CHAPTER 4

(Xander's POV)

"Greetings, Alpha Xander Roland. Happy 27th birthday to you," Wise One Jeffrey said. He wore a red top, black trousers, and a pair of black shoes. He was a tall, slender, brown-skinned man with long black hair that fell behind his back.

"What brings you here, Wise One?" I asked him, irritated to see him, and he smiled.

"Alpha Xander, I am here to give you the same warning that I gave to your father twenty-four years ago. Do not make the same mistake and crown the wrong woman as your Luna. Find your real mate and do what's right," he said, before he turned around and left the banquet hall.

After hearing what Wise One Jeffrey said, hushed mutterings echoed in the banquet hall. Quincy hastily pulled her right hand away from mine and ran out of the hall. I chased after her.

"Wait, Quincy!" I called her name, but she kept running. I gave chase, caught her arm, and pulled her into a warm hug.

"Why didn't you stop when I asked you to?" I asked, holding her arms firmly.

Quincy sobbed, as I got upset that I had left everyone in the celebration hall to pursue her.

"Let's break up, Alpha Xander. I am not your real mate. I cannot stand the thought of you with another woman. I love you," Quincy cried, hugging my waist and resting her head against my chest.

"It's okay. You do not have to cry. I love you too, Quincy. Come on, let's finish my birthday celebration first; I have a lovely present for you," I said, my tone soft as I held her hand and led her back into the banquet hall.

"I don't want the pack members to look down on me as their new Luna. They already know that I am not the real Luna Queen," Quincy sobbed again. As we walked, I crossed my arm over her shoulder, calming her down with my Alpha pheromones.

"It's fine. We will get married no matter what," I assured her, before turning her around to face me. I placed a warm kiss on her forehead and said, "Trust me," my voice comforting her.

"What if you find your real mate?" Quincy asked, her blue eyes holding mine.

"No way. I don't have a real mate, and I don't believe Wise One Jeffrey. He wants me to remain single for the rest of my life just because he wants me to choose my real mate as the new Luna Queen," I replied, but my wolf, Johnny, growled in my head.

"Damn you, Xander! We have a fated mate! Just be patient and we will find her soon. I have a feeling that your mate just came of age and turned 18," Johnny said, clinging to the hope that I have a real mate.

"Shut up, Johnny! Where is this real mate? No other woman is as beautiful as Quincy in the entire Autumn Pack! I would rather choose Quincy than any other woman beneath her level," I growled back at my wolf through our link. He growled louder, "Lies! Quincy has a beautiful face, but a dark heart like charcoal. I do not approve of her as your chosen mate. She is worse than Jezebel."

"Shut up!" I snarled at my wolf and warned him, "Don't you dare speak of my chosen mate like that before me."

"Or what? What will you do? Block me? Ugh! You will regret this! Argh…" Johnny growled and shut me out.

Carefully, I placed my arm around Quincy's shoulder and led her back into the banquet hall. She wore a lovely green dress and a pair of black shoes; the jade earrings made her stand out like a real queen.

Walking back into the banquet hall, no one dared to protest against Quincy. They stood silently watching us as soft music played in the background. It was my 27th birthday, after all.

My father rose to his feet, dressed in a black shirt and trousers. He warned me, "Xander, I will not approve of Quincy as your chosen mate. Only your real mate is allowed to be in my presence from today henceforth. Find her and bring her to me to help cure your mother's mental health, or keep your relationship with Quincy out of the palace. You're making your mother's mental condition worse."

Dad walked away from the celebration hall angrily, not waiting for me to cut my cake.

I firmly held onto Quincy's hand, assuring her, "Don't worry. I've got you."

The pack members stood tensely after my father walked away. Beta Adrian and his son, Kaleb—my best friend—appeared worried, but they smiled when they saw me holding onto Quincy's hand, no matter the situation.

Quincy and I sliced my 27th birthday cake, and the pack members applauded and cheered for us.

"May I have this dance with you, my love?" I asked Quincy as I extended my hand to her.

Quincy smiled and accepted my hand. I pulled her gently toward me and twirled her around to face me.

Looking up at my face, Quincy smiled; she was tall and elegant. The black stilettos she wore made her height comparable to mine.

"Yes, my Alpha. I will dance with you," Quincy replied with a happy voice. I held her hands and guided her steps as we danced to the rhythm of the soft music echoing in the hall.

After the music stopped and Quincy and I drew our dance to a close, I leaned next to her and placed a warm kiss on her forehead. Night had fallen. The moon glowed and cast diamond sparkles around the Alpha's mansion.

Turning to face the crowd, I thanked them once more. "Thank you all for coming to my 27th birthday celebration. You can all leave for your homes."

One by one, the distinguished pack members came forward to present their gifts to me, before leaving.

As the hall emptied, my sister, Bailey, walked up to meet me. She wore a dazzling purple dress and a pair of brown shoes. She was tall and slender, a perfect resemblance to my mother when she was younger.

"Happy birthday, brother. I brought this gift for you," Bailey said, extending a package to me.

"What's in it?" I asked, and she laughed.

"When you unbox it, you will see. But here is a tip: it's a fortified bracelet to help you find your real mate," she said. My scowl deepened, as did Quincy's.

Bailey didn't like Quincy, but it wasn't her place to choose a girlfriend for me. I had dated a few beautiful young women before Quincy.

"Bailey, I do not need this," I said, pushing the gift back toward my sister.

"Brother, I traveled to the Rock Valley Pack to get this gift for you. Mom needs you, so please, wear it," Bailey insisted, refusing to take the gift back. She was hoping we could find my real fated mate, even though I had already lost hope.

"Fine," I grunted. Quincy wasn't happy about it, even as Bailey smiled and said, "I have to go; Joy and Jaxon need me," referring to her twin pups. I smiled and wished her, "Good night. My regards to them. I will come visit tomorrow."

Steven Edmond, my Gamma and brother-in-law, stepped forward and said, "Enjoy your birthday night, Alpha Xander."

"Got it," I replied.

Steven placed his hand over my sister's shoulder, hugging her warmly as he led her away.

After they left and the guests had departed, Quincy turned to face me and asked, "Are you really going to wear this bracelet and find your real mate? Did you forget your promise to me just now?"

Shutting my eyes, I thought about my mother, who was feral and unable to recognize us. She was locked in a cell because she could accidentally kill anyone near her.

"Quincy, trust me, I don't think I have a real mate. If I don't accept this, Bailey will be sad, and I do not want that," I replied, trying to comfort her.

Quincy shook her head. "What if the bracelet is real? What if it helps you find your real mate? What will happen to me?" She pointed at her chest, tears in her eyes.

Shutting my eyes, I declared, "You're my love, and no other woman will take your place in my heart. Not even my real mate. If I find her, I will only accept her for the sake of curing my mother, but she cannot replace you."

Quincy smiled and drew me into a kiss, her lips locking with mine even as her family waited to escort her home.

"I love you, Alpha Xander," Quincy whispered after our lips parted.

"I love you more," I told her, my eyes locking with hers.

After that, Quincy turned and walked out of the banquet hall with her parents and her older brother leading her away.

As I stood in the hall with guards surrounding the mansion, I tore open the package Bailey had given me. An emerald bracelet was inside. Picking it up, I wore it around my right wrist. "If this will help me find my real mate, so be it. I only need her for Mom." I turned around, walked away, and headed to the prison house to find my mother.