A Strong Luna

Jaque POV

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He suddenly got up, not minding that he was naked.

He paced back and forth in front of me, feeling confused and stressed.

"Adam, what's the matter?" I asked, a bit worried. I sat up and clenched the duvet tight to cover my bareness. My gaze was fixed on him.

He abruptly stared at me, his mouth hung ajar. He shook his head when he saw a blood spot on the mattress.

"Jaque!" he muttered. I could barely hear his voice, but it sounded gloomy. "I...I didn't expect this!" what?!

I got up still holding the duvet and ambled towards him, but he stepped back. Was he avoiding me now? "Adam, we're mates. This is bound to happen. What do you mean you didn't expect this?"

He messed his hair, feeling frustrated. A loud groan escaped his lips as he lifted his head like he was asking for an answer from the ceiling. "Why? Why her?"

Why me?! Was that what he meant?

"Why me what?" I questioned. My tone sounded a bit straightforward.

It took him a while before he dropped his ridiculous answer. "Jaque, what happened to us last night was a mistake!" was he f*cking kidding me?

"Mistake?!" my tears were about to leak. Except for my mom, no one had ever seen me cry yet.

"Yes, mistake!" he was confident with his words. He stood straight and fixed his gaze at me. "I thought you were Jasmine!"

"What?!" he thought I was my stepsister?! "You thought my stepsister was your mate, and you f*cked last night?!" my mouth went agape with the sudden realization.

Was he expecting Jasmine last night? Was he regretting everything that happened to us?!

"Jaque!" he stepped forward and raised his hand to touch my face, but I moved to the side. He pursed his lips and surrendered. "I'm sorry!" he shook his head, pain was displayed in his blue ocean orbs. "I have to reject you!"

I wobbled as I stepped backward. I felt a sudden dizziness that I held the headboard as my support while clenching the duvet tight. I shook my head countless times. If this was a f*cking nightmare of the day, I would like to wake up now.

"Adam, what do you mean?!" I asked him, my now teary orbs were begging for an explanation.

"I always want your stepsister Jasmine to be my mate and my Luna, not you. Not a half-bred human and wolf. I want my Luna to be strong and beautiful!"

"Strong?" a slight chuckle escaped from my mouth while repeating his words. "Beautiful?!"

"You are beautiful, Jaque. But I want Jasmine. I hope you understand!" his face was stern. "I, Adam Hayes, future Alpha of Blood Moon Pack, reject you, Jaque Davis, to be my mate and my Luna!"

My chest tightened as the string of mate-bond snapped. I looked down at the cold floor, promising myself not to cry, but a snob was so stubborn that it escaped at once... and my voice, as it let out a muffled whimper.

"Adam, please... don't do this!" I beseeched, even I couldn't hear my small voice anymore. I felt like I was drowning.

"Jaque, I can't sacrifice this pack for your sake!" now, there's a hint of anger in his tone. "Don't be selfish!"

Was I selfish? All my life, I had lived for others' happiness and satisfaction. The moon goddess gave me the gift of a mate and even blessed me to be with the mate I ever wanted since we were children.

But this mate didn't want me. He wanted someone else. Only because for him, I was half-human, not strong, and not beautiful enough to his liking.

Did I deserve this? I shook my head while it hung low. The tears I was trying to control fell freely to the floor. I pursed my lips tight, trying to control another whimper.

"Okay, I can't do this right now!" his aggressive tone made me step back and glance at him. "If you're not ready yet to accept my rejection, I will give you time to think about it!" he turned around and was about to head to the bathroom when I spoke, giving him my final words.

"I accept!" my voice was almost broken.

He turned back around and faced me. His mouth hung open, and his eyes meant something I couldn't define. "You accept?!" he asked like he didn't expect it.

I stepped forward and stood straight in front of him. Although my legs wobbled, I didn't show it. I wanted him to know that I was not weak even if I wasn't a pure-blood she-wolf.

"I, Jaque Davis, member of Blood Moon Pack, accept your rejection to be your mate and Luna of this pack!" my gaze was glued on him, who at the moment, couldn't utter any words.

I picked up my clothes on the floor and put them on, keeping a word to myself not to step into this room again. When I was done, I saw Adam still standing with all of his glory near the bathroom door. He was just staring at me. I clenched my sandals tight and lifted my head, "See you around, Alpha!" hopefully, those were the last words I would speak to him today. For I didn't want to see any signs of him the whole day or weeks.

It was a good thing that when I went downstairs, there was no one around. If not, they would see who Adam had s*x with last night. I didn't want to be the center of scandal or limelight.

However, just I was about to open the main door, a grip stopped me. It was Adam with his black shirt and black short pants on.

"Jaque, I don't want anyone to know that you're my mate, and I rejected you!" he whispered while glancing around.

What about the fact that we f*cked and you're my first? I wanted to burst that out loud on his face, but what could benefit me except for more embarrassment and pathetically stupid daily life of bullying.

"Okay, I understand, Alpha!" I just uttered. My tears were gone. I guessed I wasn't weak after all.

He was about to say more, but I had already turned my back on him.

As I stepped out of the Hayes Mansion, I promised myself to step out of Adam's life for good. Though it was hard, I had to accept the fact that I wasn't meant to be protected by my mate. I wasn't meant to be loved by him. I was meant to protect myself, to love myself, and to not have a mate at all.

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It took me 20 minutes to walk to our two-story home, and upon opening the door, I heard loud voices at the dining room.

"Where can she be?" that was Lauren, and she was upset. "Louis, that daughter of yours from your mistress is too much!" she was talking about me.

"Daddy, don't tell me you're not going to punish her. She went out last night. What if she went to the ball? What if she was there?!" Jasmine's tone was frantic.

A sneer appeared on my lips while listening to these nonsense blubbers. To add more bruise to their so-called wounded pride, I ambled to the dining table with my head high.

It was my father who noticed me first. He accidentally dropped his cutlery to the floor.

"Jaque?!" his eyes were almost popping out. What, daddy, did you see mom's ghost from me?!

The mother and daughter duo followed his gaze and were also shocked when they saw me wearing a dress and holding a mask in my hand.

"You left the house last night?! How dare you disobey us!"

PAK!!!

Lauren's palm hit my face, making my head move to the side. That was more painful than the slap yesterday, but it seemed like I was already immune to physical pain.

"Lauren!" my dad roared, trying to stop his mate from attacking me. Lauren backed out for a while, but it was Jasmine who pursued me this time.

"You b!tch! How dare you? How dare you go to the ball?" she pulled my hair like she had gone crazy. I screamed in pain and tried to stop her, but her grip was so strong.

"Jasmine, that's enough!" Jasmine just stopped when my father got up from his seat and slammed the table.

I was a mess. I curled myself like a ball on the floor, crying for every unfortunate thing that happened to me in this house and this pack.

"Jaque, this is all your fault!" my father, my own blood. "If you just stayed home last night, you wouldn't be in this mess!" a chuckle escaped my lips, making them hear.

What could I expect from someone like you? A cheater, a liar, a manipulator? You lied to my mom for not having another woman. You cheated on us when we found out you got Lauren pregnant. You manipulated her to keep her mouth shut till the day she died. She was your fated mate, but because she was a human, you chose Lauren over her.

You, Louis Davis, and Adam Hayes were cut from the same clothes.

The mere reason for staying in Blood Moon Pack was gone, and all I could feel now was hatred. Graduation day was approaching. The final exam had just finished. I had already decided.

I was meant to leave this pack!

The Alpha Ceremony

Jaque POV

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It had been three days since the Masquerade Ball was held, and for those days, I focused on my studies. I was glad that I didn't see Adam lurking around the packhouse and the campus. He also graduated from this school a few years ago, and as the future Alpha, he was required to check the development of every facility and the status of everything in the pack.

I hadn't seen Jasmine's shadow loitering around either. The last thing I heard was that Adam called for her presence in the mansion. She must have been jumping around like a five-year-old kid, considering her wish would be fulfilled someday.

Or perhaps...SOON!

"Hey, girl!" Kelly tapped me from behind. I was sitting alone on a picnic bench under these tall pine trees at the back of the school. My classes had ended 30 minutes ago, but I didn't want to go home yet.

"Hey!" I greeted back with a smile. She sat across from me and placed a plastic cup of iced sweet americano in front of me. "I know you're gonna need this tonight. Just in case they will order you to help wash the clothes at the packhouse again!" she added with concern showing on her glowing look.

"Thanks!" I sipped the straw, and the aroma and sweet taste of the coffee tangled with my feelings right away. "Hmm, didn't I tell you, you're an angel in disguise?!" I told Kelly while giving her a grateful smile.

"Hush! We're sisters, not maybe by blood, but for me, you're my only sister!" she cooed while tapping my hand that was resting on the table. "How are you doing?"

I knew what she meant. Kelly was the only person in the pack who knew my secret, our secret. The rejection one. She promised not to tell a single soul about it, and I believed her. Kelly and I had known each other for 10 years. We're practically like sisters now. She's a family to me.

"I'm doing good. I finally moved on!" a deep sigh escaped my lips as I glanced at the surroundings. It was autumn. The maple leaves were changing in color. Our state, Vermont, had the largest growing maple trees. They changed colors around mid-September and continued changing through October. The shades of fiery red and golden yellow were dancing in the wind on top of the mountains.

"You've moved on; you mean like you accept the job at the laundry department at night so you can avoid your evil stepmother and useless dad? To add, you're just earning a penny for that horrendous work!" she stressed out. Her tone was like my mom's if she was still alive.

"It's not horrendous at all. The omegas there are friendly and I got to save money for my plan!" I also told her about my leaving after our graduation. At first, she was adamant about letting me go. But she also realized it was for the best, especially if Adam chose Jasmine to be his Luna.

"Still, that's a hard job. You go to school in the morning, then work in the evening. Even our little Saturday bonding once in a while is sacrificed!" she pouted her lips while stomping her feet on the ground. I chuckled at that little cuteness she was showing at that moment. Kelly, for sure, could brighten my mood.

"You're adorable. How I wished you were my mate," I jeered, earning me a scowl.

"Shut up! I'm not lesbian, darling!" she jeered back. "Speaking of Luna!" she stopped chewing her egg mayo sandwich and sternly stared at me. "Our future Alpha, whose name was not to be mentioned, ugh!" I chuckled at her words and expressions. "Would be having another party tomorrow night!" extravagant, huh?! They were just throwing away cash like that!

"Party for what this time?" I also disliked the idea. Alpha Drake and Luna Rose were one of the richest in Vermont and some neighboring states, but having two parties in a week, I shared the same opinion with Kelly.

Too much and too showy!

"For our future Alpha's ceremony and the declaration of his Luna!" she rolled her eyes as she took a big chunk of her sandwich.

I was, for a while, zoned out. That must have been the reason why Jasmine had been staying in the mansion. They were preparing her for the Luna title. Impressive for the pack members who didn't know the truth!

That I was Adam's fated mate!

"Well, good for her!" I just shrugged my shoulders and was about to get up from my seat when Kelly and I heard a crisp voice I didn't want to hear.

"Hey, Jaque!" it was Jasmine.

"Oh geez! Speaking of the slut in the flesh!" Kelly whispered. The disgust on her face was visible.

"Hey, my dear sister!" she stood beside me, her hands were on her hips. Beside her were her cronies, Amanda, the cheer captain, and Zara, her full-time worshiper. Zara followed Jasmine everywhere. If Jasmine gave Zara access to our house, sure, she would like to live there for a long time.

"Yes, Jasmine!" I answered blankly. I glanced at Kelly, and she was pissed. She was gradually eating the sandwich she bought from the school canteen while her scowl was fixed on them.

"You have to do my hair tomorrow afternoon. Mom's favorite hair stylist can't come. She is in New York for her son's wedding!" as demanding as she was, she didn't realize I had classes tomorrow afternoon.

It was Kelly who cut the string of my patience. She stood up and slammed her fist on the table, making her knuckles red. I could even feel the pain in it. All three of them shifted their shocked stare at my best friend.

"What's your problem this time, Kelly?" it was Amanda while playing with the strands of her long, curly black hair.

"Oh! Don't you piss me off, all three of you!" Kelly deeply voiced out. "Jaque isn't going to do your hair tomorrow afternoon, and for the rest of your pathetic life!"

"You watch your tongue!" Amanda pointed her index at Kelly, but the latter just slapped it.

"You're talking to our future Luna here, Kelly!" Zara chimed in. She was a shoulder shorter than the rest of us but still tall at an average height. "How dare you say that to her? You wanna be punished?!" Zara was indeed enjoying being Jasmine's biggest fan.

I got up and strode to Kelly. I held her arm right away. Kelly was a sweet friend, but once she's pissed, better go away. "She's not my Luna. I will never accept her as my Luna!" Kelly spat out, making Jasmine gasp in fury.

"Kelly, I'm warning you. I'm going to be your Luna soon, and the first thing that I'm going to do is punish you!" Jasmine roared.

Their voices were so loud that some of the students were now circling us. I nudged Kelly's arm, but she was hell-bent on fighting these three wolf b!tches.

"Oh! Bring it on, b!tch!" Kelly even dared. Jasmine was now beyond furious, and so was Kelly. I kept nudging my best friend and pulling the hem of her shirt, but her mind was already clouded with rage. Rage for me, for everything they had done.

"Kelly, c'mon. Let's go!" I tried to talk to her, but she was deaf. All she wanted at the moment was to punch Jasmine and give me justice.

"You b!tch!" Jasmine raised her hand, ready to attack Kelly when an authoritative tone barged in, making us all glance behind Jasmine. "What's going on here?" it was Andrew. Behind him was Adam. His stern look was glued to me.

For a while, the three she-wolves stopped and fixed their fanatic stares at the future Alpha and future Beta. Kelly was still shaking, and her fists were held tight. Her eyes were on her brother, who didn't even care to take a slight glimpse at Adam.

"Adam, babe!" Jasmine immediately looped her hand around Adam's muscled arms. The latter just took a glance at her, then shifted back his gaze at me. "These two were bullying me. Jaque doesn't want to do my hair tomorrow for the coronation night, and Kelly just went frantic. She said she doesn't recognize me as her future Luna!" she uttered in a self-deprecating tone. Her cronies bobbed their heads in approval at once.

"Oh! I didn't say that. Know your terms, Jasmine. Buy a dictionary!" Kelly answered back. I clamped my mouth with my palm with Kelly's obvious declaration of Jasmine's stupidity. Andrew also coughed while tapping her shoulder. "I said I don't want to accept you as my Luna!" if there should be Andrew's female counterpart, that was Kelly, his own sister. They're like twins when it comes to fierceness and calmness.

"You?!" Jasmine was stupefied. She automatically cried and asked for Adam's help. "You heard that, babe. They have no respect for me!" she leaned her head on Adam's broad chest. The latter hugged her at once. If only Adam would see Jasmine's expression now, she was sneering. Even Andrew shook his head in disbelief.

"Jasmine, you should stop bullying Jaque!" Suddenly Andrew butted in. He also held my hand while giving Jasmine a dagger stare. "It's not her job to be your servant. She's your sister for f*ck sake!" he was pissed. I could tell from the tone of his voice to the tight grip of my hand.

"Andrew?!" I asked, confused. Kelly was just sneering, thinking her brother was acting as our shield and Jasmine and her friends should be worried about it.

"Andrew, what are you talking about?!" it was Jasmine. "Why are you taking their side?" Is it by any chance that Jaque is your mate?"

Everyone gasped, especially Kelly. Her vision shifted from me to her brother, who, at the moment, was also staring deeply at me.

"Andrew, what is this?" I asked in a whisper, forgetting that Adam was watching us. Andrew leaned his head closer to me with just an inch away from his mouth to my lips. "Don't worry, I got this!" he also whispered back with a smile.

"Brother, is Jaque your...mate?" Although Kelly knew that Adam was my mate, a second-chance mate could also be possible.

"Answer your sister's question, Andrew!" it was Adam with a stern tone. His sharp gaze could totally cut Andrew in half. "Is... Jaque... your ... mate?" he couldn't utter properly. He was stuttering but didn't really show it. His tone was deep and authoritative.

"I can't tell, Adam. I just don't want Jasmine to bully Jaque again. If she's going to be our future Luna, then she should act like one!" Everyone was dumbstruck at his stern voice. His eyes were fixed on Jasmine, giving her a warning. "If not, I might follow my sister's words. I can't respect and obey a Luna who bullies her pack members!"

That was rich coming from a future beta!

"Andrew, are you out of your mind?" Jasmine didn't want to admit defeat. "Babe, look at them. They're disrespecting me in front of you!" she was acting like a clingy girlfriend who couldn't live without her man beside her. He was not even his fated mate. How stupid and unscrupulous?!

Andrew glanced at me and suddenly touched my cheek. "Are you all right?" he asked. His words were laced with worries and concern. I almost jolted at the sudden electricity his touch made.

"Yeah! I'm all right. Thanks for this, but you don't have to ~"

"That's enough!" Adam roared, cutting me off. His eyes were still fixed on me. We all stared at him with our mouths hung ajar. "Tomorrow night is a very important event in Blood Moon Pack. This isn't just about the Alpha Ceremony, but the Rogue King Logan Knight is also coming!"

Logan Knight?!

All five of us glanced at each other with an awe look. We all knew about Logan Knight. He was ruthless and fearless. However, none of us, not even in other packs, had seen him in person.

A lot of speculations said that he was old since he's been the Rogue King for a decade now. Others said he was too d*mn ugly; that's why he was hiding his look from all of us. Some even said he was not real and just a myth to scare the pups in every pack.

"So, I want all of you to be on your best behavior when he comes!"

Andrew glanced at me when he noticed I was staggering. He placed his hand on my shoulder to keep me steady. When I glanced at him, he just gave me a wink. A f*cking cute wink.

"Especially you, Jaque Davis!"

What?! When I shifted my stare at Adam, I saw red on those sapphire orbs. Was he furious?!

Alpha Adam Hayes

Adam POV

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I couldn't shake the feeling when I saw Andrew's hand resting on her shoulder. The possessiveness I felt was strong. My wolf would like to snap his hand now if I didn't shove it away from the back of my head.

'That's my mate, he's touching' I heard Kylo, my wolf grumble.

'She's no longer our mate. Remember that. Jasmine is our mate now,' I roared back, earning me a growl.

'That slut is your mate, id!ot, not mine. That slut isn't my Luna. She doesn't deserve the title. Jaque is my only Luna,' I shoved Kylo far away from my sanity. Since I rejected Jaque, he had been bugging me every day and didn't want to take a run at night. He wanted me to apologize to Jaque and accept her as my mate.

However, it was too late. Something had already happened between Jasmine and me the other night. It was so fast; we were both drunk, and I couldn't even remember having sex with her. The next day, I woke up naked with her sleeping beside me. How I wished I also felt something from that sex, just like what happened between me and Jaque, but no. There's nothing I couldn't save in my memory to relish.

What's worse, I accidentally marked her!

That's why Kylo was upset with me. My wolf thought Jasmine had tricked us. She was beautiful, and I chose her to be my partner to lead this pack, but since something happened between me and Jaque, and even if the mate bond was gone, I couldn't forget her taste, her scent, the rest of her. She was so f*cking addictive!

"Alpha, what do you mean?" her melodic voice nudged my thought. Andrew and Kelly were also waiting for my explanation.

"Isn't it obvious? You're the troublemaker here!" all three of them were about to say something when I spoke again. "I don't need to explain myself here. Do you all understand?!" I roared, making all of them jolt on their spots. I couldn't believe myself. I just used my Alpha command to them, including my beta. Only because I saw Andrew intertwine his hand with Jaque, and this woman hastily accepted it.

"Adam, bro, it's not all Jaque's fault. Jasmine and her friends have also done something. Maybe we have to investigate first before we jump to conclusions!" Andrew asserted, earning him a warning stare from me. I heard his deep sigh and pursed his lips at once.

"That's what you, two, deserve when you don't respect your future Luna!" Jasmine voiced out. "Babe, what about my hair?" she held her hair to the side and tilted her neck, showing everyone the mark I gave her that night.

I saw the shocked looks Jaque and Kelly showed on their faces. While the former's face morphed into an I-don't-give-a-d*mn expression at once, the latter displayed disgust. I could totally imagine Kelly spouting 'ugh' or 'yuck'. That even made me furious.

"Let Jaque do it. Let's go, Andrew. We still have lots of stuff to do!" I turned around, not waiting for my future beta's answer. With a strong sense of hearing that we werewolves had, I heard Andrew's disapproving groan loud and clear.

I stepped aside my feelings of discomfort and ignored Andrew's anger while driving to Hayes Tower, one of the hotels we owned here in Vermont.

"Bro, I think you're too much with Jaque earlier!" Suddenly, Andrew, who was sitting on the co-pilot seat, broke the quiet atmosphere.

"What do you mean? Why are you so concerned about her? Do you like her?!" I shot him a series of questions, and he just laughed at it.

"She's beautiful and different from the she-wolves in the pack. I mean, she's not the flirt type!" f*ck I almost hit the car in front of us if I didn't step on the brake right away. "Are you all right, bro? Want me to drive?!"

I shot him dagger stares. His words hit me like a rock. "So you like her?" I confirmed. He shifted his stare at the scenery outside while his hand was on his lips. His elbow that was resting on the window propped his chin.

"She hasn't found her mate yet!" she did. That's me! Why did I suddenly become possessive and jealous? "I swear, bro, if I won't find my mate at the Coronation Night!" he shifted his stare at me. His eyes glistened. "I will choose her!" f*ck! I stepped on the speed, earning me a confused look from him.

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The night of my coronation had arrived. I was in the study room at the packhouse. I glanced around and nailed every detail of the stuff in this room. Tonight, my father would leave this office, and tomorrow, I was going to start my duty as the Blood Moon Pack Alpha.

I held the nameplate made of wood on my dad's desk. His name, 'Drake Hayes,' and his title, 'Alpha of Blood Moon Pack,' were carved richly with the heads of two wolves on each side, giving me a thin smile. For the past four decades, my dad led the pack well. Blood Moon was now one of the strongest and biggest packs in four states.

Andrew's mind-link interrupted my thoughts, telling me 'It's about time'

I strode to the door and fixed the hem of my black suit. I was ready to take my post in the pack. In a few minutes, I was going to be Alpha Adam Hayes of Blood Moon Pack.

As I opened the door, the lights from the chandeliers almost blinded my sight, and the cheering of the crowd deafened my ears. I saw my parents sitting on two high chairs on the platform. My dad immediately got up and strode to the podium. Beta Louis also went to the platform with a dagger and goblet in his hands.

"Son, this is it!" my father uttered. His stance signified dominance and power.

"Yes, father. I am ready!" I answered back with both intensity.

Beta Louis stood in the middle and glanced at the audience, signaling Andrew to take part. Andrew took the goblet from Beta Louis and held it in both his hands.

My father cleared his throat first before he spoke. "Do you promise to take care of this pack with all of your heart and soul?" My father announced.

"I do!"

"Do you promise to put your life first in times of danger to save Blood Moon Pack?"

"I do!"

"Do you promise to follow the Law of Werewolf Council and set aside your personal gain and happiness?"

"I do!"

"By the power as the Alpha of this pack, I now wholeheartedly pass the responsibility to you, my son, Adam Hayes, as the new Alpha of Blood Moon Pack!"

I could feel the Alpha's strength and power run through my veins as Beta Louis cut my father's palm and my palm and joined them together. It surged through me; the power was so strong that I gasped as I lifted my head, and my fangs came out.

A loud growl escaped from my mouth, followed by the growls of my pack members, acknowledging me as their alpha. The moon goddess shone her shimmering light on top of my head, giving me her blessings.

Tonight was the best night of my life!

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After the ceremony, I mingled with everyone. Jasmine was with me throughout. She was doing great chatting with the Lunas of our neighboring packs. She also spoke fluently with the elder councils and leaders, and even my mom was amazed by her grace and fluency. However, I couldn't hide the feeling that I was looking for someone in the crowd.

"Where the heck is she?" I rumbled in my thoughts. I was about to go to the kitchen, thinking she was tasked to serve tonight when I spotted her at the corner in her servant's uniform. She was happily talking with my beta. I could even hear her laughs and giggles from where I stood.

Kylo would like to ascend. He wanted to show off his newly formed power. He wanted to tear my beta into pieces. I couldn't shake Kylo off. My orbs blinked from blue to red. My strides were calm but fast. Till I was in front of them.

"Alpha Adam?!" Andrew was dumbstruck by the aura I was giving him. Even Jaque was rooted in her spot with her mouth hung ajar.

I was about to strangle Andrew to show who Jaque belonged to when the wide two-glass door swung open and a man standing tall and domineering appeared in the middle. He possessed the aura of a king. Behind him were two werewolves with almost the same dominance as him.

"Greetings! King Logan Knight!" it was the leader of the Werewolf Council. "We're glad you made it!" we were all stupefied when we realized who had just arrived.

I was even more flabbergasted when he began to sniff and fixed his gaze in our direction. He ambled toward us, ignoring the leader's greeting. My guests moved to the side to give him a path. His strides were regal, his poise exalted.

But why was he coming to us? Was it to greet me? However, I was more baffled when Jaque stepped forward, her shining moss-green orbs glued to him.

I almost couldn't hear it, for my legs stumbled, and my brain muddled. Thanks to Andrew, even if he was also confused and disappointed, he held my back firmly and strongly.

All of my guests, especially Jaque's father and stepmother, were tongue-tied. Jasmine dropped the glass of wine to the floor, creating a shattering sound when King Logan and Jaque both uttered the word...

MATE!!!