Chapter 2: A Dream

“My mate,”

I looked around to be sure I wasn't the only one who was hearing and seeing this.

Aeson had the most confusing expression ever and his father Alpha Dominic looked bewildered.

His friends who were already on their feet in respect, also had a confused expression on their faces.

Yep, it's confirmed. I ain't the only one hearing this.

I tried to push him back a bit, “I think you got the wrong person,”

He didn't let go, “No, I can't be wrong,” He touched my cheeks gently, and all the rumors of his ruthless and unapproachable demeanor seemed to expel into the wind.

I forced a smile, “Sir, please let go,” I said calmly, afraid to annoy him.

He lets go but his eyes are glued on me, I steady myself on the ground, glancing at the people around me.

His eyes now trailed from my face to my body, seeing me in red lingerie should have discouraged him.

Instead, I heard: “Let's go home together and you shall be my Luna,” He said with a straight face.

My lips parted in surprise.

“Sir…. She is a stripper,” Aeson stepped in.

He glanced at my lingerie, “It doesn't matter, you are my second chance mate, as long as you accept me, that is all I need,” He took a step closer, his eyes holding certain emotions that I couldn't place my hand on.

“Let's go home together, okay?” His face held desperation.

I glanced at Alpha Dominic.

Alpha Dominic cleared his throat but didn't say a word.

“Sir, she is a slu—” Before Aeson could finish his word. Alpha Draxen glared at him.

“Why?” I asked.

He blinked, “What do you mean why?”

“Why do you want to be with me? Why desire for me to be your mate?” I questioned.

“Because you're mine,”

“You can't have her, she is my mate,” Aeson said in fear that Alpha Draxen would truly take me away.

I scoff.

“She is also my second chance mate,” Alpha Draxen stated.

For a second, I was feeling very special, from being rejected to being wanted by two Alphas. But after Aeson attempted to reject me, I couldn't dare allow myself to have any hint of hope.

Despite Alpha Draxen's reputation, Aeson was not ready to back down.

“I, Zafira, reject you Aeson as a mate,” I said aloud.

Aeson looked stunned, “You? Reject me?”

“Do you think I will jump on the opportunity to marry an Alpha that ridicules me?” I said, staring at Aeson. “Accept the rejection,”

Seeing that Aeson has lost, Alpha Dominic nudged him.

“I accept your rejection,” The bond was broken, I winced and held my chest, feeling the pain of the broken bond.

“You will regret this,” Aeson said and stormed away.

Alpha Draxen tried to hold me, noticing the pain I was in, but I moved away from him. “Probably because of my bond with Aeson, I don't feel yours but I am not meant to be your Luna, please reconsider,” I bowed slightly and walked out.

As I walked away without looking back. I could still feel his gaze on me, as though reminding me that it was far from over.

“What happened?” Elaris suddenly jumped into my path, startling me.

I placed my hand on my chest, “You startled me,”

“Oh. Sorry, so what happened? I noticed a lot of people went into that room.”

I thought of everything that transpired and the lingering pain of the broken bond. I open the makeup room backstage. “Well, it turned out that I had two Alphas as a mate, Aeson and Alpha Draxen….”

“What?!” She screamed and followed me into the room.

I sat down and began wiping off my makeup, fortunately, no one was in the room yet. “The only one I could feel was Aeson so I broke the bond and rejected Alpha Draxen—”

“You rejected him?” Elaris asked, eyes widening slightly.

I shrugged. “Of course I did.”

She stared at me for a moment… then laughed softly.

“Zafira… that’s Alpha Draxen.”

“And?”

She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Men like him don’t chase. If he is…”

She paused, studying my face carefully. “A word from him is all it takes… he could destroy everyone and still force you to be with him….. I don't think you should push him away so quickly.”

I shrugged, “He doesn’t seem like someone to fear.”

Elaris stared at me without a word. “Of course he doesn't, that's because you haven't seen him in action,”

I changed into more appropriate clothing.

“He is so influential and powerful that no one dares to cross him, with him….” Elaris sighs, staring blankly, “Opportunities like this don’t come twice,” she added quietly.

Opportunity? That's unlike her but she's probably just scared.

I threw myself on her body, hugging her tightly. “Come on, being with Alpha Draxen means leaving home, we might not have any family but it's still our home,”

Elaris didn't reply.

I took my bag, “Time to go home,”

As I opened the door, only to meet a chilling atmosphere, some stripper girls were some steps away, staring at the makeup room with fear in their eyes. Even the guards that usually roam around, stood with the girls and were looking at the ground.

The strippers shifted their gaze and I followed their stare. My feet froze as I stared.

He was here. Alpha Draxen leaned against the wall with his hands tucked into his trousers pocket like he had all the time in the world for whatever agenda was in his mind.

“Why did you stop—” Elaris voice trailed off as she saw him. She quickly left my side and ran to the other strippers.

My fingers tightened slightly at my side.

“You’re still here?” I asked, my voice lower than I expected.

He didn’t answer immediately.

His gaze moved—slowly—taking me in, as if memorizing something.

Not like the others.

Not with hunger.

Not with lust.

Something else. Something I didn’t understand.

“You walked away,” he said finally.

“That’s what people do when they’re not interested.”

A pause. Then—

“I’m not a person.”

My breath caught slightly, but I masked it quickly, crossing my arms. “And I’m not interested.”

His expression didn’t change. Not even a flicker.

He pushed himself off the wall.

One step. That was all it took for the space between us to feel… smaller.

“Your wolf,” he said quietly.

My chest tightened. “What about it?”

His eyes narrowed slightly, studying me in a way that felt too deep. Too knowing.

“It’s quiet.”

My heart skipped. I forced a laugh. “Maybe it just doesn’t like you.”

But he didn’t react to the joke. “No,” he said. “That’s not it.”

Silence fell between us again. Heavy. Then—

“Has it always been like that?”

That question hit harder than it should have. I looked away. “That’s none of your business.”

Another step closer. Too close now. “It is,” he said and his gaze softened—just slightly. “Because you’re mine.”

I frowned and shook my head immediately. “No. I’m not.”

“You can reject me,” he said calmly. “It won’t change what you are to me.”

My chest rose and fell slowly. “Then that’s your problem. You are the only one who feels the bond. I don't.”

He tucked my hair behind my ears, his breath on my face. I turned away to use the people around to reprimand him but there was no one. The guards… the strippers… Elaris, they were all gone.

He took in my scent like it was a drug. “Too similar,” he muttered.

“What—”

Before I could say anything, he closed the distance. His lips pressed against mine. My eyes widened.

For a second, I didn’t move. Didn’t respond. Then something shifted.

Not in my mind… But deeper.

My will to push him away… shattered. And that terrified me.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Is this the goddess doing? Or am I going insane?