Chapter 1 Chapter 1

I forced my eyes open to the sound of my mother yelling my name. My intense hatred for waking up early is known throughout my house, so this happens to be a regular occurrence. Although my eyes are open and I'm awake, I lay in bed and let her continue to yell through the door for a few more moments. "Claire, seriously?" I hear my mother's wispy voice snap as she opens my bedroom door. With an annoyed grunt, I lift my head and meet her clear blue eyes with my own. My bright blue eyes were just about the only thing I received from my beautiful but stern mother, while my younger sister seemed to be an exact replica, sporting her slender figure, curly blonde hair, tanned skin, and high cheekbones. 'The good looks in the family' my mother had called it when she thought I wasn't listening. It wasn't that my father was ugly, but he was gruff with an enormous build and a scarred face from defending our pack years ago. While the women in my family had extremely slender figures my figure was curvier, my breasts and bottom continued growing, while the rest of me didn't. My hair sported the same look as my fathers, chocolate brown and straight as a pencil and my skin was the same pale color as his, only turning red when the blood rushed to our faces. The only redeeming quality about my hair was that it had grown extremely long at the beginning of the summer, so now it reached well past my waist. My face was round and baby-like, always making me look younger than what I am. My height was a whole different issue. The women in my family tend to be taller than the men, with my mother coming a few inches higher than my father. I missed the height gene all together. Standing at a whopping 5'3' both my mother and father towered over me. Even my younger sister had grown taller than me over the years. As I grew over the years, my mother and father realized I wasn't what they were wanting in a daughter. Strong willed, disobedient, insubordinate. Those were words my mother used to describe me. My older brother, Derek, the future Beta of the pack was the only one in my family to find my stubbornness an unexpected gift. They got lucky with my younger sister Sabrina, my mother liked to say, as she was the perfect little lady deserving of a quality mate. "I'm awake." I sigh, not wanting to face the fact that this was going to be a busy day. Every year the Moon Ball is held on a different pack's territory. Finally, the time has come for the Southern Pack, the one I and my family belong to, to host the Moon Ball. The Moon Ball is supposed to be an extravagant and romantic event geared towards giving young wolves a chance to find their mate. Each year I managed to skip the event, but this was the one year there would be no escaping. I refused to feel worried. There was nothing for me to fear, I would simply go to the ball and when no one was looking, I'd sneak away and spend the rest of the night by myself. My wolf, Sierra, rolled her eyes at my absolute disregard for a mate. While she rolled her eyes, she understood why I felt the way I did. After what had happened, there was no way in hell I was going to become some hot-headed wolf's mate. "You need to get up and get dressed! Derek will be here any minute!" My mother hissed, her stern gaze on my face didn't falter, even when Sabrina poked her head into my room. Scolding myself for almost forgetting about Derek, I stood from my bed and made an effort of showing my mother that I was in fact up and getting dressed. With another disapproving look and a sigh, she closed my door and gave me some privacy. Derek had been visiting a neighboring pack when he stumbled across his mate. After staying with the pack for a few months, he was finally making the trip home to introduce his mate to all of us. I couldn't help the excitement that had risen to the surface with the thought of seeing Derek. He never saw my personality as one big flaw, the way the rest of my family did, he just saw his 'feisty little sister'. With little more than a glance, I grabbed a black off-shoulder top and a pair of ripped denim shorts and threw them on all while pulling out my phone to text my two best friends. Adding them both to a quick group chat, I sent them a text about Derek, knowing they'd both want to be there to welcome him home. Me -10:58 You guys up? Derek is going to be home any minute! Hazel -10:59 Obviously we're up, not all of us like to sleep all day! Me -11:01 What can I say, I'm in a committed relationship with my bed! Brandon -11:01 Shit, he isn't there yet is he? Be over in 5 minutes! I can give you a committed relationship princess ;) Hazel -11:03 Gross!!! Same here, I'm on my way! Without another glance at my phone, I slipped on a pair of worn-out shoes and half tumbled down the stairs. Knowing damn well I had slept through breakfast; I grabbed a blueberry muffin from the pantry and began shoveling it into my mouth. I nearly moaned from the sugary goodness when I heard the familiar voices of my friends. "Hazel, Brandon! Thank you for stopping by!" My mother's people pleasing voice rang out from the living room. Stifling an eye roll, I made my way into the living room where I couldn't help but smile. My two best friends stood waiting and ready to drag me out of the house. Hazel and Brandon had been my best friends for as long as I can remember. While Hazel appeared to be this sweet submissive girl, she had a wild side of her own. Her brown eyes would often glint mischievously and her small lips would pull up into a smirk whenever she had something reckless on her mind. Brandon is one of the few males in our pack that doesn't expect women to be completely submissive to other men. Hazel and Brandon had both grown into their looks over the years and each caught the attention of many pack members. However, in this pack it's frowned upon for women to be friends with unmated males. The first time I brought Brandon and Hazel home, my mother had just about lost her mind. She screamed for an hour after they left about how I need to be more responsible and respectful towards my future mate. How would my future mate feel about me being friends with an unmated male? Would I be able to resist the temptation of other men until I met my mate? I remembered all of this and resisted the urge to roll my eyes. After my hidden past, resisting the temptation of men has become all too easy. Sure, Brandon was definitely flirty, but it was also harmless and he happened to flirt with everyone. As I came into the living room, Brandon and Hazel's faces both lit up. I could see the sly look in Hazel's eyes and I wondered what she had planned, and I desperately hoped I wouldn't hate it too much. "You guys head outside now, Derek will be here in a few minutes!" My mother chirped excitedly, more than ready to have her eldest son and future daughter-in-law arrive. Without another glance at my mother, or Sabrina who was finally coming down the stairs, me and my friends made our way outside. The three of us plopped down on the porch steps like we had done countless times over the years. I absentmindedly picked at the peeling white paint on the steps of the porch when Hazel's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "You really don't want to go to this ball, do you?" Hazel gave a small laugh, her thin eyebrow raising up as she stared at the frown on my face. "No, I really don't. I'll probably show up for the first half, but once the speech is over, I'm making my escape." I gave a short nod and smirked at my smiling best friend. "We can meet up if you want, I'm not too interested in the ball this year either." Brandon frowned, ignoring the looks of confusion on mine and Hazel's face. Brandon had attended the ball the past two years without a word of defiance, but for some reason something had changed this summer. "Since when don't you want to go to the ball?" Hazel asked, eyeing him suspiciously. We all sat in silence for a few moments while Brandon thought about his answer. From the look on his face, and the glances he shot my way, I could tell he wasn't going to answer. "That's fine, we can meet up in the forest. Sierra wouldn't mind stretching her legs." I shrugged, breaking up the silence. My wolf, Sierra, frowned at the thought of not being at the Moon Ball but was agreeing that she would love to go for a run. "Well, screw you two, I want to meet my mate." Hazel quipped, sticking her tongue out at the both of us. "So, you can bow and begin your duties as a submissive and caring mate?" I recited my mother's speech word for word as I smirked at a sly looking Hazel. "I don't know about all of that, but I have a few things up my sleeve." Hazel winked at me, laughing as I fake gagged in her direction. "Oh, Claire?" A sickly-sweet voice called out, and I sighed before I turned to face the spitting image of my mother. "What's up, Sabrina?" I replied, keeping my voice even. I knew how much she loved to provoke me, and how she would run into the arms of our mother when I reacted badly. The princess would run into the arms of our mother and cry about how I was this cruel sister. While me and my younger sister had a bad relationship, I couldn't say the same for me and Derek. He had been there for me through my toughest times, he had been the only person I trusted with my deepest secret. I trusted Derek with my life. He helped me move on from what had happened to me, and kept my secret to himself. "Mom just wanted me to let you know, don't even try to flake out on the ball tomorrow night. She's going to be keeping her eyes on you the entire time." Sabrina smirked at me, placing her tanned hand on her hip. Heat flooded my face as I realized she had listened in on our conversation and told my mother my plans. I could feel the anger bubble within me and the silent excitement from my wolf, Sierra. The anger was quickly replaced with the cold realization that I would be forced to attend this stupid ball. My blood ran cold at the thought of finding a mate and being forced into a life of servitude. The thought of being used mind, body, and soul, sent fear coursing through my veins until I could no longer breathe. "Bye now Sabrina." I heard Brandon's annoyed voice snap, pulling me from my spiral. Sabrina's blue eyes widened slightly at the anger in Brandon's tone, but she wouldn't dare talk back against an unmated male. With a huff she turned and went back into the house, the old screen door slamming behind her. "Shit." I muttered, placing a cold hand on my hot forehead. "You might not even meet your mate, Claire." Hazel said gently, placing her hand on my arm. Neither one of them knew why I was so against finding a mate, but I also didn't have the heart to tell them the truth. Telling them the truth would require that I re-live what happened, and I couldn't put myself through that. The nightmares weren't as frequent as they used to be, but the more I thought about what happened, the harder the nightmares returned. "Let's hope not." I trailed off, not finding any other words to say. I kept silent as this heavy ball began to take place in my stomach, weighing me down as if it was a hundred pounds. I had only had this feeling once before, and it was right before something terrible happened. "On the bright side, guess who is coming dress shopping with me today!" Hazel squealed, trying her best to take my mind off of the mate topic. "Let me guess... Sabrina?" I smirked half-heartedly at her as her eyes widened in mock disgust. "No, very funny, but no. You are!" She smirked at me. Hazel knew I was partial to shopping, but the last thing I wanted to do was shop for a dress to the ball I was being forced to go to. "Guess that means I'm coming too huh?" Brandon chimed in, his expression looked unhappy, but his eyes had this strange shine to them. "Well duh, we need an unmated male's opinion." Hazel chuckled. At once all of our heads turned to the driveway as a black sedan pulled into the open spot. The knot in my stomach had been forgotten for now, the thought of seeing my brother had been pushed to the front of my mind.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

I hadn't realized my mother, father and Sabrina had made their way outside at the sound of the black sedan pulling into the driveway. I could hardly contain my excitement at my brother's return home. I thought fluttering to the forefront of my mind that gave me some semblance of hope; maybe my brother would help me skip this horrid ball. If anyone understood my absolute disliking to the thought of having a mate, it was my brother, Derek. The thought made my stomach flutter with happiness, and my wolf grumble angrily. My wolf, Sierra, only wanted what was best for me. She protected and supported me more than even Derek did, but that doesn't mean we see eye to eye all of the time. Sierra believes it would change my life to have a mate, I happen to agree with her on that front. I know that finding a mate will destroy what bits of me I have stowed away for myself. Having a mate will strip all of that from me and more, and leave me nothing more than some man's play toy and child incubator. The thought of some strange man touching me again made me shudder in fear. "You alright Claire?" Brandon asked, running a hand through his sandy blonde hair. A look of concern crossed over his face and I stifled a sigh. "Yeah, I'm just a little chilly." I shrugged, keeping my eyes locked on the black sedan. Finally, after what felt like an hour, the door to the sedan opened and out stepped my brother. The two of us locked eyes as huge grins broke out on our face. As my brother approached me, I took a good look at his face. He practically glowed with happiness as he made his way towards me. He had the same blonde hair that my mother and sister had, his build had gotten bigger over the months and I wasn't surprised to find that he towered over me. My brother had always been quite lean like my mother, but he definitely had gained some muscle. He no longer looked gangly, he looked strong, just like a Beta should. My brother ignored the rest of my family for the moment and wrapped me in his arms. With his extreme height he had to lift me off the ground so I could reach him. I breathed in his woodsy scent that always seemed to calm me and give me a level head when I needed it the most. "Still staying strong I see." My brother chuckled into my hair as he set my feet back on the ground. "Aren't I always?" I smirked, but he could see the truth in my eyes, Derek always could. A knowing smile played on his lips and I resisted the urge to confess all of my worries to him right there on the spot. Derek always had this calming energy about him, he made you feel like no problem was too big, like you could solve just about anything with a clear head. I wished I could take some piece of that calmness with me wherever I went. A growl rang out from across the lawn and I quickly took a step away from Derek in shock. A beautiful, tall brunette came out of the sedan with a shocked expression on her face. I scolded myself as I remembered that new mates can become extremely jealous at the smallest thing. I resisted the urge to snap at her, reminding myself that not everyone is miserable at the thought of having a mate. "Relax Amber, she's my sister!" Derek called over to her, making a light pink blush form on her cheeks. I watched as she made our way over to us. Amber, my brother's new mate, was beautiful. Her brown hair and brown eyes resembled melted chocolate, as well as the sprinkle of freckles that adorned her face. While she happened to be tall, she was still much shorter than Derek, and had an athletic figure. "I am so sorry! I don't know what came over me." She said to me, sounding breathless, her chocolate eyes met my blue ones and she smiled apologetically. "It's all good. I'm Claire." I replied, wanting to get formalities out of the way. I heard someone clear their throat and this time I did roll my eyes. Sabrina stepped forward and made her way up to Derek and Amber, her cold blue eyes roamed over Amber. "Derek!" She squealed, giving him a long hug and Amber a pointed look. Could Sabrina be any more ignorant. While I hated the idea of having a mate, I cared if Derek was happy. If having a mate made Derek happy, then I already considered Amber a part of the family. While Derek welcomed the rest of the family, I made my way over to Amber. Hazel and Brandon followed me after saying their hello's to Derek as well. I could hear Derek telling mother and father the story of how he and Amber had met, a story that seemed to be quite interesting. "Welcome to the family." I smiled at her, and was surprised to see that her smile met her eyes. "You don't know how much I appreciate that. Derek talked about you loads, I could tell you're important to him." She replied, a look of relief crossing over her face. I could feel my face break out into a grin as well, knowing that no matter how the rest of my family feels, I'll always have Derek. And now I'll have Amber as well. "See, having a mate isn't so bad." Sierra said smugly. "Doesn't make me want a mate either way." I replied stubbornly, giving a mental shrug as Sierra huffed. "Think the rest of your family will be as welcoming?" I heard Amber ask quietly as she snuck shy glances to the rest of my family. I looked on at them and watched as my father clapped Derek on the back, his face beaming with pride that someday he would have grandpups running around, continuing on the family line. "That depends on how submissive you are." I hear Hazel say, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "I heard this pack was big on being submissive to your mate, but I didn't believe it. Things aren't like that in my pack, you're more equals than anything." She replied confused. I couldn't help but be surprised at her words. I never noticed how other packs interact with their mates, so I couldn't tell the difference either way. "Don't let them boss you around though." I stated, my mouth set in a thin line. "Sometimes men need their heads knocked straight." Hazel laughed, giving Brandon a pointed look that caused him to raise his hands in surrender. "Oh, most definitely not." Amber replied, a sly glint in her eyes which made me like her even more. "I think we're going to get along swimmingly." I laughed along with Hazel. After a while of chatting amongst ourselves, my mother, father and sister began to head inside. Before the screen door shut, I could hear my mother calling Derek and Amber inside, telling them to come grab some lunch. I took this chance to ask Derek about the idea that had formed in my mind, my desperate attempt to get out of attending this summer's Moon Ball. "Derek, before you go in can I talk to you?" I asked quickly, causing him to raise his eyebrow at my worried face. "What's up, something wrong?" Derek frowns at me, wrapping his arm around Amber's slender waist. I keep my eyes plastered on Derek's face, trying to keep the blood from rushing to my face. "The Moon Ball... Sabrina told mother that I would try to skip out and now she won't let me. Can you help me out? You know how I feel about all of that." I tried to keep my voice even, but I couldn't help the uneasy tone that had taken over. I watched as Amber frowned at me, then looked to Derek for an explanation. A knowing look flashed over Derek's eyes as he recalled exactly what had happened that night. "Claire..." Derek trailed off; his eyebrows closely knit together. I could tell that he was thinking long and hard about something. "Could I speak to Claire alone... if that's alright with you guys." Derek asked, looking between Hazel and Brandon with a serious expression on his face. "Yeah sure, we're going to be in my car down the street. When you're done, we can go shopping!" Hazel said smiling at me, but I could tell she was still confused. "Do you mind if Amber stays?" Derek asked sincerely. I could tell by the look in his eyes that if I wanted him to send her inside, he would. "...She can stay." I nodded, instantly regretting my answer. "Where to begin..." Derek trailed off, his hand coming up to run through his blonde hair. I noticed the gesture from my father, he would do the same thing when he was stressed out. Their hair seemed to be constantly a mess from all the times they run their hands through it. I kept my mouth shut and rolled my bottom lip in between my teeth; anxiety flooded through my veins as I anticipated what he was about to say. "Claire... I think finding a mate would help you." Derek said slowly, a sad look coming over his face. I kept my eyes trained on his, not wanting to look at Amber's confused gaze. "Derek, it wouldn't. I can't give a mate what they want." I replied adamantly, my arms snaking around my body as if I could protect myself from the words he was speaking. "You might be surprised Claire... Not everyone is like mom and dad. Your mate is made to love you, help you, and heal you. It could fix what's been broken inside of you for so long." Derek spoke softly, but the words didn't lessen the blow of what he was saying. Why did everything have to come down to finding a mate. I felt as though I had no say in my life, what I wanted didn't seem to matter, the only purpose I had was finding a mate. "You're wrong." I said choked out, turning so they couldn't see the tears that sprung to my eyes. "Tell mother I went shopping with Hazel." I managed to shout as I turned and began walking down the street. Derek didn't try to stop me; he knew that I needed some time right now. Don't cry, don't cry. I chanted this to myself a hundred times, willing the tears to dry and fade from my eyes. After a few deep breaths, a headache, and a small pep talk, I made my way to Hazel's red Ford Fusion that was parked down the road. I plastered a fake smile on my face as I hopped into the passenger seat, and ignored the confused stares from my friends. The knot in my stomach that was once forgotten, was now growing at an unprecedented rate. "So... he's going to help you?" Hazel asked in a confused voice, her disappointment shining through her words. I ignored the stab of pain that made its way to my chest and answered honestly. "No, he thinks finding a mate will be good for me. I disagree, but whatever. I'm just going to try to make the best of it, and if I happen to find an opening to escape then I will." I shrugged as if it was no big deal, but in reality, my insides were reeling. "That means I'm going too then." Brandon shrugged, giving me a small smile. Something in his eyes seemed different, something was off. I tried to make a mental note to ask him about it when we were alone. "Dress shopping it is!" Hazel shouted as she put her car in drive and slammed on the gas.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

I can't say that I absolutely hated the idea of dress shopping with Hazel and Brandon. I'm not overly girly, but every now and again it's nice to feel beautiful. Hazel on the other hand radiated pride when it came to her amazing sense of style and I quickly realized how lucky I was to have her help. Every dress I picked up she seemed to notice some flaw within the piece of fabric. One dress made my eyes look dull, the next dress didn't compliment my skin tone, the next dress made me look boxy. It was a never-ending stream of advice and comments that I couldn't help but be grateful for. Brandon on the other hand seemed to love every dress that I tried on. Each time I stepped out of the dressing room his eyes would roam my body and his typical smirk would play on his face, and each time I rolled my eyes at his usual flirty self. "This one is it Claire, I can feel it." Hazel shouted proudly from the dressing room as she slipped on a baby pink, floor length gown. As she stepped from the dressing room even Brandon's eyes widened in the slightest bit. The baby pink gown fell to the floor in an ocean of lace and silk. The neckline was extremely low, highlighting the bits and pieces Hazel had no fear showing off. Somehow the light color seemed to make her dark eyes pop and her skin resemble smooth marble. "That is the one." I nodded in absolute approval as she twirled in a circle. "I don't quite trust your opinion but I can take a compliment either way." She smirked at me jokingly and I stuck my tongue out at her. "Well, what do you think?" Hazel turned to Brandon; her hand placed on her hip as she gave him a stern look. I could tell from Hazel's face that she had already made her own decision on this dress, so Brandon better give her the right answer. "That's definitely the one. I didn't even know you could look attractive." Brandon smirked while Hazel fumed at his meaning. I met Brandon's eyes in an effort not to laugh and he shot me a quick wink. Hazel retreated into the dressing room to throw on her normal clothes and emerged with her pink gown neatly tucked away in one of those weird dress bags. "Alright, your turn now. Let's get to work." Hazel huffed, scanning my body up and down as if she were analyzing every curve and angle of my body. I could feel my face flush under all of the attention and jokingly brought my hands up to cover my breasts, which were already covered by my shirt. "Oh, very funny. We need to find a dress that shows off them curves." Hazel smirked as she turned and made her way back to the dresses. If I thought Hazel was bad before, I was completely wrong. I must have tried on over a hundred dresses and did over a thousand poses in those dresses. Each time Hazel would deeply analyze my body as a glazed look came over her face. None of the dresses I had tried on managed to gain her approval. Just as I was about to give in and choose one at random, she called out to me. "Now THIS, this is one you need to try!" Hazel shouted, rushing up to me with a gorgeous blue dress. I could already tell that the dress would show my bare shoulders and give a plain view of my neck. I smiled deviously, already liking the idea that this wouldn't please my parents. Showing an unmarked neck off like that was just calling attention to yourself. I could already see Sabrina wearing her long sleeve, floor length, long neck gown. She would look beautiful either way, but I knew she would wear it to please our mother. The dress Hazel handed me was a beautiful baby blue color, the same as my eyes. The top of the dress, that ran across my chest, was covered in luscious blue flowers. The gown trickled to the floor in an ocean of silk and waves. I knew as I ran my hand down the soft fabric, that this was the dress I wanted. I gave Hazel an approving nod and made my way into the dressing room. I finally emerged from the dressing room, smoothing my long chocolate hair down my back and running my fingers down the length of the dress. I heard a slight gasp and instantly looked into Brandon and Hazel's shocked eyes. "Damn girl. I'm so good I impress myself." Hazel beamed at me, her head bouncing up and down in approval. Brandon's eyes roamed the length of my body, but this time it felt different. "Wow Claire. You look absolutely stunning." Brandon forced the words out, a small smile playing on his face. "Girl, I know you don't want a mate. But whoever he is doesn't even know how lucky he is." Hazel confirmed, looking over my body yet again. I felt a scowl form on my face. My body is my own, whoever my mate is can go be lucky with someone else. When Hazel said this, I noticed Brandon's face seemed to drop. "Lucky." I thought I heard him mumble to himself. "Okay so I'm going to come to your place tomorrow around 5pm to get you ready for the ball!" Hazel beamed, giving me a small shove towards the dressing room. I didn't bother voicing any disagreement, I knew she wouldn't listen. Any chance to do full glamour makeup made Hazel vicious. After changing and purchasing our gowns, we stopped by a few stores and repeated the entire process only with shoes and accessories. Our little dress trip had taken up all of the day and the knot in my stomach grew larger than ever. Hazel demanded that I get loads of beauty sleep and do some fancy hair mask she had purchased me. With a little grumble I agreed, mainly because I was looking forward to sleeping. Brandon had been quiet the entire ride home, and I couldn't help but wonder why. Once we pulled up at my house, I hopped out of Hazel's car and made my way to the front porch. I noticed Brandon had hopped out as well and followed me, a strange look coming over his face. "Claire..." Brandon trailed off, looking uneasy. As the sun was beginning to set, I noticed his eyes for the first time. While his shaggy hair is a sandy blonde color, his eyes weren't the typical hazel color I had been used to. As the sun hit his eyes, I could see the flecks of green that swirled beneath them, also tinged with a warm caramel color. The small scar above his upper lip seemed to stand out as he bit on his bottom lip. "What's wrong?" I frowned, looking at his tense posture. "What happens to us if one of us finds our mate?" Brandon asked, his deep voice growing quiet as the words left his mouth. Confusion became clearly written on my face as I tried to understand exactly what he meant. "Well, I have no intention of finding a mate, and obviously Hazel is excited to meet hers. How do you feel about finding a mate?" I asked him, my lips turning down at the thought of me finding a mate. "I think that we should be free to choose our own mates." I heard him speak quietly. I looked at my best friend and saw some distant sadness within his multicolored eyes. "Unfortunately, that's not how it works." I sighed, knowing if I had the choice, I would choose to not have a mate. The thought of freeing whoever was forced to be bound to me made me feel light and happy. I knew the truth though, if you reject your mate, you live a life worse than death. Constant pain, sadness and sorrow you've never known. I can't say I know of any wolves that lived a long life after rejecting/being rejected by their mates. "If only." I heard Brandon add quietly as he turned back to Hazel's car. I watched him walk away, feeling awful for my friend. He deserved every bit of happiness as Hazel did. I wasn't sure what I deserved, the longer I thought about it, the more confused I felt. Did I deserve to fall in love and be happy? My wolf shouted 'yes, we do!' so many times when I asked myself this question, and each time my mind would drift back to the possibility of being hurt. I knew in my heart that I couldn't handle being hurt again. At that moment I made a clear decision in my head, one my wolf absolutely disagreed with, but I didn't care. I would sooner die than ever be hurt like that again. The rest of my night was spent laughing with my brother and Amber as if no time had passed, as if he had never left. I forgave him for not helping me out, I couldn't stay mad at him after all. After what seemed like hours of laughing, telling stories to Amber about our childhood, I finally made my way to my bedroom. Wanting nothing more than to go to bed, I reluctantly did as Hazel told me to. I peeled my clothes off and hopped into the shower, making sure to use her fancy hair mask that smelled of vanilla and lavender. Once I was finally clean and dry, I hastily put on an oversized t-shirt and practically collapsed on my bed. The knot in my stomach forgotten once more, sleep consumed me moments later.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

I woke up that morning with a smile on my face. For once I wasn't woken up early from the screaming of Sabrina or my mother. Tonight, was one of the rare nights where I wasn't woken in a panic by my reoccurring nightmare. I'm sure they let me sleep in as I had no choice but to attend the Moon Ball. The thought of the Moon Ball chased my smile away and instantly made me feel as though my world was already crashing down. I gripped the hem of my oversized t-shirt and tried to take a few calming breaths, but nothing helped the knot of unease that had been settling in my stomach. I couldn't place my finger on what was causing this absolute anxiety, but I knew it had to do with this stupid ball. I stayed in bed like this for a few more moments, gripping my t-shirt as if it could save me. I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed that I could just sleep through the day, sleep through the ball. It wouldn't have been such a big deal if it was only my pack that attended. I knew no one in my pack could possibly be my mate, none of the unmated males had ever appealed to me before. The problem with this ball was that every single pack in America would be attending. Out of all of those unmated males, my mate had to be somewhere in the mix. My eyes shot open at that thought and I grimaced at the ceiling. Why would the Moon Goddess pair me with someone when she knew how I felt? Maybe I was the exception, maybe I didn't have a mate. Even as I thought those words, I knew they wouldn't be true. Every wolf has a mate, like it or not. I clung to the absurd thought that maybe, just maybe, my mate didn't live in America and therefore I wouldn't meet them at the ball. This desperate thought was what forced me out of bed and down the stairs to the kitchen, where I could smell breakfast being made. I walked into the dining room in time to interrupt a conversation between my father and Derek. Sabrina and Amber sat at the table with them, listening quietly, curiosity shining through on their faces. "So, every single pack is going to be here tonight?" Sabrina exclaimed breathlessly, her fingers nervously twirling her curly blonde hair. Her blue eyes were wide and glanced at each of our faces. "All of them, most of them have actually already arrived. Alpha Dan asked that they keep their distance until tonight." My father nodded, glancing at my mother who was currently bringing out plates full of food. For the moment my attention was drawn to the smell of baked chicken, garlic and potatoes. The savory smell ignited my stomach and I found myself tuning out the rest of my family. "What- what about the Blood Moon pack?" I heard Sabrina whisper, but at once the entire table was silent. My father's face became unbearably pale as he looked into mine and Sabrina's eyes. My mother froze in the doorway, the plates of food in her hands forgotten for the moment. The tension and fear in the room felt like a thick fog that invaded our minds and clouded our thoughts. The Blood Moon pack was talked about as if it were a scary rumor. I squared my shoulders and tried to make my expression look indifferent, but my eyes held the same fear present on my family's faces. There had never been a pack as strong as the Blood Moon pack in our entire history. Every other pack tread very carefully when it comes to the Blood Moon pack, and not pissing off its Alpha. "They're not real- are they?" Sabrina whispered, finally breaking the silence at the table. I couldn't name a single person that had seen the Blood Moon pack or their Alpha in person. It seemed as if the entire pack was some scary story, we told to pups to ensure their best behavior. "Oh, they're real. And they're every bit as vicious as the rumors say." My father nodded gravely; his eyes locked on my mother as they shared some unspoken words. "But hardly anyone ever sees them, how do you know they're even real?" Derek asked, his voice stronger than the rest of ours. Even Amber's expression seemed to drop as her face paled and her eyes fluttered between me and Sabrina in pity. "Plenty of wolves have met the Blood Moon Pack, and most of them were killed at his hands. Alpha Dan has met Alpha Killian Desmond once." My father spoke as a shudder made its way through his body. I felt at a loss for words, I had never seen my father this scared before. If there was anything or anyone to fear more than the Blood Moon pack it was their vicious Alpha. "They're not coming tonight, a-are they? They never c-came b-before?" Sabrina stuttered, her gaze locking on my own in a look of panic. While I met her eyes with a blank expression, I could feel my blood run cold at the thought of being in the same area as the Blood Moon Pack. I remembered the stories I was told in school and by friends, stories of the Blood Moon pack torturing rogues, humans and other wolves. Some of the stories were too farfetched to be true, but until now I had always assumed, they were nothing but a rumor. The Alpha couldn't possibly eat other wolves, right? He doesn't kidnap unmated females to satiate his lust for blood, right? Every story I heard over the years replayed in my head. As blood, carnage and other vile images flooded my head, I resisted the urge to shudder in absolute fear. "The Blood Moon pack will be attending the ball tonight." My father nodded, his face pale and shiny, as if there were a thin layer of sweat coating his scarred face. "B-but, what do we do? W-we can't go!" Sabrina gasped. "Of course, we'll have to go, we can't embarrass the pack." Sierra muttered in my head. "You both have to go. You're old enough to meet your mates, and we cannot pass up this opportunity. You are the daughters of the Beta, you must attend. Avoid the Blood Moon Pack at all costs tonight." It was my mother's turn to chime in, her voice hard and cold, but her eyes showed the fear she felt for her two daughters. Even with my mother's disapproval of how I acted, I knew they still cared about me in their own way. From the tone of my mother's voice, the topic of this conversation was over. The six of us ate in silence, the events for tonight running through mine and Sabrina's head with lightning speed. Every now and again a glance of pity would be shot our way followed by the sound of silverware on glass. At one point I locked eyes with Sabrina and saw a look of fear written on her face. As I picked at my food, my hunger fully forgotten, I tried to stifle the absolute horror I felt. My family was basically throwing me and Sabrina into a pit of rabid wolves. Would the rest of our pack attend, or would they be too horrified to show their faces? No, they would all attend... They wouldn't embarrass Alpha Dan by skipping the ball. My stomach churned and I was grateful when a knock to the door cut through the nervous silence. "I'll get it!" My mother chirped, but her tone sounded forced. We sat in silence as the front door opened and closed and Hazel's smiling face came into view. At once she took in her surroundings and the tense looks on each of our faces. Being the amazing best friend that she is, she saw fear clearly in my eyes and took the opportunity to pull me away. "Let's go up so I can get started on your makeup! I have so much work to do." Hazel gave me a playful smirk and sent a wink my way. "Go ahead, have fun girls!" My mother called out as we made our way up the stairs, but again the carefree tone was forced. I could hear the worry for me and Sabrina clear in her tone. "Okay, so what the hell was all that?" Hazel asked dramatically, gesturing to my closed bedroom door. She turned her back to me and proceeded to dump the contents of her makeup bag all over my bed. I watched her sort through small tubes of lipstick, eyeliner, and eyeshadow while I took the time to make sure my voice would come out clearly. "The Blood Moon pack. They're coming to the ball tonight." As I said the words, they came out clear and even, but the fear still lingered in my body, causing goosebumps to spring up on my arms. I watched as Hazel tensed, her back to me, and stayed that way for a few moments. "They're coming?" Hazel turned to me, an incredulous look in her eyes. I watched as her hand flew up and messed with a strand of her medium length black hair, something she did when she was rarely nervous. She looked into my eyes for a few moments, trying to find some shred of humor or laughter in my gaze, something that would tell her this was all a big joke. From the frown that fell on her face, she didn't find what she was looking for. "What- what are we going to do?" Hazel asked me, her own voice sounding unsure. I took a few seconds, mulling over the chances of any of the unmated males or females possibly finding a mate in the Blood Moon pack. As selfish as it sounded, I was only concerned for me, Hazel, Brandon and Sabrina. The chances of any of us being one of their mates, was extremely slim. I let this possibility flow throughout my body, chasing away some of the fear. I wouldn't let rumors of a pack terrify me. I had never wanted to go to this ball to begin with, but there was no way I would go reeking of fear. I took a few deep breaths and shoved my fear down so deep I felt comfortable it wouldn't surface. "We're going to the ball, and were going to ignore their pack at all costs." I nodded, my face hard and determined. My voice came out strong and clear, which seemed to relax Hazel in the slightest. "Should we tell Brandon?" Hazel asked, the corner of her mouth pulling down. "I don't think we should. It wouldn't change anything either way, and if anything, he'd try to act all protective." I rolled my eyes, but a small smirk came over my face. I watched as the tension left Hazel's shoulders and her mouth pulled up into a small grin. "Well, I'm not going to let that ruin tonight for me. I can feel it, Claire, I'm going to meet my mate tonight!" Hazel exclaimed excitedly, her small smile widening on her slim face. I tried to match Claire's enthusiasm with my own, but we both knew I was being forced to go to the ball. Hazel sat me down on the edge of my bed while she worked on doing my makeup. I had no idea what she was using, but I trusted Hazel. If Hazel wasn't the Delta's daughter, there was no doubt that she would be a cosmetologist, or a fashion designer. We made small talk as she did my makeup, and for the most part I played along with her enthusiasm. As usual though, Hazel could see through my mask. "Claire?" Hazel asked, her tone sounding lighthearted as she did my make-up. "Hm?" I questioned, doing my best not to move my eyes in any particular direction. I could feel Hazel gently applying eyeshadow, and knowing her, it would be the perfect shade to draw out the blue in my eyes. "Why are you so against having a mate?" Hazel asked, causing another wave of knots to settle in my stomach. I took a deep breath and prepared myself to say the same answer as always, the lie. "I told y-" I started, but Hazel cut me off with a pointed look. "I know that's what you say, but I don't think that's the entire story." Hazel frowned, shaking her head as she wiped something from my face. "You can tell her..." Sierra's voice rang out in my mind. "I can't relive that again." I replied to Sierra, my thoughts coming out rushed. "You'll never heal from this if you don't try Claire." Sierra sighed and I could feel her grow sad. "Sometimes people don't heal. Sometimes we stay broken." My thoughts whispered back at her. Hazel's words sent me tumbling back through time, back to when things were much easier. I was shot into last summer, the smell of sunblock and fresh running water raced through my head. I could practically feel the sun's rays on my pale skin and the warmth that spread over my body. The sand beneath my toes was soft and the breeze cooled the heat the sun had brought to my skin. I could hear my name being called, that voice that I had grown so used to, the voice that woke me up like a bucket of ice water. All at once the images came rushing forward. Those eyes that reminded me of moss under the oak tree we would all hang out at. The chipped front tooth that had happened so many years ago. The sly smile that would form on those full lips. The smell of something coppery bursting through the air, as if a dam had been broken. And finally, pain. So much pain. "Claire? Hello? Earth to Claire?" A familiar voice called me from my downward spiral. I felt my head jerk up in her direction. Hazel muttered a curse as my fast movement caused eyeliner to run down the side of my cheek. "Sorry." I mumbled, bringing my fingers up to slowly trace over my lips, the memory still lingering on the tip of my tongue. After a few shaky breaths, I gathered those memories and shoved them as far away as I could. I didn't care that I was simply smothering them, I didn't care that I wouldn't face them head on. I wasn't ready for that. I had been so broken, so destroyed, that I didn't think I would survive. Derek had helped me of course, but even he could see I would never be alright again. If I let those memories rise to the surface, they'd consume me, and drag me back into nothingness. "You're lucky I'm almost done. Then we have to do your hair!" Hazel exclaimed excitedly, while I groaned. I wasn't sure how long I had been sitting in the same spot, but I already wanted to flop back into the safe nest that is my bed. After what felt like hours, which it could have been for all I knew, Hazel finally stepped away and looked me over. She had spent most of the time curling my extremely long hair. I was surprised to find that my hair actually stayed curled, typically the curls would simply fall out within the first five minutes. I looked in the vanity mirror and almost gasped. My extremely long, chocolate brown hair, was curled in large ringlets and flowed down my back in a sea of molten chocolate. She took two long strands from the front of my head and twisted them around the sides of my head, and pinned them back. The hairstyle was simple, but beautiful. I let my eyes wander over my facial features. My eyes had always been too large for my liking, but with the eye makeup she did, my eyes no longer looked like the washed out blue I was used to. My eyes resembled the clear sky, they looked lighter than I had ever remembered them. My full lips were bare, but had some shine from a lip gloss she had applied. "Now, time for the grand finale!" Hazel exclaimed, beaming so hard I could see all of her teeth. When I gave her a look of complete confusion, she rolled her eyes and shoved my dress in my hands. I mouthed the word 'oh' and sheepishly made my way into the bathroom to change. Even with the huge knot in my stomach, I had to admit that Hazel did an amazing job. I looked like some kind of model, and that's not a word I would ever use to describe myself. I slipped on my ball gown and looked myself up and down. For once I was thankful for my small waist and larger bottom, as it made the dress highlight those curves. My breasts had never been what I would call large, but they were definitely bigger than the rest of the women in my family. The low cut of the off-shoulder dress I wore showed the smallest amount of cleavage. I couldn't help but beam at my reflection. Hazel did the perfect job of highlighting my natural body whilst still remaining elegant and beautiful. I stepped from the bathroom and did a dramatic twirl, much to Hazel's benefit, as she excitedly looked me over. "That absolutely settles it. I'm amazing." Hazel shrugged, giving me an excited smile. It seemed as if, for the time being, all thoughts about the Blood Moon pack had been

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

If I thought it took Hazel forever to get me ready, I hadn't seen anything yet. I sat back on my bed, careful not to ruin Hazel's masterpiece as she so skillfully called it. Hazel and I chatted back and forth about what her future mate would be like. I was a good sport and tried to be supportive of my best friend. "He's definitely going to be taller than me, there's no doubt. Oh, I do hope he has blue eyes though! I love a blue-eyed boy." Hazel cooed from the bathroom and I gave a short breathy laugh. "I'm sure he's going to be everything you're looking for, he's your mate after all." I shrugged, putting some carefully placed happiness in my voice as I sent a quick text to Brandon. Me -6:02pm You ready for the ball? Brandon -6:03pm Been ready. Mom wanted me ready three hours early, don't know what for though. Me -6:04pm Hazel attacked me with makeup and a curling iron, I think I have it worse. :P Brandon -6:05pm Don't be so sure it's beautiful. Want me to head over to your place? Me -6:06pm Nah don't bother, Hazel won't be ready for a while now. We'll just meet you at the ball by the entrance. Brandon -6:08pm Sounds good to me gorgeous, see you there! I plopped my phone back on the bed and continued chatting with Hazel. She was explaining how she hoped her future mate was from a different pack so that she could finally move away. Of course, she would visit me and Brandon, but she had been tired of this pack for a long time. I couldn't help but agree with her on this front. This pack in particular seemed to want its women to be servants, constantly obeying their mate. I couldn't fathom why anyone would want a mate who sat quietly and always agreed with them. Wouldn't you want a mate who actually helped you? One who voiced their opinions? Finally, Hazel emerged from the bathroom in her ballgown. I made a show of widening my eyes and dropping my jaw at the sight of her, even though I already knew she would look gorgeous. The baby pink dress she wore cascaded to the ground in a sea of pink silk. The low neckline highlighted her large bust while the lower portion of the dress hugged her small bottom. Her shoulder black shoulder length hair was skillfully curled and half of it was pinned back by a silver clip embedded with crystals. The subtle pink eyeshadow on her eyelids made her brown eyes stand out against her olive skin tone. "You look amazing!" I beamed at her, determined to not ruin her night. "Psh, I know, but thank you anyway!" She beamed back, giving me a quick wink. Hazel glanced at her phone quickly and by the look of utter excitement, I knew it was about time to head to the ball. Stifling a groan, I stood up and collected my phone in the small hand purse Hazel had gotten me. I looked between the two of us and knew my mother would not approve of these dresses, but she likely wouldn't complain due to me being forced to attend either way. Me and Hazel walked from my bedroom and down to the living room instantly noticing my mother and father gushing over how beautiful Sabrina had looked. I glanced over to the sofa against the wall and saw Derek and Amber snuggling. At the sight of me and Hazel, all heads in the room turned our way. "Woah, you guys look beautiful!" Derek exclaimed, giving me a huge smile. Even Amber looked supportive and lacked any jealousy. I was sure I could hear Derek whisper to Amber, "But no one looks more beautiful than you". "That's the dress you chose?" My mother sighed, her eyes glued on my slight cleavage and the fact that my shoulders and entire neck were exposed. I noticed my father hadn't said anything, but he usually doesn't need to, mother seems to cover all of the bases. "Yup, figured if I'm being forced to go, I should wear what I want." I shrugged indifferently, turning my head to my younger sister. Sabrina's curly blonde hair was pulled into an up-do and dotted with small pearls. Her long, cream colored dress covered most of her body, but actually seemed to flatter her slim figure. "You look beautiful brina." I gave my younger sister a small smile, using the nickname I had made up for her years ago, when we had been close. I watched as some emotion flashed over her eyes, but she gave me a small smile in return. "I don't think your parents would approve of that dress Hazel." My mother scolded my best friend, looking at her cleavage in disdain. "Why don't you leave it to them to tell me then." Hazel quipped sweetly, her eyes shining slyly. I watched as my mother shot Hazel a quick glare and sighed at the two of us. "Well, there's nothing we can do about it now. Let's get going then." My mother sighed again and began to lead Sabrina out of the house, my father followed quickly behind her. "Best of luck to the two of you." Derek smiled our way, his arms wrapped around Amber as if she were a part of him. He quickly looked into her eyes and it was as if they were having their own private conversation. You could feel the energy in the room and it was as if the only person keeping him alive was Amber. The feeling made me uncomfortable, having that kind of trust in someone. I could see in their eyes that they couldn't live without each other, if something happened to one, the other wouldn't survive very long. Letting someone have that kind of control over you terrified me. "Sure." I pouted, linking my arm in Hazel's we rushed out the door. We hopped into our large sedan and pulled away from the house. With each minute, the knot in my stomach continued to grow. Describing it as a knot was no longer accurate, it felt like a thick sticky substance that coated me from head to toe in unease. I couldn't shake it no matter how hard I tried, no matter what lies I told myself about tonight. I could tell we were getting close when the typical street lamps on our road stopped and these white, flower covered lanterns appeared. "Is the ball outside this time?" I asked curiously. The previous years the Moon Ball had been held inside, then again; the ball had never been held at my pack's territory before. "Oh, you'll see, the girls spent weeks setting all of this up. It's absolutely beautiful." My mother nodded her head in approval but kept her gaze on the road. While Hazel and Sabrina chattered excitedly about what their future mate would look like, I pressed my head against the cool window of the sedan and tried to steady my breathing. The coolness of the window felt good against my heated skin. The last thing Hazel would want is for me to walk into the ball tomato faced. We pulled into an enormous dirt lot and managed to find a space wedging the sedan in between two other vehicles. I looked around confused, there wasn't a ball in sight. I used my sensitive hearing and I could in fact hear music playing, people chattering, glasses clinking. We all hopped out of the sedan, and Hazel was quick to make sure I lifted my dress as I walked to make sure no dirt would dare ruin her masterpiece. We walked across the giant lot and up to the forest that stretched on ahead. Somewhere along the tree line I spotted two more flower covered lanterns, leading further into the forest. Walking down the path, following the lanterns, we came to an even bigger clearing. This clearing had to be three times the size of the dirt lot. The first thing I noticed was that there happened to be solid flooring where everyone stood, the second thing I noticed was the huge canopy tent that hung over the entire clearing. I couldn't help but look up in awe at the white flowers that cascaded down the canopy and sometimes were intertwined with vines. Rustic white lanterns were scattered throughout the area, even though there were large lights attached to the tops of the tents. "Woah." Was all that came from Hazel's lips as she looked on in awe. I could see my mother flash a smug smile, as she had a strong hand in designing the layout for the ball. "They all did an amazing job." I confirmed, nodding my head as my eyes trailed on at the rest of the decorations. I looked at the huge crowd of people, only seeing a few mated wolves there. I felt myself gulp as I looked on at the vast number of unmated males and females. The words I had spoken earlier were lost and forgotten. Out of all of these people, I would be extremely lucky not to find my mate. The entire clearing was larger than a human football field. The number of unmated wolves in America astounded me, and sent fear coursing through my veins. Tons of long buffet style tables lined the outskirts of the giant tent, a plethora of food set on the tables called to me seductively. There were also round, glass tables scattered throughout in case anyone had wanted to sit. As I gazed on at the sheer number of people, I couldn't make out a single face. I knew our pack wasn't one of the largest, but I had no idea how large some of these packs were. Hazel and I shared nervous glances and linked arms as we walked into the tent and into full view of the crowd. As we walked into the tent, I couldn't help but notice the sheer number of males that turned our way. Some grimaced, as if they were concentrating. Some smelled the air, as if hoping for some unseen cue to come our way. For a moment, I let my curiosity get the best of me as I looked head on at the crowd of unmated men and women, wanting to see if I could find one of the members of the Blood Moon pack. I assumed they would be scarred, disfigured, or generally vicious looking compared to the rest of the crowd. Hazel and I nearly jumped at the sound of a familiar voice. "Well, hello there beautiful." Brandon winked at us, looking us both up and down. A small part of me felt relieved that I wasn't the only one here who didn't want a mate. For whatever reason, Brandon didn't want one either and that meant I had someone on my team. I couldn't help but notice that Brandon looked quite good in his suit. His typical unruly sand colored hair was styled and the green in tie made his eyes standout. I wasn't sure if Hazel had a hand in what Brandon wore, but I wouldn't be surprised. All around us people laughed, chatted, and swayed to some upbeat music that was playing. I looked over at Hazel with wide eyes. Her face was twisted in a strange grimace as she smelled the air around us. "I- I think my mate is here." Hazel spoke in an incredulous voice. I resisted the urge to laugh at her. This entire time she had been wanting to find her mate, and now that she knows he's here, she's frightened. I resisted the urge because I happened to be frightened as well. Once again, I caught Brandon giving me that strange look, as if he were waiting any moment for something to happen. I wasn't sure if I wanted to know what was up with him. Another familiar voice rang through the air as an old friend approached us. "Claire! Brandon!" Jake exclaimed with a smile as he practically ran up to us. I turned to find Hazel, but she was nowhere to be found. I didn't think much of it though, I knew she would be looking for her mate. Jake happened to be an old friend from a neighboring pack. Each year when I was forced to go to the ball, Jake and I would often sneak away and spend the rest of the time in the woods or letting our wolf take control. I had never found myself attracted to Jake, or most others for that matter. I completely closed myself off after what had happened to me, and I can't say I regret it. Jake had always been handsome, but something about him had changed this year. His face had lost the roundness it used to have and now was angular and strong. His body wasn't as lanky anymore and his arm muscles seemed to show through his suit. His black hair had been cropped short, almost military style. "Hey Jake!" I smiled up at his tall figure. "Didn't think I'd find you here shorty, thought you would ditch." Jake smirked down at me. In a movement that was extremely fast, Jake lifted me off my feet and encased me in a bear hug. A startled squeak left my mouth as I felt my feet no longer touching the hard floor. "Jake put me down! You know I don't like that." I grumped, kicking my feet so he would get the picture. Once I was finally set on my feet, I noticed the grimace that fell over Brandon's face. Typically, he and Jake got along just fine, I couldn't figure out what the issue was. "So... Do you want to go dance Claire?" Jake asked in a rush, throwing a quick glance at Brandon. "Sure, why not. Wanna join?" I asked Brandon, a smile on my face. Brandon let out a sigh, but said he needed to go keep an eye on his younger sister. I frowned as I watched Brandon stalk away, his shoulders handing ever so slightly. "Doesn't take a hint, does he?" I heard Jake scoff; his eyes locked on Brandon's back. "Um, what?" I turned to Jake; confusion evident on my face. "He likes you Claire..." Jake trailed off; his eyebrow raised at the dumbfounded look on my face. "Well yeah. Him and Hazel are my best friends." I retorted, feeling the blood rush to my face as I fully grasped what Jake was implying. "Not like that, he likes you Claire." Jake emphasized, smirking at my bright red face. I grimaced up at Jake, "If that's even true, he can tell me himself. Are we going to dance or what?" With nothing more than a shrug and another glance in the direction Brandon took off in, we made our way onto the dance floor in the middle of the room. When I had first begun high school, I was a completely different girl. I wasn't so fearful of the world and the people around me. I never did drugs, or drank alcohol or anything like that, but I also wasn't afraid to be myself. I had changed so much because of one event that happened a year ago. Who knew one thing, one day, could make you question everything about yourself and your life? As I danced with Jake to some upbeat song that was playing, I made sure to keep my distance from him and some of the other people around me. I couldn't help but notice the way some of the guys and girls danced. Most danced extremely close, some a little too close. Jake made no move to pull me closer, but I could see his eyes straying to those couples that danced a little too close. After a few more songs, I excused myself from Jake. I told him I was going to grab some food and something to drink, but really, I just needed a moment to myself. I made my way further and further from the entrance, trying to find anywhere I could go to spend a few moments alone. I finally noticed a clear table close to the back of the tent, another large table full of food and drinks sat next to it invitingly. I grabbed myself a soda and a small plate of some colorful pastries I had snatched up, and happily sat down at my empty table. For once, no one's heads turned in my direction. I could sit here and try to sort out the war that was raging inside of me. The unexplainable anxiety I felt at this ball, I hadn't felt this year after year of being forced to attend. Just as I began to bite into one of the colorful pastries, I smelled it. Sandalwood with citrus notes. The smell of fresh earth and grass after it rains. I could feel my body stiffen as the scent battered me. While my mind screamed and my heart raced, I could feel myself taking deep breaths of this intoxicating smell. I couldn't name a single thing in my life that smelled better than this. While my brain tried to rationalize what this smell could be, my heart already knew. I could feel Sierra losing her mind, pacing and panting, urging me to find out what was happening. I mustered what strength I could, but the most I could force myself to do was stand and face the crowd of people that seemed to be in their own world. I watched on, frozen in horror, as the music fell silent and people began to look around in confusion. Breathing in this strange scent deeply, I watched as the crowd were forced back in fear, as someone made their way to me. I had never seen this man before in my life, but the knot in my stomach knew without being told. "Mate. That's our mate!" Sierra rejoiced while my entire world had finally come crashing down. Alpha Killian Desmond made his way through the crowd of terrified bystanders. Each face in the crowd looked on at me in absolute horror, as if they were preparing themselves to witness my death. I looked on at the rumored Alpha Killian as he came to a stop a mere five feet in front of me. I could finally see where all of the rumors had come from. While I stood at a whopping 5'3', Alpha Killian had to be well over 6' tall. Not only did he tower over me in height, but the frame of his body was enormous, with hands as big as my entire face. I resisted a shutter as I thought about how easily he could crush me, and end my simple life. Taking a deep breath, I looked up into the face of my mate, and felt my mouth open. While the rumors described him as this vile monster, he looked anything but. His dark hair was longer on the top, but shaved short on the sides. Tattoo's made their way up his neck, and down his forearms. He wasn't wearing a typical suit like all of the other guys. He wore a deep blue button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a pair of black slacks. I found myself staring at his face incredulously. A sharp yet chiseled jawline, framed by full eyebrows, lips and a set of deep grey eyes. I tried to read the look on his face as he stared at me. His face seemed cold, expressionless, distant. He didn't seem pleased. Maybe he didn't want a mate either. Some small glimmer of hope fluttered into my stomach, maybe he would let me go. That hope was extinguished when he finally spoke to me. "Mine." His rough voice announced in a feral growl.

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

"You are mine." His deep voice announced, growing deeper with each word. I resisted the urge to laugh hysterically and look behind me, as if he were talking to some other girl. If it was any other man, I would have taken off running on the spot. From the cold and detached look in Alpha Killian's eyes, I was afraid he would enjoy the chase far too much. In that moment I sent a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess, asking her what the hell was going on. Not only did I not want a mate, I was given the most dangerous mate in our history. My heart sank to the floor as I realized my story would not have a happy ending. I watched frozen in place as Alpha Killian closed the distance between me and him. He came to a stop a foot in front of me and looked down on me. It was then that I noticed the two men who had followed him all the way over to me. They looked nothing like what I expected the Blood Moon Pack to look like. In all accounts they were attractive men, but they had this energy about them that set your hair on end. Something about them triggered our survival instincts and told you clearly; run. I felt my eyes scanning their way up Alpha Killian's muscular body until my eyes had met his own. In a motion that looked extremely graceful and smooth, Alpha Killian took a step away from me and let his emotionless eyes roam my face. I couldn't help but wonder how someone so large could move so smoothly. I didn't dare take my eyes away from his own as I watched his gaze run over every detail of my face. Excruciatingly slow, he let his eyes travel down my neck and onto the rest of my body. His eyes nor his face never once conveyed any emotion. I felt as though I was on display, as if he were looking for the perfect cattle to slaughter. I could feel my face heat up and I cursed silently as I knew my entire face and neck were most likely tomato colored. "What is your name?" Alpha Killian asked in his deep voice, each word enunciated clearly. The lack of emotion in his voice only fueled my fear. I hadn't even noticed that the music had not yet resumed, and every person at the ball had remained frozen, watching our exchange take place. I couldn't force myself to bring my eyes away from Alpha Killian's and look into the petrified eyes of those who attended the ball. I found myself wondering where the hell was Hazel, Brandon, Jake, Sabrina, my mother and my father. Wouldn't anyone come and help me? I knew the answer to that before I even asked the question. No one would dare come in between Alpha Killian and his mate. "Don't be afraid of him, he's our mate!" Sierra spoke in my mind, but her tone was uneasy. Her instincts too warned her about the danger of this man. At that moment in time I made a decision, I would find some way to suppress this intense fear I was feeling. If there was any way for me to have a happy ending, I would have to be rid of this fear. The fear of being hurt again lingered in my heart as always, but I forced my fear of Alpha Killian far away. What kind of man would hurt his mate? "I asked you a question, little mate." Alpha Killian's voice boomed, his tone sounding impatient. Everything about this man radiated danger and confidence. "Claire, my name is Claire." I replied, finally finding my voice. I was surprised that my voice came out calmly. The fragile sound of my voice was nothing like the deep commanding voice of Alpha Killian. While my words came out clear, I couldn't help how small my voice sounded in comparison to his huge figure. "Claire," Alpha Killian repeated, as if tasting the word on his tongue. "Do you know who I am?" His deep voice asked, his storm colored eyes burning into my own. I found myself looking deeper into his eyes, wanting to see some spec of who this man truly was inside. A mate was supposed to know you better than you know yourself. A mate was supposed to see every bit of who you were as a person. As I looked into Alpha Killian's emotionless gaze, I wondered if there was honestly anything there to find. Either he was extremely skilled at hiding every trace of emotion, or he was truly empty inside. "I do." I found myself answering, despite my urge to stay quiet. Out of habit I brought my bottom lip into my mouth and nibbled anxiously, allowing myself to be momentarily sucked into Alpha Killian's stormy eyes. At that moment, I watched as his eyes flicked down to my lower lip that I still happened to be chewing on. While his eyes and face remained emotionless, his grey eyes grew darker, as if there were an impending storm on it's way. After what felt like minutes, his darkened eyes finally made their way back to my own. In another fluid movement, he turned his back to me. His head turned toward me far enough so that he could see me from his peripherals. "Follow me." He told me, his tone leaving no room for argument. Taking a single deep breath, I bottled all of my fear and forced my feet forward. It took me quite a few steps to catch up to him, my short legs had to work much harder than his long ones. I noticed quickly that he drastically slowed his pace so that I could catch up. I also noticed how the two men who had followed him to me, were also following closely behind us. We made our way through the crowed of shocked bystanders, but the only thing I could focus on was the close proximity between myself and Alpha Killian. His masculine scent of sandalwood, citrus and nature infiltrated my nose and somehow managed to relax me. I knew this was the mate bond's doing, but it affected me nonetheless. I resisted the urge to look up at him, while my wolf begged me to steal a glance. I eventually gave in, not admitting that I hadn't tried very hard to resist, and looked up into his strong face. I noticed the light stubble that ran across his cheeks and chin. As my eyes made their way higher up his face, I noticed he was looking down at me. His grey eyes were yet again locked on my own, a mask of indifference pasted onto his gorgeous face. I couldn't deny that he looked like a god walking the earth, his dominance and confidence radiating from his very being, but that didn't mean I was attracted to him. I couldn't be attracted to him. We made our way through the shell shocked crowd to an extra long table that I had somehow missed before. Alpha Killian made his way to one of the empty chairs and took a seat. Even sitting, he was somehow still taller than me. I found myself standing rather close to where he sat, my eyes locked on his face, taking in every curve, dip and angle. Some part of me wondered what he thought of me. Was he disappointed? Did he want someone else...did he have someone else? That single thought sent my wolf into a jealous rage. The words 'little mate' ran through my head, and I couldn't help but feel somewhat possessive of them. I could feel my crystal blue eyes grow darker as I was pulled into the pit that was Sierra's jealousy. I would deny that the thought of him with someone else made me jealous, but I would be lying. I could feel my thoughts and my wolf's merging together, a stream of pictures all wondering if Alpha Killian had someone else. I couldn't imagine, someone looking the way he did, and still resisting a females advances. I scowled into my hands and didn't notice when Alpha Killian's gaze met my own. I was still scowling, and I could feel that my eyes hadn't resumed their typical clear blue color. I watched as his full eyebrow raised ever so slightly, and a flash of curiosity formed in his grey eyes. In what felt like an instant, his mask of indifference had taken back over, making me question that I had seen anything to begin with. "We will be traveling to my territory tomorrow morning." Alpha Killian spoke to me, his voice yet again void of any emotion. The tone of his voice was beginning to frustrate me. Obviously he could tell I had been terrified, but I can't tell anything about him. Is he angry? Happy? I needed some indicator that this entire thing wouldn't end up miserably for myself. I thought about what he had said for a few moments. My parents would never help me escape, neither would the Alpha of our pack. I couldn't see Hazel or Brandon successfully helping me escape Alpha Killian and the giant men that seemed to follow him. I had absolutely no other choice but to leave with Alpha Killian, the thought both excited and terrified me. I scrunched my eyebrows together as I thought over what he had said. I hadn't realized that his grey eyes were glued to my face the entire time. I knew I needed some fresh air, and I needed the chance to say goodbye to my family. "I'm going to say goodbye to my family and friends. I'll be back shortly." I said to him, doing my absolute best to keep my voice strong and steady. I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks under his strong gaze, but I kept my face neutral. I stood silently as his eyes burned holes into my own. I realized I was getting better at suppressing my fear for this man, the man who is supposed to be my mate. "Do not stray too far little mate." He replied in an amused tone, his eyes growing darker with each word. I wondered what was up with his eyes constantly changing colors. I remembered what Hazel had explained to me. Our eyes only change colors when our wolf is trying to take over, and multiple things could cause that. I knew he had no intention on letting me go too far, as indicated by the looming man that began to follow behind me. Reluctantly, I peeled my eyes away from Alpha Killian. I'm sure he could feel my reluctance to leave, but I didn't care how he chose to interpret that. At this point the music had resumed and most people were back to chatting and dancing, still throwing anxious glances my way. It finally dawned on me that most of those anxious glances were due to the fact that Alpha Killian was my mate. It was as if they were afraid to bump into me, in fear he would kill them. I wondered how valid their fears were. After what felt like ages, I finally bumped into a familiar face. Hazel was gazing adoringly into the eyes of a handsome brown haired man. I could tell by the look of pure awe on his face, she had found her mate. "Hazel.." I choked out, surprised at how uneasy my voice sounded. At the sound of my voice her eyes widened and she was snapped out of whatever trance had come over her. Her eyes quickly roamed my face, looking for the source of my distress. How could she not know what had happened? "Claire? What's wrong? Did something happen?" Hazel snapped, her eyes narrowing as she searched the area around me. "I- I found my mate." I said solemnly, the same tone I would use if someone had died. "Oh my goodness, who is it! You have to introduce me to them!" She squealed, ignoring my obvious discomfort. Her mate gazed at my face in confusion, obviously wondering why I sounded so sad. "Hazel, it's him. Alpha Killian." I croaked out, the words forced and uneasy. In that moment Hazel's face froze in shock, and her mate made a move to pull her away from me. "N-No please. I would never let him hurt Hazel." I choked out, my pleading eyes on the face of her newly found mate. I could tell by the concern in his eyes he meant me no disrespect, he just wanted to keep Hazel safe. "She wouldn't let him hurt me Garret, it's okay." Hazel smiled reassuringly at her mate, but I noticed her smile didn't reach her eyes. "Are you sure about this Claire?" Hazel asked, all traces of her smile removed from her face. Her hands gently gripped my shoulders as she looked into my eyes. "I'm positive Hazel. I'm leaving with him tomorrow." My voice came out in a whisper as I looked down at the floor. "Claire, do not let them treat you badly. Like it or not, you're going to be their Luna now. If he hurts you..." Hazel trailed off, knowing I would understand her meaning. If he hurt me I could always reject him. I most likely wouldn't survive very long, and what was left of my life would be miserable. But what could be more miserable than being hurt at the hands of your mate? "I'll do my absolute best, you know that. I'll always stay in contact with you Hazel, I'll even visit if I'm able to. I'm going to head outside for a minute, I desperately need some fresh air." I sighed as I began to walk away. I needed to get away from their looks of absolute sympathy, as if some tragic event had happened to me. Something tragic had happened to me tonight, but I didn't want any more looks of pity. I needed to at least try and be strong. I couldn't let these new people walk all over me, or force me into this pathetic submissive house wife role. "We will be Luna. We will never be submissive." My wolf chimed in, but I knew how attached she already was to Alpha Killian. I managed to find the entrance we had came in hours ago, and I hastily made my way outside. I walked further across the clearing and around the side of the tent until I knew I was alone. With a huff, I leaned against the nearest oak tree with my eyes closed, trying desperately to slow my racing heart. "Be strong Claire, we can make it through this." My wolf soothed, filling me with confidence. "I thought you'd be out here." An amused voice called out. I watched as Jake's form walked up to me looking slightly disheveled. I stifled my groan, wanting nothing more than to just be by myself for a few moments. "Yeah, I needed a break." I sighed, turning my head and gazing into the forest. I would love nothing more than to run into those woods and never come back, but I knew what my fate would be if I did that. I wouldn't survive very long on my own. Or worse, Alpha Killian would find me. "I didn't get the chance to tell you, but you look absolutely amazing tonight." Jake smirked, taking a few more steps towards me. I could smell the alcohol rolling off of him, but I doubted he was actually drunk. It took much more to intoxicate werewolves, especially ones who already had a high tolerance to begin with. "Thanks." I replied, my voice sounding unsure. I kept my gaze on the forest as I let my arms fall at my sides. The cool breeze swirling around me cooled my warm skin and chased away some of the confusion from my brain. "I gotta tell you the truth Claire. I didn't come here looking for just any mate." Jake said, slurring his words somewhat. Something in his tone caused me to tense up, I didn't like how close he was getting to me. Typically it wouldn't bother me, but this was too close. "He's drunk Claire, get the hell out of here." My wolf urged, not trusting Jake any more than I. "I gotta get back to Hazel." I trailed off, attempting to step around him. "And Brandon?" Jake snapped, grabbing my wrist and pushing me back against the tree. "Jake, what are you doing." I wanted to demand angrily, but my voice came out in a frightened whisper. What was going on with me tonight? Since when have I been afraid to stand up for myself? I had been pushing people away all year, and now was the time where I was frozen in fear. "Finally showing you how I feel." Jake slurred, messily grabbing both of my wrists with his hand and pinning them above my head. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. Memories from last summer merged with what was happening to me at this current moment. I was hyper aware of everything going on around me, and yet I couldn't focus, I couldn't fight. "Jake get off of me!" I screeched, finally finding my voice. I thrashed against him, using all of the force in my body to try and get him off, but it did no good. I was too small against his large frame. I began to hyperventilate, knowing exactly what was about to happen to me. I didn't have much left to give, and there was no way I could lose it this way. "Shut up! Don't act stupid, you know it's always been you all these years!" Jake snapped, using his free hand to strike my face. For the moment everything went still, black spots clouded my vision and I knew that soon the worst would happen. The one thing that would send me crashing over the edge, never to come back, never to heal. I felt Jake messing with the bottom of my dress, most likely trying to pull it up when something happened. I could no longer feel Jake's weight on my body. I held my sore wrists out in front of me, knowing there would be bruises in the morning. Slowly, I reached my hand up to my cheek and winced at how sore it felt. I wondered what that would look like in the morning. Only then I was able to look at my surroundings. The first thing I noticed was the smell. Sandalwood and citrus. It flooded my nose and helped ease the stars that circled my head. Jake was on the ground, his back lying in the wet grass. Standing above him was none other than my rescuer. Alpha Killian stood above Jake, his eyes a murderous shade of black. My wolf wanted to approach Alpha Killian, but the waves of absolute fury rolled off of his body made us keep our distance. Despite what happened, I couldn't help but feel terrified for Jake. To have all of that rage directed on you, from the most vicious Alpha to ever exist. "Claire, are you alright?" Alpha Killian asked, turning his head ever so slightly so he could look at me. His eyes remained black, glowing with fury. His voice was incredibly calm, which made him sound even more deadly. I wanted to speak, to tell him I was alright physically. But I couldn't speak. The dam inside of me that held back the worst, had almost broken. I wasn't sure when I would be able to speak. Instead I nodded, trying to blink away the tears that had sprung to my eyes. I kept my eyes on his face as his black eyes flickered to my cheek, my wrists, and back up to my eyes. Without another word, he turned his attention back to Jake. At this point a crowd had gathered outside, wanting to see what the source of the screaming was. I looked on in horror as Brandon, Sabrina, my mother and my father made their way into the crowd. I watched my family's face as they took in what had happened and who I was outside with. "What is going on here?" A balding man spoke up, making his way through the crowd and to Jake's side. I recognized this man as Alpha George, the pack Jake belongs to. I kept my back against the huge oak tree, my eyes flitting to each of my family members and finally back to Alpha Killian. He didn't spare me another glance as he spoke to Alpha George. "This pup, tried to rape my mate." Alpha Killian spat, using the word pup as if it were the lowest form of life. I tried not to cringe at the authority that had taken over his voice. I noticed some of the onlookers had cringed at his tone, taking a few steps back as if they could escape his rage. "Is this true son?" Alpha George frowned, leaning down to get a good look at Jakes face. "I didn't do anything she didn't want." Jake spat, his eyes locked on my face. I noticed the blood running down his nose and wondered if that was Alpha Killian's doing. "It would serve you well to keep your mouth shut." Alpha Killian spat, his voice sounding like it's own weapon. "L-Let me deal with him." Alpha George spoke up, trying to sound like he had some shred of authority. It sounded like a pathetic imitation of Alpha Killian. "Would you like to make an enemy of me?" Alpha Killian asked calmly, his eyes staring into the other Alpha's. I watched as Alpha George's face began to pale, and he shot a glance full of pity at Jake. "What would you have me do?" Alpha George asked, fear snaking it's way into his voice. "Let me decide his fate." Alpha Killian replied in his deep, calm voice. I couldn't help but realize that his calm demeanor made him that much more frightening. I wondered what it would take for him to truly show how angry he was. Somewhere deep inside, my wolf couldn't help the smugness she was feeling. She loved the fact that our mate was ready to kill for us, I on the other hand was undecided. "Very well.." Alpha George trailed off, giving a petrified Jake one last glance full of sympathy. Without another word towards Alpha George, Alpha Killian turned to the two men who were following him and gave them a simple command. "Grab him." Alpha Killian ordered, his voice deadly calm. I knew if I looked into his eyes I would be able to see the rage within them, the rage that had been the end of so many wolves. The men grabbed Jake, who attempted to fight out of their grasp, but it was useless. These men were twice the size of him, and five times as vicious. I kept my back against the oak tree, afraid that if I stepped away I would collapse. I watched cautiously as Alpha Killian turned towards me and began to walk in my direction. Without saying a word he stopped in front of me, his eyes were still midnight black, but I couldn't feel any of his anger directed towards me. I watched cautiously as he slowly lifted his hand towards my face. His dark gaze met my own and never once left. I felt myself wince as he lifted his finger to trace down my bruised cheek. I watched the anger flare in his own eyes, but again I somehow knew it wasn't directed at me. The sparks that made their way down my cheek caused my eyes to widen in surprise. It was like touching a livewire to my bare skin. The sparks didn't hurt, if anything they felt good, relaxing almost. As quickly as he had traced down the side of my cheek his hand was gone, back at his side. I took a step from the base of the oak tree and quickly realized I had made a mistake. Memories both from tonight and last summer flashed through my head. The smell of alcohol and sweat flashed through my brain, the sound of my own scream ringing through my ears was next to follow. I now understood what the term 'tunnel vision' meant. I could hear people speaking, maybe even Alpha Killian, but at the same time I couldn't understand what they were saying. Every sound was foreign in my ears. The only sounds I recognized were the ones in my memories. The face of two guys flashed through my head; a chipped front tooth, cocky laughter. Jake's face made it's way into my memory, joining the other two. The two faces I had spent an entire year trying to forget. I felt the walls of the dam inside of me flex and groan, memories threatening to spew at any moment. I looked around frantically as darkness began to cloud my vision. And for the first time in my life, I fainted.