Chapter 2

_Aria's POV_

My mother's face practically glowed with excitement.

"Selene," she said while smoothing invisible wrinkles from my sister's dress. "Stand up straight."

Selene rolled her eyes playfully. "Mother, I already look fine."

"You look beautiful," my father said.

A warm smile spread across his face as he looked at her. I immediately looked away. I couldn't remember the last time either of my parents had looked at me like that. Maybe they never had.

The ballroom doors remained closed for several more minutes. The anticipation only grew. Guests whispered excitedly among themselves.

"I heard that Alpha Victor defeated an entire rogue army alone."

"They say that the future Alpha is even stronger."

"Kael Voronov is supposed to be unmatched."

"I heard that dozens of powerful families want him as a son-in-law."

Several young women nearby giggled. One of them adjusted her hair. Another checked her reflection in a wine glass. I couldn't help rolling my eyes.

Apparently half the unmated women in the region were interested in the future Alpha. Not that it mattered to me. Someone like Kael Voronov lived in a completely different world from mine. The future Alpha would never notice a girl like me.

"Aria!"

I jumped at the sound of my mother's voice. "Yes, Mother?"

She frowned immediately. "Why are you standing there?"

"I was serving drinks."

"Then keep serving."

I nodded. "Yes, Mother."

Her eyes narrowed. "And stay out of sight."

The words stung. "What?"

"The Alpha family is here. Do not embarrass us."

My chest tightened. I lowered my gaze. "Yes, Mother."

She walked away without another word. I stared after her for a moment before forcing myself to move. The tray suddenly felt heavier than before. Maybe because I was tired.

The ballroom doors finally opened. Silence swept through the room. Every conversation stopped and every head turned toward the entrance. Even I found myself looking up.

The first person to enter was Alpha Victor. He was tall and broad-shouldered. Power seemed to radiate from him with every step. Beside him walked Luna Evelyn. She was elegant and graceful. She was wearing a dark blue gown that seemed to shimmer beneath the ballroom lights. Several warriors followed behind them. Then another figure stepped through the doorway.

The future Alpha; Kael Voronov.

The room seemed to freeze. I had heard stories about him for years. Every werewolf had. He was supposed to be strong, ruthless and fearless.

He was the future leader of the most powerful pack in the region. Seeing him in person was different. He was taller than I expected. He had dark hair and sharp features. He looked completely calm while everyone else seemed nervous. As if he belonged somewhere above the rest of us.

The crowd immediately surged forward. People wanted to greet him. The girls wanted to impress him. I quietly stepped farther into the shadows. I didn't belong anywhere near that crowd. My place was serving drinks and nothing more.

As conversations filled the ballroom once again, I continued moving between guests. Several people barely acknowledged my existence. Others handed me empty glasses without even looking at me. I was used to it.

A familiar voice suddenly stopped me. "Aria."

I turned. Selene stood there. Two of her friends stood beside her. All three were smiling. That immediately made me suspicious.

"Yes?"

Selene tilted her head. "My feet hurt."

I blinked. "Okay."

"I need my other shoes."

I looked at her. There were dozens of servants in the mansion. Yet somehow she always found a reason to order me around.

"They're in my room."

One of her friends laughed.

"Well? Go get them."

The other smirked.

"The birthday girl shouldn't have to wait."

I knew exactly what they were doing. They were trying to humiliate me and make sure that I knew my place. I swallowed my frustration.

"I'll get them."

"Good." Selene smiled sweetly. The fake sweetness somehow made everything worse.

I climbed the stairs and entered her room. The closet was enormous. It was bigger than my entire bedroom. Rows of dresses filled one side. Shoes lined the other. I found the silver pair she usually wore and carried them downstairs.

When I returned, Selene was standing near the Alpha family. Several young women surrounded Kael. They were trying desperately to gain his attention. Most of them were failing. He looked bored....completely bored. I approached cautiously.

"Your shoes."

Selene glanced down. Then she frowned. "Those aren't the right ones."

I stared at her. "What?"

"Those aren't the shoes I wanted."

"They were the only silver pair."

Her eyes narrowed. "Are you calling me a liar?"

Several nearby guests turned toward us. It was exactly what she wanted.

"No."

"Then go look again."

I clenched my jaw. "Fine."

One of her friends laughed. "I don't know how you put up with her."

Selene sighed dramatically. "Neither do I."

A few people chuckled. My face burned. I turned and walked away before anyone could see how much it hurt. As I climbed the stairs, I heard more whispers.

"Poor Selene."

"Her sister is strange."

"Still no wolf."

"Twenty and nothing."

"That must be embarrassing."

I kept walking. I had heard worse...much worse. When I reached Selene's room again, I searched every shelf and corner. There were no other silver shoes. Not a single pair.

I wasn't surprised. Selene had lied. She wanted to humiliate me. Her mission was accomplished.

With a sigh, I headed downstairs again. The ballroom was louder than ever. Music filled the air. Guests laughed and danced. The Alpha family remained surrounded by people.

I tried not to pay attention. Instead, I focused on returning the shoes. Before I could reach Selene, another conversation caught my attention. My parents were speaking with Luna Evelyn.

"Selene has always been exceptional," my father said proudly. My stomach twisted. The pride in his voice was impossible to miss.

"She's intelligent, beautiful and kind," my mother added. "Everyone loves her."

Luna Evelyn smiled politely. "She seems lovely."

My parents looked delighted. I looked away. Not once had they ever spoken about me like that.

I moved toward another group of guests. The sooner this party ended, the better. As I passed one of the large windows, I caught sight of my reflection.

I was wearing a simple black dress. I had plain brown hair and tired eyes. Maybe everyone else was right. There really wasn't anything special about me. The thought hurt more than I wanted to admit.

A few minutes later, I was carrying a fresh tray of wine glasses through the ballroom. Guests crowded the dance floor. I carefully navigated through the crowd.

Then someone stepped backward unexpectedly. I collided with them. My heart dropped. A wine glass tipped sideways. Red liquid splashed across the floor.

The guest gasped. "Oh dear."

The tray nearly slipped from my hands. "I'm so sorry."

I immediately crouched down and grabbed a cloth. Unfortunately, my mother saw everything.

"Aria!"

The entire ballroom seemed to hear her voice. Conversations stopped and guests turned. Heat rushed into my face. I wanted the floor to swallow me whole.

"I'm sorry."

"You need to be more careful."

"Yes, Mother."

She shook her head. The disappointment on her face felt worse than anger. "Honestly."

I lowered my eyes. "I said I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't fix everything."

Several people nearby whispered. Others stared openly. Embarassment burned through me. I focused on cleaning the spilled wine. If I looked up, I might cry. And I refused to cry here....not in front of everyone.

A strange silence suddenly settled over part of the ballroom. I frowned slightly. Something felt different. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. For some reason, my heart began beating faster.

Slowly, I looked up.

Across the ballroom, Kael Voronov had gone completely still. The crowd around him continued talking but he wasn't listening. His eyes were fixed on me.

I froze.

For one strange moment, neither of us looked away. The noise around me seemed to disappear. My pulse hammered inside my chest. A strange warmth spread through my body. Something felt different.

Kael took a slow step forward....then another. I could see the surprise on his face. It was as if he had seen something impossible.

The ballroom faded away. The guests disappeared. There was only him. Only those dark eyes staring directly into mine.

His lips parted. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, the future Alpha spoke a single word.

"Mate."