Chapter 3

Lucas pov

I had expected tonight to be mildly entertaining at best, but what just happened far exceeded my expectations.

The gamma's daughter was rejecting the Alpha’s son? Such a thing was unheard of.

Amongst the crowd of people, I was standing far behind him and couldn't see his face but I could imagine how flabbergasted that cocky b*stard must be right now.

The air around him darkened for a moment then he suddenly brightened up.

“Oh, I see what you are doing, Anna…”

I gripped my third glass of wine for the night. He was playing it off as a joke.

Against my hopes it probably was, she had been reciprocating his relentless courtship while ignoring anyone else that approached her. What could possibly make her change her mind at the last minute?

Yes, it's probably just a joke.

I sighed taking a sip of my wine, my lips pursing contemplatively on the rim of the glass.

Maybe I should be more focused on my own problems.

Darn the Elders! They had caught on to me dodging these events with my warrior responsibilities in the previous years and insisted I show my face here, but for what…

Another sip, over to my fourth glass.

I was going to get rejected again–they knew this! I couldn't even blame the women that rejected me in the past. Despite being the strongest, most achieved warrior in the pack, this was not truly my home.

As a little pup, I had been abandoned in this pack's boundary with a precious jade jewel on my neck. While many suspected I was from a high ranking family, there was no one to backup the claim.

So I had to work my way up to the mid ranks but no She-Wolf wanted a man with ambiguous origins.

“I'm f-flattered that y-you picked me, but I can't accept you…”

“Ew, no–never!”

“Why are you even here? Go back to your own pack!”

I grimaced remembering these replies from the previous mating ceremonies, and it would only keep replaying in my head until it was my turn to pick.

And that would take a while.

It came down to Beta's daughter, she looked around shyly and said, tucking her hair behind her hair, “I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm worthy of anyone here, and I also don't feel quite ready,” I nearly spat out my wine, her play of humility and innocence never failed to take me for a spin because I personally knew she was anything but that.

Then it came to Gamma's daughter turn.

Now that I was getting a closer look at her, she wasn't too bad a sight for sore eyes. Not like I'd ever say that out loud since I valued my tongue and keeping it intact in my mouth.

She'll probably make her choice now for the Alpha’s son and take back her joke, I wish she'd just get along with it.

Slowly she approached the Alpha's son who was gradually opening up welcoming hands for her but she gracefully dodged them and kept on walking.

He turned around, uncertainty plaguing his face for a moment but it changed into amusement quickly.

This was probably still part of the joke. Their joke.

I wish they would get over with it, some of us had lives beyond this party.

She kept walking, seemingly determined not to look back once. I kept my eyes glued on her wondering just how far she would take this joke.

Then it happened, her steps started towards my direction. I wasn't cocky enough to think she was coming for me but every moment made it more undeniable until she was standing right in front of me heaving with excitement and the biggest smile was plastered on her face.

“I, Anna Rogers…the gamma's daughter choose warrior Lucas Anderson as my mate.”

The other wolves in the hall erupted in hushed but still audible whispers and murmuring. All of them judging her, yet there was not a single speck of worry to be found in her eyes.

I straightened up, keeping my tone neutral.

“You're making a grave mistake, I am not the man that deserves you,” I told her, “I have a low rank, you are the gamma's daughter. Are you not afraid that they will talk?”

She waved her hands as if the rumors and bad mouthing that would spread was nothing more than a fly.

“They can say whatever they wish, I want you.”

I sighed.

Why was I acting as if this was the first time I had been ‘chosen’

I looked over her shoulder with ease to see the Alpha's son, Ray, shooting daggers at me. The b*stard was very possessive of her, wasn't he?

Well, if I was getting something out of this, I might as well play my role well.

I held her fingers, they were soft and elegant just like the rest of her, while my own hands were rough and covered with callouses.

Lifting them up, I bent and pressed a kiss on them that sent the Alpha's son spiralling over to our direction with madness in his eyes.

“Are you out of your mind?! He marched over.

Ignoring him, she looked at me with all smiles, a woman that had only ever looked in my direction to spout orders.

“Well?” There was a wicked glint in her eyes, she was plotting something and I felt like a pawn.

“You want my answer?”

“Yes.” She responded quickly, “I do,”

I had no idea what this woman was hatching, but if I was being used then it was also fair that I used her too.

Seeing the Alpha's son, Ray, approaching us like a raging thunderstorm, I knew I had to hurry.

I bent down to whisper in her ears.

“Push me away now if you don't want this,”

“I already told you that I want you,”

Right, she did, we were probably going to go further tonight. So this one little thing I'm about to do would make no difference.

I shifted to lips inches away from hers and whispered, “I, Warrior Lucas Anderson, accept you.” then kissed her.