1.THE BALL

 CHAYSE POV

My father always warned to stay away from these gatherings but things didn't go as planned. 

In fact, they practically shoved me out the door with a dress and makeup and told me to go get married tonight.

He probably just wants me out of the house. Sure, I am strong, I train every day to become the next Beta of the Amber Sky Pack, but I would rather not have my abdomen constricted inside a corset.

My father, the Beta, probably feels I am too much of a distraction with my training that he just wants a night to himself. And the fact that everyone eligible between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five have to go and dance and drink until they find their mate.

Well, that wasn't its purpose. It was made for us to socialize, but it has been a... center of mating and, um, love? I shrugged, going up the stairs to the large rooms casually, making my way to the bar. I didn't drink, but it was just something I enjoyed looking at. Not the bar itself, just the bartenders when they do cool tricks with people's drinks.

I ordered a Dr. Pepper, keeping myself safe. The table next to me was decorated beautifully with the finest sweets and pastries in all the packs. I grabbed a plateful and sat back down, taking a sip of my soda before a man stormed over, his cocky smile still fresh on his lips.

"Hey, did it hurt when you fell from heaven, 'cause you look like the finest angel there is?" he said sweetly, his words slurring slightly. I pulled my hand away from his reach, and he leaned forward, his lips puckered.

Nope, not my mate and not sober. I pushed him off the barstool, celebrating my success with a bite of a chocolate chip cookie. Suddenly, I felt completely drained, and a solution was behind me. Coffee. Today was the day to fully fill up my coffee before going back to my father's house after this stupid celebration. And I wasn't even allowed to have chocolate milk without asking first.

"Chayse!" a female voice yelled from across the ballroom. I rolled my eyes and set down my coffee. Eliza, my best friend, could sometimes be the most annoying person in the world, but I love her anyway.

"You said you wouldn't leave me to the appealing men!" She grabbed my arm and pulled me away from my sweets, taking me to the dance floor.

"From now on, monitor me. I don't want to get caught up in their... Most gorgeous... Faces... Jawlines..." She started to drool, and I laughed, snapping her out of the most dreamy trance she has probably ever experienced.

Well, never mind. Once when we were ten, she saw a thirteen-year-old boy across the schoolyard with two girls flanking him. I guess she was a fan of blondes that completely acted like douches.

"Look, I don't want you falling for anyone because I know I won't be chosen," I tease, grabbing her hands and swinging her around the dance floor.

"Yeah right, you definitely won't get chosen," she snorted sarcastically. Suddenly, her eyes widened, and she sniffed around the room, her eyes landing on a man sitting at a table, scanning the room as well.

Their eyes locked, and they walked briskly towards each other, hugging when they met. Eliza walked away with him, and I was alone. Again. Her mate was tall, nearly the size of the Alpha of the Amber Sky Pack.

Then I knew his name. James, a great soldier that was once in my class. He wasn't going to become a Beta—well, if I do leave, then he will be—but it almost didn't matter to me. Sure, the rank would be nice, but I had a feeling that it would've been too serious. Eliza is lucky to have him and stay inside the pack.

I left back to my barstool, surprised when everything was still there. But right when I touched a second piece of fudge, gasps were spread across the room, and I turned to look at what or who had entered.

My nose caught the strong scent of pine and oak wood, the scent of three packs in the territories. But one scent in particular scared me to the bone.

Mint.

Golden eyes stood out from the crowd, making my spine shiver, and my wolf, Aria, howl with delight.

'Chayse! Go to him! Go to him!'

"Shut up, Aria! I will not abandon my treats for a second time today!"

A low growl enveloped the room, making my skin crawl and my lip tremble slightly. It was lower than all the growls that I have ever heard, making me instantly know who this feared man was: Alpha Laven of the Blood Moon Pack.

Aria was howling and speaking gibberish throughout the whole experience, and it was starting to annoy me greatly. The whole crowd turned at the loud growl and cowered in fear.

The golden eyes turned until they landed on me. I found Eliza buried in her mate's chest, her own chest heaving and her face red. Her mate was comforting her, but her tears wouldn't stop. They knew what was happening.

The golden eyes locked with mine, my heart enchanted by the glow that they gave off. The eyes grew nearer, and I could finally see to whom they belonged. I was correct. Alpha Laven. The most feared man in history.

My shoulders trembled as he approached, my piece of fudge still in hand. His face showed no signs of emotion, and neither did his eyes, his golden eyes hard and straight, unlike all the other men in the room. His arms found themselves on either side of me on the table, trapping me almost to his chest.

"Mine," he growled from deep in his throat.

"Yeah, mine," I said sarcastically back, picking up another piece of fudge and popping both in my mouth. "Definitely my fudge, mister." He stared at me, no emotion flickering in his eyes except for an occasional eye roll at my stubbornness.

"I enjoy being in your presence more than anything else," he whispers, leaning in. The big-bad Alpha trying to please me. Aww. "Amber Sky she-wolf."

"I enjoy your presence about as much as I enjoy sleeping next to a trashcan," I reply simply, narrowing my eyes. He didn't like that one bit.

"And I have a name, you.. you.. ass!"

His eyes changed now, and not to anything pleasant.

Anger raged war in his eyes, his hands tightening on the table so hard his knuckles turned white. I took the time to examine him.

His skin was slightly tan with a little bit of stubble on his face. His jawline was sharp, razor sharp. I have to say, every girl loves a sharp jawline. He growled his deep growl again, but this time I didn't tremble. I cocked an eyebrow, standing up to him. He narrowed his eyes even more, and grasped my arm harshly, dragging me out the door.

"If I see any of you looking at my mate, your limbs will be ripped from your body!" he roared, practically throwing me out the door and into his expensive Bugatti. I clung to the inside door handle, desperate to leave.

"You know, you are committing a crime, mister. This is practically kidnapping!" I say, raising my voice slightly.

"I am your mate, I can do whatever I want, she-wolf," he snarled.

"No, this might as well be human trafficking! And I have a name!" I snarled back.

He grasped my wrist this time, squeezing awfully hard. I was sure a bruise would form immediately from the major crushing.

"Stop! You're hurting me!" I cried, tears pooling at my eyes, and some rolling down my cheeks.

A flicker of regret and hurt flowed through his eyes before a moment later he let go, his hard stare returning. After a few seconds, I decided to speak to him.

"My name is Chayse Vega."