ARRANGED MARRIAGE: LOVING THE MASKED ALPHA.

ANDREA.

"Uggh!" I growled, straining myself before throwing the last punch in his way, but Marcus effortlessly dodged my blows with a sly grin on his face.

"Nice try, Princess." He chuckled, seemingly enjoying my frustration which was mounting with each passing moment.

There was no doubt about it. I didn't feel as sharp as usual today and every single movement I made lacked the precision and speed and deadly grace that it usually came with. I wondered if it was because of the anticipation bubbling inside me or perhaps an omen.

Tonight was the night I had been waiting for, the night I would finally get to seal the deal with my mate, and there was no doubt it was Jackson. Besides that, it was also my birthday, so it was a very special day.

This training session was going to be my last with Marcus, and I was filled with nostalgia and the eagerness to make the most of it, to let him know that I had learnt the art pretty well. Marcus was a no-nonsense man and he had honed my fighting skills since I was a kid and taught me to be a fighter.

"I don't think you're ready for our last dance." He beamed, motioning me to approach mockingly.

"You better make it good, Marcus. After tonight, I'll be too busy doting on Jackson to spar with you." He chuckled, but the taunting expression soon returned to his face.

"I'll be going all out on you now. Make sure you don't embarrass yourself in front of your mate tonight. You don't wanna greet him with a black eye, do ya?" Angrily, I lurched myself towards him, determined to beat the shit out of his old ass. But he kept laughing, clocking some of my kicks.

The fight soon got intense and it wasn't long before I got him. After he surrendered, we finished off with basic punches and blocks as always.

"You've grown into a fine warrior, perhaps the finest female warrior the Pack has ever produced, wear it like an armour Andrea. I am proud of you" He patted my back, a thin smile creasing his lips. He was muscular with lithe eyes.

I couldn't resist the urge to rush in for a hug.

"Thank you." A lump settled on my throat. "I couldn't have done it without you." We were interrupted when someone cleared their throat behind us, it was my father.

"That's enough, we should get going. Your sisters must be dying to talk to you, it's your day!" My father was beaming.

I was dying to have a girl moment with them, asking them about what it felt like finding your mate, especially Karen who was getting married soon before running off to see Jackson to tell him how glad I was we had waited for this moment.

I grabbed my weapons and headed back to the Packhouse, feeling sad that this part of my life was closing and a new one was about to begin. But I was ready to face whatever destiny had in store for me. I caught sight of the decorations that were being finalised in front of the Packhouse.

The anticipation inside me was like a roaring flame, and my gut kept churning with anticipation. The ballroom which was situated in the Packhouse had been decorated as well, with silver and sapphire linings.

Those were my favourite colours and I guess my father had thrown that in to make me feel extra special. The air was also heavy with the scent of freshly baked goodies and food that was being prepared for the occasion.

I couldn't wait to thank my father for everything he had also done for me. I was also going to take the opportunity to tell him about Jack, the one that made my heart race, the one person I wished to be mated to.

Other celebrations were on their way, as I was to be crowned the Gamma of the Pack the next week. But at this point, nothing else mattered except celebrating my coming of age and meeting the love of my life.

I quickly walked into the bathroom and had a very long bath before walking out tired. After changing into a fresh pair of clothes, I plopped down on the bed, and for some reason I surrendered myself to sleep.

When next I woke up, someone was banging on my door. I jolted from the bed, my hide filled with sweat.

"Andrea! Andrea!" A voice called, and the banging persisted. My head hurt and my thoughts were more than muddled as I headed to open the door. Pushing the door open, I met my father standing there, and he wasn't impressed.

"What have you been doing? Sleeping?!" He shook his head before nodding at someone at the other side of the hallway. I was still trying to force myself out of the remnants of sleep and sophistry that were still teetering at the edges of my consciousness.

"What's going on? What's the time?" I croaked, glancing at the window. That's when I realised what was going on. I had fallen asleep and somehow I had slept till the evening.

"Shit!" I cursed, turning towards my father with an apologetic look, my words ridden with stutters.

"I-Im sorry, I didn't mean to do any of it." I said, my eyes meeting his. "It's okay, darling. The stylists are here to get you ready, you can meet your sisters at the arena. And I'll be there if there is anything you'd want to tell me." He said, before kissing me on the cheeks.

After that, the stylists began to hurry in. There were five of them. They helped me into the bath, and scrubbed me like a child with strange but thick-scented oils I had never seen. I had never felt so exposed in my entire existence. After that, they began to work on my appearance.

"You've got such beautiful hair, your Grace." One of them commended, from their discussion I had caught her name was Jenny. A smile was wrapped around her lips as she dried my hair.

"Thank you." I said, staring back at my stunning figure. I was beautiful no doubt, but I guessed the normal ritual of having to be beautified before every event couldn't be neglected.

The make-up artists soon got into it. And after sitting there for an hour or so, they finally got it all done. I could hear the voices of people filtering into the room from the arena. A red gown was brought in as soon as everything else was taken care of. Despite the fact that I wasn't so much in love with the colour, there was denying the deadly elegance that the slit gown carried. It was made to expose one part of my shoulder, and some cleavage to turn heads.

I was led to the ballroom after the preparations were over. A hush fell on the crowd the moment I walked into the room. Other teenagers of my age who hadn't found their mate were also here tonight. I spotted my father standing at the centre of the room, but when I looked at the table, my sister's weren't there. And Jackson wasn't in sight.

I tried to communicate with him through the mindlink but it had been blocked, which was very strange. For a moment, I didn't notice that my father had walked up to me, he was grinning ear to ear as he pulled me into a hug.

"Happy birthday, my dear," he began, his green eyes running down my body, and he looked so proud. "You've brought more light to my life, and to the Pack than ever." The rest of his words faded into the background as I looked back at the high table, yet my sisters weren't there, only two burly guards standing at either end of the golden table.

Then my father's words came back to me. "I wish you the best in life, and I will continue to love you as long as-''. His words were cut short when a loud bong sounded. There were shouts and screams outside. My heart jumped as I tried to piece what was happening.

"What's going on?" I asked my father, staring up at him, but he seemed to have the same questions. It wasn't long before three huge men walked into the ballroom, glaring at my father.

They didn't look like they were from this Pack. The dragon symbols on their necks told me they were from the Crimson Moon Pack, whose Alpha was to marry Karen.

"What's going on?" He asked, cowering. I had never seen my father cower before another man, so the mere sight of these men heralded a foreboding. One of them walked into the crowd that had gathered to celebrate my birthday, he seemed to be looking for someone.

He came back and shook his head, telling his comrades that whoever they were looking for wasn't here.

"Everybody, out!" One of the men yelled, and a few minutes later the scared crowd dispersed.

"Andrea, leave." My father said, but the tallest among them interrupted him immediately.

"No, she stays." I swallowed, knowing these people were very dangerous. The loud bongs were still being sounded outside, and I couldn't believe my birthday had been ruined. My father finally looked up at them in anger.

"What the hell is going on, and why are you throwing such a tantrum? Are you aware that this was my daughter's birthday party?!" He growled at them but the tallest among them, who also looked like the eldest and the leader of the giants, barked out.

"Alpha Richard, my Alpha's bride just escaped. Karen is gone!" He announced, glaring down at my father like an evil Ogre.

"W-what, how is that possible?" My father stuttered, and for the first time in my life, I saw true fear in his eyes. Karen was supposed to marry the ruthless Alpha Ronin, and somehow she had escaped the Pack! How was that even possible, how could she have disappeared into thin air.

"Listen to me, old man. My men are still looking for her. But I must warn you, Alpha. If I find out you had a hand in this, you will not like it." The way he said the words had me spooked instantly.

"Guards!" The man continued, his dark, cold, uncanny black eyes flitting towards me.

"Seize the princess! If we can't find Karen, she'll be the replacement."