your mate?

Katy

The auction hall was all crystal chandeliers and old money.

It's the kind of place where my borrowed dress felt like a costume. I stayed close to Nova as she walked through the room like she owned it.

A waiter appeared and Nova ordered us French 75s without asking what I wanted. Of course she did.

"Darvis is here," she said suddenly, scanning the crowd.

I followed her gaze. "Your mate?"

She nodded and pressed her glass into my hand. "You will be fine for a bit, right? After all, you don't need me to shine tonight.” She winked.

"Nova…" I started my protest but she was already gone, weaving through the crowd.

For a moment, I stood there, dumbfounded.

"Unbelievable," I muttered, taking a sip of the fizzy drink. It tasted expensive and unfamiliar, just like everything else in this room.

I was debating whether to find a corner to hide in when a voice I had hoped never to hear again cut through the noise.

"Katy?"

My hand tightened around the glass. Slowly, I turned.

Jerald stood there in a tailored suit that probably cost more than my rent. And beside him, draped on his arm like an accessory was Celeste. She looked at me the way someone might look at gum stuck to their designer heel.

"My dear cousin,” she started in that overly sweet tone.

“What are you doing here?" She asked, voice sharp and loud enough to draw attention.

That must have been her intention, get as many people as possible listening then weave humiliation with nice words…or not.

Her fingers dug into Jerald's arm possessively. "Did someone let you in by mistake?"

Several heads turned our way.

I forced myself to breathe. "I was invited."

"Invited?" She laughed like that was the funniest thing she had heard that evening.

"By who? Or should I say, by what means?" Her eyes dragged over my dress. "That's not yours, is it? Did you borrow it? Rent it?" Her smile turned vicious. "Or did you earn it on your back?"

Heat crawled up my neck. A few people nearby had stopped talking and started watching drama unfold.

"Stop it, Celeste. I don't want problems with" I said quietly, hoping she would heed to my words.

But Celeste being Celeste wouldn't let go of a chance to embarrass me.

"Leave it?" She stepped closer and I caught a hint of her perfume, Jasmine – my mother's signature perfume.

"You have been pathetic for months, Katy. Jerald has already moved on and everyone knows it. Why can't you just accept that no one wants you?"

Celeste mocked.

My wolf snarled, pushing against my control but I shoved her down hard.

Although the room had werewolves, there were humans too.

Shifting in front of humans would get me banished. I wouldn't give them that satisfaction.

Jerald's lips curved into something cruel. "Let's be honest, Katy. Being paired with you was a mistake from the moon Goddess. A mistake that I corrected. You should be thanking me."

My vision blurred at the edges. The room felt suffocating.

"I—" My voice cracked. "I need to go."

I turned, ready to walk away with whatever dignity I had left, when a deep voice stopped me cold.

"Why would she leave when the night just got interesting?"

A hand settled on my waist firmly. It was warm and possessive, stealing my breath.

I turned, and my heart forgot how to beat.

The man beside me was devastatingly good-looking.

Dark hair, sharp jaw, and eyes so black they looked like a bottomless abyss.

My wolf went still then surged forward, curious and alert in a way she had never been with Jerald.

"Who the hell are you?" Jerald demanded.

The man didn't even spare him a glance as his gaze stayed locked on mine.

“ Sorry I am late, darling. Got caught up with some business." His thumb traced a slow circle against my hip. "Hope you weren't waiting long."

My brain momentarily went blank.

Then Celeste let out an amused laughter.

"Oh, this is rich. How shameless and desperate can you be,Katy? You even hired an escort to make Jerald jealous?” She sneered,gaze filled with disgust.

I wanted to refute,say that I didn't know what was going on.

But the man beat me to it.

"Escort?" The man repeated, his voice low and dark.

He finally looked at her, forcing Celeste to actually take a step back.

"Am I wrong? The suit is probably a knockoff," she said, but her voice wavered.She didn't seem too sure of herself anymore.

“Alpha Lucian.” Marcus, Nova's brother, approached carefully, his gaze fixed on the man holding me like I am his.

“ I didn't realize you'd be attending tonight." He added with a bow.

The room went silent and every conversation died.

All eyes turned toward us.

Alpha Lucian. I repeated the name in my mind then it hit me.

Nova had mentioned him earlier. The Alpha of Crescent pack, a street racer and a heartbreaker. The man who would be willing to fund my start-up if he liked my proposal.

I wasn't the only one shocked by the revelation.

Jerald’s face went white and Celeste looked like she'd swallowed glass.

"Alpha?" Jerald stammered.

He knew the weight of that name more than any human in the room.

According to Nova, Lucian was a prodigy in both the wolfen society and the humans.

Lucian's smile sharpened and his hand tightened on my waist, pulling me closer. "Problem?" He demanded, gaze fixed on Jerald.

"I—no. No, of course not. I didn't mean…"

I almost laughed out loud. For the first time, I saw Jerald at a loss for words. It was satisfying to watch.

"Good." Lucian's gaze slid back to me, softening just enough for the room to see. His voice dropped lower, intimate. "Shall we?"

Not trusting my voice, I just nodded.

He guided me away, his hand never leaving my waist.

As we walked away, I could feel the weight of every stare and whisper in the room.

We barely made it ten steps when I found my voice.

"Why did you do that?" I whispered.

Lucian glanced down at me, and something flickered in his dark eyes.

Amusement.

"Let's just say I have a weakness for interesting women." He replied casually, shrugging even.

"There's nothing interesting about me." I said in a small voice.

His smile widened. " Really now?"

Before I could ask what that meant, I caught sight of Nova across the room. Her eyes were wide and her mouth slightly open.

Behind us, I could still feel Celeste and Jerald watching.