2: FOUND YOU, MATE

D E L I L A H

 

Like they always say, wishes don't always come true. In my case, it never does. Because here I was two weeks later, getting prepared for the breeding ceremony. 

 

I could swear that two weeks ago was yesterday. 

 

There was a knock on my door, snapping me from my thoughts. “Lilah, are you ready? The ceremony will begin soon, dear.” Nana's voice called out behind the door.

 

Not wanting her to see my tears, I quickly wiped them from my face and applied a touch of makeup. I walked out of my little room and came face to face with a worried-looking Nana.

 

I tried to smile, but I knew she could see right through it, as if my trembling lips hadn't given off exactly how I felt about all of this. “Everything is going to be okay, darling.” Nana said, pulling me into a comforting hug. I leaned more into her touch and couldn't help but feel like this was the last time I would ever get to have her this close to me. 

 

“I don't know, Nana. I don't know.” I murmured into her hair. 

 

Not even a second later, our door suddenly burst open, and two bulky men barged into our home before I could blink. They proceeded to grab both of my arms and speak in a thick voice. “The ceremony is starting soon; we need to leave.”

 

I nodded my head in understanding. “Can I at least have one moment with my grandmother? I won't take long, I promise.” I pleaded with them, trying to shrug away from their strong grip.

 

The look one of the men gave me was enough to make me shrink to the ground. “We don't have time for this nonsense. You had as much time to do that earlier. It's time to leave.”

 

Before I could say one more word, I was dragged out of the house, and they turned a deaf ear to my wails. The one thing I regretted was not telling my grandma how much I loved her before leaving. because it felt like this was the last time we'd ever get to see each other in a long while.

 

 

*****

 

We reached the town square faster than I expected. I could see some of the other girls standing and also awaiting their faith. It was only then that all of this felt all too real. 

 

Goosebumps appeared on my skin as the men led me towards the girls. Most importantly, the one girl that hated me the most in our little community, Jessica.

 

As soon as we were left alone, Jessica sneered as she looked at me with disgust written all over her face. “I wonder why they would allow such an ugly thing to stand beside us for the breeding season. I bet the Alphas wouldn't even look at her twice before rejecting her! I mean, look at her! Who would ever want someone like her?” She said it loud enough for the rest of the girls to hear.

 

They all laughed at Jessica's words and nodded their heads in agreement. I ducked my head down in shame as my cheeks flamed in embarrassment. I knew I didn't want to get chosen by any of the Alphas, but that didn't stop me from feeling hurt by their words.

 

Who wouldn't feel that way when you've been called ugly by the people who were supposed to always have your back? This was pretty much the reason why I never had anyone to call a friend in this pack.

 

They all hated me for reasons that are still a mystery to me to this day. They naturally despised me, and the thought stung, but there was nothing I could do about it. All my life, it was only my grandmother and me. But I wasn't complaining; I would give everything to go back to living a low-key life with my grandma. 

 

“Silence!”  The girls' laughter immediately stopped the sound of the authoritative voice. “If you all know you want to live to see the dawn of tomorrow, you will not take this ceremony as a joke! I hope you have not forgotten the events of last year's breeding season.” He warned, looking at us sternly.

 

We all knew the rumors about how girls were brutally killed during the last breeding season. I could still remember hearing the screams and cries of girls from my house. I wouldn't want such a thing to happen to me.

 

“Blindfold all of them. The Alphas will be here any second from now.” He instructed the guards, and they immediately started blindfolding us. A few minutes later, all I could see was black.

 

The air suddenly got thick, and I knew it was time. The air was replaced with that of power and authority, and I could perceive the different scents of alphas.

 

They were here.

 

One of us would be chosen by an alpha and forced to be his breeder. 

 

I stood silently and clamped my lips tightly shut, afraid of letting any sound slip out. 

 

An Alpha stood in front of me; he didn't even bother to inspect me carefully before moving on to the next person. The smell of my fear disgusted him, and I knew he wouldn't want a pup from a "weak she wolf." I breathed a sigh of relief. I just hoped the smell of my fear would continue to disgust every single one of them. 

 

But like they say, nothing ever goes as planned.

 

My blood suddenly ran cold as I felt another presence behind me. I got a whiff of his masculine scent, and my knees threatened to buckle beneath me. I felt intoxicated and lightheaded. And the possibility of being chosen by this unknown man behind me was sitting at the back of my mind. He couldn't possibly choose me, could he? I have nothing to offer. He should be disgusted like the other Alphas, too.

 

But he wasn't.

 

Sweat broke out on my skin, but I didn't dare make any movement. Alphas were the most feared creatures in the world, and with one little mistake from my side, my neck could be snapped easily without him breaking a sweat. Yes, Alphas were evil.

 

I froze as I suddenly felt a cold palm on my neck. I was abruptly turned to my side, baring my shoulder blade to him. I heard a sharp intake of breath, and my blindfold was suddenly ripped from her face.

 

My eyes were still shut tightly as my heart pounded so loudly that I was sure he could hear it. I refused to believe this was happening to me. If this was a dream, then I desperately wanted to wake up from it. 

 

Slowly, so very slowly, I began to open my eyes, and the first thing I noticed was his golden eyes.

 

The world stilled as I suddenly got lost in his eyes. In my twenty-one years of living, I have never seen such a pair of eyes before. They were golden, literally. His eyes were made of gold. 

 

Then realization finally dawned on me. It was him. The Alpha, whose name was feared all over the world, The Alpha was known for bloodshed, killings, and ruthlessness. The Alpha, who had the most unique eyes that had never been heard of, even tried all they could to know where his eyes originated from, but all attempts proved futile. 

 

He was the Alpha of all Alphas. 

 

“Found you, mate.” He whispered huskily into my ear. As soon as those words slipped off his lips, I felt my entire world go dark as I slipped into unconsciousness. 

 

I was chosen by Alpha Azriel, the Golden Alpha. And he was my mate.