Chapter 2

Vivian's POV

It didn't take long before I was ready to give up again.

The door was too heavy to push down, and after spending so much effort trying to shift the lock, I lost hope.

'What about the window?' Lexa asked, urging me to move towards it.

"You want me to jump from here? Do you want me dead before I meet my mate?" My body crashed into the hard bed.

It was too small for an adult my size, but my parents had been very clear. Lose weight or shut up about the bed.

I'd tried the first and nothing worked, so that left me stuck with a tiny bed my whole adult life.

'What about your dress?' She pushed. 'It's super soft. If you land on it, you'll be fine when you jump.'

To my surprise, I was actually considering it. My eyes shifted to the beautiful red dress that hung across from me on the wall.

It had taken me months to complete. I'd spent many nights sewing it, pricking my finger while straining my ears for footsteps.

Because if anyone caught me with something beautiful, something mine, it would be snatched away almost immediately.

"There's no point," I groaned, snapping my gaze away from the dress. "I'll just stay back and sell the dress for some money in the market."

Even as the words fell from my lips, I knew that wasn't an option. Letting Chloe have this small victory was me playing the part she'd always wanted.

'If you sell the dress, your parents will take the money to spend on Chloe anyway, why not wear it and have a good time tonight.'

"It's only going to be a good night if I find my mate," I grumbled.

But even as I spoke, my body shifted off the bed and stalked towards the dress.

The material felt soft under my skin. It definitely had enough layers to soften my fall, and the red silk wouldn't stain easily on the grass below.

After sucking in a breath, I walked towards the single open window and, without thinking, threw the dress out.

Our house only had one floor, but my room was basically an attic, so a fall from here was risky and stupid.

Yet I found myself climbing the window seconds later, my eyes fixed on the dress laying below.

'Don't be afraid. Just trust me to help you land and heal from a few bruises, and think of how much fun you'll have today.' Lexa cheered.

I didn't give myself more time to ponder the risk before letting go of the window post, allowing myself to plummet down.

The fall felt longer than it should have, and then my body was crashing into soft silk.

The force of the fall was mostly on my side.

Pain spiked from my ribs, increasing gradually as I tried to force myself to my feet.

Our street was empty, with most people already in bed or at the ceremony.

It would have started by now, which meant I had a few minutes to make it there before the mating ritual took place and the pairings began.

With that thought in mind, I forced my body up, rushing to the back of the house to change.

The dress fit me perfectly, just as I'd designed it. I didn't have any makeup on, not that it mattered considering I'd never worn it and didn't even know how.

My waist length brown hair fell in waves down my back, and after running my fingers through it a few times, I headed out, rushing towards the packhouse.

The lights were all lit, illuminating the place beautifully.

I'd always been too busy dealing with the shame of not having a mate every year to admire how gorgeous this event truly was.

As the packhouse came into view, my legs strained.

Without thinking, I shoved the two large golden doors aside, interrupting the ongoing ceremony.

All heads turned to me. Among the crowd, I could almost feel my family glaring at me.

The guards approached, ready to send me out.

One of them lunged at me, his grip on my arm hard enough to make me wince. As he began dragging me out though, someone in the crowd called out.

"Leave her."

The voice alone, cold and detached, made the guard release me.

I turned, already bowing to thank whoever it was that had saved me.

"You are a member of this pack, yes?" the man asked.

My gaze remained fixed on his shoes, body bent in half. "Yes, alpha."

"Then you have as much right to be here as anyone else," he said, voice calm and composed. "Stand."

My body straightened immediately at the order, and the moment my eyes met his, I couldn't control the soft gasp that fell from my lips.

His eyes were a sharp gold I'd never seen before. Everything from his chiseled and defined muscles to his neatly styled jet black hair screamed perfection.

I stood there, gaping like a fool until he turned and spoke to the priest across the room with the same authority. "Continue the ceremony."

He walked away, but my eyes just couldn't pull away from his back until a hand wrapped around my bruised one.

I winced, turning to see Chloe's burning glare on me.

"Stay away from my mate," she growled at me, baring her teeth.

I scoffed, shaking off the strange feeling I felt from the man. "I'm not here to take your mate. I'm just here to make sure you know your stupid plan failed. How childish could you be, Chloe? You're eighteen now, about to be mated, act like it."

She stared, shocked that I was actually defending myself.

But in the absence of our parents, taking her vile attitude felt unnecessary. And something about that stranger made me feel confident enough to face the demon I'd called a sister.

The priest's next words forced Chloe to turn her gaze away from me, relieving me of her burning glare. "Every wolf above the age of eighteen, step forward. It is time."