CHAPTER 3

By the time I woke up, light had streamed into the room from the cracks in the curtains. I groaned and shielded my eyes, turning around to stuff my head into a pillow when my hand connected with something solid. I looked up and saw a chest, blocking my view. Panic surged up inside me.

I wiped my eyes and sat up, ogling the specimen of a man who laid beside me in bed, mask still on as he slept. That’s when the events of last night came rushing back. The knight in shining armor who saved me and our intimate time together. A blush creeped up my cheeks, forcing me to get off the bed.

Although the night and sex was fun, he didn’t realize that I was wolfless. If I stuck around and he found out there was no doubt that he would be pissed and who knows what might happen. I tore off the mask from my face, abandoning it on the floor, before I grabbed my clothes and quickly put them on.

I was about to leave the room when I turned to take one last look at the man who saved me last night. I couldn’t help but smile as flashes of his hands on my body raked my mind. This man didn’t know it but he helped me deal with my demons last night and for that I was thankful. With that, I left the room, not looking back.

As soon as I got outside, I got into my car and headed back to the place I hated most in this world. My actual home. I got there in record time and just sat in my car, annoyed that I had to come back there after everything I had endured. My father was dead and my step mother hated me but at least I would have a roof over my head until I figured things out.

I let out a forced breath and got out of the car, walking inside the house as staff ogled and gossiped that I was back already. I ignored them all, wanting to head to my former room when a voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Andrea Thorne! What do you think you’re doing here?”

I turned around to see my step mother, Lilian, glare at me with a scowl on her face and her arms crossed. Great. Just what I needed. I rolled my eyes, not in the mood and tried to leave but she called me back.

“Don’t tell me that the rumors are true? That Alpha James caught you fornicating with a Gamma! Do you know the shame that you’ve brought on this house?”

I froze. What did she just say?

“Who told you that?” I questioned, taking a step towards her, my brows furrowing.

“Don’t play coy with me you brat. "Your father tried to set you up with a good life. God knows why he even bothered with trash like you, but you still managed to disgrace his name even from the grave."

"I did not disgrace him. I have not brought shame upon his name." I shouted, stunning her for a second before her hackles were raised once more and her fangs shown.

"How dare you raise your voice at me you insolent whore!"

I didn't have time to move out of the way before her hand connected with my cheek, the pain radiating from it making my head swim.

I scoffed and glared at her.

"If anyone's a whore here is your precious daughter Valeria. I'm pretty sure that this rumor was started by her since I caught her having sex with my boyfriend." I dropped the bomb, waiting to see Lilian's face crumble in shame but she just shrugged.

"And so what? Did you think that Alpha James was actually going to marry you?" She raised her nose at me.

"Aww mum, I told her the same thing. She isn't worthy of such a man." I heard Valeria say as she walked up to us, that damned smirk still on her lips.

The rage I had felt last night hit me like a freight train but this time I knew that I couldn't do anything about it. Valeria and Lilian were abusive. They would always hit me but neither of them tried to actually kill me since I was betrothed to James but now that that wasn't the case, I'm sure that they wouldn't hold back and I was powerless to stop them.

I turned to leave but Valeria held on to me, her nails digging into my skin on purpose.

"Where do you think you're going? I have some news to tell you. Since the pack now recognizes you as a wolfless whore, Alpha James has decided to drop you and be with me." She piped, giggling as she finished.

I gritted my teeth but didn't say a word. What was I supposed to do? Congratulate her?

"Did you not hear what I said? I said ..."

"I don't care what you said you homewrecker. You and James deserve each other and I wish you both the worst this world has to offer." I cursed, trying to pull my hand away but Valeria wouldn't let go.

The perkiness on her face twisted into something else, making me regret my decision of talking back. She raised her hand, ready to give me another beating when a voice stopped her.

"There's an urgent message from the Alpha King sent to all homes. He requests to have all eligible female wolves at the square to pick a mate." The head of staff announced, reading off a parchment paper. “He announces that he marked his mate and is ready to make her his queen.”

Valeria let go of me and squealed with Lilian following suit. I have no idea why unless she was also sleeping with the man but I didn’t care about that right now.

"Forget James. Let's try and get the Alpha King. With that you'll rule over everyone and I have just the thing to make that happen." Lilian prompted.

“Really mum?” Valeria asked, her eyes gleaming. Lilian gave her a nod and then pulled her along.

I sighed, thankful that they had something else to focus on and moved to leave but the man cleared his throat to call my attention. I turned to him and grimaced when he spoke.

"The Alpha King wants to see everyone. Including you."

I tried not to wince at his tone but my shoulders slumped in resignation. I wanted to rest but I guess I was going to see the Alpha King, much to my dismay.

•••••

It didn't take long for the moon square in the Bloodfang territory to be filled with all the unmated female wolves in the pack. I could count twenty of us. As I walked through the crowd to the centre I could hear the whispers I had been trying so hard to ignore.

"Ah, the wolfless Andrew came here? What is she trying to prove?"

"After cheating on the Alpha she has the gall to come here. Disgusting."

"She is truly an abomination."

I swallowed my anger and took a spot in the growing line, wanting all of this to be done so that I could go back home to rest. As the last girl stepped into place, the crowd quieted, as a man dressed in an impeccable suit walked to the front of the line.

He looked feral but in a good way. Tall with dark tousled hair that framed his face, jawline that could cut diamonds, and his eyes... Those eyes, I had seen before. I gulped.

Silver eyes stared back at me and I immediately turned away. This couldn't be happening.

It couldn't be the same man from last night. Even if it was, he couldn't be the Alpha King right? What would a man of his calibre be doing at a run down bar. And I was sure that whoever this was definitely wasn't here looking for me.

My thoughts caught up with me once he started speaking, confirming my fears.

"Bow before the King, Alpha Kieran Graves of the Thornhaven Pack." A man announced.

Damn it. We all did as we were told, my eyes not once leaving the ground. This was bad. If he figured out that it was me he slept with, me he marked and then realised that I had no wolf I would be banished or worse killed. I did not want to die. Not now.

"I met a woman yesterday and I marked her. She also left this mask behind.” He announced, showing off the mask I had on last night to the group. “I would like to know if she is among you because she is my mate." Kieran said, his voice thundering around the space, reminding me of how that same voice wavered when he was in me.

I shook my head, my mind running with thoughts on what could happen if I was found out. I closed my eyes, praying to the moon goddess to help me just this once but when I opened my eyes, my hopes crashed and burned.

I saw a pair of feet wearing expensive shoes in front of me. I raised my head up slowly hoping that it was a hallucination but I came face to face with Kieran, his piercing eyes staring into mine.

I gaped, my eyes darting to his lips and then to his eyes. He leaned in closer and held the mask to my face as if sure it was me but then he stopped when he touched my neck and pulled away.

"You have no wolf and therefore no mark." He said in more of a statement than a question. "Hmm, you look just like her." He muttered before pulling the mask away and leaving.

I huffed and stared at the ground again, thanking the moon goddess for protecting me this time. All I had to do was wait it out and soon he would be gone and I could move on but fate had other plans because the next thing I heard was Valeria's sharp voice. My head whipped towards her.

"I am the woman you're looking for, Alpha Kieran." She mused, slightly bowing to him.

Kieran stopped for her, his eyes doing a quick once over. He huffed.

"Her hair was brown. Yours isn't." He pointed out.

Valeria's hands went to her hair and she frowned, already quick with an answer.

"I wore a wig not to be noticed last night Alpha."

"I marked my woman. I doubt you're the one." Kieran said, moving away but Valeria grabbed his hand keeping him in place.

Gasps rose in the air. No one touched the Alpha King without losing a hand. What was her game?

"But I am marked Alpha Kieran." Valeria pureed, turning her head for Kieran to see the mark on her neck. Granted it hadn't healed yet but there was a significant mark on her. A mark that I was sure couldn’t be Kieran’s.

Kieran froze for a second like the cogs in his mind were still trying to work before his eyes lit up and he smiled, grabbing onto Valeria and lifting her off the ground.

"It seems that I have indeed found my mate." He announced, looking a bit dazed.

Now I didn't care who the Alpha took as his but I couldn't let Valeria swindle the most powerful man in the country. She was most likely marked by that betrayer James. Every mark was unique to a wolf. I wasn’t sure how she changed her and convinced Kieran that it was his mark but I couldn’t let her get away with it.

So while biting my lip and ignoring my inner voice to mind my business, I stepped forward, drawing all eyes to me. I took a deep breath and spoke, praying I wouldn't be executed for telling the truth.

"Alpha Kieran. Valeria Thorne lies. She is not your mate."