“I don’t understand.” I said, taking an instinctive step back. Alpha Austin turned to me and clasped his hands behind him, his hair falling in waves to his shoulder. I was finding it hard to concentrate on both him and the impending doom I sensed coming, and I felt torn between just basking in his allure or trying to defend myself.
He took a step closer to me. “You have the Alpha’s seal. It is in your possession.”
I saw Lily’s lips curve up in a smile.
“I do not have any such thing. I just…I don’t even know what the alpha’s seal looks like.”
He laughed heartily. “Lily, father will miss us at the ceremony. You can go back”
I watched as Lily came to front of me, then smiled and then deliberately hit my shoulder as she walked away.
Alpha Austin tied up his hair in man bun, then titled his head to the side as her footsteps faded away. We were now alone, and it was even more terrifying.
“Are you saying you don’t have the alpha’s seal?”
“I really don’t, alpha. I don’t even know it.” I said, my voice cracking. He came closer to me, and nodded. I could see the proud gait in his eyes and the way he held his head up, and It made me even more awed by him.
“Check your bag.” He said simply, as his eyes darted from my face to the small bag.
I immediately brought it in front of me and opened it. He dipped his hand into it, and then came out with a small gold tab that was shaped into a wolf. He smiled.
“This is the alpha’s seal.”
I honestly didn’t know how it got into my back or what brought it there. I had no idea it was even in my back.
“I didn’t…I swear..”
“No need to swear. I know you knew nothing of it.”
He leaned back and straightened. “Lily was the one who reported you. She said she saw you take the alpha’s seal. I also know she and her omega boyfriend broke up because of you.”
He didn’t need to say any more. Lily framed me.
“What…could have happened if you didn’t know?”
“You would probably become a rogue, or even become lower than an omega.”
I felt my body tremble slightly in fear.
“But I can get you out of all of that.” He raised a brow.
“What do you want in return?”
“You are smart. I like it.”
The ceremony was in full force by the time went back, my hair falling over the sides of my neck, and my hair lowered.
“Hey, where were you?” Simon asked, just as the announcement started.
“If you can scent the alpha, do come up. The alpha will confirm if he can scent you.” The announcer started. It was a way of finding mates, by scenting them. If you could scent a wolf without coming too close, it meant both of you were mates. Most wolf scents were obscure from the others except if they had shifted to their wolves.
I turned around without answering Simon as Catherine stood and went to the elevated stand. Austin was by the side. A small wine cup dangling from his long fingers.
I smiled at Simon and started to walk forward.
“Where are you going?” Simon asked immediately I started walking, but I didn’t stop to answer him. If I did, I will chicken out of this and the consequences will be even bigger.
I walked forward till I felt the heat of the fires and the brightness of the lights around the stage.
“An omega?” Catherine said right next to me and I bit the inside of my cheeks.
“I can scent the alpha.” I said, then opened my eyes. I could see alpha Austin’s smile, and his dark eyes. Hell.
F*.
“It’s simple. Take the place of my mate.”
“Take the place of your mate?” I asked, my heart pace quickening. I felt like I would fall real fast to the ground and never get up. My knees felt weak, my body trembling. Up until this afternoon, he had only been a distant dream and now he was offering himself to me?
“Yes. I made a promise to myself. One I am never going to break. Catherine can already scent me. I want you to say that you can too. After all, the choice is up to me.”
“But I can’t…” I didn’t finish the sentence when he suddenly pulled me to his body, and buried his face in my neck. I could feel his breath on my neck, and my breath stopped in my throat, my body shaking from his proximity.
I could now scent him. Pine. It was the most prominent.
I thought he would let me go after that, but I suddenly felt his teeth dig into my neck, his hand pressing on my waist and he pulled my body close to his, till there was no distance between us. Till we were almost one.
I had to stifle the gasp that almost left my lips as he finally drew blood. I was marked. But I wasn’t his mate.
He suddenly let go of me, and then smiled down at me and kicked his lips. Hell, I wanted to go back to his arms immediately.
“You are now marked by me. And you are now…for me. I know your scent too.”
Catherine looked at me with disgust in her eyes then turned away. I am sure she was confident about being his mate, but she didn’t know. Nothing beats an alpha’s rage.
“What proof do you have, omega?” The grand alpha asked.
I raised my hair, and the fresh mark was under spotlight. “I was able to follow my scent to who I thought would be omega and my mate, but it led me up to alpha Austin.”
Tears filled my eyes as I saw Simon’s surprised look.
“He confirmed that I was his mate, and marked me.”
The grand Alpha turned to Alpha Austin who was smiling.
“Confirm it.”
Alpha Austin stood and walked up, passing by Catherine. She gasped as he passed by and I was sure his scent was choking her by now.
He came to me and leaned close to my ear. “What is your name, again?”
“Hazel.” I whispered back, and he turned away.
“This is Hazel. My mate.”
I swallowed as the crowd started to cheer. Alpha Austin has found his mate, but she is over there. Not me. The woman he is holding.“The Alpha has found his mate, seer. Bless them.”The seer nodded. She was a blind old woman who always kept her eyes closed, but whenever she opened them, they have the moon reflected in them.I watched as she wake up to us, a small smile on her face. She held the water in her hands and it shook slightly from the slight tremble of her body, but it did not fall.“May the moon Goddess…”“Excuse me.” I turned and Catherine was looking at me like she was about to kill me.“This is all a sham. I am the alpha’s mate. I am the only one with the alpha’s scent.”The seer stopped what she was doing and turned to her.My heart was beating wildly in my chest, my body trembling. The seer would know if I was his mate. And I will take the fall alone. It would be even worse if that was to happen.I looked at Alpha Austin who had a small smug smirk on his face.“Oh. Cath
"Alpha?" I said as I walked behind him to the very spot where I had seen him get his heart broken brutally. Where all of this had started. He turned to me. "Yes?" His hair had somehow fallen in front of his eyes, shielding half of his face from view. "Well...the grand alpha said to come be with you. To get to know you..." He nodded. "Give it up." "Give what up?" I asked, confusion in my voice. "Give up trying to know me. I know you are in love with that omega, Simon. I am sure you know who I am in love with too. So It's best we just keep this act at the surface." He was brutal as he turned away to face the full moon. "I am not..." I stopped. Did it even matter? I did know who he was in love with. "Up until when? Up until when am I going to fill the shoes of your mate?" "Till forever." He answered simply. "What if my mate comes?" I saw his fingers that had been scraping along his palm stop, as he slowly turned to me. His eyes were dark, and when he spoke, his voice was just
Alpha Austin immediately released me, then turned away leaving my back feeling cold and empty. It was weird how used to his warmth I got in a mtter of minutes, and how much I craved to have him back. Hell, I needed him back. But I was just the chanced Luna. The Omega who is going To depend on a man who isn't even hers for her title in the pack."Al...""You can go now." He said, cutting me off.I nodded meekly and left, the same way Catherine did. She had this effect on him that I wish I had, this hold on the reins of his neart that I would go to the ends of the world in order to get. But it wasn't happening, and I knew.I walked back slowly to the now dispersed gathering. Simon and Eve were still there, probably waiting for me, and Eve ran to me the minute she saw me. Simon followed, but much slower."How was it?""It was perfect." I answered with a small smile."You are one lucky omega, you know that? Alpha Austin dumped that stuck up she-wolf Catherine for you. It sure is a love me
"You know you don't want her, alpha. You are taking her from everyone else because you know you can. Because you know she is only a lowly omega who will go with you wherever you ask her to go." Simon pulled me closer to him, and Alpha Austin nodded.He slowly let go of my hand, a small smile on his face. "How about I show you just how true that is?" He stepped away from me, the same smile still on his face."I won't let her go with you."Alpha Austin laughed, then looked at me. "I will wait for you at home." He said simply and turned away.When he had said I was the one he wanted, I had dared to let my crazy heart flutter. There was no mate bond between us, so what would I count on to bring him back to me? Nothing at all.Knowinh that, I slowly released myself from simon's grip. I had nothing to bank on, and now, with just one taste, his lips on my neck, his hands on my waist, I am like some stupid she wolf on drugs. "You want to prove him right? You want to leave and run to him like
"Catherine." It was the first word I saw when I opened my eyes. Austin had his back to me and just a little lower than his shoulder was the name in a beautiful cursive.My breath hitched in my throat as I sat up on the bed. I didnt know if he was asleep, and I didn't even know where to go to. Should I go back to the pack house?I am sure the grand alpha and Lily would be around this morning. And the countless omegas that worked in the house too.But I couldn't stay here and watch his tattooed back like this. I sat there, lost and my palms covering my face. I suddenly heard himmove, and I lifted my head up."You're awake." He said to me."Just a minute ago." He stood up from the bed, and grabbed his shirt. I had been the one to remove it last night, but after that..."Alpha...last night...""You called me Austin last night, I am sure."I swallowed. "Yes. Austin...last night...""You made a promise you are not sure you are going to be able to keep."I lifted my eyes to him. "I guess I
Catherine swallowed, pursing her lips. I could see her jaw flexing, her hand clenched under her sleeve."Austin," She said. It was an obvious last attempt. "Austin, look at me."I turned to Austin, but he didn't look up at all."Austin, please. It's me, Catherine. Look at me."I felt my heart skip a beat as he turned ever so slowly. He lifted his eyes to hers, and raised a brow."This is what you wanted to see?" He asked her, then stood up. "Now that you have, can you leave?""Austin. You don't...you can't just stop loving me like that. You know it. When you look at her, it's me you want to see and you know it.""For goodness sake. We are going in circles here. Forget about what we used to share. Forget about everything and just get out, Catherine." His deep voice was steely with anger, and she gave me one last glare, then turned away and left.Austin stood there for a few seconds, and with a harsh curse under his breath, he walked away."You really love him, right?" The grand alpha a
My eyes bulged at him. "Kill...kill him? Why..why would I do that?"Liam shrugged. "I thought you were going to be luna?"The way he said it made me realize that it wasn't just enough to be the alpha's mate, or at least, his chosen one, I had to prove myself too. Probably in ways I have never imagined."You should go to the store now," Austin suddenly said from behimd me. "Wear something sexy."I turned to him, then walked closer as Liam walked away in the opposite direction. "What is this about killing someone?""Don't you know about the series of omega killings? Don't you know about my uncle? Don't you know about all our soldiers that are still being held captive?" He was looking at me incredulously, like he couldn't believe I was unaware."I do, but...why does it have to be me?"He didn't answer, but pulled his shirt upwards to reveal a long jagged acar. "Because I tried. And now I know his weakness."Women. It was clear."So I just..." I pulled the syringe towards me, showing how I
"A little play thing?" Duncan asked, sizing me up, but I could see where his eyes lingered. I was sure Austin could see too, judging from the smile on his face."I hear you like them lots. So I got you one fiery she wolf. Had to cover her up good so no other wolves growl at my gift for you."Liar. I thought as i tried to straighten to a seating position."She is beautiful." Duncan remarked, then leaned towards me. I immediately closed my eyes as he trailed a rough finger down my face to my neck, then lingered at the clothe's neckline."You have enough time to do that, Duncan." Austin's voice cut him off from his exploration, saving me from the monstrous wolf."I guess I do. It seemed you took some time to do your research before bringing her to me."Austin looked at me, and I thought back to that one kiss we shared. "Of course. But I kept her exclusively for you. For your entertainment." He added the last part simply for the effect. I struggled to a seating position finally, then lo