TEN

EVAN

I haven't been able to get out of the ballroom or mindlink Valerie since I am the only one left here to host the dinner. At least one of us is needed in case anything goes wrong. Irritation bubbles in me as I thought of her leaving and running away. I just thought it was irresponsible for her when so many packs have come here to join us tonight.

'Irresponsible?' My wolf, Malek, scoffs. 

'What?' I ask.

'You just found mate. Of course she would be upset!' he growls, and I raise my eyebow.

'Why would she be upset? I am not replacing her.' I say without even thinking.

Malek pauses and his silence is filled with shock and disbelief.

'Are you sure?' Malek presses. He seems to have a mistrust when it comes to my judgement.

What they do not know is that I have done background checks on each and every alpha and other related family members of each pack coming tonight. They are entering my territory, it is only my right to know what kind of people I am letting in through my doors.

'Yes.' I say, determined. 

'I am not abandoning her, if that's what you're thinking.' I assure Malek, who quickly deflates and his anger eases.

'But why? I know we just met our mate, but the pull. It is impossible for me to resist. But I know I only want our chosen. She is perfect in every way,' he tells me sadly. I understand his sentiment.

Wolves are the animal counterpart of us and their urges are more difficultly controlled than the human side. Whereas he may not be able to resist our fated, I can. 

'So what did you find out?' Malek asks, and I could feel his curiosity about our fated.

I shrug recalling every detail I have read on her report.

'Just that she had slept with many men and was the school bike. Her father spoils her rotten while her mother barely looks at her. Seeing the way she was dressed earlier, I am not surprised.' I say, my face contorting in disgust when I recall landing my eyes on her fake b**bs. Turns out she had to resort to extensive surgeries to achieve the size of her a** and b**bs. And I thought werewolves know better than resorting to those procedures.

My wolf cringes at the revelation, and I feel his disappointment.

'Are we going to reject her, then?' he asks and I look over at her standing by the bar. Her back is to me but I could see her already flirting with the bartender, who is visibly uncomfortable now that I made eye contact. 

'Not just yet. We need her to make sure her father signs the contract I prepared for him. Then we'll reject her.' I say and Malek huffs. He is relieved although the mate bond is making him whimper. 

If I were being honest, finding my fated mate is the last thing I expected. I never even wanted a mate. Valerie was an exception. But that woman is the reason I didn't want a fated mate. These feelings given to me by the goddess for someone you just met in a single day is highly overrated. Just because you feel something towards them doesn't mean it is right. And I must admit, the only time I felt right is when I am with her.

The sound of someone clearing their throat breaks me out of my thoughts. I look to my left and see an older alpha standing in front of me. I remember him as the alpha who was trying to arrange a private meeting with me but I refused. Of course he would be here.

"Pardon me for the interruption, alpha. May I speak with you?" he asks so politely I cannot turn him away.

"What seems to be the problem, Alpha Alaric?" I ask, recalling his name from the email sent to me.

"Are you planning to reject her?" he asks upfront, surprising me as I look at him.

"Excuse me?"

"Are you planning to reject your fated mate for your luna?" he asks, his face turning serious. I stare at him in disbelief as he continues.

"Because if you have no plans to, please let her go. She deserves to be happy. She is too good of a person and I don't want her getting hurt." he says in a stern straight voice that makes me growl. Just who does he think he is?

"What makes you think I will hurt her?" I ask gruffly rising to my feet as I stand tall before the man.

His gaze does not faze and looks at me straight in the eye.

"From how I look at it, you already have." he says, and his words made my world halt. It's as if it is just the two of us and I stare at him blankly, trying to understand what he said.

"Take it from me. Do it now or you lose her forever. Mark my words." he warns and I watch quietly as he turns on his heel, and walks away.