Chapter 2

ALEXEI’S POV.

Just like the rest of him, Brandon’s kiss was warm, thawing the frosty air around me.

I gripped the lapels of his coat, smiling at him for the first time all day. Brandon was one of the few people that had this effect on me.

“You’ve been with me all day,” I shot him a sympathetic look. “Stick around for a bit longer and I promise it will all be over soon.”

I said it to him reassuringly, but in truth, it was my way of trying to reassure myself.

Brandon wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. His hold was tight and reassuring. It did a good job of easing some of my tension.

“I don’t mind being here with you, sweetheart,” Brandon continued. “Even if the ceremony ends at midnight, I’ll still be right here with you. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Ugh! Do you have to be so perfect?” I pretended to groan.

As expected, this elicited a laugh from Brandon. As always, he knew the right things to say to make me feel better. Even after a year of dating, the sight of him still made my heart race and swell with the depths of my love for him.

“I can’t wait to be crowned as the alpha of Ash moon pack, so I can finally be mated to you and rule the pack with you by my side.”

“That sounds lovely,” Brandon beamed at me. “I can only hope I live up to your expectations and not disappoint you.”

“You could never disappoint me,” I told him vehemently, encircling his neck with my arms. “Listen to me Brandon Turner. You are my destined mate. You are the only one I want. I am counting the days until I get to be married to you.”

“I am counting down the days too,” he mused, winking at me.

I smiled at him once again. “I especially can’t wait for our wedding night.”

At the mention of our wedding night, I grazed the back of his neck with my fingers. I was pleased when I felt him visibly shudder underneath my touch.

“You sexy little tease,” he growled, digging his fingers into my spine. “This is hardly the time or place.”

“I can’t help myself,” I shrugged, not sounding sorry.

In response, Brandon leaned in and kissed me a second time, turning my brain to mush.

***

I recognized Brandon as my mate a year ago. Since then, we had been pretty much inseparable. Before father had died, I had told father about my desires to be mated to Brandon and he had only hesitated for a moment before he gave us his blessings.

The same way he had done it, it was the same way in which he had made the announcement, appointing me as the heir of the pack.

Naturally, half of the council were against father’s choice for alpha. There were whispers of my step-sister, Freida being the better choice for alpha. While I tried to ignore the whispers at first, I couldn’t help thinking about it from an objective point of view. As much as it hurt me to admit, in some ways, they were right to counter father’s bias towards me.

At seventeen, I was yet to shape shift. As a pup and as a teenager, I was the only one who didn’t have a wolf. Father claimed I was a late bloomer and had nothing to be ashamed about. Regardless of how father felt, it didn’t make it any less embarrassing and encapsulating.

There were times, when I felt gravitated towards the idea of Freida as alpha.

Freida had an alluring aura about her that commanded instant attention. She was good with martial arts and was quite witty. She had the natural instincts of a leader.

She was also one of the best persons I knew. As step-sisters, we were surprisingly close. It didn’t matter how luna Mya felt about me. Freida had never allowed her mother’s coldness to get in the way of our relationship.

Even though I was older than her, she had always gone out of her way to look out for me. After I had recognized Brandon as my destined mate, Freida was the first person I had told. As expected, she had been happy for me.

I was lucky to have her.

***

I said goodbye to the last guest and finally made my way out of the throne room. Brandon had excused himself from me, because he had some urgent matters to attend to.

I didn’t feel like retiring to my bedroom yet, so I headed to the alpha’s study. It felt like yesterday that father was in there, working with his head bent over the mahogany desk.

I approached the desk. Right there in the middle was the official decree of my appointment as the next alpha of the pack. It was going to be read out during my coronation, right after my 18th birthday.

I couldn’t wait for my birthday. It was the moment, when I would finally be able to shape shift. I had gone to see the high priest during the last full moon and the priest, Livierie had reassured me that I would be able to turn the moment after I turned eighteen.

If that was true, then I would finally have the chance to prove to the elder’s council and to the entire pack that I was worthy of being alpha.

And no matter what happened, I would have Brandon at my side.

Smiling, I made my way out of the study and started walking in the direction of my bedroom. Rather than take the hallways, I decided to take the trail that led right past the gardens.

The night wind was cool on my cheeks. I relished the serenity of the flowers and the trees, as I breezed past.

Just as I rounded the corner, I came to a halt at the sight of a man and woman intertwined in an intimate embrace.

They were kissing passionately, running their hands all over each other.

I took a closer look at the couple. A moment later, I felt my body grow cold and rigid with shock.

Blood drained from my face, as I took in the earth shattering sight of Brandon hugging and kissing none other than my step-sister, Freida.