The Celebration Trap

Chapter 1

Anna's POV

The ballroom was bright, luminous light glowing from the bulbs of the large hall, the merry laughter of the guests seeping out in their numbers.

Stomping shoes, glamorous gowns and handsome fits filled the room, and occasionally, the chiming sound of cutleries lingered around my ears.

I stood in a corner, watching as time unraveled the sham. The guests all shot out smiles and compliments in my direction, but my heartbeat raced as the men gawked at me, their eyes protruding and robotic. It felt like I was being monitored with every movement I made.

Chills ran down my spine as my attention caught a man, old and chubby, trying to advance closer with a disgusting, wide smile. I hurriedly walked away before he could get a chance to wave or even think to introduce himself.

“Gosh, I need a drink,” I sighed frustratedly, shaking my head in displeasure. I looked around to find a close maid with a tray of drinks.

Champagne, whiskey, juice, anything. I just wanted to wet my dry throat.

“Bro, I have seen her and she's breathtaking as her father described her to be,”

“You don't say, How did you see her? I've been moving around and I still haven't laid my eyes on her,”

They seemed to be talking. My ears perked up as curiosity wrapped me thin, stealthily moving me closer to the circle of three Alphas.

They snickered and whispered, but their whispers did nothing to conceal their voices.

“She's around here somewhere,” one of the Alpha's said. I recognized him from a meeting I once attended with my father.

“Let's place a bet,” the other replied. “Whoever gets the girl to bond with her before the party ends, gets to leave as the champion.”

Huh!

“A bet?” I muttered, leaning my waist closer.

“I can't believe her father cloaked this mate arrangement as a harvest celebration. How sick is that?” One of the Alpha laughed.

“Certainly, one of the guests might have picked her as a mate. Let's lock in and get this over with,” they sighed.

I instantly gasped in horror as my face contorted in disgust mixed with despair.

This wasn't no freaking harvest celebration!

My father was making me prance around for a mate arrangement. I was basically being forced into a marriage that I knew nothing of. My heart quickly shattered into pieces. The chatters of the hall faded into silence, my vision becoming blurry.

I suddenly felt miserable and alone as the presence of the guests disappeared, leaving me to wallow in restrained sadness.

I couldn't even move my arms and legs. My eyes twitched uncontrollably, and my toes tweaked to move, but I couldn't.

How could my father do this to me? I thought I was his only heir. Did he think so less of me that he thought to marry me off without my consent?

Tears watered in my eyes, my breath became heavier by the second and my chest pounded like a boulder had been placed on it.

I felt like falling on my knees as a realization dawned on me. It explained why there were so many Alphas ogling in my direction. They looked eager to drag my hands out and force me to bond with them.

It was sick. The feeling of being tricked quickly erupted into anger. An unrestrained anger.

My father. I needed to see him. I needed an explanation on why he arranged this freak show of a harvest.

I stormed out, ignoring anyone who came close with a mischievous smile. As for the persistent ones, a little growl set them off my trail as I marched out of the hall and stormed into my father's office, my face burning with rage.

The door slammed shut but my fury was only getting started.

“Father, what is the meaning of this? Is this how you claim to protect me? I am your…”

“You found out, huh,” He calmly sighed, leaning his back against his chair. “Took you long enough,” he cleared his throat.

“What?” I exclaimed.

There was no remorse in his eyes. To make matters worse, he looked eager to inquire if I had found a mate.

“You gotta be kidding me, father. Wh…How.” I stuttered “Do you plan to sell me off? Am I a breeder to you? Is that what you think about me,”

“It's not about you,” my father yelled, clenching his fists. “This is necessary for the pack. You must find a mate today,”

“Why father? Why” I instantly fired back, my voice chill and croaky.

“Because you are too weak,” his voice vibrated through the walls. I felt a cold gust of wind captivate my broken heart, shattering it to bits.

“You are too weak Anna.” He resounded “You are a disgrace to my heir. A disgrace to the Bond moon pack,” he stated, slamming his hands on his table.

“I—I thought you…” I stuttered, moving back two steps in disbelief.

I never expected my father to admit it to my face. He knew I was secretly ridiculed for being weak and dependent but he said it without any restraints.

“I should have had a son as my heir. You can't rule alone, it's not possible.” He raised his head, thrusting his arms out with a cold expression “So get back in there and find a worthy man as a mate.”

“If I had a son I wouldn't have to worry about the safety of my pack,”

No, I shook my head.

His voice struck deep, crumbling the walls of confidence I tried to put up.

The tears I had been struggling to withhold, flowed out like a stream as I fled into the woods.

I was worthless to everyone, even my father thought so.

I tried screaming and throwing rocks in random directions, but the snapping of a twig made me leap up and hurriedly turn to my back.

A tall figure, broad and breathtaking, stepped out of the shadows. I had not seen his face, only his feet to the waist up, but my wolf instantly whispered “Mate”