CHAPTER 1: February 14th

“I knew she was my mate; however, I never expected that I’d have to share her with four others. And that is beyond frustrating.” – Alpha Leo.

==JANET’S POV== 

No matter what species you were, you would always have to endure one terrible day: February 14th.

To humans, it was Valentine’s Day. To werewolves, it was the day of finding one’s mate.

On this particular February 14th, Mystic Vale hosted a party for the pack's wolves. The event was given the flowery name of Mate Bond Nights. It was the night when most people recognized their mates and began the marking process.

It was just a specific superstition of our Mystic Vale.

“I think Eli is looking at you,” Ray said, raising an eyebrow toward Eli Jackson, who was sitting at a table about ten paces away from us.

“To hell with him.”

“A bit late on the uptake, Ray; every other male has been staring at Janet since she walked into this room,” Frank remarked with a dismissive smirk.

Alpha Leo’s face hardened as he glared at all the boys fantasizing about me. He shrugged. “Not anymore, they aren't.”

“I think I’ll meet my mate tonight.” Bill, ignoring the Alphas surrounding me, shoved the shoulder of Neville, a fellow Beta. “Hey, Omega, do you feel it? You’re usually good at guessing.”

“Don’t call him Omega. He has a name, it’s Neville,” I reminded him. Even though Bill and I were both Betas, he respected me a bit more because I had fought alongside the Alphas.

“It’s okay, I know Bill was just joking.” Neville’s cheeks flushed. Aww.

I guessed he still wasn't used to being around an Alpha Leader, an Alpha Warrior, and an Alpha Guard at such a crowded event.

“I don’t care about my mate,” I said, tilting my chin up.

“I know, you arrogant brat,” the Beta teased, nudging my arm. We laughed and sipped our wine together.

Alpha Leo’s eyes bore into me, carrying a hint of irritation. “Why is that?”

“I…”

“Leave it alone, Eli!” Ava—my best friend—exclaimed in annoyance.

I looked toward her table and realized Eli was standing with two of my best friends, Ava and Rachel.

“See? Sensitive!” Eli smirked, speaking loudly for everyone to hear. “I told you that you weren't suited for the computer room. Find a mate for that pretty ass of yours instead.”

Eli burst out laughing, and his friends joined in.

“What’s going on?” I walked over to Rachel.

“Ava and I were discussing finding a nest of bugs inside the PCB circuit board of the keyboard Eli is using. He walked by and told us to shut up because it wasn't something our kind of 'brain' had the right to touch,” Rachel whispered, anger etched on her face.

“You’re a bastard, Eli,” Ava hissed, her eyes turning red.

“What’s this? Crying over a stale joke? It turns out even female Omegas are more spineless than the males,” Eli smiled, winking at me.

“Hey, Eli. If there were a prize for the most cowardly man in the pack, you’d take first place,” I chuckled. “An Alpha Warrior trying to use a joke to protect his ego, yet not even brave enough to state it as a personal opinion? What’s wrong? Afraid you can’t win the argument?”

“I don’t like arguing with worthless things. Something born for entertainment should only be used for entertainment.”

I stood in front of Ava, placing myself between her and Eli, and looked up at him. 

“So, the thing born for entertainment here is the one who likes to attract attention by belittling those who are weaker? Find someone your own size, Eli. Why keep challenging those weaker than you? Actually, she’s only weaker than you in physical strength and misogyny—if it came down to knowledge, you’d definitely lose. That’s why you…”

“You talk too much, it’s making my ears hurt. I’ve decided—”

“I wasn't finished. Your mother gave birth to a werewolf, not a cricket, so why are you jumping into my mouth? You boneheaded, misogynistic bastard!”

Ava let out a howl beside me. She, Rachel, and the others in my group began to chant. “Janet! Janet! Janet!”

“I will rip you apart and chew up your guts, Janet,” Eli growled threateningly at me.

“Oh, so you really can't use your brain to make me respect you? Fists are for solving what the brain can’t. So it turns out you’re a bastard, a misogynist, and an idiot? I’m requesting 'idiot benefits' for this Alpha here—is that okay, Alpha Leo?” I looked over at Leo, who had just choked on his water. He had clearly been enjoying the show.

“I don’t want to get involved in this,” Leo said seriously.

As Eli turned to leave, I called out, “Even if you’re stupid, you should know how to apologize for being an idiot. Now, apologize to my friend before you’re allowed to go.”

“You’re overstepping your bounds, Janet. Leo, say something to your bitch.”

“I don’t have a bitch.” Leo quietly took a sip of wine, looking wise and detached from the drama.

“Apologize, Eli,” I demanded.

A group of werewolves stood by me and chanted, “Apologize! Apologize!”

“Dammit, I am fucking sorry!” Eli said, hissing every word through gritted teeth.

Ava stifled a laugh. “Fine, I’ll accept the apology, but as for the 'fucking,' you should go and do that to yourself. Someone like you probably only fucks strong, idiot men anyway.”

“I don't waste my time on females.” Eli clenched his jaw and began to walk away.

“Try spending some time on your brain; it clearly needs the workout!” I called after him.

I knew that line was just his way of stroking his own ego, but I couldn't resist mocking it.

The whole pack burst into laughter.

Ava hugged me and whispered her thanks. I patted her shoulder. In a dark corner, I saw Alpha Emmett Jackson; his hand was bleeding. At his feet were the shards of a broken glass.

He was Eli’s father, the one who had passed that toxicity down to him.

When Ava let me go, Leo walked past me. “You’ll need to be careful with the Jacksons.”

I nodded, watching him walk to the center of the ballroom. The lights shone on our Alpha Leader as he raised his glass.

“Please overlook the foolish men; this is a very important night for us…”

Leo gave a speech about the history of February 14th for werewolves. Then came a toast for those who had yet to find their mates.

While we were all howling in excitement, the lights suddenly cut out. I felt a sharp sting on my wrist, and a blend of scents flooded my nose.

“No, it can’t be tonight,” I muttered, trying to sneak out of the ballroom.

I felt someone following me.

I entered the elevator and went straight to Leo’s office. This was also considered half my office since I was his secretary.

I sat on the sofa, clutching my wrist and taking a deep breath. Gentle scents hit my nose.

“Janet?” I heard Alpha Leo ask.

I stood up, looking directly into his stunned face.

He held out his wrist. I could clearly see a glowing crescent moon on it, while on my wrist was the piece that completed that moon.

“Hello, my mate,” he flashed a haunting smile.

The elevator doors opened again. This time, I saw my men appearing with glowing wrists.

Alpha Leo’s smile vanished the moment he saw them.

Well, fate certainly loved to play jokes on me.