Chapter two:

Ariana’s POV

My mate should have felt my pain, he should have come to me. How could Noah walk away from me to face them alone? That was the question burning through my mind as he disappeared from my view.

My chest hammered in pain, with tears flowing out of my eyes. I was surrounded on all sides by Maya and her friends, their laughter slicing through the air, making me the center of attention. Malicious smiles curved on Maya and her friends' lips, their tone dripping with mockery, echoing in the hall. My whole body ached as if it were pierced with pins.

“Aww, don't be sad, Arianna,” Maya snickered, her tone laced with sarcasm, a scowl covering her face. “If you are so desperate to score a mate, why don't you try this?”

Maya’s lips curved into a cruel smile as she grabbed me by the collar of my shirt, her hands brushing against my skin, trailing down my jawline, sending a wave of electricity through me. “What are you trying to do?” My heart pounded, my breathing grew unsteady, and her eyes glowed brightly.

“Please don’t do this,” I whimpered in pain, my voice shaky, as she clutched my clothes, tearing the fabric, ripping them apart into shreds. Cold air brushed against my skin.

“What have you done?” I let out a choked whisper. My face turned pale, my heart sank as I crossed my arms over my body, burning with shame. I gritted my teeth, tears clawing up my throat with saltiness on my tongue. Her gaze landed on my bra, which had a thin linen that only covered my breasts. Murmurs echoed in the hall.

“Wow, Ariana, did you steal this bra from your grandma?” she chuckled, her voice booming all over the room. Giggles echoed; each giggle was like a blade piercing my heart. I swallowed hard, the words tasting like metal on my lips.

“Stop this, please,” I begged, a tear slipped down my cheek, my arms shivering as she shot me an angry glare.

“That scream means never being touched. Wow, wolf-less, and a virgin,” she smirked with a smug look on her face. “You are even more pathetic than I thought. No wonder Noah won't mark you, any decent wolf, would die of shame before mating someone like you,” she added, her words seeping through my bones.

My breath hitched. I clenched my fists, my blood running cold as she grabbed me by the hair, wearing a devilish smile. “Stay away from the Gravens brother, freak, look at my mate again, and I will rip you to shreds,” she declared, her sharp voice cutting across the room.

“What are you doing?” A deep baritone voice cut through the room, and everyone froze, going into a heavenly silence. He emerged from the shadows, his eyes cold and ruthless, with his curly hair stretching on his shoulders at waist length.

“Alpha Liam,” they bowed respectfully as he approached.

“What is going on here?” he asked, his eyes widening, flickering on us.

I stumbled, my legs failing me, nearly tripping, but before I could crash to the bare floor, he caught me in his arms. “It's okay,” he pulled away the strands of hair covering my face.

“Arianna, it's you,” he mumbled softly.

“Thank you,” I whispered, trembling.

“Can you just tell me what is going on here?” he stepped forward, the question hanging in the air, his voice low and dangerous. No one dared to speak.

“Who did this to her?” he asked, his voice echoing in the room, which made my stomach twist into knots.

“Baby, you are an alpha now. You don't have to waste your precious time worrying about her when I'm right here,” Maya stepped up, her lips curling into a smile, her hands sliding down his chest, her tone softening.

He froze, his eyes darkening. “I missed you so much,” she says as she runs her hand through his curly hair.

“Missed me? I don't even know who you are,” he blurted out, his voice filled with disdain, as he pushed her backward, sending her crashing against the wall with a heavy thud.

“My family is one of the most powerful in this pack. How dare you do this to me?” She demanded, with a hoarse voice.

“Who the hell are you?” he blurted out, throwing the question directly at her. Gasps filled the room as he rolled his eyes to look at her.

“What were you doing with her?” he inquired, his voice thunderous.

“Oh, she is a wolf-less nobody,” she answered with a malicious look in her narrowed eyes.

“A nobody, this is Ariana Wilson. Funny how I remember her name and can't even think of yours,” he pulled his jacket and draped it over me, glancing at her.

His gaze landed on Maya’s phone, which had crashed to the floor. He crouched down to the ground and picked the phone up.

“Is this a photo of me?” he asked with a dangerous smirk on his face. “It looks like you are the delusional one, no wonder you don't have a mate,” he snarled, his words sharp, piercing through her chest.

He grabbed a cup of champagne from the table and splashed it all over Maya. Her dress soiled, she looked like a wet puppy drenched in the rain.

“I am the Alpha, touch her again, and I will do much worse,” he warned with brutality lurking in his dark eyes.

“Are you okay?” he turned to me.

“I'm fine,” I whispered, clutching his jacket tighter to shield myself. “Just leave me alone,” I hastened my steps, disappearing from their sight, my heart racing.

“Noah,” I called out to him immediately, as I caught a glimpse of him walking towards the lobby. He froze in his tracks, clenching his jaw, and turned his head to see me approaching. He grabbed my hand and rushed inside the lobby, slamming the door shut behind us.

“Why the hell are you wearing my brother's jacket?” The question escaped his lips as his gaze landed on the jacket covering my body, his brother's scent all over it. My chest tightened.

“I'm your mate and Maya was practically torturing me back there, and you didn't even look twice,” I snapped angrily at him. “I know what people would say if you marked me, are you ashamed of me?” I asked with concern in my eyes.

“Of course not,” he replied as he stepped closer, pulling me into a tight embrace, stroking my back gently. “I will make it up to you tonight, remember what I promised,” he whispered, nibbling on my earlobe.

“On the night of the flower moon, I will finally mark you as my mate,” he declared.