Chapter 4

Jenna POV

As we were heading over to the hall that was hosting the Mid-Summer Ball, my heel broke.  I quickly slipped my shoes off promising the girls I would catch up.  Emma offered to come back with me, but I told her not to be silly, she could go ahead.  Emma was also hoping to find her mate, although she was reluctant to leave our Pack.  I think everyone shares that fear initially until they make the connection.  Then they do not care one way or the other.  I chuckle wondering what fate will serve me tonight.

As I return to my room, I scoot into my closet and grab a pair of black stilettos.  After I look at them, I decide they actually compliment my dress better than the original shoes I had on.  Smiling at my reflection I turn and get ready to leave my room.  As I reach the door, there is a knock.  I open the door with a smile that quickly turns to a frown.  One of my many suitors is waiting in the doorway looking sharp in his suit.  His tie oddly matches my dress.

   “Hi Jeff,” I say walking out of my room after locking the door.  “What are you doing up here?” I ask.  It is unusual for Pack members to be on the Alpha floor.  “I thought you would like some company at the Ball tonight.  In case you do not find your mate,” Jeff adds.  The thing with being known as the party girl is that everyone thinks you are easy.  Jeff already knows I am not, but that does not stop him from trying.  He leans down, capturing my lips in a hard kiss.  I pull back, disgusted.  

Wiping my lips off, I step back from him.  “I was just heading over there, I am meeting the girls shortly,” I say trying to be polite while also letting him know I have plans with others.  “Great, I will walk over with you,” he says.  He puts his elbow out for me to take.  Not wanting to be a total bitch, I take his arm touching him lightly. He puts his hand over mine, pulling me closer.  “It is a gorgeous night, perfect for a Ball,” Jeff says.  “But not as gorgeous as you, Jenna,” he adds.  

Fortunately, he cannot see me roll my eyes at him.  As we walked down the stairs we got comments, “What a beautiful couple,” I could hear whispered as we passed.  Exactly what I did not want to happen is happening.  People thinking, we are somehow connected.  I try to put some distance between us, but Jeff is holding me tightly.  Starting to feel uncomfortable, I stop walking, giving the impression I need to fix a shoe.  This allows me the chance to disengage from Jeff and I do not move back to take his arm as we start to move again.

Walking out in the dark, I am startled when Jeff pulls me around the building to give me another demanding kiss.  “Jenna let’s blow this off and go be together,” he murmurs against my lips.  “What the hell, Jeff, we are just friends,” I say back to him angrily whispering so nobody hears us.  “You have always been a tease, Jenna; come on, pick me as your chosen mate,” Jeff whines.  I cannot believe this.  There has never been a time I have led him on yet here we are.  

“No Jeff, I have to meet the girls.  Let me go now,” I say using my Alpha voice.  Jeff looks at me with frustration but steps back.  As an Alpha I have the power to bend people to my will.  I do not use it very often but in this situation, it was warranted.  I did not want things to get out of control and ruin both our nights.  

Stepping around Jeff, I walk into the Ballroom.  It was stunning.  I see my mother and father immediately and I go up to them both, hugging my mother first, congratulating her on a spectacular event, and hugging my father as well.  He was so proud of my mother, and I could tell she was getting a lot of glowing reviews on her event.  Stepping beside them, I welcome the crowd into the Mid-Summer Ball with my parents.  It is not always expected but my parents were proud of my effort to be part of the welcoming committee.  And as a future Luna it only seems befitting that I be there for support.

I start to look around and see my girls on the dance floor.  As I excuse myself from my parents, I walk toward the dancefloor taking a glass of champagne from the server’s tray.  As wolves we have a bit more leniency on our drinking age than most humans do.  In this case I was grateful as it helped with my nerves.  I had not realised I would be nervous but here we are.  Perhaps my second and third ball will be easier to manage, I think, chuckling to myself.

I move to the group of girls I usually hang out with and start dancing.  My body moves naturally to the music, and I quickly feel someone come up behind me moving to the music with me.  As I get more into the music, I feel my dance partner lean over toward my ear, “That’s it baby,” he says.  Smirking, I turn around to see someone I had never seen before.   He was an Alpha from another Pack but was not my mate.  He pulls me closer to dance with him and I can feel his hardness at my hip.  Not wanting to be too obvious I pull back slightly from his arms.  I can feel him trying to tighten them, but I slip out of them with a move that pushes me back toward the circle of women I was dancing with.  I can see the confused look on the Alpha’s face until he smiles and walks away.

As he walks away, I start to get a scent of pine and vanilla.  It is very faint, but it distracts me momentarily from dancing.  Not wanting to be too obvious I casually look around the room trying to see if anyone makes eye contact with me.  Seeing nobody jump up out of the crowd, I decide to continue dancing for the time being and continue observing the crowd.

Adam POV

Grunting in Wendy’s ear, I have her pinned against the door in the men’s washroom.  Nobody was in there and I locked the door when we came in.  Feeling her channel clench around me, I hear her moan her release as I groan my own.  Resting my forehead on hers, I smile.  Every time with Wendy keeps getting better.  And now we were trying to catch our breath.  Wendy moves to clean herself up.  I smile as I look at myself in the mirror fixing my tie and pants.  Tonight would be memorable one way or another.

As soon as Wendy was ready, we walked out of the bathroom to see a line-up of men waiting.  A couple smirked until I growled using my Alpha tone.  That settled everyone down. I did not want Wendy to feel cheap or used.  

As we rounded the corner of the hallway back out to the main area of the ballroom, I caught the scent of cinnamon.  The kind of cinnamon in those cinnamon heart candies you see on Valentine's Day.  I am instantly caught in a trance.  I do not see the source of that scent.  I take Wendy’s arm and turn her toward the table reserved for our Pack.  I do not want to leave Wendy, but I need to find out the owner of that scent.  

I take a couple glasses of champagne from the server.  Thanking them, I pass one glass to Wendy and I down the other in one gulp.  We sat at our table, me completely consumed now in the scent.  Wendy touches my arm asking what is going on?  I look at her with guilt in my eyes, her mouth opening to an “oh” as she realises what is happening.  She keeps a bright look on her face and encourages me to go find my mate.  Wanting to say no, I know I cannot.  Someone is looking for me just as I should be looking for them.

I stand up and start to walk through the crowd.  I am by the buffet when I catch a stronger scent of the cinnamon scent.  I walk around back toward the dance floor.  I am entranced by the goddess dancing sexily on the dance floor.  I am equally annoyed by her provocative dancing.  Every male in the place, except for those who found or brought their mate, is eying my mate.

I start to walk over as a well-intentioned suitor tries to start dancing with my mate. I stand there for a moment to watch what happens.  I feel my anger rise as I see her turn to dance with him.  He pulls her closer, but she quickly dodges his advances moving back closer to the group of women she is dancing with.  

Seeing her move makes me happy, but it still annoys me that she is drawing so much attention to herself.  As she looks across the crown, I can see she is looking for me.  Tempted to turn away, I cannot as I feel her eyes slowly scan the crowd coming closer to mine.  As she finally lands on my eyes, I feel myself scowl at her.  Her face has a confused look as she stares at me.  I start to move toward my mate, as she moves toward me now with a smile on her face.  She is stunning.  I have never seen a woman as beautiful as her.  And now I would get to have her as my very own.  

As we come to stand in front of one another, we each say “Mate” at the same time.  Smiling back at her I lean down, giving her a soft kiss.  She gasps leaning back with her nose scrunching up.  Shit!  I forgot I had just been with Wendy.  She can likely smell her on me.  As I start to speak, she turns and stomps away from me.

Sighing, I decided to give her a moment not losing sight of her in the crowd.  She heads toward a table I assume is her own Pack’s table.  Not many were there but she sits down and simply stares at the dancefloor like she has the burden of the world on her shoulders.  Starting to move toward her, my Beta, Thomas, comes over to me.  “Was that your mate, man?” he asks me, putting his hand on my shoulder.

“Sure is, but I fucked up.  I was just with Wendy, and now my mate knows it,” I share with him.  “I would not be too worried about it.  She has been dancing up a frenzy for an hour now and has a lot of hot and bothered men wanting her,” he says, teasing me.  I do not like his tone and give him a look that says he has crossed a line.  Stepping back with his hands in the air, “Hey, do not shoot the messenger,” he says.  “Who is she?” I ask.  

“She is the host Alpha and Luna’s daughter,” he murmurs as he looks around the room.  “The Alpha and Luna’s daughter?” I ask.  Realisation hits me like a slap in the face.  This is the slut who is the party queen.  I had heard plenty about her over the past couple years.  “Dammit,” I say to my Beta.  He pats me on the back as I continue to watch my mate.  In the five minutes I have been watching her, three men have come up to ask her to dance.  She has said not to all of them.  Was she waiting for me to come over?  I was not ready to meet her yet.  Instead, I head to the bar to grab a whiskey on the rocks.  

Damn mate bonds.