Chapter III

LUCIANO BLACK

The hall was filled with soft cool music as I entered, the massive chandeliers hung from the ceiling casting their glittering light all over the hall. I make my way through the crowd, the party guests hastily moving out of my way no one wants to incur my wrath. I smirked seeing my reputation precede me, the almighty hybrid. I reached my destination the only open bar available, stocked with few alcohols; I surmise that is because it is a birthday party with a few under ages because everyone knows werewolves and their love for liquors. I settle on a bar stool, I can hear every single conversation in the room but I tuned it off, as my eyes sweeping over the throngs in every direction looking for the one person I am here for, my Mate. Though I have never seen her before, I believed I will recognize her the moment I laid my eyes on her. I rest my arm on the bar counter and angled my body insipidly watching everyone, I can see the Alpha stealing glances at me but he knows better than to approach me in this state. I glanced over my shoulder and caught the eyes of the bulky bartender; he quickly supplies me with one of their finest drinks. I brought the liquor to my mouth but my hand absentmindedly stopped as my nose caught the sweet captivating scent I have been longing for, vanilla and mint. I dropped the glass behind me sitting up straight.  My eyes darted around the room trying to find the owner of the delectable scent. My wolf growled loudly in my head bugging me to go to our mate.

A young lady wobbled her way out of the dancing crowd waving her hand at someone, she was strikingly beautiful. She wore a red-colored dress with black embroidered flowers.  The dress has a very long slit flaunting her long beautiful brown legs. It wasn’t only her glowing skin, hourglass shape, idiosyncratic green eyes, full lips, or perfectly sculpted face that caught my attention. It was her scent, vanilla, and mint; she is the one, my mate. My nostrils flared savoring her soothing scent; I smiled as I watched her walked toward her friend swaying her hips with natural lithe. She fits impeccably for a queen, my queen, it’s like she was born to rule. She carries herself with so much poise, her head held high and defiance flashing in her idiosyncratic eyes. I know for sure she is a powerful female, a predator, yet she has this soft and welcoming aura around her. I growled lowly trying to keep rein of my wolf who wanted me to claim her right now.  My gorgeous mate stood not less than fifteen steps away from me, I watched with glowing eyes as her friend walked away after whispering something into her ear, which I tried not to pry.  Her warm distinctive green eyes gaze over me for a while, compelling my wolf to push harder making my eyes instantly grow darker.

                                                           

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NATACHA                                    

I stood waiting patiently waiting for Lila who went to her mate that just mind-linked her, I look around the room no one seems to pay any attention to me, perks of being a witch; none wants to associate with you, so I get to be as invisible as I want. I felt that unnerving feeling of someone scrutinizing me, I turn toward the direction I’m feeling the stares at, to a man sitting on a barstool. He wore a black suit, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar revealing a bit of his golden-colored skin. His suit did nothing to hide his muscular physique underneath as his shirt hugged him tautly.  Saying he is handsome could be an understatement, he is very attractive in a manly kind of way. He had the sort of feature that could make you turn twice to look at him again or even make you gawk.  From his sharp jawline to the dark stubble on his face, and his silky black hair as dark as midnight, Gosh, I wonder how it will feel to brush my fingers through it. His eyes were a dark gray almost black as he narrowed his eyes on my face. I quickly break eye contact as I saw his eyes growing darker. Maybe he mistook my stare as a challenge something very common among the werewolf community, the challenge of position, or something like that.

He makes the entire hall feel small with his presence; it was like he commands attention without even attempting to. And based on the vast power and confidence radiating off him in waves I know he is definitely the Werewolf king, King Luciano Black. I quickly turned around to leave the hall because I want nothing to do with the hybrid king, and I can’t seem to get him out of my head which is very unlike me. And his stare makes me feel some kind of way I can’t explain, for the first time my wolf is trying to break free from the concealment spell I put her on, it is like she is trying to reach out to me. This is strange and she has never done that before because we have a very complex relationship, I barely let out which is for our safety. I didn’t know he could be here I won’t have come, because I know the farther I stay away from this man the better and safer my secrets will be.

“Hello gorgeous,” An annoyingly handsome vampire blocked my way, I scowled and looked in his eyes, he is definitely handsome but he is no match to the hybrid king’s beauty. I mentally slapped myself for comparing them. But I physically put on a bored expression “How may I help you?” I asked blandly.

“I am just curious,” he stepped closer “What is a gorgeous witch doing all by herself in a werewolf’s birthday party?”

“I do ask you the same bloodsucker,” I retorted sharply.

He laughed haughtily amusement twirling in his black eyes “Fierce, I like that,” he extended his hand to me “I am Alexander,” he added with a smile dancing on his lips.

I studied him for a while appraising him up and down, trying to comprehend why this Vampire is acting friendly and what are his intentions because no supernatural befriend a witch except he wants something from her, but I came up with nothing. I decided to take his extended hand when a dark husky voice stopped me making my wolf turned the second time trying to break free “Stay away from her,” he said domineeringly, marching toward us.

I raised an eyebrow looking at the King standing just a few inches away from me, towering over both me and Alexander who is like 6 point something foot. He might be used to people cowering in fear at the sight of him but the immense power radiating off him have no effect on me so I didn’t cower, but his presence does make me feel little tingles all around my body and annoying butterflies flapping in my stomach.

Alexander chuckled lightly looking at the mighty Hybrid King “She is the one?” He whispered it more like a question, curiously looking between me and the King.

“Why don’t you go and hunt for your next prey Alexander, She is mine” The King growled the last part dangerously as if daring Alexander to oppose him.

“Excuse me,” I said looking up at the King “I am my own person and certainly not yours,” I turned to walk away when he quickly grabbed my arm sending a jolt of electricity into my body. I hastily pulled my arm away watching him warily.

What the hell just happen?

It took me a moment to realize he was standing less than an inch away, every time we exhaled our chests will brush against each other, and tiny tingles will erupt from where we touched. His breath was grazing my forehead slightly and my body was enjoying the close proximity.

I took a deep breath gathering my thoughts and stepped back but he stepped closer “Stop,” I raised my hand in front of me which slightly brushed his chest making the little tingles erupt again “Step back,” I added staring at him calmly trying not to give a hint of how much his presence affect me.

He tilted his head looking back and forth between my eyes with a smirk on his face; he studied me for a few seconds before his lips parted “You are not a werewolf,”

I stare at him dumbfounded unable to form a word. He stepped even closer compelling me to inhale sharply as he places his nose on my neck, he stepped back a little bit looking at me with a raised eyebrow. “You are a witch,” He stated his eyes glinting with emotions I couldn’t pinpoint and the corner of his lips tilted up in amusement.

I furrowed my brow together trying to fathom what is amusing about me being a witch, but his next words crumbled my world to pieces “What is your name Mate,” it is an ordinary question to any human but not to werewolves and me.

 I am a strong and independent female, I don’t need a mate, no I don’t want one. I don’t want any male to strode into my life and destroy it just like he did to her all in the name of being Mates. I closed my eyes and opened them slowly remembering her, I was so stupid to have stayed in this room even after all the tingles I felt, it was obvious he is my mate but I was too naïve to see it. Maybe it was because I couldn’t smell him because of the concealment spell, it tempers some of my senses.

 I unconsciously trod back from him completely losing his warmth that wrapped around me like a blanket. I turned around trying to find the nearest escape only to realize the whole Hall has been silent and they are all watching our little interaction. I gulped down looking at him again, he raised his hand to touch me but took him by surprise and darted to the nearest wall visible “Teleporte le feley,” I quickly say the spell picturing my room as I placed my hand on the wall which instantly turned white and the portal engulfed me.