CHAPTER FOUR

   Thane's POV

    As the hours drew closer, I became more giddy with anticipation.

   Renee had chosen to not come. Guilt filled me to my relief but I pushed it down. We weren't super attached anyways and I could make it up to her.

   I barely ate or drank once the festivities started. I didn't want anything to slow me down.

   I barely noticed the empty seats, reserved for my father, Renee and Felicity. As I glanced at her last empty seat I scoffed.

   ‘Responsible my ass,’ I thought . How could she be so responsible when she couldn't attend a public event?

   It felt hypocritical to say that given my past yet I still turned away.

   I moved through the rest of the night as normal, waiting for the time to come. To my relief, they did appear.

    I steeled myself, watching her throughout. She didn't look my way, even once. Didn't she feel our bond?

   When it ended I calmly left the place, keeping my cool unlike last night. I noticed when she left the troupe and followed her down the same street.

   Her movement was different from before. She he calmly swayed, sashaying slowly as if putting on a show. She turned the corner and I followed, only to be met face to face with her.

   Her veil was gone, giving me a full sight of her face.

  She was even more stunning up close. There was a flush in her cheeks, highlighted further with the golden jewelry. Her blue eyes looked like an ocean could sink into. She looked so innocent and like a sin at the same time.

   “You shouldn't follow people. You know,” she said. Even her voice was so pretty.

   “What's your name?” I spoke breathlessly.

   “I can't tell you that,” she replied, smiling playfully, “If I do, you might just want to marry me. Do you want to?”

   A smile played on her lips, drawing me back to their plushness. I was entranced.

  “Can I kiss you?” I blurted out without thinking. Her face fell to a frown, making her lips pout even more.

   “Why would I let you kiss me when you already have a girlfriend? No thanks.” she leaned in, her breath ghosting over my face.

   ‘She was flirting.’ I realized. What the hell was I doing acting like a teenager? I was a grown man.

I donned the flirtatious swagger I honed over the years. Lowering my eyes, I leaned towards her.

   “You say that, yet your body says the opposite.” I remarked. She blinked, flustered and I watched her face turn redder. My guess hit the mark.

   “Why do you look so flushed when you haven't been running?” I faked an innocent tone. Her flush was spreading across her neck.

   “Because I was dancing.” She retorted,

   “That was minutes ago. You should've recovered already.” I raised my brow.

   Her eyes flicked to my lips and arousal burst through me. Even if it was wrong, I wanted to have a taste of her, just once.

   I moved in for a kiss when a hand stopped me

   “So you don't recognize me?” She asked, making me pause.

   I could confidently say that I'd never met her in my life. She wasn't one of my conquests, so why would she ask?

   “If I really have met you before, then I must have been blind.” I flirted, leaning in, “but it doesn't matter, because you're my mate.”

   Her breath hitched and I smiled. She knew.

    My lips brushed against hers, but before I could close the gap, I was suddenly thrown back. I stumbled and quickly recovered, yet when I looked up, I met a frosty gaze.

   The heat in her eyes had turned to ice leaving me dumbfounded.

   She sneered, a cruel smile on her face before she spat,

   “Disgusting.”

   Before I could process it she moved past me walking away. As her footsteps reversed, I was left with an unfulfilled ache, strange sense of shame and a question.

   ‘What happened?’

   In the middle of the night I was still restless.

    First she refused to tell me her name, flirted with me and then pushed me away. No matter how I tried to comprehend it it didn't make sense.Closing my eyes I tried to sleep, ignoring the faint ache as her face and words haunted me.…

   The rest of the day was miserable. I remained in a bad mood throughout and it didn't get any better in the night. As I sat for the celebration, my mother and Alpha Addams, the only company present, I was ready to bolt.

    Both of them discussed beside me before my mother leaned in

   “Felicity’s on her way. You should meet her now since you two will be working together. She's been the one helping your father with his work so far, I know that with her help you'll be able to adjust to working here..”

    I was already aggravated, but the remainder of Hayden's words and my mother's praises sparked resentment and anger. I didn't have time to meet some young teenagers.

    Her gaze suddenly veered to the side.merely looking behind me.

  “She’s already here.” she said,

  Before I could process her words a voice tinkled behind me,

   “The prodigal son returns,”. I straightened instantly. It was so familiar.

   ‘No way,’ I thought frantically. It had to be my imagination.

   “I hope you enjoyed my performance. I enjoy being on stage rather than watching but it unfortunately delayed our reunion.”

   I fully turned around, to find a young woman standing in front of me, hand outstretched for a handshake.

   “Long time no see, Thane Massen.”

   The silk and jewelry I'd seen on her was gone and in its place was a formal red gown matching Alpha Addams, her hair falling loosely on her in contrast to the crown braid I'd seen her in.

   “Sh-sh She…” I stuttered, stunned.

   The mystery dancer who wouldn't tell me her name, who pushed me away yet asked if I would marry her? Who coldly disregarded me after. My mate.

  It was her.

  Felicity Addams. Alpha Addams daughter, the same girl I was betrothed to.

   She was the mystery dancer. My mate.

  “Thane?” My mother's confused tone rang beside me but I remained frozen.

 ‘This had to be some sick joke from the universe.’

   Felicity waited for a few minutes before chuckling.

   “I'm sure he's just stunned.” she said, dropping her hand.

   “It's nice to meet you Mr Massen, it's been five years since I've seen you when I was just a child. To think this is the first time we've met since you came,” she said smiling

  A child. She was a child, so how did she turn into every man's wet dream?

   ‘The Beauty of the Packs’ Hayden's voice echoes in my ear. It had never rang so true now.

    Wait…first time?

   “I-”

   “We're glad to have you here.” my mother interrupted us. Felicity sat down, gently kissing Alpha Addams on the cheek.

    “We met yesterday.”

   “I don't remember meeting you anywhere Mr Massen, I can't think of any possibility when that took place.” she shrugged,

    “Besides, meeting me again must be one of your worst nightmares. It would be…disgusting, right?”

   Alpha Addams and my mother chuckled but my blood ran cold.

   It finally clicked. My declaration five years ago meshing well with her words last night. Speaking of marriage, asking if I remembered her.

   “Disgusting,”

   The same words I'd accidentally spilled out that day.

   She was playing with me the entire time.

   A smirk played on her lips as she looked at me, a smug, condescending look in her eyes.

   Suddenly, the bitter anger I felt earlier returned. My fists tightened beneath the table.

   She was going to pay.