Chapter One

Adora

"Dad, please let me go for the mating ball; this is my last chance."

My pleading gaze was fixed upon my dad, hoping that the ugly spirit of stubbornness upon him would leave him alone.

He sat beside my mom on the old sofa in the living room; his face cold as ice.

"You shameless fool! This will be your twenty-fourth ball. Do you think that money grows on trees for me to continue wasting it on dresses for an occasion where you cannot find a mate?”

I looked away, staring at the peeling paint on the wall and the few family photos hanging when we were much happier.

Arguing with my dad would be foolish since he could lock me up if provoked. So, I remained calm.

I was Omega, an unwanted blood type in our society, but even omegas find love. I've seen others find their mates at the ball, ever since I began attending month after month since my seventeenth birthday.

My mate didn't need to be alpha or beta; all I wanted was someone who would make me happy and complete me.

"Dad, please," I pleaded once more. "It's my last chance before I turn nineteen; I'll find someone, I know I will."

He looked at me with a mocking smile. "That's what you always say. I'm sick of hearing it. I have no hope in you, Adora. You are close enough already being sent off permanently into the sisters’ sanctuary."

Suppressing the fear threatening to overwhelm me, I shut my eyes. The sisters’ sanctuary was a prison where unmated females lived for life, where dreams and hopes died.

I never wanted to go there, considering I've always wanted a family and kids. I wanted a normal life.

My mom, who had been silent until that moment, spoke in a gentle, pleading tone. Mom and Dad had beta blood, but somehow the psycho moon goddess decided to bless them with an Omega daughter.

While mom always offered her relentless support, dad was not as accommodating.

"Please, Marion. This is her last chance.”

Dad withdrew his hand from her, glaring disrespectfully. "She may disgrace herself one last time but I will not waste any money on this foolishness. She'd be better off wearing her old clothes.”

"I don't mind," I replied hastily. "All I need is your permission to go."

"Well then, enjoy your pointless attempt,” he smirked and headed upstairs.

It took all my willpower not to scream at him. I bit my tongue instead; was it giving him cruel satisfaction to watch me struggle with this part of my life?

What kind of father was he?

Back in my room, I stared at the limited options I had. None of my dresses were flattering or fashionable; some had even started fading.

Sighing, I picked out an orange dress, the one my mom suggested, the least ugly of the bunch. It matched well with my blonde hair and blue eyes.

After putting on the dress, I felt like a pumpkin, too bland and unappealing. Trying to make the best of it, I brushed my hair, styling it into loose curls before applying some lip gloss, a touch of mascara, and my grandma's earrings.

My door swung open revealing my brother, Nolan who had an annoying habit of barging in without any regard for privacy whatsoever.

He was beta, just like my parents, with a confident personality. We could pass off as twins with the same blonde hair and blue eyes, but he was two years older than me and already found his mate.

"I have a solution for you. This guy I know, Rufus, needs a mate too. So here's what I figured. You both can pretend as mates instead of getting shipped off into sisters' sanctuary"

"You've got to be kidding me," I snapped. "How are we supposed to fool everyone else around us plus what about the scent? Thanks, but no thanks!”

A frown appeared on his face as he crossed his arms."Time is running out. You better take my help, and pray that the moon goddess blesses you with a mate eventually."

"Read my lips," I snapped bitterly. "I'll find my mate on my own."

Raising a brow, he tapped his finger on his wrist, mimicking the sound of a clock ticking away while I threw him the middle finger and sent him out.

Nolan was mocking me and didn't believe in me, just like my dad. I needed nobody's pity or a fake mate. My brother may be concerned but was offering a wrong solution.

Someone somewhere would love and cherish me. I needed to prove my dad and brother wrong and show them that I was worthy.

On my way out, my dad glared at me with disgust, mentioning the sisters' sanctuary at least five times before I headed to the front door.

Arriving at the ball, I was a bundle of nerves. I took a cab since my dad refused to drive me and Nolan’s car ran out of gas.

The hall was in the heart of the pack where the alpha and his council members held meetings; they transformed it into a huge ballroom with lamps, flowers, ribbons, music, and laughter.

I looked around, searching for my friend Morgana. She was Alpha Carter's daughter and my best friend, loyal as fuck with a strong personality.

“Looking for me?” She beamed behind me and hugged me. She was looking so gorgeous in a white dress encrusted with pearls.

Morgana's case was complicated. She had a mate, but he couldn't sense their bond, plus he was about ten years older, working as our biology assistant teacher at Lunar High School.

He denied their link, banned her calls, and ignored her when she found out four months ago. I assumed that he was still heartbroken by the loss of his first mate to notice Morgana.

Morgana had cried for weeks, hoping and praying that he would recognize their bond because it was unheard of an Alpha's daughter to get rejected

"Hey yourself," I hugged her back. I saw the pain in her eyes. She wasn't happy.

"Any eligible boys caught your eye yet?" I nudged her, hoping to cheer her up.

"I'm in a tough spot, Adora," she said sadly.

"That makes two of us."

"Ugh, friend," she groaned, linking our hands. "Can you believe that my dad is threatening to send me to the sisters’ sanctuary, his only child?"

"What? Why would he do that? You can scent your mate. I can't even find mine."

My attention shifted to some nice-looking boys who stepped in; they were from other packs because their faces weren't familiar. Morgana whistled.

"If not for the damn bond with my mate, I'd have tried to make an attempt and flirt with these boys."

"Cheer up, Morgs. You and I will be happy in the end. You'll see."

"That's why you're forever my best friend," she hugged me and tried to plant a kiss on my cheek, but I pulled away, turning my nose up.

"No PDA. The boys are going to think we're a couple.”

She laughed at my foolishness, and we walked into the crowd, trying to mingle with the others, have fun, and forget our troubles.

It didn't take long for my mood to darken because people joyfully found their mates. They would lock eyes, smile, then hold each other's hands. I could see the happiness and completeness on their faces.

I told Morgana through the mind link, and she nodded, understanding.

“Well, let's dance our worries away. It's not the end of the world."

We hit the dance floor and moved to the rhythm. One thing the Moon Goddess blessed me with was dance moves. I taught Morgana a thing or two that made her look like a badass dancer.

The music went into a livelier beat, and I had forgotten my troubles, having wild fun and pushing negative thoughts away.

But I stopped dancing and sniffed the air when I caught a whiff of something enticing and irresistible. It made the wolf inside me leap with excitement, and I felt a burst of adrenaline.

I'd never smelled something so intense before. It smelled like pine mixed with petrichor, which was the scent of earth after it rained and another potent, divine scent.

"Morgana," I clutched my friend's hand. She frowned, noticing my sudden change of expression.

"What's wrong, Adora? Are you okay?"

My wolf became so restless inside me. Morgana's eyes widened.

"Fuck, Adora! Can you scent your mate? Please tell me you can."

I nodded, scanning the crowd and following the trail of his scent. It was the most delicious thing I'd ever smelled, and I wanted more. I had to find him.

Morgana was saying something behind me, but I wasn't even listening. I made my way throught the crowd, my heart bursting with excitement. I was getting closer and closer.

Then I found him.

Hugging and kissing another girl.