Chapter 5: Alpha Noah

The night of the annual mating ball at grand Silverdale Mansion was truly breathtaking. The huge estate shone under a sky full of stars. Crystal chandeliers hung from the trees, casting warm golden light over rich gardens and marble terraces. Music floated through the air, and the smell of roses and sweet wine filled every place. It was grand and beautiful, yet to me it felt like a cruel dream.

Georgia, on the other hand, seemed to be having the time of her life. She eagerly mingled with wolves from the other packs, laughing as she introduced herself to several handsome young men. Before long, she was completely swept into the festivities, leaving me standing alone among the sea of strangers.

I had dressed in my finest gown, my heart heavy yet resolute. I had told myself I was finally ready. I would find Sebastian, speak calmly, accept his rejection once and for all and walk away to rebuild my life without him.

But the moment I walked into the great hall, my breath left my lungs. There he stood, Sebastian...

He stood near the grand staircase surrounded by a circle of beautiful giggling she wolves. They leaned close touching his arm and laughing at every word he spoke. He smiled easily his dark eyes gleaming with amusement clearly enjoying every moment of their attention. He looked utterly at ease as if he had never broken my heart, as if he had never crushed my soul with his cold rejection.

A sharp pang of pain cut through me, yet I lifted my chin. I would not run, and I would not cry. I stepped forward, ready to face him.

But just as I was about to approach, something stopped me. A powerful scent suddenly drifted through the air. It wrapped around me so suddenly that my entire body stiffened.

Then a heavy, commanding presence filled the room, and for a moment, the music fell silent. The crowd parted like water as a group of tall men and women walked through the grand doors. There was no mistaking them. They belonged to the Northern Reign Pack. 

Their presence was overwhelming and it was clear that everyone at the party had turned their eyes toward them. My gaze then fell upon a tall man standing at the very center of the group. His aura was cold regal and burning with wild power. But the very second his eyes locked onto mine the world stood still.

A jolt of pure blinding energy tore through me. It was the same bond I had felt with Sebastian yet stronger, deeper and impossible to deny. My knees nearly gave way. My wolf roared in recognition trembling with a fierce and undeniable truth.

He was my mate. But how could this be? Was not Sebastian my mate? How could this man from the Northern Reign Pack also be my mate? Was that even possible?

I watched him move toward me with slow, deliberate steps, his gaze never leaving mine. The intensity in his eyes struck terror into me. He was walking straight for me, and I knew for certain he meant to reach me. 

I cannot explain it, but instead of excitement, I felt a strange rush of fear knowing he belonged to the Northern Reign Pack. My instincts screamed at me to run. Overcome with dread and anxiety, I stepped back and quickly drew away. He was truly coming for me!

Unfortunately in my haste to escape I bumped into someone. And as bad luck would have it, the woman I collided with was none other than the arrogant and haughty Soraya, the daughter of Alpha Cory of Red Oak Pack.

"Watch where you are going, you clumsy little bitch!" she shouted in a rage. 

When I looked at her dress, I saw red wine splashed across her sparkling white gown and that was what had made her so furious.

I wanted to shrink back in fear. Everyone knew Soraya was spoiled, short‑tempered, and loved to bully others especially Omegas she took a dislike to.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to," I apologized. I knew we had already drawn the attention of everyone around us.

Damn it. I had planned to slip away quietly and leave, but now I seemed to have gained even more attention.

"Look what you have done to my dress, you worthless thing! Is this how they teach manners in your pack? Bumping into people like a wild animal?"

"I truly am sorry. It was an accident," I said again. I wanted to disappear from shame. So many people were staring at me with judgmental looks.

"Do you have any idea how much this dress costs? It is ten times more expensive than that cheap rag you are wearing!" she sneered loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear. 

"Look at you. Plain and insignificant. Who is this drab little she‑wolf anyway?" she asked the woman beside her with cold disgust. The way they stared at me made me feel like an insect they wanted to crush.

"She is nothing but an Omega from Silverdale Pack," the other woman whispered.

"You do not fit in a place like this if you have no idea how to carry yourself or behave with the respect this event demands. You are nothing but a nuisance!" she added. Her words stung deep and burned with humiliation.

"I did not mean to bump into you, but there is no need to be so cruel. You have no right to look down on me like this," I said. Humiliation and anger burned fiercely inside me. I could no longer hold back and the words burst from my lips before I could stop them.

"How dare you speak to me that way! Do you know who you are talking to? You are beneath me so know your place!" She stepped closer, her voice thick with arrogance and her eyes flashing with fury.

"You may have been lucky enough to be born into an Alpha family, but that doesn't mean anything," I replied shakily but boldly.

"What did you say? You shameless little bitch!"

Everything happened so fast. I saw her hand rise ready to strike me across the face in her rage. I closed my eyes knowing the blow was coming but to my utter shock it never landed.

Someone suddenly stepped between us and caught her hand in mid‑air. When I looked it was none other than the man from the Northern Reign Pack.

"Get out of my way Noah! This does not concern you!" Soraya snarled at him.

Hearing his name my eyes went wide and every hair on my body stood on end.

Did she just call him Noah? Oh Moon Goddess, could it really be him? The mysterious Alpha of the Northern Reign Pack?

"Do not you dare lay a hand on her," he said. His voice was low and dangerous yet it echoed like thunder through the hall.

He pushed her arm aside gently but firmly then turned to face the crowd and pulled me firmly against his side. His grip was possessive and absolute.

"And why not? Why are you defending this low‑class she‑wolf? Do you know what that Omega just said to me? She does not seem to know who I am or what I am capable of-"

"Enough!" His voice boomed and cut her off instantly. Soraya fell silent trembling in terror at the fury he showed.

"No one touches her! She is mine!" he growled with absolute fury.

"W-What do you m-mean?" Soraya asked stunned and confused. I too was shocked and turned to look at him.

"I said no one touches her! She is mine! She is my mate!" He growled loudly as if marking his territory and warning anyone who dared to challenge him. I saw Soraya freeze and step back as if she had heard something forbidden and terrifying.

At the same time a collective gasp tore through the gathering. Whispers broke out instantly but before the shock could settle a dark and dangerous aura slammed into us.

To my utter surprise, it was Sebastian.

He moved like a storm shoving past the onlookers to stand directly in front of us. His face was pale with rage his eyes blazing with a mix of jealousy and disbelief. He looked ready to tear Noah apart with his bare hands.

"What did you say?" Sebastian growled his voice vibrating with raw unchecked power. He stepped between me and Noah, forcing me away from his enemy. 

"She is not yours! She belongs here in my pack!" 

He shouted these words at Noah with such fury that everyone present gasped in shock. Who would ever dare to challenge or provoke the terrifying Alpha of the Northern Reign Pack?

Oh, Moon Goddess! Can I trust my own eyes? Is this reality or just some cruel fevered dream? The fearsome Alpha Noah of the Northern Reign Pack and Sebastian, the future Alpha of Silverdale Pack are standing face to face burning with rage and ready to tear each other apart and all because of me!