chapter 03 : My Gallery by Day

Olivia's Pov:

Two months. I had been divorced and for the first time in ages, I felt young and I took full advantage of it, I spent my time clubbing at night and painting at my gallery by day transferring my feelings onto canvas including my recent one being that of a dark haired Lycan, a gash tearing across one of his eyes.

Those were things that I didn't really had the time to do when I was with Lucien, he was an uptight guy who didn't really fancy the idea of his mate running around all over New Orleans. He was quite paranoid for a Lycan.

I didn't really get him, sometimes he was a sweet guy, dolling me up with presents, taking me out to see a movie once in a while, you would think he was a nearly perfect husband, but then there were the other times.

The times when he would lose control to his wolf, werewolves were supposed to control their wolves to their will, not the other way around, it wasn't exactly an easy thing to do, it had took me five years to take full control of Aria who eventually gave up, she still wouldn't speak to me though. She considered me a coward for putting up with Lucien.

Control was however a hundred times more difficult for Lycans seeing as they are not pure blooded werewolves, very few manage to do the impossible.

Tonight was the bonding ceremony. An ancient Werewolf rite that has been for centuries, where werewolves find their true love, literally.

It was a yearly ceremony that gathered werewolves from the entirety of New Orleans, both the middle class families, the Aristocraté and even the Lycans , humans who got bitten and became either adopted into one of the Werewolf families or left to fend for themselves, the latter barely lasting for months before they lose control and give into the beast in them and get eradicated by hunters.

The Bonding always took place at the French opera house since the 1900s and I was still in awe at the magnificent building even though I have seen it a couple of nights.

The moon cast it's slivery glow over the building as the air vibrated with energy as there were lots of werewolves gathering all at once.

I was accompanied by my childhood friend, Ben who he smiled widely at me, his red hair deepening as we stepped into the building.

We paused at the large staircase , it curled upwards like a swan's neck, a huge crowd murmuring in delight as they made their way into the auditorium.

The air was alive as women shone in elegant gowns , jewels flashing like fireflies as they glided up the stairs , the men trailing along in dark suits, the anticipation was thick.

About a thousand werewolves were participating in this year's bonding and every year, most finds their mate , though others like me tend to find theirs late, a rare few doesn't ever.

I sighed in dread, I definitely don't want to die without ever finding a mate, but then again, I don't really think I mind.

Ben had booked seats for us comfortably at the middle of the hall where we had to squeeze through.

“Coming through", Ben kept yelling as he tried to cut a path for us.

“Can't believe bonding is rowdy as ever", I panted as we found our seats.

“Haven't you heard?", he grinned wildly, “population's grown”.

In the foyer, a string quartet started a tune as laughter and pleasantries grew louder.

“Who knows", Ben yelled over the noise, “perhaps you would be my mate this time", he grinned.

I jokingly punched him in the shoulder, “We attended bonding together for a while, you know?, if it were so, we should have bonded by now”.

He gave me a weak smile. He knew about Lucian and his struggle for control, but that didn't stop him from hating him less.

" I heard the heir of the Bloodwagon family is participating in this year's bonding for the first time “,he said as the lights became dim, the quartet music growing louder over the crowd.

“Aslaug, wasn't that her name?", I asked.

“Yeah, maybe I wou..", he started.

“Fat chance", I snorted trying to stop myself from laughing.

This time he punched me in the shoulder, “don't jinx me ", he laughed , at his smile transiting into a frown, i followed his gaze towards the front rows, towards a familiar figure..

Oh hell

There he was, Lucien, he was speaking to one of his sisters whose name I had forgotten, his charming smile a stark contrast to the wolf within him .

A shiver ran down my spine even though I was rows of seats from him, memories of the good and bad times we have been together in.

My breath came in sharply, but Ben grabbed my hand.

“Breathe", he instructed as he stroked my hand gently.

I took in a deep breath as I glared at the direction of Lucian, I still hated that he rejected me, it was understandable but to have come this long.

As if sensing our gaze, he looked back , his eyes meeting mine and his smile growing into a frown. Ben held my shivering hand tighter, his warmth cascading down my fingers.

His sister said something to him, making him finally tearing his gaze, turning his back towards me.

“I heard you were rejected by the Moon blood heir", a lady about my age snickered to my right.

Ben growled, but I held him back with a hand as I smiled at the lady, her white hair adorned by what looked like flowers.

“Rejected is kind of an old fashioned word, you know", i said, “it's called divorced nowadays".

“Like it makes any difference", her voice was getting louder now as heads began to swivel towards our direction.

Stupid bitch, i thought as I balled my fists out of view, keeping my fury in check, but i wasn't going to be humiliated by someone who didn't know who i was or what i went through.

“And how's that any of your business", I shot back, my claws extending slowly.

Aria grew impatient as she grumbled about wanting to tear something up.

“You shouldn't be here", the lady sneered maliciously.

“Says who", I snorted.

“If you couldn't even maintain one marriage, what's to say....".

I was just about to force her teeth down her throat when everywhere suddenly became dead silent, even the orchestra stopped their music, terror and quick whispers filling the air.

The center of attraction was a man, who was walking down the aisle as he looked around, probably searching for his seat, totally oblivious to the dread that seemed to grip everyone.

He was probably in his early twenties, his piercing dark eyes shimmering like a void, his face like a perfectly chiseled sculpture.

“The demon Alpha", Ben whispered silently as if scared he might be heard.

I have heard of the demon alpha, thought it was a myth. A werewolf who had slaughtered his entire family line, two hundred and nine in all. The Fallenstar family were one of the nine aristocraté, they were old fashioned and lived in an extremely huge mansion at the outskirts of a sealed off forest.

Nine years ago,a night after the bonding ceremony, the demon alpha had massacred them all including his father, one of the most powerful Alphas in the City.

Not that I believed any of it, of course I knew the Fallenstars had been attacked, but to think it was the actions of a young child was preposterous.

“He looks handsome", I muttered as I stared at his face, his eyes holding a deep sadness,a hint of vulnerability , his emotions shut beneath a mask of indifference.

Ben looked at me like I was mad, “No he's not, he's a monster of monsters and he's the only one of the nine Alphas here,he could literally start a massacre without hindrance".

" He looks like a sweet guy though”,i shrugged, Ben's jaw dropping in shock.

I could have sworn that a thin smile appeared at the demon Alpha's lips as our eyes briefly met before he turned away having found his seat four rows in front of ours, people shrinking away from him in fright.

However inspite of my fascination with him, a part of me warned me against associating with deadly Alphas like that. He was the last Alpha of the Fallenstars and if there was something the nine Alphas shared, it was the mystery that surrounds them and their notoriously high kill counts, if there was any thing worse than Lycans, it was Alphas.

I wouldn't want to jump from the fire to a volcano now, would I?, i thought as I found myself daring a glance once more towards his direction, his hands sweeping across his salt and pepper hair.