4. Lyra's Pov

Lyra's Pov

I've always dreaded walking at night but this was the most fun I've had in my life.

I could still perceive Asher's scent in my nostrils, sending radiations through my body and what should cause my organs to burn only made them sing in excitement.

He isn't pompous or rude but sweet and gentle, and listening to him speak was like listening to the birds chirping in the air as they hung on trees.

It was delightful!

...

 Just as I arrived home I found my mother by the door with a grim look on her face. I instantly swallowed, my bottleneck stiffen as I walked towards her.

"Where are you coming from?" Her eyes flash angrily, making me considering telling a lie. I kept thinking of the best lie to come up with, but for about ten minutes I didn't know what to say other than the truth.

"I went to give Alpha Asher dinner!" I muttered instantly and she gave me a stern look as she walks close to where I was.

"Is that what took you so long? And why are you holding your mask?" 

I paused, confused as to why she is curious about it, I've always gone almost everywhere with my mask. I hid the mask behind me and my feet struggles backwards as my lips starts mumbling-

"I...always go everywhere with it..." I shuddered but she became even more furious. 

"It's late, why did you need a mask?" She shrieks at me again, her voice louder than before. 

Her sharp gaze were piercing into mine, as though she was searching for the truth in my eyes. 

I could barely utter a word, as her judging eyes were staring at me like some criminal. This was clearly going to be one of those times I get beaten even without being guilty of anything. 

Suddenly, she tugged my shirt pulling me towards her as she sniffed the scent on me.

"Did you go to just deliver dinner? Why is his scent all over you?" She run her hands through my sandy blonde hair and a smirk plays on her lips. 

I could slowly feel my heart coming to a stop, as her nose kept sniffing Asher's scent on me. 

I will get caught!

I bit down on my lips, fear coursing through my veins and suddenly, I felt her grip on the mask, as she drags it from me and nudged me to the ground.

"You sneaking bastard, you've been fooling around with the Alpha all night?" She glared at me and suddenly struck me on my face.

"You slut!" 

She kept dragging my ears!

"I will never do such a thing mother!" I cried, trying to get her to stop, but she kept on dragging my ears, as if to cut it off. 

"You are nothing but shameless!!!" 

"I'm not mother, he is my mate!" I screamed and she paused instantly. 

"He is what?" Her voice muttered in a low shocking tone. 

There was a glint of glimmer in her eyes, that was visible for a split seconds. It was the first time she had ever smiled at me, my eyes instantly wells up, but then she looked at me and said- 

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, he is my mate!" She released her grip from me instantly, but just when I thought I'd see another smirk on her face she scoffed and looked at me disgustingly. 

 I clenched my fist, taking some amount of sand. Tears kept trickling down my cheeks and then-

"Do you think an Alpha would mark a slave?" She scoffed and bent to her knees grabbing my chin.

Her fingers pierced deep forcing my gaze to meet with hers-

"Stop dreaming. You don't belong in that world, he will never mate an ugly girl like you." She pushed me to the ground again!

There were moment where I asked myself if my mother was really my mother, and this was just one of those times.

She is supposed to be happy for me, but her words were like sword, stabbing into my heart and causing every organs of mine to die. 

I could feel my lungs tightening, and slowly I was finding it hard to breath. I could take it all, the bullies, the sarcastic comments from strangers but hers was one I could never get used to, but it would soon come to an end, Asher would mate me, and take me away from this horrible life.

"Get inside!!" She screams at me and I quickly rushed in. 

....

"Oh shit." I groaned, seeing the mid morning rays of sun coming through the window. I threw my legs over to the side of the bed and stood up. I disapeared down the hallway as I quickly made my way to the closet and pulled my duffle bag from the top shelf.

I haphazardly pulled clothes out of the hangers and grab my toothbrush as I rushed inside the bathroom.

I took my shower in no minutes and changed to the clothes I picked out. 

I barely had enough time to brush my hair, i pull it back into a ponytail. I grabbed my shoes and set out to do coolies for the last duel.

I got there just in time to hear the announcement.

"The winner is Asher!!!" 

the crowd went wild with screams. My jaw dropped as I stared at the scene infront of me.

The beta was holding Asher's hand as a sign of victory. I couldn't contain the grin on my face as my heart beat increased barely containing the joy and pride in it as I stared at my mate.

His eyes kept wavering in the crowd, and I fixed my gaze at him to get his attention. I kept wavering my hand at him, to catch his gaze but when his eyes met mine, he only smiled and instantly looked away...

I paused for a moment, not knowing if to be glad or sad. It wasn't as if he saw my face last night, but then, couldn't he have felt the mate's bond?

Suddenly, Asher took hold of the microphone,

"I want to make an announcement, a very important one." He smiled, and his gaze met mine again.

I could hear my beating heart, as I fantasize about him taking me by the hand to stand by his side, but then-

"I've found my mate, my Luna." He announced. 

I smiled so much that my cheeks began to hurt but it didn't matter, he is going to announce me as his mate, as his Luna!

"Devlin, my Luna." 

My mind immediately went blank as I watched him stretched his hand into the crowd in my direction.

There was a sudden impulse in my heart, that kept my feet rooted to a spot. I bit my lips down, as I wondered if he was reaching out to me, but my name wasn't Devlin!

My nails dug into my palm as I kept wondering if I should grab his hand. 

"He could only be referring to me, I am his mate."

As I walked towards him, his lips widened and his brows raised in excitement, but then-

I stretched my hand towards his but he grabbed another, I froze instantly, my body trembled and my heart came to a clunking stop. 

I could feel the taste of my own tears as it kept dripping on my lips. A great amount of tremor coursing through my veins. I was shuddering, tears falling from my eyes like a cascade as I watched him grabbed the lady to the stage.

 She is no other than Devlin, the daughter of the Luna of our pack.

She latched unto his arms, their gaze fixed on each other. Every glance at them was torture, I couldn't breath, neither could I move my feet.

I thought my life would change for the better when I found my mate. 

I thought I was on to a happily ever after, but it doesn't exist, at least not for me...

Not for a face like mine, how could I have been stupid enough to dream this big...