CHAPTER ONE: THE PREPARATION

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SHARON'S POV.

“Sharon.”

My stepmother started calling my name so loudly from downstairs. I was already brainstorming on many things when I heard her call. I checked my phone and it was just past seven in the morning..

“Sharon,” she yells again.

I quickly got out of bed and walked downstairs to our big kitchen, where I saw my stepmother and her daughter sitting at the table.

Her mother was masking her face with heavy make-up, not just that, but also painting her hands.

“Sharon, I've been calling you and you're snubbing me. It's time you can see that I am swamped. Get to work and prepare breakfast. I'm getting Sandra prepared for tonight.

“What is happening tonight? It's just 14 hours away. Why are you starting now?”. I asked.

She paused what she was doing and angrily stared at me.

“You don't question my authority in this house. I'm doing it now because I want her to look the best amongst everyone.”

The whole thing they were doing was pissing me off. I sighed and left to make breakfast so that I won't say more than I’ve said.

Tonight, our new Alpha turns 20, which means he can now find his mate. Alphas find their mate when they turn 20; others make wolves find theirs when they turn 18. That is so, so that they can be sure they are mature enough to start the rest of their lives with their mate. Every girl that is not his mate will be out there tonight, hoping they are his mate, and if, per adventure, he did not find his mate, then he will choose from the girls.

For me, it was so weird for all the girls in the pack to line up like cows to be sold just because they wanted the Alpha to be their mate. I didn't see that as a good idea so I wanted to stay at home. My step agreed I should stay at home. I was more beautiful than her daughter. She didn't want me any closer to the event. I also agreed but my dad refused and almost shut my mouth with a slap. He said this because I had not found my mate, and I was already 19. He prays I find my mate.

Sandra, my half-sister, just turned 18, and her mother also wants her to find her mate by all means, which made her spend a lot of money just to get her prepared.

My father and mother had grown up together. When they were growing up, they were of the same age and neither of them had found their mate; they chose each other because they loved each other.

Just a few years after my dad married my mum, she was involved in a fatal motor accident that took her life. That broke my dad, and he decided not to have another mate, but because I was so tender, he chose Cecilia, my stepmother, so that she could take care of me.

Shortly after Cecilia moved in, age became pregnant. About a year later, Sandra was born. Cecilia hated me so much because I was more beautiful than her daughter and would always want my dad to love her daughter than me. My dad will always refuse and show equal love to both of us. Whatever he does for Sandra, he’ll do for me. Anything he does for me, he will definitely do for my sister, Sandra, and that made us love him very much.

—--

The house has been busy all day. Sandra and her friends have been at it all day so I decided to avoid them and stay in my room.

A lot was going through my mind when a knock pulled me from my thoughts, and my best friend Nora stepped in.

“Hey, baby girl. Hope you're ready?

“Yes of course, I said faintly.

Nora and I had agreed to get ready together and that was why she showed up. She entered my room, and after we must have talked a little, we helped each other to put on make up and pack our hair. She helped out with my sandy long blonde hair in a lot of braids that began on the right side of my hand to end hanging over my left shoulder, and she also put clips on it. She made me up and it was very light. It was quite different from Sandra's own, as her makeup was so much as though she was about to wed.

Looking at the mirror, I loved what she did and went to get my dress, a silver long midnight blue silk dress.

When it was time, they all left to walk over to the pack house. Many girls were already standing outside the pack house, and some were dressed up formally. Some were dressed in skimpy dresses that were so revealing that I was ashamed of them.

When it was time, an elder came out from the pack house for the announcement.

 The moment the door opened, a strong smell of spice hit my nose that woke my wolf up. Anything that wakes my wolf this way is definitely pointing at something that I may not be seeing.

“Welcome, everyone, especially to the beautiful unmated she-wolves. You all know why we're here. We are here for Alpha Roland to give or choose a mate to be by his side as his partner.

All of us girls were now instructed to stand next to each other in one queue.

We all arranged ourselves quickly, and Sandra was standing in front of me while I was standing behind her. The instruction was for one straight line, but because the queue was becoming too long, they made the line three so that it wouldn't be that long.

“I also want to inform you that Alpha Rolland has been able to smell a captivating smell and it could be his mate 

 He’s excited and will soon be out to find out who she is.”