before the next meeting. I hope that is enough time for you for now."

I said, "Alpha, you are engaged to my cousin. It doesn't matter that you are my mate. We must restrain ourselves until you resolve the engagement arrangements with your parents and Elise's parents. I request that you and Damian stay away from me and Sheena." He said, "I opened the conversation with my mom, and she said, 'Fated mates are a myth; there needs to be a merger between our two companies, Walters and Rossen IT, so that Walters and Rossen will become the largest conglomerate in North America after this marriage, and Bonnie and Nathan are well suited as Elise and you, Brian. I will have to approach my dad about it and see if he would convince Mom and release me from the selected mate bondage that they are using to benefit the company."

I said, "If that is the case, then stay the hell away from me and my wolf. It's either we are together for good or not together at all." Alpha and I agreed to a working relationship until this matter is resolved.

On the night of the party, I took my time to dress. I first drew my bath and poured in vanilla rose essence and vanilla bath bombs, as well as rose petals. I soaked for an hour and then came out to get dressed. I first did my makeup, using light colors to bring out my youth and waif-like appearance. I pulled my hair back and looked at myself in the mirror and knew I looked stunning. I ensured my bronzer and highlights complimented my golden skin. Then I put on my champagne-glittered dress with a lower back and a slit right up to my left thigh. When I glanced in the mirror, my eyes sparkled, and my skin glowed ablaze with color. I looked gorgeous.

Little did I know that Elise's plans were in the making.

Stepping into the party room, I became the center of attention as every pair of eyes turned in my direction. It felt like I had stepped into a fairy tale – an elegant, radiant princess making her grand entrance.

Amidst the crowd of guests, I made my way toward Nathan and greeted him warmly with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. However, a surge of nervousness overcame me as I noticed Brian, my fated mate, observing our embrace. To dispel this overwhelming emotion, I engaged in mingling with the other partygoers, extending warm greetings and pleasant conversation to everyone I encountered.

Soon, it became evident that I needed a brief respite from the festivities.

Leaving the bustling hall behind, I made my way to the washroom, needing a moment of solitude amidst the lively party. As I washed my hands and glanced at myself in the mirror, I suddenly felt a pair of hands on my shoulders. Panic shot through me as I was grabbed from behind, and before I could react, a sack was forcefully pulled over my head. Darkness enveloped me.

Hours later, when I opened my eyes, I found myself in a darkened room, disoriented and unable to figure out where I was or how I got there.

Brian's POV

As I arrived at the Walter's Kingdom hotel, I headed straight for the ballroom, where Elise was overseeing the final preparations for the party. Approaching her, I couldn't help but compliment her on her appearance and the splendid job she had done with the hall.

"Elise, you look beautiful," I told her with a smile. "You did an amazing job with this hall. I liked the plans you sent me; they are well put together." She thanked me for the compliment and invited me to stay by her side to greet the arriving guests, but I had something important on my mind.

"After the party, I need to talk with you," I informed her. She agreed, "Okay, Brian, we will."

As the evening progressed, it was already eight o'clock, and there was no sign of Bonnie McTavern. I began to wonder if she would even show up. My gaze remained fixed on the entrance, anxiously awaiting her arrival. At eight-thirty, Elise reminded me that it was time to go to the microphone and declare the party open.

I stepped up to the microphone and began by welcoming everyone. However, before I could officially announce the party's commencement, a distinct scent of vanilla and honey wafted through the air, catching my attention. I looked up, and my jaw dropped as I heard Damian's voice exclaim, "Holy Shit! My mate is drop-dead beautiful."

In walked Bonnie, and all eyes turned toward her. She appeared like an elegant fairy princess, shimmering and radiant. Her skin seemed to glow with a dewy smoothness, and her makeup was flawless. She moved with grace, almost gliding rather than walking, and her elegance was truly captivating. My heart sank as I watched her hug and kiss Nathan on the cheek. I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming surge of jealousy toward my younger brother. I wanted to confront him just because my fated mate had embraced and kissed him. I had to struggle to keep my emotions in check before I made a fool of myself, so I promptly declared the party open.

Throughout the evening, I observed Bonnie as she moved around, greeting everyone with charm and grace. However, at some point, I realized that I hadn't seen her for a while, and it appeared as if she had vanished from the room. I needed to find her before anyone else did.

As the evening progressed and it was time to raise a toast to Nathan, someone handed him a glass of champagne. I initiated the good wishes by expressing how much he would be missed and expressing hope that his job in Milan would be more rewarding than his job in New York. The crowd cheered with a resounding "Here, here!" Nathan placed his glass on the table and turned to hug me in gratitude for my kind words. As the Alpha, I raised my glass to toast my brother's success in Milan, echoing the sentiments of Gamma Louis, Nathan's buddy.

However, after consuming that glass of champagne, I suddenly began to feel hot and flustered. I hurried to the washroom, intending to splash some cold water on my face to regain composure. My steps were unsteady, and I could barely make it to the washroom before I felt like I was losing control. It seemed that the alcohol had hit me fast, likely because I hadn't eaten since breakfast and had missed lunch. I washed and dried my face multiple times, but the dizziness persisted. Then, I felt myself collapsing, and someone caught me.

The last thing I remembered was the sensation of someone touching my thighs before everything went black.