CHAPTER ONE

"Danielle," my dad calls. "Come downstairs please. I need to talk to you."

Wondering what he wants, I make my way downstairs and into the living room.

“Dad, if this is about your sandwich, you shouldn’t have left it out for me to ea-”

My words get stuck in my throat as I look at the expression on his face. I stop in my tracks, studying him, “What did I do?”

“We need to talk,” My father gestures towards the couch across from him.

“About?” I sit down slowly, wondering why he has such a pinched look on his face.

"I received a message for Robert today.”

There is this blankness in his tone as if he’s not altogether here.

“The Alpha?” I mutter. “What does he want with me?”

My father is silent for a moment and then, "He’s chosen a mate for you.”

My eyes widen, “But I just turned eighteen yesterday. Isn’t that a little fast? I’ve not even gone roaming yet.”

It is usually the pack alpha appoints mate unless someone has met their true mate. It’s a common practice among wolf shifter packs. By the time a female is twenty, she has to be mated.

I give my father a nervous look, “Isn’t it too soon?”

He’s not looking at me, “Robert wouldn't have suggested it if he didn't think you were ready."

Is It just me or does my father look unhappy?

Mating in wolf culture is a life-long bond. I've seen Mom and Dad's bond and it's a beautiful thing. My brother Stuart was arranged a mate last year, just after he turned twenty. They have a cub now. I wouldn’t mind having my own mate. It’s just that it seems too fast.

“I don’t think I can do this,” I say. “Not right now anyway. I’m too young. There are things I want to do first.”

“You can still do them,” My father responds, looking at his hands. “You’ll just have a mate to support you and love you along the way.”

“I don’t want to,” I mumble. “An engagement is fine, but I don’t want to be mated at eighteen. None of my friends-”

“This is not about your friends,” My father’s harsh words make me flinch.

“D-Dad?” I stare at him, stunned. I’ve never seen him blow up like this.

“Robert is coming this evening. Get dressed. He wants to talk to you.”

Then without another word, he leaves the room, leaving me behind shell-shocked.

He’s never so much as raised his voice to me before today. He was fine till yesterday. But now that I think about it, he had been behaving a little odd since this morning.

I don’t know what to make of this whole situation. Another thing that bothers me is that the pack alpha has never personally come forward to arrange a mating. It is usually done within the adults and the two potential mates are introduced to each other.

This whole situation seems bizarre to me.

I try calling my mother and my brother but both of them have their phones off.

As evening approaches, I have no choice but to get dressed.

I put on a simple green dress and study my reflection in the vanity. With jet black hair that falls like a waterfall down my back and hazel brown eyes, I’m not unattractive by any means. But I frown at myself.

“How do I look?” I ask my father who is waiting downstairs for me.

He doesn’t even look at me, muttering something under his breath.

“Dad,” I step in front of him, a little hurt. “Why’re you acting like you can’t even bear to see my face? Did I do something?”

He freezes and this time when he looks at me, his smile is strained but his eyes. They’re dull and lifeless.

Before I can ask him what is going on, there’s a knock on the door. He can’t get away from me fast enough.

The Alpha of our pack, Robert is in his early forties. He nods at my father who shakes his hand but says nothing.

“It’s good to see you, Danielle,” Robert says, looking at me.

I try to smile but I can’t muster anything.

“I assume your father told you.”

I glance at my father who’s normally so close to me. He’s looking out the window as if this conversation has nothing to do with me.

My voice gets stuck in my throat, but I manage, “Not much.”

Robert smiles.

I’ve never liked Robert. I trust him because he’s the Alpha, but his smile has this smarmy quality to it. Right now, my dislike level is through the roof.

“Well, I chose a mate for you.”

“Okay,” I say slowly.

“I considered several other girls, but you were the best match for him.”

I don’t say anything, waiting for him to continue.

“Why don’t you sit down?” He suggests.

“Why isn’t Mom here for this?” I blurt out, anxiously. “She should be here for this conversation.”

“She chose not to be,” Robert says, bluntly.

My mouth flaps open and shut as something inside of me throbs in pain, “But why?”

When no one answers, I look at my father, “Dad?”

My father is still not looking at me and my eyes begin to burn at his cold behavior. We are as close as can be and to see him shun me like this is difficult to process, especially when I need him right now.

However, when I realize he’s not going to be involved in this discussion and that I am on my own for this, I look at Robert, “Why are you here for this mating? I mean it’s just a normal mating, right? Why is everyone acting so weird?”

Robert studies me, lifting a brow, “Because this is not a typical mating.”

“What do you mean?” I stammer.

Robert takes a few seconds to reply after glancing at my father, “Your chosen mate isn’t from this pack.”

“What?” I stare at him puzzled. “So, he’s coming here?”

“No, Danielle,” Robert isn’t smiling. “You are going to leave this pack and go to his.”

My entire world stops.