Chapter 17

I inquired, "Who are you?"

A smile graced his face as he gazed at me. This man, tall, handsome, and with a fair complexion, was undoubtedly a vampire.

His scent gave him away, and I instinctively took a step back as he approached me.

"If you assist me in gaining entry, I can grant you anything you desire," he said, his smile unwavering.

"What on earth are you talking about?! Stay away from me," I responded firmly.

"Alpha and Bloody Scar packs often collaborate, don't they?" I questioned.

"Yes, so what now?!" I replied with determination.

"Please, calm down. I merely sought your aid in infiltrating the castle alongside the Bloody Scar pack," he explained.

"And why should I do that? Why would I help you?" I asked him sternly.

Suddenly, Alpha Henrick materialized before us, causing the man to become frightened and vanish from my sight. Alpha Henrick approached me, his expression filled with concern. I raised an eyebrow at him, summoning the courage to meet his gaze.

"I have been searching for you for quite some time, and here you are," he said gravely.

"Do you know about the upcoming gathering?! Let us return, Clara," he added.

"I don't want to. Leave me alone, Alpha. I have no desire to partake in that gathering," I insisted.

"Why?!" he demanded firmly.

"I have no purpose there. What would I even do?" I questioned.

"I need you there, Clara. You cannot be absent from the pack's gathering. You are destined to be my Luna, and thus, you must be present," he responded earnestly.

"Aryana is there, so you no longer require my presence," I persisted.

"Are you jealous of Aryana?" he asked, a smile playing on his lips.

His words caused me to furrow my brow, and I immediately denied any feelings of jealousy. However, he took hold of my hand and pressed a gentle kiss to it. I found myself holding my breath as I stared at him in that moment.

"You need not be jealous, for you are the only one I desire as my Luna. You are my one and only mate, Clara," he whispered softly, his lips still lingering on my hand.

Suddenly, a fluttering sensation erupted in my stomach, and I felt an undeniable shift within me. I tried to suppress it, but I could no longer resist.

During that time, I had this strong desire to possess him, even though he wasn't ready to possess me yet. However, he gently pushed me away, creating a distance between us.

"Please, let's return ," he pleaded.

"You go ahead! I was here first," I firmly declined.

I heard her let out a sigh, and to my surprise, he chose to accompany me. But for some reason, I couldn't stand being around him.

After a while, I made the decision to go back to the castle with him. As we entered the castle, we were greeted by the women, including Martha. My eyes scanned the room, searching for Aryana, and after a moment, I spotted her. She approached us, greeting Alpha Henrick with a warm smile. My blood boiled at the sight of this woman. I tightened my grip on Alpha's arm.

"Hi, Alpha," Aryana greeted with a smile.

"Hello, Aryana. Have you been here before?" Alpha Henrick inquired.

I felt an overwhelming annoyance towards both of them. This woman was incredibly flirtatious in her speech. I caught her glancing at me from head to toe. We locked eyes for a moment, and I shot her an evil glare. She simply smiled, as if teasing me.

Alpha Henrick bid me farewell, stating that he needed to go to the front to announce Elijah's birthday celebration. I noticed Elijah walking towards the front, and I knew Alpha had noticed too. I smiled, thinking that he would be jealous.

After Elijah spoke in front, he approached me and glanced in my direction. However, he simply passed me by, choosing to approach Aryana instead of me.

Alpha Henrick came towards me, wearing a sweet smile. He invited me to join him at the dining table for the party. A lavish spread of food had been prepared for Elijah. I observed how happy he looked in the presence of his cousin, Aryana. But I couldn't help but feel irritated when I caught Alpha Dior and Aryana exchanging glances. Alpha smiled at her so sweetly that I couldn't help but interpret their gazes with suspicion.

I got up and announced that I needed to take a shower. Alpha Henrick nodded and I made my way to the bathroom. As I washed my face and looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance towards Aryana. She was going to be an obstacle in my plans to win over the Alpha. Maybe it wasn't jealousy, but it was definitely frustrating.

When I emerged from the bathroom, I saw Alpha Henrick and Aryana laughing and having a good time. I couldn't help but feel irritated by her presence. I sat down next to Alpha and began to caress his thigh, but he pulled away. I whispered sweetly to him, enjoying the jealousy in Aryana's eyes.

As the night went on, Alpha Henrick became more and more drunk. He asked me to be his mate, and I could see Aryana's jealousy growing. I suggested we go to his room, and he agreed. Aryana offered to help, but I declined. I knew that Alpha Henrick listened to me more, and I relished in the power I had over her. As we walked down the hallway, Alpha Henrick leaned heavily on me, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.