Chapter 1

Preparation For The Mating Ball 

Arielle's POV

The cold stone floor bit into my knees, but I dared not move. I was nothing here—a stain on their territory, a disgrace before their eyes.

“You cannot bring her into the pack’s territory. You're defiling our territory!” Elder Zion yelled, his hands clenched as he hit the majestic table before him and the other elders. 

“Elder Orion, you know better. She is the daughter of a rogue. She can't stay with us as equals!” Elder Rufus added, his eyes darted towards me, the rest of the council of elders and the Alpha that sat quietly on his throne witnessing the chaos before him. 

I sat on my knees, my knee cap kissing the cold stone floor. My clothes were tattered and I could feel the cool evening air caressing my skin as I shivered within the piece of rag I had worn. 

“She is just a child. What danger could she possibly cause?” Elder Orion said. 

I knew I didn't belong here, I knew I wouldn't fit in. My parents were banished from their pack and while in exile they had conceived me. To this day, I curse them for bringing me into a world that never wanted me. While in exile, we were attacked by a group of rogues unfortunately my parents didn't survive the attack but I did. 

Elder Orion had found me when I was at the brink of death. He had shown me kindness by taking me into his pack’s territory, the Dreadmoon Pack; however his decision of bringing me in was faced with a lot of opposition because of my status. 

“What would the rest of the pack think? That we're allowing the habitation of a rogue in our territory.” Elder Mikleus said, his voice hoarse due to old age. 

“Exactly! Elder Orion, you need to be considerate and understanding as well. Our rejection is not out of hate but out of love for our pack. We need to protect ourselves from spies infiltrating our territory and causing destabilization.” Elder Zion said, his hands rubbing his beards. 

“She isn't a spy Elder Zion, I found her and I would like to take responsibility for her. She is just a child and we need to be kind enough to take her in, if I had left her she would have been devoured by rogues.” Elder Orion said. 

“Don't let your emotions……”

“Enough!” Alpha Dawson said, interrupting Elder Zion. His gaze darted towards me, my eyes fell to my hands as my grip tightened on my thigh. “The wolf would stay.” He proclaimed. 

The council room was filled with murmurs from all corners. 

“That is my order and it is final. She would be under my brother, elder Orion and if anything goes wrong he would be held accountable. There is no room for opposition.” Alpha Dawson said in a peremptory tone. 

Alpha Dawson left and the hall emptied as other elders of the pack exited the hall. I could still remember elder Orion walking towards me after the meeting. 

“Stand up child.” He said, his hands resting gently on my shoulders. 

I stood up, my head lifted a bit so my eyes could meet his. 

“You need to be careful here. This is a dangerous place and I'm the only one you can trust. Just do as you're told and don't question anyone.” He said, his hands leaving my shoulders as he patted my head before walking away. 

I stood there allowing his words to sink deeply into my head. It became clear to me that survival was the only important thing right now and if I wanted to survive I'd have to dance to their tunes. 

Flash back ends 

“Arielle! Arielle!” 

A loud voice coming from behind yelled. I was lost in my thoughts, I turned only to see Sophia standing behind me. Sophia was like me, I'm not talking about the outcast status, I meant the way she was treated. Her mother was a rebel and because of that her mother's bad reputation had followed her, refusing to go with her mother to the grave. 

“What are you doing there staring outside the window? Do you realize that the sixth mating ball is in two days?” Sophia asked, her eyes wide opened. Did she really expect an answer?

“Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts.” I said, my voice calm, a habit I had developed ever since I came here. I had never raised my voice at anyone. 

“Don't you think I know that? It's quite obvious. Go back to cleaning so we won't be scolded. We don't want to be the reason for the ball to be a flop.” Sophia said, rolling her eyes. 

“Okay Sophia.” I said with a forced smile on my face. Sophia stood there staring at me for a few seconds before she turned back and walked away. 

I picked the mop from the floor, my hands swinging through the hall’s floor as I mopped it. It had been six years since I moved here and the packs were yet to accept me. I had spent years proving I wasn’t a threat, years swallowing my pride and bowing my head. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, I would always be the rogue girl who didn’t belong.

Meanwhile, in the grand chambers of Alpha Adrian, Adrian stood before the large window that stretched from the floor to the ceilings. He had his hands interlocked behind him as he stared outside the window with a focus like one about to cast a spell. Adrian clenched his jaw as he stared out the window. Another year, another ball, another failure waiting to happen.

“This is your sixth ball Adrian. You need to find your mate.” Elder Orion reminded him. As if he hadn’t spent six years searching, only to feel nothing.

After the death of Alpha Dawson, elder Orion's brother six years ago, elder Orion had made his son Adrian the next Alpha because he was too old to rule over the pack. Alpha Adrian had been hosting a mating ball once every year in hope of finding a mate, a Luna but they all failed considering he never finds his mate. 

“You don't have to remind me father.” Alpha Adrian said, his voice calm but deep and authoritative.

“This needs to work out. Your uncle, my brother, Alpha Dawson found his mate on his second mating ball, yours shouldn't take more time any longer.” Elder Orion said, walking closer towards Alpha Adrian. 

“I just need to find the right one. My senses are yet to find my mate and you have to be patient with me.” Alpha Adrian said, his eyes darting to his feet. 

“It has to work. At least this time.” Elder Orion said, placing his hands on Alpha Adrian's shoulders. 

“I need to find the right one too.” Alpha Adrian said, he gently turned towards his father, their eyes locked for a moment and elder Orion gave a nod of acknowledgement. “I'll have to speak with my Beta, Lucian. We have a lot to discuss.” 

Alpha Adrian walked out of the grand chambers, the only sound coming from him was the sound of his shoes kissing the cold stone floors as he walked out, the doors slamming behind him. 

Outside the grand Walls of the palace, anticipation was building among the people who had wondered how this mating ball would turn out. Would the Alpha find a mate or would this mating ball end up being another flop? 

“The Alpha’s mate must be noble-born,” one

of the servants whispered behind her back. “Not some rogue-blooded disgrace.”