Eva POV
Skyler's parents and my brothers spent the rest of the afternoon with the Kings and council. I took Skyler to the palace to meet my grandparents. Jason's sisters, the triplet princesses were excited about seeing her. Queen Olivia usually hosts a party for other packs to develop connections with them. If it was any other time, I would be excited to attend her parties. This time I wasn't ready to see asshole mate dancing with his bitch Luna. But I had no other choice this day.
Aria, Ella, and Mila, the triplets dragged Skylar and me, shopping. They turned 18 a few months back. I became a teenager with them. We bought all the teenage stuff. Aria selected a pink gown for me. It made me look like a Disney princess and younger than my age. Mila selected a sky-blue gown for Skyler. I wanted to see Ryan's reaction to seeing his Disney princess mate.
We spent the most time doing make-up. I spent time doing my hair. Later I finished with slight makeup. Triplets looked like gorgeous dolls. While Skyler looks great too. She couldn't put a heartful smile on her face. I could see she wasn't completely adapted to new good change. It might be hard to come over the circumstances she faced and the pain she endured. She got my brother. I hate to admit that my brother was great. He would take care of her.
"Eva, let's go", Mila was excited. She wore an off-shoulder purple gown.
"Skyler", I looked at her.
"I'm nervous. I had never been to parties like these before, let alone in a palace", she said, stammering her foot nervously.
"You will adapt to this", Aria said.
"Stella was like this before her first ball here", Ella said.
"You should see her before her Luna coronation", I chuckled.
"Yeah, mom said about how she felt before her coronation. That's funny", Mila laughed. We were trying to ease her up.
"Jason asked me to give it to you", Aria said passing a jewelry box. I opened it and found beautiful diamond ear hangings. It had three hanging raindrop-shaped diamonds.
"Beautiful", I said and wore them.
"It's Xander. Jason was just a messenger", Ella said. Xander and Jason were best friends.
After a lot of selfies, we all started to party. The whole chamber was decorated with lights. Ryan was already waiting for us near the hall. Well, not for all of us. Once he saw us, he stood stiff with a dropped jaw. Triplets and I exchanged glances and went to him.
"You look great", he said.
"There are five yous here. Which you you mean?" Mila asked.
"Definitely, not you", he said.
"I selected that dress", she said.
"But she wore that", he replied. Skyler was already red.
"Aww", the triplets said in unison. I saw the slightest blush on Ryan's cheek for the first time in my life. Quickly he cleared his throat. He took Skyler's hand and walked her inside. We laughed and went inside.
"My babies", Olivia gushed, seeing her daughters.
"Eva, you look great", she said.
"As usual, the Queen outcasts all young ones with her beauty", I said. She was great in her black gown.
"As usual you flattered me with your sweet words", she pinched my cheek.
"Who are these beautiful roses here?" King Samuel said, coming towards us.
"Dad, you are stunning", Ella said. Three girls stood by his side. Dad's little princesses.
"You are better than him", I winked at Olivia.
"Always", Olivia said proudly and laughed. I talked to them for some time. After that, I greeted King Judah and his queen Rina and all the other elders I knew.
Evan and Alex were busy talking with others. God knows where Ryan was. Peacefully, I sat alone having a drink. Goddess didn't like the peace I had. I smelt my mate and that fragrance surrounded me. My eyes wandered around the hall for him and found him talking to someone having his hand around Lisa's waist. Enough. I pulled my eyes from him and looked in the other direction.
"Mind some company", Xander appeared from nowhere. I gave a polite smile. He sat on an empty chair before me.
"You are gorgeous", he said.
"You too", I said. A waiter served us wine.
"You looked off", he asked.
"I'm good", I said. He continued to look at me with a raised brow.
"Fine. It's boring here", I said. He chuckled. He stood up and extended his hand.
"A walk?" he asked. I nodded and took his hand. We went outside.
"I envied all mated couples inside", he chuckled.
"Just wait. You will get yours", I said.
"I lost hope", he said.
"You are not 40. Just 24", I said.
"24", he stressed the number.
"I am supposed to have kids already. I was still at finding a mate", he said.
"Ryan was 24 too. He found her, right?" I said.
"Yeah, he gave me a little hope", he said and I chuckled.
We stood in the corridor looking at the garden. I leaned on the pillar and he leaned on the railing beside me. The crescent moon hanging in the sky. We stood in silence for a few minutes. Whenever I came here for holidays in childhood, I spent most of the time playing in that garden.
"Do you remember Christmas?" he asked looking at the garden. Once when we were kids, we all happened to be in the palace. We kids, all gathered and celebrated our own Christmas. We arranged a small x-mas tree and our star in the garden.
"Those innocent beautiful days", I smiled remembering our childhood. He smiled at me.
"By the way, thank you for the gift", I said.
"You like them?" he asked.
"Of course. See. Beautiful", I said, showing my ears.
"Yeah, just like you. They are great on you", he said, coming near to me.
"These raindrops represent you. Your smell", he said near my ear and inhaled my scent.
He looked at me for a moment. I felt his warm lips on mine the next moment. I felt his hands on my waist. He tried to pull me close. Then I came out of shock and pushed him away.
"Wh.. what are you doing?" I asked.
"I...ju... just.. I'm...I'm sorry. No, I'm not sorry... Yeah... I want you."
"What does that mean? A one-night stand? Definitely, no", I said. He was not any playboy kind. But he had one-night stands.
"No... No... Not one night. Lifetime. I want you as my mate. My queen", he said. I didn't expect it to come.
"You should wait for your mate", I said.
"I should have a mate and take over the throne already. But no. I am still here", he said.
"It's all about the thrown?" I asked.
"It's about my responsibility. And.. And I genuinely like you. You would make a great queen. I could find no one better than you", he said.
"I'm not destined for you", I said.
"Maybe it's our destiny. Maybe we are supposed to choose", he said.
Great. Really great. My destined mate with his chosen mate inside. Here, I got a chance to choose. And my stupid wolf was asking me to go back to mate. Suddenly, anger built up inside me. I didn't want to answer Xander or explain my situation. I strode back to the hall.
A slow tune was playing and everyone dancing. I couldn't recognize the tune. My mind wasn't working properly and I was like this when I was angry. I looked around randomly and found Ryan and his mate dancing. A few feet away, I saw Jake and Lisa. I lost it. I completely lost it. I took a glass from the waiter and drank it in one go. I took another glass and walked away.
"My mate", my wolf roared in my head.
"I will kill her."
"How dare she touch him?"
"He is mine."
She continued to roar and jump in my mind. It caused me a migraine. She didn't stop her nonsense. She tried to take over.
"Ah. Shut up", I shouted and punched a pillar with the wine glass in my hand. It broke in my hand and pierced into my skin.
"He doesn't want you. He hates you", I said to her.
"He is mine. He wants me", she replied.
"Oh really. Let's see", I said and went back to the hall. I pulled a chair near the dance floor and sat facing Jake.
"Watch your mate happily dancing with his mate", I said.
Anger was slowly replaced by hurt. Yet, I continued to look at him. He looked great in his black tux. Lisa was nothing less in her red dress. They looked good. After some time my wolf started whimpering in hurt. She should. She should understand the reality. She should come out of that mate bond fantasy.
"Oh my god", I heard a squeal and turned to my side.
"What happened to your hand?" Aria asked looking at my hand. It was covered in blood.
"I'm fine. Just glass", I shattered.
"Are you hurt?", she asked looking into my eyes. Did I look obvious?
"No. No. I'm good", I said avoiding her eyes.
"Your hand. I will call the doctor", she said and was about to call someone.
"No. I'm good. It's healed already. I should clean it", I said and walked out.
I wanted to go away from everything. I made up my mind to change the dress and went to the hotel. I should leave as soon as possible. I headed to the previous room I used. When I was in my track someone pulled me back and pinned me to a pillar. With the whiff of scent, my nerves cooled.
I looked at his chocolate brown orbs. He stood extremely close to me. I sensed the raise in my body temperature. His hot breath fanning on my face. His intoxicating smell filled in all my breaths.
"Where are you going?" he asked in his deep tone. I lost my words long back. I tried to say something but couldn't. He leaned close and sniffed me.
"You had the smell of prince", he said. I might get it when he kissed me.
"Just like you had the smell of Lisa", I said. He placed his hand on my face and brushed away my hair strands from my face with his other hand. I felt the sparks.
"You feel them, don't you?" I asked.
"Sparks?" he asked and I nodded. He didn't answer. I placed my hand on his hand which cupped my face.
"I do", he exhaled.
"What happened?" he asked looking at my bloody hand.
"Nothing", I said and tried to take my hand away. He tenderly took it and pulled the glass piece out.
"Ah", I flinched. He mumbled a sorry.
"I smelt blood mixed with your scent back", he said.
"That's why you followed me?" I asked. He didn't answer.
"How it happened?" he asked.
"Glass had broken in my hand accidentally", I said. He pulled out his handkerchief and tied it around my hand.
"Thank you", I said.
"For helping Ryan", I continued.
"I heard, you hate mates and mate bonds."
"I do", he mumbled.
"And helped him?", I said more like a question.
I continued to look into his eyes and he did the same. He leaned close and the next moment I felt his lips on mine. I didn't stop him. He wounded his hands around my waist and pulled me close. I placed my hand on his shoulder pulling him closer. It's slow and passionate. Sparks exploded all over my skin and I felt butterflies. We separated for air. We were panting looking at each other. He walked away without a word and I stood still understanding what just happened.
I convinced myself to not go back to him. I went straight to the room without looking back. I dropped onto the bed with a messed-up mind. I greedily licked my lips to taste him more. Enough. I rose and went to the bathroom.
I checked my reflection. I had pink cheeks and red smudged lipstick. I was about to wash my makeup. I heard the click of the door. After a few seconds, I heard Xander calling my name.
"Eva, are you there?" he asked.
"Yeah", I reacted and went outside.
"Are you okay? Aria said you were injured", he asked.
"Yeah I'm good", I said.
"I'm really sorry about that", he came close to me. He took my injured hand.
"Why do you smell different?" he asked.
"You smell like Alpha Jake", he mumbled sniffing the cloth wounded to my hand.
"Are you with him?" he asked looking at me. I nodded. I saw a change in his expression and sensed anger.
"He is my mate", I said.
"He, what?" he asked.
"Mate", I answered.
"When do you know that?" he asked.
"Probably a week back", I said.
"Why you didn't say that?" he yelled.
"It's complicated. He is North Mountain Alpha. They don't do mates", I said. He scoffed.
"I want to hear if you like to share", he said.
"I want to be alone", I said.
"Fine", he said in a low tone. He lowered his head and was about to leave.
"Xan", I called. I removed my earrings and forwarded my hand.
"I think I don't make for them", I said.
"You are", he said and closed my fingers over the earrings.
"Consider as a gift from a friend", he said with a smile.
"You still have the offer of being my queen. Think about it", he said and left before I answer.
Eva POV It's been two days since I returned to our pack. I returned the next morning of that night. I couldn't take him out of my mind. I tried all possible ways to keep my mind busy. I could do this. I could move on. I might not know how. But I could. Evan and Ryan didn't return from the Royal pack. Today Luca didn't attend the training. I trained the juniors and went back to the room. I got ready for the day and went to Luca's room. I was thinking of something else and entered his room without knocking. "Shit, I'm sorry", I said and quickly turned away. He was naked over a girl. This idiot should lock his door if he had someone. Thank goddess their lower halves were under covers. "Idiot. Why didn't you lock your door?" I yelled. "I didn't expect you to come without knocking", he said. "Shut up", I shouted. He chuckled. "You can turn back", I heard him near the bathroom. I turned back. "Uncle asking for you", I said and looked at the woman in his bed. "Rain?" I shocked. I di
Eva POV The backyard of the pack house was filled with people. Mom and Aunt arranged a small welcome party for Skyler. They invited all our family and friends. Our whole pack kindly accepted her already. And it would become official once she took her position as gamma. "What are you doing here?" Luca asked me as I stood outside. "Triplets are coming. Mom instructed me to welcome them", I said. "Triplets?" he frowned. Displease was clear on his face. "Stay here. Let's welcome them", I nudged his shoulder. "No way", he yelled. "You know... they turned eighteen a few months back", I said with a raised brow. "So?" he knitted his brows. "You are waiting for your mate. There is a chance that one of them might be your mate", I said. "Oh yeah wait.... what if you got three. They were triplets", I said. He gaped and horror filled his expression. "No way", he yelled "I rather prefer to die mate less than be their mate. They are psychopaths." "Think in this way. Getting three mates",
EVA POV "How is this?" Rain asked wearing a green colored dress. April and I shook our heads in no. She went back to try another dress. Tomorrow was the full moon and it was a pack festival for us. The whole pack will gather near our grey lake. We have a long list of shopping. "Eva, see this", April showed the dress. "April's kind", I winked. It's off shoulder sky blue dress with a long slit on the left side. For the past two hours, we were making this store upside down. No issues as long as the store owner was on our side. It's Rain's store. "What about this?" Rain appeared in a red dress this time. April and I exchanged a glance and gave thumbs up. "Don't you find anything yet?" Rain asked. "I'm looking for your new collection", I said with a sly smile. "No. They will be on market after 6 weeks. Don't you dare to think", she warned. April and I gave puppy eyes and pout. "Try this trick before your brothers", she flipped her hair and walked away. "Trust me, you don't apprec
Luca POV Sometimes it's exhausting being the younger boy. From the morning every elder from my family was throwing orders. Evan asked me to help Stella. I was subjected to her hormones. She didn't like the decorations. She was adding constant changes. I had to put up with all her demands. "Luca, I think that violet isn't good", she said. "Stella, calm down", I pulled a chair and made her sit. "I will send you a drink. Stay calm and look at all that again. You will like it. Trust me you made beautiful work", I said. "But...", she was about to say something. "How about a small break? Just go and take a nap. I will take care of the remaining", I said. Even though she was contemplating something, I take her to her room. "You are so sweet", she said. "Any time for my favorite sister", I said. She smiled. I think I should take a break. Rain immediately came to my mind. I didn't see her since the morning. She had five siblings and everyone would be home for today. She might be happi
EVA POV I spent the rest of the afternoon in my room. April and Rain were busy with their own happy families. I hope my family was happy just like before without worrying about me. Jake was in the pack house, so I was in my parent's house. I had this foolish feeling to meet him despite my rational thoughts. I didn't give up on my emotionally messed up wolf. I slept for some time. After that, I had a parlor appointment. The evening came soon. Pack area near lake and pack house lit brightly. Stella, Claire, and Skylar came to my place. It was quite disturbing in the pack house. So they choose to dress up and other makeup here. I didn't buy their reasons. They probably knew about my mate thing. Their stupid mates sent them to look after me. Glad they didn't ask a word about him. My clean room was filled with stuff and people. Makeup artists working on us. Once I finished, I sent my picture to April and Rain. After a few minutes, they sent their pictures. It's time to hit the venue. My
Jake POV When I was in the car I received a call from Ray one of my best tracker. I answered immediately. "Tell me, Ray." "You were right. It's the brothers", he said. I knew it. He gave the information they had. "But we couldn't find those anonymous wolves", he said in a low tone. "Keep trying", I said and cut the call. I assigned my trackers to investigate the wolves who attacked us. From the beginning, I felt that I was missing something. It was not easy for an alpha-less pack to plan an attack on us. Besides non-traceable rouges involved. There was someone who wanted to get rid of us as soon as possible. And only names that came to my mind were the Lance brothers. They helped Maverick. My beta, gamma, and I knew about that and we turned against Maverick. Alfred Lance and Steve Lance were the only people at risk if we were alive. There were a few more loose ends. For now, I had a lead to proceed. I didn't want to drag them out but they messed with me. I should treat them i
Jake POV I stopped before a closed door where I could smell and hear her clearly. I kicked the door open. Eva was on her knees struggling and someone held her by the neck and try to close her mouth. A broken stool and scattering things in the room explained the situation. My wolf growled out with anger. I peeled that bastard away from her. I pinned him to the wall and lifted him off the ground. I bared my canines as my wolf surfaced. He struggled in my hold. "How dare you?" my wolf growled. I throw him out. He collided with the opposite wall of the corridor and fell down. I strode towards him and pulled him up. He was a late teen. I punched him in the face. He bared his canines inviting a fight. Not good for you boy. I was about to give another punch. "Manny", I heard someone from behind. My wolf didn't care. I tightened my hold and gave another punch. "Alpha leave him", Evan asked in a high tone. I growled again showing my canines to Evan. "Jake", I heard Eva and I loosened my gr
Eva POV I went to Evan's office. It's filled with high-ranked warriors and hunters. Evan was throwing orders, Ryan was on a phone call, and Alex was following Evan. Everyone looked at me for a moment in silence and went back to their work. I closed the door behind me and joined them. "I want a team to trace the origin of rouge wolves", Evan said. "Any information from our agents from human territory?" Evan asked. "No, Alpha. Every lead led to a dead end", Alex said. "Assign one more team there", Evan said. "I will go with them", I said. Evan and Alex looked at me expressionlessly. "Go to your room", Evan said in an alpha tone. I obliged. It had been a week since the attack. I woke up four days back. By that time, the pack was in lockdown. All border securities were tightened. Evan shifted into full alpha mode. Pack people were restrained from leaving the pack. I was restrained from leaving the pack house. Manny escaped during the attack and it made my brothers more protective.