Chapter 2

The laughter in the hall died a jagged death as the heavy oak doors groaned open.

As she expected, it really was a wildling weed, and the crowd couldn't stop laughing. I shot a glance at Gabriel, trying to read his thoughts. But surprisingly, it was all blank. As if he was not affected at all.

But I could not stand it anymore and stepped forward. I politely received the weed, and my eyes shone brightly.

“Oh my goodness! The white Lotus pearl weed? Alpha Gabriel, am I correct?” I blurted out.

“White Lotus pearl weed? What is that?” Lily's voice cracked up, and everyone in the crowd began whispering.

“White Lotus Pearl weed? Isn't it the rarest herb that grows only once in a century? It is said that it can revive the dead.”

As soon as these words escaped through one of the elders’ lips, all the Omegas and their mates rushed to get a glimpse of it. Their eyes flashed with jealousy and greed. Among them, Lily was the one who looked the unhappiest.

“Alpha Gabriel is truly extraordinary! He actually managed to get this precious weed!” Someone spoke from the crowd.

“He is so romantic and a gentleman. He gave up such a precious thing to her mate, the woman he just met today. Vanessa is really lucky to have him.” Another voice came, and Lily's face turned red and green.

I turned to look at Gabriel. There was a faint smile on his lips, and he even nodded his head in appreciation.

Lily, on the other hand, stomped her feet and threw herself in Mathew's arms, saying, “I don't care about any weed. I know Matthew would never let anything happen to me so that I would need a weed. I’m good with this pretty necklace that I can always wear. Let's go, Matthew. You still need to mark me.”

***

It was the House’s law that the guest in the ceremony could only leave the house the next day, after marking their claimed Omegas.

Lily dragged Matthew inside while I was still waiting alone in my chamber.

In my previous life, Mathew was the one who had marked me first, while Lily ended up waiting for Gabriel the entire night, and when he finally showed up, he kicked her out of their chamber and slept alone, making her become the laughing stock in the entire House.

Though I had escaped the embarrassment from the offering ceremony, it seemed like I was doomed to be rejected by my mate at our marking ceremony.

In the hallway, the sounds of the House were muffled but telling. I heard the distant, heavy thud of a door closing—Matthew and Lily. Then, the faint, melodic sound of Lily’s triumphant giggling. She wanted the world to know she was being claimed. She wanted me to hear what I was missing.

Only if she knew what was coming next to her. In this life, I would rather wait for Gabriel the whole night than be claimed by Matthew.

An hour passed. Then two. The candle on my nightstand sputtered and died, leaving me in a shroud of grey.

Suddenly, the heavy iron latch on my door clicked.

It didn't creak; it moved with a predatory smoothness. I froze, my breath catching in my throat. A tall silhouette framed the doorway, the scent of crushed pine needles and coming rain flooding the room.

It was Alpha Gabriel.

He didn't speak. He stepped inside and closed the door with a finality that made the air in the room feel twice as thick.

He had discarded his formal cloak. In his simple black tunic, his shoulders seemed impossibly broad, his presence consuming every inch of the space.

“You’re still awake,” he said. His voice was a low rumble, devoid of the coldness I had expected.

“I didn't think you were coming,” I admitted, my voice trembling slightly.

Gabriel walked toward me, stopping only when the tips of his boots brushed the hem of my gown. He reached out, his large hand cupping my chin and tilting my face upward. His eyes weren't the icy blue of a killer; they were swirling storms of silver.

“You knew what that weed was,” he murmured, his thumb brushing my lower lip. “It was just a random wildling weed, not the precious White Lotus Pearl weed. Why did

You protect my pride in front of the elders, Vanessa?”