: mate

I glared at the wolf, completely annoyed by its intrusion.

"Who are you?" I tilted my head to the side, trying to figure out if I knew it. I could tell it was a male. Its fur was brown and black, its size was way above the average. It stared at me menacingly, but I wasn't bothered; I didn't feel threatened one bit.

A wolf lurking in my backyard, staring like a creep? I couldn't take that seriously.

I scoffed and turned around, to return to my house, when it growled. It had me stopping in my tracks, the sound travelling straight to my soul, making my heart rate increase. What is this ? Why am I reacting this way to a random wolf ?

The growl was a warning; he hated that I turned my back to him. I took another step forward, defiantly, and it growled again. This time, the sound was closer. I hadn't noticed when it moved or heard anything. He was stealthy.

I took another step forward, then bolted. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I could hear the sound of his heavy paws hitting the hard ground from behind me. He was after me. I didn't get far before I felt a heavy weight on my back, making me crash to the ground. My chin hit the ground, drawing blood.

"Damn you !" I growled, rage brewing. He was on top of me, sniffing at my neck. His paw was heavy, one of them directly above my shoulder.

"Get off me !" I tried to push him off, but his weight was too much for my 5’7” figure. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. The scent of blood and mud invaded my senses, accompanied by a strong scent of sandalwood mixed with something sweet. It was enticing, calling out to me. My heart thudded, my nose sniffing violently, trying to get as much of the scent as possible. Then I noticed it, the sparks dancing underneath the skin where he touched. It made my entire body tingle.

My eyes widened in realisation. He continued sniffing my neck, purring in satisfaction.

Mate. My wolf howled. Mine.

My breathing became much heavier. This shouldn't be happening. I don't want to be mated, I don't want to be tied back to this pack. Damn it.

His touch made me shiver involuntarily. I was drawn to him, as much as I hated it. My hands itched to rub his fur.

Mate. My wolf was restless, fighting to come out. No. I need to focus. I don't want him, I don't want a mate.

I heard the sound of the front door shut, and footsteps approaching. He got off me and in a flash, was completely out of sight. So fast.

I found myself missing the sparks from the mate bond.

"Talia ?"

It was Tasha. She sounded concerned. I imagined how ridiculous I looked, lying on my stomach in the dirt, blood trickling down my chin.

"Are you okay?" She rushed to my side, her nose probably catching the scent of my blood.

He hurt me. That's a valid reason to reject him, right ?

"Yes." I groaned, getting up on my feet. "I tripped." The lie slipped out naturally.

She stared at me, concern etched on her features.

"Let's get you inside so you can clean up and have something to eat. The food's getting cold and Mum is waiting for you."

Shoot. I completely forgot about that woman and her feast. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, for my sister's sake.

“Sure."

She held my hand, leading me down the pathway that led back to our front door. I turned around, looking at the woods once more.

My eyes locked with a pair of glowing yellows. He was watching. It sent chills up my spine.

: dinner with the devil

"You should be more careful" Tasha reprimanded as she used a Cotten pad to wipe the blood off my chin. The wound had healed but she insisted on cleaning me up to look presentable for dinner. I don't know why she made such a fuss about it. It's just dinner.

I heard soft footsteps approaching and braced myself up for drama. My mother walked into the bathroom, her hands folded on her chest with a scowl on her face. She looked the same, her red hair tied up in her signature slick bun, her 5'9 frame standing tall, menacing.

We locked eyes and I could see her disapproval. Nothing has changed.

"Still incompetent I see"

Still a bitch I see

"Mother."

I couldn't bring myself to say anything else. What could I say ? Good to see you ? It wasn't good to see her. Seeing her brought back memories, memories I've spent the last four years trying to bury. Memories of her sneering down at me after beating me to a pulp.

She lifted her chin, looking down at me with those judgmental, holier-than-thou eyes, the same ones she used to look at my report card like it personally offended her.

"Talia", her eyes swept my frame "you look well."

A compliment? That's unusual

"Come down for dinner" she ordered. Her eyes drifted to Tasha and I could see it soften "and you too"

With that, she turned around and walked away. It has always been that way. I was the terrible daughter and Tasha the perfect one. I sighed and followed after her, Tasha close behind me

The table was indeed filled with my favorite dishes. A large, steaming dish of baked ziti sat in the center, the top layer of cheese perfectly golden and bubbling. The smell hit me like a wave, tomato sauce, garlic, basil, and melted mozzarella, warm and familiar, almost comforting.

Beside it, a basket of garlic bread wrapped in a clean towel to keep it warm. The scent of butter and roasted garlic made my stomach growl, loudly enough that Tasha heard it and smiled softly.

I was basically drooling at the sight before me.

Even the Caesar salad was perfect, crispy romaine, shaved parmesan, crunchy croutons, and just enough dressing. I found it hard to believe my mother had done all this for me. It was most definitely Tasha’s doing.

“Still not acting like a proper lady I see”

Again with the judgment. I gritted my teeth, trying to keep the peace for my sister’s sake. I sat down and dug in immediately, not caring about my mother’s opinion. She’d judge me anyway, might as well make it worth her while.

“Is this the culture of the peasants you associate yourself with?”

She asked, making reference to the people from school.

“Yeah. We act like people. Not robots with no real personality”

“It is expected of us to act our best. We are royalty !”

I snorted. Royalty my foot. My mother considered herself royalty because she married into power. My father, the Beta of the Crimson Pack, our pack. She’d been outraged after he died and the title was passed on to another candidate due to the lack of a male heir to inherit it. The resentment had turned her into… whatever she is.

I continued eating, completely ignoring her.

“You’ve gained weight”

“Mother !” Tasha reprimanded, her eyes wide with shock. “Don’t do this”

I wasn’t surprised, I expected this. She’d do everything in her power to piss me off. It was her favorite sport.

“I’m only stating the obvious”

“Yes mother. I have. I’m starting to look a lot like you now”

Her nostrils flared, her eyes widening in anger. She took her looks seriously and I had directly attacked her, insinuating that she was fat.

Her grip on the fork she was holding tightened, knuckles white.

“What did you say ?” She asked through gritted teeth. It was amusing to see her so riled up. I had two options, repeat myself and damn the consequences or back down for the sake of Tasha.

I glanced at my sister, her eyes already trained on me, pleading. I picked up my fork, forcing a piece of bread into my mouth, an obvious surrender.

My mother got the message, going back to her food in satisfaction.

“Hope you’re ready for tomorrow” she glared at me “you’ll both be representing our family. You must look your best and act it”

I rolled my eyes internally.

“We must make a good impression on the new Alpha, Alpha Cassian.”

I froze at the mention of that name, completely losing my appetite.

Tomorrow is the day I’ve dreaded the most, the day I see him again, the boy that made my life miserable.

I couldn’t wait.

: ball

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My wavy red hair was pinned up, with a few loose strands framing my heart-shaped face. Pale skin, dusted with tiny freckles, glowed softly under the warm bathroom light.

The off-shoulder gown I wore was a deep, rich green that mirrored the colour of my eyes. Intricate vine embroidery adorned the bodice, which hugged my figure before flaring into a full, flowing skirt that brushed the floor like a forest breeze.

"You look breathtaking," Tasha complimented the moment I stepped into view at the top of the staircase. She looked up at me, smiling. My mum stood beside her, that same disapproval glowing bright in her blue eyes.

"You need to cut down on the calories," my mum commented, her eyes raking over me in judgement.

I completely ignored her, grabbed my sister's hand, and led her out. My mother, being the queen of drama and luxury, had rented a limo. It was long and black, sleek and shiny under the bright porch light. My heart thudded. I didn't realise it before, but I missed the luxury associated with being home. Being descendants and of the former Beta, we were wealthy, our wealth almost competing with that of the Alphas. 'Almost' being the keyword, though truthfully, that was stretching it. The Alpha is a billionaire, and his delinquent son is about to inherit both the wealth and the title. I scoffed.

I could feel it, the moment the limo entered the Alpha's territory. The aura was palpable, and the view, trees lined the driveway, tall and ancient, their branches forming a kind of natural archway as if even nature knew whose territory this was.

I had never been here, not even when Alpha Black had summoned me to his office. That had been at the pack house.

So I was amazed by the sheer luxury of the house mansion. My breath caught.

Calling it a mansion felt... disrespectful. This wasn't a house. It was a statement. A fortress disguised in modern architecture. All glass and stone, it stretched wide and tall, the lights spilling out like golden rivers across the perfectly landscaped lawn. I could see the guard wolves already, stationed by the marble steps, dressed in black and barely blinking. Pack members stretched out their invitations, all clad in beautiful ball gowns and suits.

I leaned forward slightly, as if getting closer to the tinted window would make the excess feel more real.

"Is that a waterfall... inside the wall?" Tasha asked, her amazement mirroring mine.

Yep. It was. An actual indoor waterfall, glittering behind the floor-to-ceiling glass like some high-end art installation. Of course, the Alpha had one of those. Why have modesty when you can have moving water cascading behind your wine cellar?

The limo slowed, purring to a stop in front of the driveway. The ground beneath the wheels shimmered, imported black stone, polished so finely it mirrored the stars.

I swallowed. Hard.

Okay... so maybe I underestimated just how rich and wealthy could be.

Everything about this place screamed legacy, power, perfection. No cracks. No weak points. Just dominance, beautifully manicured.

The chauffeur opened the door and we got out, my mother going straight to the entrance, head held high like she owned the place. We followed after her, trying not to gawk and embarrass my mother. The guards let us in without checking our invitation. We are, after all, family of the late Beta.

The grand ballroom looked like it had been pulled straight from a dream, or a royal fantasy sponsored by a limitless bank account.

Massive crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling like frozen stars, casting fractured light across the polished marble floor. The walls were covered in silver-leaf paneling, with intricate carvings of wolves mid-howl, battles frozen in time, and ancient pack symbols etched into the gold trim. It was both beautiful and intimidating, a reminder that even in glamour, this place belonged to predators.

A string quartet played softly near the far end of the room, their instruments gleaming under the lights. The music was elegant and haunting, filling the space with the kind of quiet power that didn't need to announce itself.

Everywhere I looked, there were wolves dressed to the nines. Floor-length gowns shimmered like waterfalls. Suits were custom-tailored. Laughter echoed in the air, but it was refined and practiced. Nothing here was casual. Even the joy felt expensive.

And at the centre of it all was the Alpha's crest, a massive silver emblem embedded into the floor, right beneath the chandelier's glow. You couldn't walk into the room without stepping on it, which I doubted was an accident. It was a statement: you are always under his rule, even when you dance.

Tasha tugged at my arm, breathless. "This is insane," she whispered.

I nodded, eyes scanning the room. She was right.

This wasn't just a party. This was politics wrapped in velvet. War dressed in silk.

And I was back in it whether I liked it or not.