Three

ALLISON POV

I didn't know why but for some reason, I seemed drawn to this mysterious werewolf. I felt a familiar feeling. A feeling I only got from a particular person; I felt it with this werewolf.

My eyes narrowed as I stared into its icy blue eyes. Was this Chase?

I didn't know, and I doubted he was the one. The reason I couldn't ascertain if it were he or not was I hadn't seen him shift. Of course, I knew he was an Alpha werewolf, but that was all. And we met just a few weeks ago for me to learn more about him.

Yet, I knew all the rooms in the pack house.

I grimaced, shaking my head as the image of our last encounter rushed into my mind.

Despite how juicy it was, it would be our last.

I had broken up with Chase as he couldn't give me a good reason why he had kissed Artemisia.

He had even made me look like a fool and had casually dismissed me. The nerves of him!

Now, gazing back at the werewolf made me think of him. I had vowed never to have any thoughts about him after yesterday, but it was happening.

The werewolf was beautiful with midnight black fur, but it was overly large. It didn't look like the normal werewolf I was used to, and it seemed to be having difficulty staying on all fours. I noticed it had a scar just below its left eye, just like Chase, and the beautiful icy blue eyes were like his as well...

"Alisson!"

I jumped as I heard Laurent's voice. Mother must have sent him to call me about the event happening tonight.

I had wandered off, and thinking about why I was in the garden now, I couldn't come up with anything.

But I had felt some powerful pull towards a strong scent, and my nose had led here.

The scent was coming from the werewolf in front of me, and for some reason, my wolf seemed excited to be out here while I felt otherwise. Yes, I was drawn to it, but I was confused about why.

"Here you are!"

I turned to Laurent and back to the wolf swiftly, but it wasn't anywhere around.

Where did it go?

I furrowed my brows and squinted as I gazed around the tall shrubs.

"Looking for something?"

I jumped as Laurent appeared behind me.

"Oh, yeah!" I said hastily. I didn't know what his response would be if I told him a strange werewolf had infiltrated our territory.

I knew the only rational thing he'd do was chase after the werewolf and have it killed.

But I didn't want to get it killed. Oddly, I wanted to know more about it.

And I wonder if we'd meet again because it seemed as though our meeting today was fated.

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ALLISON POV

I had forgotten what today was due to the appearance of the black werewolf.

Today was my twentieth birthday celebration and a debut for all young werewolves like me. Also, it was a day to usher out our wolves and be blessed by the great witch.

Wolf ushering ceremonies were initially for people who had just had their eighteenth birthday. I was past that age.

I was absent from my ushering ceremony on my eighteenth birthday because I was in a coma for two years. I didn't know what happened, but I was told I was left lifeless at the house's entrance, and whoever left me had masked their scent.

I kept having flashes about what had happened, yet I could barely remember.

Again, I had met my wolf already, but I didn't know what she looked like physically, seeing as I never tried to bring her out. It wasn't as if I hadn't tried; I couldn't.

And today was my best bet. I'd get to meet my wolf, Jacy, and unlock all the added benefits it was to bring forth one's wolf. Agility, enhanced hearing and sight, super healing, and many more.

It was exciting, and I had everything planned out, but what I didn't see coming was rejecting the man I assumed would be my mate before the ceremony.

I should have known he was a fúck boy, just like Laurent. People like that never intended to settle down and only go about chasing skirts.

I should have known, but it seems too late. But never too late as well.

Perhaps, we were never meant to be as he said. And who knows, I might get to find my mate today.

I was told it often happened, but it wasn't the case always.

I needed to await my turn. After all, I was twenty years old and never too old to get a mate.

"Do you like Jared?"

I lurched, and my connection with my thoughts severed as I felt Laurent's cool hand on mine. I had forgotten he was with me.

"Stop scaring me in that manner!" I glared at him and yanked my hand away.

"Not my fault you were lost in thought."

"Do you like Jared?"

I guess that was the question he asked before.

I furrowed my brows, glancing away from the glower in his eyes to the mischievous smirk on Jared's face.

I wrinkled my brows and gagged. "Why would you ask me such?"

"Because you were staring at him. Both of you were eye fucking each other."

"Please, don't make me puke!" I attempted to move away from him because there was no way I was answering the ridiculous question. I didn't understand why Laurent would think I'd be interested in one of his friends.

That should be the most disgusting thing he had ever asked me.

All of Laurent's friends acted just like him. Pússy chasers; they had fucked all the women in the pack and had begun extending their sexual prowess to the other women outside.

I scowled at Laurent as he gazed at me expectantly. "I can stare at whomever I want. Besides, I didn't see him there until you mentioned him. I don't like Jared, and I'll never like him. He's literally you!"

Laurent chuckled. "Good."

I guess he understood what I meant by Jared being him. I always told him he and his friends had one mind and body, and whoever was hoping to mate with them should sign a death sentence because if their many concubines didn't gang up on them, they'd surely die from heartbreaks.

I attempted to walk away, but Laurent held me back and leaned in. "Stay away from my friends. If you try to be stubborn about it, life in the dungeon awaits you."

"Let go of me, Laurent. Your friend disgusts me just as you do. I'll never be with them if they were the last person in the world."

"I'm glad we have the same thought." He released his grip on me, and I huffed.

"You look pissed," Sinclair said as he stepped beside me.

"Ask your brother."

"I know only Laurent can make you this mad." He chuckled. And I shrugged.

"How are you holding up?" He asked.

"I feel like shít," I mumbled, glaring at the stage, which was filled with high-ranked pack members. Only two seats were left vacant, which were for Sinclair as the King and Alpha and Artemisia as the queen, and Luna.

"It's your day. You should be happy," Sinclair said.

I stared up at him and heaved a breath. I wasn't precisely pissed at Laurent for assuming I was ogling his friend; I was at Chase.

I had mentioned the ceremony to him before the rejection, and he had promised to come. He had promised to be at the freaking party, cheering me on. Maybe not inside the ballroom due to Sinclair, but he'd be somewhere watching, and I'd see him soon after before he left again.

Shit, I had planned and imagined being with him as soon as my wolf came out, seeing as I'd get my freedom and be free to do what I wanted.

But he had said all those shit, and I rejected him!

Shit, I had rejected him, and he hadn't renounced it. He had fúcking accepted it-although he didn't say it, but I guess his silence was all I needed to know my stand.

"Put a smile on your face, Allison. You look as though you are about to murder someone." Mother said as she breezed towards me.

"It is Ally," I mumbled but I doubted she heard me or maybe she just want to ignore me like always.

Mom cupped my face and kissed both cheeks before doing the same to Sinclair and walking away.

I glared, folding my arms across my chest. "I hate when everyone tells me what to do."

"But you look as though you are about to murder someone." Sinclair pointed out. "Did you happen to challenge someone to a duel?"

"Because I am pissed." I glared.

It was apparent, and it was even more infuriating he was asking me the same thing over again. I wanted to be alone, but I wonder if that would ever happen.

Most family members surrounded me. They would never let me be.

He clenched his hands. "Is it about boys? I can beat anyone you say his name up. No one mess with my sister."

I rolled my eyes. Yes, Sinclair would beat up anybody for me. Laurent would do the same as well, but there was no way I could mention it was Chase making me have this many unwanted thoughts.

As much as I wanted to revenge on him, I'd instead not get on their wrong side. Like Laurent had promised me where I'd end up if I got on with any of his friends, it was the same place I'd end up if Sinclair knew I was messing around with Chase.

That was the last place on my mind to go. Life in the dungeon wasn't a pretty one. The people who had been there said so, and I had seen by the haunted look on their faces. The last thing I wanted was to have recurring flashes about horrible stuff I shouldn't be seeing.

"I'm fine," I mumbled after a while.

"Then chin up and let your pretty face brighten with a smile." Sinclair grinned.

I did that, and we were ushered immediately onto the stage where the event started.

The event went by quickly, and when it was my turn to usher out my wolf, I heaved a breath and stepped forward. I smiled at the great witch, who narrowed her eyes at me, but I shrugged and let my eyes stray to Artemisia.

She shot me a smiled and nodded.

I took that as an encouragement and cleared my throat.

"I, Allison Mae Stone, is here to usher in my wolf, Jacy." Before I met Jacy, I named her. There was the rule to give your wolf a name to have a sense of belonging.

I continued. "I hope to be blessed by the great witch and have a fruitful life ahead of me."

I felt a strange sensation at the tip of my finger, and my eyes closed while searching for Jacy.

I saw Jacy. She bounded towards me happily. And as soon as she was to get to me, I felt a pull and severed in connection. I didn't see Jacy's colour completely before I was pulled out of the trance.

My eyes snapped open, and the great witch pointed her blazing torch at me.

"Begone, she has the cursed mark!"