Mate!

Laura

The ballroom was even more breathtaking than I had imagined.

The moment I stepped inside, I felt as though I had entered another world. Massive crystal chandeliers hung overhead, filling the room with golden light. Larga tables draped in white and silver filled the enormous hall while musicians played softly from a stage near the dance floor.

Everywhere I looked, people were talking, laughing, dancing, flirting and making connections. A few even found their mates in my presence.

The room felt alive.

I, however, stood awkwardly near one of the walls wondering what exactly I was supposed to do. My fingers twisted together nervously as I watched strangers interact with such ease.

Should I approach someone? Introduce myself? What would I even say? The thought alone made my stomach twist.

I hadn't interacted with outsiders in years. The only people I regularly spoke to were my tutor, the household maids, and my family. Unfortunately, tonight wasn't a night I could simply hide.

I really needed to find someone. If I left this ballroom without a man showing interest in me, I was doomed because where would I even start from? I might have my skill as a healer but I did not have any certificate to prove it? Nobody would employ me in their clinic or hospital. I didn’t have any savings as father never gave me allowance.

I wouldn't even know how to survive in the outside world. With how sheltered I'd been my entire life, there was a good chance I'd end up dead before the day was over.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to scan the room again. Maybe I should approach someone. Maybe if I waited too long, nobody would approach me at all.

The problem was that every time I considered it, panic stopped me.

What if they laughed? What if they looked at me the same way my family did?

No matter what I did, I could never be as petite and slender as Leslie. I had collarbones, and my stomach was flat, but to my family, I would always be the one who ate too much, weighed too much, and brought them embarrassment. The fabric around my chest and hips felt tighter and tighter, and I noticed many men's eyes lingering on those parts of my body. Did they think the same way? I fought the urge to tug my dress down and hide myself from their gaze.

Across the ballroom, Mother and Father were busy entertaining important guests. They looked completely at ease, moving from one conversation to another with practiced smiles. Leslie was doing even better.

My beautiful twin stood surrounded by friends and admirers. Men constantly approached her. Women laughed at her jokes. She looked exactly like the future Alpha she had been raised to become.

I looked away before the familiar ache in my chest could grow worse. As the minutes passed, nobody approached me. Not one person. Guests walked past as though I didn't exist. A few glanced at me and most didn't.

Eventually, I found myself retreating toward one of the pillars near the edge of the ballroom.

I hated it. I hated that I was hiding. I hated that I was too scared to approach anyone. Most of all, I hated knowing that every second slipping by brought me closer to Father's deadline.

A sudden commotion near the entrance interrupted my spiraling thoughts. Conversations faltered as heads turned toward the doors, and my wolf instantly became alert.

I found myself looking toward the entrance along with everyone else. A crowd had gathered near the doors, blocking my view. Then the guests slowly stepped aside and the room seemed to hold its breath as a man walked inside.

The effect was immediate. Every eye in the ballroom followed him. Even from across the room, I could feel the power radiating from him.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in an immaculate black suit. His dark hair was perfectly styled and his sharp features somehow managed to look even more intimidating because of the permanent frown on his face.

He wasn't smiling. He wasn't trying to attract attention and yet every person in the room was staring at him, including me.

Warmth spread through my chest and my pulse quickened unexpectedly. Inside me, my wolf practically purred.

"Oh, he is so edible."

Heat flooded my cheeks at her brazen thoughts. "Be quiet.”

"No," she replied immediately. "I think he is handsome."

I couldn't argue because he really was.

Several powerful Alphas approached him almost immediately, greeting him with obvious respect. My wolf nudged me again.

"Go talk to him."

I nearly choked. "Absolutely not."

"Coward."

"I’m not!” I snapped through gritted teeth.

She didn't answer again. Instead, a strange pull settled inside me. A tug, almost like a compulsion. A strange overwhelming urge to move closer.

I tried ignoring it and failed. Before I knew it, my feet were carrying me forward. One step and then another. The closer I moved, the stronger the feeling became. Then my stomach dropped as I realized something, Leslie was moving toward him too.

She reached him first.

I watched as she rose onto her toes and kissed his cheek in greeting, the gesture so familiar it made my chest tighten. He turned toward her immediately, his expression softening as they began talking.

For some reason, I couldn't look away. They looked right together. Powerful, beautiful and perfect. The kind of pair people expected to see standing side by side.

My steps slowed and then stopped completely. The warmth inside me vanished. My shoulders slumped.

What had I been thinking? The man was powerful, handsome and an Alpha. Men like him didn't choose women like me. No Alpha would. Alphas cared far too much about appearances. My family had spent twenty-two years teaching me that lesson.

As usual, anything I wanted ended up in Leslie's hands.

Maybe it was for the best. If I had approached him, he probably would have rejected and humiliated me.

I had no business dreaming about a man like that. I needed to be realistic and aim lower. Find someone willing to tolerate me. Someone who might overlook my appearance. Someone who could save me from Father's plans.

I turned away, preparing to retreat and gather what little dignity I had left. Then every hair on my body stood up.

My wolf rose to the surface again. A strange sensation washed over me.

Slowly, I looked back and realized that the Alpha was no longer looking at Leslie but was now staring directly at me.

My breath caught as his eyes had changed. They were no longer dark but had turned gold. Pure molten gold. The eyes of his wolf.

Around him, conversations were continuing. Leslie was still speaking and smiling. One of her hands had wrapped possessively around his arm.

He didn't seem aware of it. His entire focus remained locked on me. The ballroom suddenly felt too small and too hot.

Then he started walking toward me. The crowd immediately noticed. Whispers spread like wildfire. Heads turned and people stepped aside. Every pair of eyes followed his movement.

Leslie finally noticed what was going on and confusion lashed across her beautiful face as she looked from him to me. She grabbed his arm and attempted to stop him but kept walking.

My pulse thundered so loudly I could hear it. I wanted to run. Moon Goddess, I desperately wanted to run but I couldn't move. The closer he came, the more terrified I became.

The Alpha stopped directly in front of me. Barely a step separated us. His scent wrapped around me, stealing the air from my lungs.

The scent of pine, rain and smoke. It was the most intoxicating thing I had ever smelled.

A strange warmth spread through my chest, and my wolf surged to the surface so forcefully that I nearly lost my balance.

The Alpha’s stared straight at me. His lips parted slightly, his expression shifting from confusion to utter disbelief. Then, almost against his will, one word escaped him.

“Mate.” Gerald growled.

The ballroom fell silent. My own wolf leaped with excitement, and the word rushed to the tip of my tongue.

Mate. Before I could speak, a hand suddenly clamped over my mouth. I gasped against the soft fabric of Leslie’s glove. She stepped in front of me with remarkable speed, her smile bright and effortless despite the panic flashing in her eyes.

“Gerald,” Leslie laughed softly, her hand still firmly covering my mouth. “You almost gave everyone a fright.”

She slipped her arm through his and smiled at the crowd.

“I think everyone knows exactly who you meant.”