I was trying to switch on the light when I suddenly froze. I was not alone in the room and a low, wolfish growl confirmed it. “Mate,” he murmured.
____________________
Tanya’s POV
Despite my sorrow, I allowed Alina to dress me as she pleased. I gazed at myself in the mirror, unable to believe my eyes. I looked like a beautiful princess. The emerald gown Alina gave me seductively hugged my curves and accentuated my beauty. I knew I was beautiful but I never imagined I was that beautiful.
“…and for one final touch,” she announced. “A perfume.”
“I’ve got one,” I exclaimed and fished out the perfume I created recently from my bag. This perfume was inspired by a scent that always hovered in my mind. Malik, my boss at the perfume shop, must have sensed how much the perfume meant to me that he gave it to me as my birthday gift.
“It smells really nice,” Alina said as she sprayed it all over me and gave it back. “Come on, we’re going to have so much fun,” she said and dragged me into the street.
Alina brimmed with confidence as we walked on the street. While she was used to pretty and slightly revealing clothes, I was not; and it made me quite nervous. My nervousness was heightened by the unusually large number of people roaming the streets.
“What’s going on?” I asked Alina. “Why are there so many people on the streets?”
“It’s Eric’s engagement ceremony,” she replied as though I was supposed to know who that was.
“Eric?” I asked.
“Eric is the first prince of the Mador Kingdom,” Alina explained. “And he’s engaging Lily, the daughter of the noblest Wolf family tonight.”
“Oh!” I replied.
It made perfect sense that the streets would be filled with people that came for the engagement celebration. In Mador Kingdom, all packs were ruled by Lycan King, who had two sons, the first prince and the second prince. Only King and two princes were Lycans while the rest of us were Wolves.
Our Pack, The Blackhide Pack, lived near the Capital, The Ironclaw Pack, and wolves from the Capital often came into our territory. But I’d never seen this many people on the streets before.
Alina held my hands and expertly guided me through the crowd. My heightened anxiety followed me as Alina led me to an open-air bar that was filled with so many people that it was easy to get lost in the crowd. Alina led me to the bar and ordered two drinks for us.
It was my first time tasting alcohol and I was hesitant but she encouraged me. She kept telling me to relax though I found it very difficult to do so. Alina disappeared for a couple of minutes and I almost panicked, especially when different guys started hitting on me. I almost took off from the bar when Alina appeared and chased the guys off.
“What is this?” I asked as Alina shoved a keycard in my hands.
“We’re definitely getting drunk tonight,” she giggled. “And mom would nag us to death if we go home drunk. We’ll crash in this hotel near us and go home in the morning.”
She must have seen the doubtful expression on my face because she reassured me that everything would be all right. I was trying to argue with Alina when a large screen overlooking the bar came to life and loud applause rented the air.
“It’s Eric and Lily,” Alina shouted as the screen displayed a very handsome man and an exquisite woman dressed in flashy, expensive, ceremonial clothes. The applause soon died down and I overheard two girls talking. They were whispering to each other and I could only hear them because I was near them.
“Eric is very handsome,” the first girl said. She was dressed in a very short, tight, pink gown. She was a thin girl with an unusually long neck and her eyes fluttered excessively.
“Yes he is,” the second girl replied. She was an exact opposite of the first girl, with a short, stocky neck and fat, round body, “The girl is also beautiful, I hear she’s the most beautiful woman in the Capital.”
“I don’t doubt it,” the long-necked girl replied. “She was born eighteen years ago, on the night of the harvest moon.”
My heart sank. Lily and I were born at the exact same moment. The harvest moon only came once a year and it was said that any female wolf born under the harvest moon grew up to be very powerful and incredibly beautiful.
The universe might have blessed me with beauty but it definitely forgot to give me any powers. Lily and I might have been born at the exact moment but her fate was considerably better than mine.
I looked away from the screen and glanced around the crowd. Everyone had an ecstatic smile planted on their face; everyone except him.
He stared at the screen with a cold, icy gaze as though he was wishing the engagement was not happening. His gaze was unwavering and his cold aura seeped from his body like smoke from a filthy chimney. Despite his rigid posture, he had a surprising placid expression on his face as though the events on the screen were of no concern to him; yet he was watching it intently.
The man suddenly downed drink in his hands in one go, tore his gaze from the screen and stared directly at me as though he knew I’d been watching him. His blue, icy eyes startled me and I hastily turned towards the screen. The couple on the screen kissed and the crowd erupted in elation. I glanced at the man, and the cold aura that hung around him seemed to grow colder as the couple kept kissing each other on the screen.
“…very sorrowful,” the long-necked girl’s sad voice caught my attention. “I really pity the second prince.”
“Marco?” the fat girl asked. “Why?”
“Didn’t you know?” her whispers carried a tinge of lush excitement as though she was about to reveal a dark secret and I immediately paid attention.
“Know what?” the fat girl asked, enthusiasm written all over her face.
“Lily is the second prince’s fated mate,” the girl replied. “They dated and were actually in love.”
“Then why is she engaging Eric, the first prince?” the fat girl asked, her shocked face reflecting mine.
“The second prince cannot become the Lycan king even though he’s the most powerful Wolf in Mador,” the long-necked girl explained. “He’s a child of a surrogate and has a curse. So Lily had to marry Eric so she can be the Lycan queen.”
“I wonder how the second prince is feeling right now,” the fat girl sighed. “He…”
I thought I had the worst fate in the world, but I really pitied the second prince. I knew what it meant to be rejected and looked down upon, to be hated and deprived of entitled rights. I also knew it was a painful thing to be away from one’s fated mate.
I tore my gaze from the happy couple and looked at the man I saw earlier, but he’d disappeared. I searched the crowd with my eyes until Alina bumped into me with a cup filled with red liquid.
“Who are you looking for?” she asked.
“No one,” I hastily replied, looking at the cup in her hand. “What’s that?”
“It’s for you,” she chuckled. “To help you relax and have fun so you can pay back your wicked boyfriend for cheating on you.”
“I’m not sure,” I stammered. “I…”
“Don’t be a party pooper,” she pouted. “Drink up.”
I didn’t want to drink but she was right. I needed to loosen up and have some fun, plus, it seemed she really wanted me to drink it and I didn’t want to disappoint someone who was looking out for me.
“Good,” she clapped excitedly as I downed the drink. “I’ll go get more,” she said and disappeared.
Soon after she left, I got dizzy as though the whole world was a carousel and I was having a wild ride. My body felt hot and cold at the same time and I thought I’d pass out.
I instantly fished out the key card Alina gave me earlier and walked towards the hotel that overlooked the bar. It was the only one around and must be where Alina booked a room for us. I didn’t want to pass out in the midst of strangers and I struggled to get to the hotel and find my room.
My eyes were almost shutting off as I wandered into the hotel and picked my way to the hallway to find my room. I saw a door that had 410 on it and I immediately pushed it open. I was trying to switch on the light when I suddenly froze. I was not alone in the room and a low, wolfish growl confirmed it.
Tanya’s POV“Who are you?” the menacing voice growled.“I…” I stuttered as I tried to say something, anything; but my mind was blank. It took all my willpower to stay awake and I lacked the energy to form any coherent sentence. The room was dark and all I could see was a dark figure in the shape of a man. The only source of light in the room was the dim rays of moonlight that spilled into the room from the open windows, but it wasn’t enough to fully illuminate the room.“Who are you and what are you doing in my room?” the voice said.I wanted to say this was my room; that he was the intruder; that he had no right to interrogate me, but all I did was stagger and stumble into his arms. I was shocked when I saw a pair of icy blue eyes and realized that it was the same man I saw in the crowd. His face lacked any emotions as he stared at me, patiently waiting for me to respond. He was naked, save for a small towel wrapped around his waist. The sight of his naked body completely disoriented
At Present_________________Tanya’s POVThe man is unruffled as I scream my lungs out. He just gazes at me with those wicked, cold eyes that send chills down my spine, making me scream louder. Although it is only for a few seconds, it feels like I am screaming forever; yet the man doesn’t blink. He just keeps staring at me with those icy, cold eyes.“Who are you?” I ask, confused and startled that I am naked, in bed, with a man that I clearly don’t know. I subconsciously touch my neck. Luckily, at least he didn’t mark me.“I think I should be the one asking you who you are?” his voice is cold.He drags his icy blue eyes all over me and when his gaze rests on my face, I shiver slightly as the room seems to get colder. His gaze is filled with raw, cold power that envelops me like an invisible cold fog.“No, I should be,” I whine nervously. “You’re in my room. You’re naked and sleeping on my bed.” I wring my hands together, trying to hide the anxiety that threatens to overwhelm me.I tr
Tanya’s POVThe slammed door shakes terribly, making a loud sound that attracts everyone’s attention; hence everyone turns to face Marco as he exits room 401. Shocked, I realize that I have underestimated how tall and huge he is. He is at least a head taller than everyone in the hallway and his cold, icy eyes sweep through the crowd in one swift glance.“What’s the problem?” he says, leaning against the doorway to his room with a cup of whiskey in his hands. “You all won’t let us sleep.”“It’s this bitch,” Alina yells. “She cheated on her boyfriend.”“Is that so?” he glances at me as though he has never seen me before in his entire life. “And what makes you think so?” he calmly asks, his eyes still lock on my face.“What?” Alina asks, confused by the question.“You march in here,” he turns to face her, standing erect and dominating everyone with his incredible physique. “Yelling and screaming at the top of your lungs that this pretty girl just cheated on her boyfriend as though you ca
Alina’s POVNo matter how much I think about it, it doesn’t seem to make sense. The aphrodisiac I gave Tanya is the most potent one in the entire kingdom. It has taken me a considerable amount of money, energy and effort before I could lay my hands on it. The drug is so potent that even the most powerful werewolf will not be able to resist it.I close my eyes and try to remember every detail of that particular morning. I remember that Tanya looked disheveled. Her hair was rough as though she had been in bed all night, yet she hadn’t stepped into her room. I think I saw hickeys on her neck but I am not sure.“I wonder who that stupid idiot is,” I hiss. “If that stupid giant hadn’t appeared, my plan would have worked.”Though my plan to make Tanya’s break-up public and disgraceful has failed, that doesn’t mean I have given up. In fact, it is the exact opposite. I am more determined than ever. Angrily, I decide to go to Brandon’s place to come up with a solid plan. On my way out, I am to
Tanya’s POVThe sharp knock on the door rings again, accompanied by a greasy voice, “It’s Rick.”My heart sinks with that sound. My first reaction is to run away, but this is my home, and where can I escape? I huddle in the corner of the living room as if that would make Rick unable to see me.“Welcome Mr. Rick,” Alina greets the fat pervert with a very bright smile. “We’ve been expecting you.”“Well,” he cackles. “I’m here and I hope I’m not too late.”“No, Rick,” Richard says, his voice reeking of indifference as though he is bored and would rather be somewhere. “Come, let’s get this over with.”“Oh, there’s my bride,” Rick laughs. I know I shouldn’t cry, I shouldn’t show my cowardice in front of Rick, but when I muster up my courage to glare at Rick, my tears still fall from my eyes indefensibly. Rick seems to enjoy my tears very much.His face gleans with lust and he repeatedly smacks his lips as he looks me over.“Well, let’s get to business,” Maya announces.“Father!” I sob and
Marco’s POV“Is that everything?” I ask her as she dumps a light briefcase at my feet.“Yes,” she gasps. “I’ve only got a few things.”“Good,” I reply and shove the briefcase into the trunk, “Get in the car. We have quite a ride ahead of us.”“I’ve never been to the capital,” Tanya says. “What’s it like?”“You’ll see,” I reply.The drive goes on in absolute silence. Though I can sense that she wants to make small talk, she seems unsure of how to begin. Her shyness amuses me. I’m just about to break the silence when I receive a mind link from Oliver.“What do you want, Oliver?” I sigh.Oliver is my best friend. We’ve connected numerous times through mind link that it is so easy for either of us to establish a mind link between us regardless of distance.“Hey buddy,” Oliver laughs. “You missed the party.”“Oliver,” I reply. “I thought we already agreed to call first before we establish a mind link.”“I know,” he laughs. “But what’s the fun in that? Besides, I couldn’t find my phone. I w
Cathy’s POVA small crowd has gathered before the fitting room to see the results of the girl’s stupidity. I am mortified that the clerk has allowed that pauper to wear the most valuable clothes in the whole kingdom. I have tried that dress multiple times and it never seems to fit, no matter how hard I tried. After many trials, I gave it up. I don’t understand what gives that beggar the audacity to think that the dress will fit her when it won’t fit me, the Princess of the entire Wolf Kingdom.The curtain to the fitting room slowly pulls apart and I am ready to burst into deep laughter at the monstrous figure that will appear behind the curtain. The girl slowly steps out of the fitting room and faces everybody. Instead of the mocking laughter that I’ve anticipated from the small crowd, they are all shocked; indeed, so am I.The clothes fit the girl perfectly. She looks like a perfect Luna but even that is an understatement; she looks like a divine goddess. The clothes hug her feminine
Alina’s POVI am livid with anger when the guard finally comes to let us in after what seems like an eternity. I just cannot believe that he has totally ignored Brandon and me because of Tanya. My blood boils with so much anger that I am determined to make Tanya pay for the way she humiliates me. I am also angry at the guard and I barely pay attention when he hands me a device with which guests will bid with and explains to me how it works.The device is small and can fit smugly in one’s palm. It has a red, glowing button on top of it that alerts the Auction Master as to the exact person that is bidding for a particular item.“…the button indicates you’re willing to pay five thousand dollars more to the bidding price,” the guard deftly explains but I wave him away.“Let me carry that for you,” a very young girl dressed in a red gown approaches Brandon and me and collects my small purse. “And lead you to your seat.”She leads us to an empty row and we sit directly behind Tanya. Even fr