Standing in front of the full-length mirror in my closet I look over every inch of myself repeatedly. I can’t remember the last time I was this nervous. Right now, the urge to throw up is extremely high. Tonight is the night of the Vernal Ball and I have been working tirelessly to make sure everything is perfect. Mum and Evalyn took over for a bit so I could come upstairs and get ready and now I’m just trying to steel myself to go downstairs. For tonight I wanted to look my best, so I’ve done light makeup going for a natural look. My blonde hair has been styled in curls and pinned into an elegant up-do, with moonstone clips decorating my curls. My dress is probably the most beautiful thing I’ve ever put on my body. The dress has a sheer high neck at the front with a V-cut in the back and is adorned with black sequined patterns scattered over the sheer fabric. It moves down into a sweetheart bust with a dark green bodice adorned with black sequin patterns. The bodice

I’ve never wanted to go to these events. I’ve always been more than happy to stay at the pack and tend to business. Anything that gets me out of going to one of these stupid balls. It’s like the mutolupus version of speed-dating if you ask me. A bunch of singles coming together, moving around a big room hoping to find a partner and if you don’t find them you leave feeling like shit. Not my idea of a fun time. I’d love to find my animai, I’m twenty-four now and while I enjoy casual hookups, they don’t satisfy that empty feeling that can only be filled by your soulmate. Yet, I still don’t like going to these events, call me stubborn. We’re sitting in the Peugeot Traveller on our way to the Invictus Pack for the yearly Vernal Ball. It’s their turn to host this year. In our car are two warriors riding up front then me, my Alpha Jasper, and my Luna Isabelle in the back. It’s an eight-seater, two seats up front, six in the back with three seats facing front and three seats

Last night was the worst night sleep I have ever had. Well, I guess I can only say that if I actually slept, which I didn’t. How did the best night of my life turn into the worst so quickly? Over the years I’ve heard all the derogatory and condescending comments about me being an Alpha and I’ve taken them all in stride. But having to hear them come from my own soulmate; the person made for me; the person who was meant to love and support me unconditionally was like being cut open with a silver blade. Every word he spoke cut deeper and deeper. When he disrespected me so blatantly in front of not just my pack but several other packs as well it took all my self-control not to put him in his place. But I didn’t want people to see me being so affected by his words. Zara was devastated. Watching and hearing her whimper in my mind while our own soulmate degraded us broke my heart. I have no idea what today will bring. I know I have a lot of things I need to handle, so I’ll focus on those a

I’m still smiling and shaking my head as I resume going through the mail, stopping on a white envelope with my name scrawled on the front. Just what I need today, another letter from my invisible enemy. Before I even open it I link Chris and Vitali to come to my office. I tell Tyson there’s another letter and that I’ll fill him in later. Looking over I see Chris excuse himself from Marcus and quickly shoot out of his chair and rush over to me. I nod for him to go on ahead while my eyes linger on the eyes of my animai. Those beautiful eyes that I got lost in last night, eyes that for a short time held so much adoration for me. How quickly they had turned into something harsh and hurtful. Now their forest depths look at me with confusion and a great deal of concern. His concern makes my heart skip a beat. He stands up as if to come over, but I shake my head. I mouth ‘later’, and he looks torn and frustrated on what to do but ultimately he nods in agreement. I have to handle th

I slump into my chair with my head in my hands. Meeting your animai isn’t supposed to be this much work. Everyone I know who’s mated with theirs did not have to go through this shit. I feel like the Gods are punishing me. “So, have you apologised to your animai yet?” I hear Jasper’s voice to my left. I groan and rest my forehead on the table. “What did you say to her this time?” he asks, and I can hear the irritation in his voice. “She thinks I hate her, but I told her I don’t,” I mumble into the table. “I detect a ‘but’,” he says. “I… told her I hate that she’s an Alpha,” I say flinching, waiting for him to blow up at me, not that it’s any of his business. I hear his slow hard breath through his nose. He’s mad. “What in the name of the Goddess compelled you to say that to her? Are you intentionally being a fucking asshole? At this point if she rejects you or even kills you I’m going to pardon it, I’ll call it justifiable homicide,” he says fe