Chapter 1

Luciana's POV

“Luciana Hart, your smell is horrible and as the Alpha King of this pack, I prohibit you from coming close to me because I reject you.”

Today is the most important event of my life as I am about to step into the new chapter of my life, which is finding my fated mate. My friends and I are now ready to attend the ceremony, wearing our dazzling ball gowns.

Calista, one of my friends, looked at me with awe, and her eyes almost sparkling.

“Wow, you are so beautiful with that pink dress, Luciana. I know men will drool seeing you tonight!” 

The smile on my face faded and was replaced by worries. I am aware that I have looks, but there's something in me that my friends know.

“Luciana, you shouldn't be sad. This is our night. We will be meeting our fated mates at the ball tonight and you should be happy. Don't worry, the perfume will cover everything. Just trust us,” Aurora mumbled, while smiling widely. 

I smiled back at them, forcing myself to smile because my friends were right. This is our night. This is my night and I should enjoy this.

After talking to my friends, we decided to come out of our boutique to go to the venue where the event will be happening. We just walked the way there because the venue is not that far from our place. I was happily talking to them and even laughing at their jokes, but that very moment will end too soon.

As we reached the entrance door of the venue, I could already see the group of women, led by the beta's daughter—Scarlet Evergreen.

She's sneering at me, her eyes burning with hatred. Her friends at the back started covering their noses as if there's a stinky smell about to pass. I let out a deep breath, facing my bullies with courage.

“Look who's here. The beautiful and horrible girl in the pack, Luciana Hart. What brought you here, Girlie?” Scarlet muttered, her insecurity is evident from her face.

“We are not here to fight, Scarlet. Just let us pass.” Calista explained, but the woman just glared at her.

“Shut the f*ck up, Calista. Your father is still indebted to us!” Scarlet responded and then she looked at Aurora. “And you're not even entitled to speak, Aurora. Your father is the head warrior of the pack. I can tell my dad to fire him if I wanted to.”

I shut my eyes, while taking a deep breath when Scarlet began to attack my friends. She really hated me to the bones. I understand that so well. She doesn't like my presence, but this won't give her the authority to speak to us like that. This is not even her pack. She's not the Alpha King's child.

“Leave my friends to your problem with me, Scarlet.”

The woman turned her head at me, and then she burst out into laughter.

“Finally, the poor and cursed baby has finally spoken. I thought you'll stay mute just like how you used to do?” Scarlet muttered, and she looked at me from head to toe. “You're not rubbish tonight. But even if you wear the most beautiful gown in the world, you still couldn't change the fact that you're a curse of the pack. I heard some rumors that anytime soon, you will be thrown away from the pack because of your—” 

“Just shut up, Scarlet! We will not let you bully our friends. Attacking her just proves how insecure you are to her beauty. We all know who has the most gifted beauty of this pack!” Aurora yells. 

Scarlet gritted her teeth. She was about to attack us, but her friends stopped her.

“We can't fight them here, Scarlet. Your image will be destroyed in the eyes of the future Alpha King. Remember, you are being handed to him?”

As I heard these words from one of Scarlet's friends, I just felt my breathing become shallow. The mention of the Alpha King makes my heartbeat fast for no reason. 

“Oh yeah, I almost forgot about that. Tonight will be the revelation that I am his fated mate. I just need a formal announcement.” 

My brows curled as I looked at her. Confusion started to cover my face.

“You're the Alpha King's mate?” I asked, but Scarlet just smirked at me. 

She didn't respond and just turned her head away. I froze from my direction, my heart almost sank with the thought of Scarlet being the fated mate of the most powerful being in this pack.

“Nah, let's not believe in her. Nobody knew who the Alpha King's mate was until tonight. She's about to be revealed tonight, so let's hope that it will not be Scarlet. That woman is just so arrogant,” Calista mumbled. 

A sigh of relief escaped from my lips after hearing those words. There is a part of me that celebrates because I still have a chance to be chosen even if it's impossible. 

I know it's impossible but I am keeping my hopes up until I find out about it.

“I hope she's kind-hearted,” I muttered, while we're walking inside the hall.

My friends turned their heads at me and smiled. 

“It's for sure. The Moon Goddess will definitely give the Alpha King his deserving mate,” Aurora replied, and that made me smile.

My friends and I just keep on walking. We looked for an area for the three of us. Those who know me keep their distance away. Nobody wanted to socialize with me except these two wonderful women beside me now, which are my friends. They stood by me despite the rumors circulating about my identity.

Fortunately, I used some herbs to cover my real identity and I didn't create a commotion inside. No guards forced me out. 

At this point, I started to narrow my eyes inside and then I found Scarlet. She really made sure she stood up in the center of where the royal family would walk. I just shook my head and kept her out of my head.

And then, the most awaited visitor has finally arrived. The family is respected by many, the leaders of our pack. I stood up straight in the corner, my body started to freeze when the pairs of my eyes saw a handsome man in the center, his eyes locking onto mine.

“Damn! It's the Alpha King!”