MATE

The ball room is full to the max. I’m glad I had all that champagne or I’d be freaking out right now. Waiters are carrying around trays of champagne and s**t that looks like cat food. I see my father wave at me from across the room. He’s talking to a large man who I’m sure he’s about to introduce me too. I make my way through the crowd to him. “Arora, honey you look lovely. I’d like to introduce you to Alpha Princeton of the Salt Lake Pack.” My father says. “It’s lovely to meet you Arora, your father has been telling me all about you.” He flashes a big white smile. “Oh I’m sure he has Alpha Princeton. It’s lovely to meet you but as you can see I have about 200 other Alphas to introduce myself to. I wouldn’t want my father’s party to go to waste by choosing the first man I meet.” I turn to leave but my father catches my arm. “Arora that was incredibly rude! You need to apologize right now!” He yells drawing attention to those around us “Haha I’m incredibly rude?! You have organized a party to find a man to send me away with. With all due respect father you can go fu..” “OOOK, sorry to interrupt Your Majesty but I’m gonna take Arora over to anywhere but here” Kira jumps in before I can finish telling my dad off. “Rory you are crazy! I know he’s your dad but he’s still the king and you can’t cuss out the king!” She looks concerned but all I can do is laugh. He’s not the king to me he’s just my dad and if he’s acting like an a** I will call him out on it. We walk around I’m introduced to Alpha Brock, Alpha Ryan, Alpha Sam. They all tell me about their beautiful packs and successful businesses. Blah blah blah. I’ve met at least a hundred of these Alphas and they are all hot and all the same. There’s nothing particularly special about any of them. “Rory, these guys are hot but they suck. They are all so boring.” Kira says with a sigh. “Do you smell that? It smells like cinnamon and raspberry.” I ask Kira as I look around trying to find where it’s coming from She shakes her head no and raises an eyebrow at me. I begin to look around the room and I make eye contact with the man in the back corner. MATE. No. No. No, it can’t be him. I know that face. I know exactly who he is. His name is Alpha Damon of the Dark Moon Pack. He’s dark, angry, arrogant. And he’s my mate. He’s my mate? How is he my mate?? I take off running though the back doors, I hear Kira yelling after me but I don’t stop. I kick my shoes off and sprint through the garden down the back path and out where the lake is. He can’t be my mate. Not him Moon Goddess please! I look up at the full moon and flip her off. “I’ve seen a lot of people find their mates but I’ve never seen someone run away from their mate.” I jump as I see Alpha Damon standing about 10 feet from me. He’s at least 6’5, muscular and covered in tattoos. He has dark hair and dark eyes. He’s absolutely gorgeous but I’ve heard the stories about him. He’s strict and enjoys punishing, his pack is terrified of him. “Yeah, sorry about that. I realized I forgot to go for a run today and what better time than now.” I threw my hands up. “Haha you are funny Princess. I’ve heard you tonight and I don’t think I heard one remark that wasn’t you being a smart a**.” He steps closer and I step backwards. “I’ve heard the stories about you Alpha Damon.” I take another step back. “Oh, and what have you heard Princess?” He c***s an eyebrow. “You know, you’re way to nice, you’re people love you and you let everything slide without punishment” I say sarcastically. “Princess, you’ll come to learn I have little patience for sarcasm. I’m sure you’ve heard terrible things about me but I can assure you my people are well taken care of and have little to complain about.” He says sternly. “Well Alpha Damon, I can assure you I have absolutely no interest in learning anything about you. There’s no way I will remain mated to someone like you.” I tell him. He opens his mouth to say something but Kira comes running up before he can. “Rory what the h**l was that?! Oh my goddess, is he your mate??!” She covers her mouth but not in excitement. She knows exactly who he is too. “We need to go talk to your father. Now.” She says insistently. I follow behind her without a second glance back. There’s now way I will go with him, I will speak with my father about rejecting him and send him on his way. My father can’t be that cruel, he won’t send me away with that man. Not after the stories we’ve been told about him and his father before him. We make our way back to the ball room, most everyone has cleared out but my father and mother are standing together throwing out orders to the staff. “Arora that is not the dress I picked out for you. I swear you can never just do as you’re told.” My mother throws her hands up in defeat. “I’m mated to Alpha Damon.” I blurt out. My parents just stare at me as if they are waiting on me to say I’m kidding. “I see.. I will talk with Alpha Damon.” My father says relief instantly washing over me. “Thank you” I sign “I think I’m going to go to bed. It been a really crazy night.” He and my mother nod in agreement Kira walks me to my room assuring me that in the morning I will reject Alpha Damon and this nightmare will be over.