02. The Mate Choosing Ball

ERIN

     I was about to leave for The Black Blood Pack, the pack Alpha Axel ruled over and where the mate–choosing ball would take place.

I had taken delicate measures, covering up my black eye with tons of make–up to avoid stares, gossip and questioning.

However, I wished there was a way I could cover up the breaks in my heart and somehow repair the aftermath of the pain it had been subdued to.

     I stood in front of the grand mirror in my bedroom as I carefully ran my fingers over the soft, royal purple fabric of the regal dress I was wearing.

The fabric draped elegantly over my curves and was adorned with beading that shimmered in the light.

The dress hugged my waist before flaring out into a full, flowing skirt that would brush the ground as I walked.

I sighed, my mind drifting back to Alpha Magnus. He's the Alpha of the Yellow Moon Pack, a subsidiary territory attached to ours – The Silver Star pack, and hence was not as powerful as ours.

   My gaze fell on the purple amulet reflecting in the mirror, its jewel glinting in a magnificent sparkle.

My hands met with the amulet and I clutched it, running the pad of my thumb on the smooth surface of the gem.

Despite how much I just wanted to yank the necklace off and throw it into a deep sea, I couldn't.

Just like I wished I could stop loving Magnus and step away from the toxicity of our relationship, just like how I wished I could stop myself from feeling his arms around me, how I wished I could stop myself from hearing his 'I love you, Erin' echo in my brain, how I wished I could stop the reminders of his lips against mine.

But I couldn't. I had dug a pit and purposely pushed myself into it; I saw the opening above me, freedom at my reach, yet I decided to remain in the pit.

    I flicked a tear away from my eye and lowered my gaze, centering on my barely protruding stomach – in only a matter of time, it would be visible that I was pregnant for my toxic lover.

With this baby in my womb, it was almost impossible to escape my self–dug pit. This child would forever join Alpha Magnus and I together.

Yet, I haven't been able to tell him about it.

A soft knock on my door jolted me out of my thoughts and I tore my tearing eyes away from the mirror, "Who is it?" I questioned.

"It's me, Anexa." She replied and a small smile lit up my face. Anexa was my Beta and best friend. "We're late for the ball, you have to hurry up your preparations, princess!" She added in a yell.

"A moment, Nexa. I'll be right out." I said and took one last look at myself in the mirror before I picked up my purse and headed out of my bedroom.

-:-

"Another shot, please." I said, pushing forward the shot glass to the kind waiter. He gave a curt nod, took my glass and went on to pour a refill.

I was all alone and bored, alcohol my only companion as Anexa hadn't come with me.

Last minute, just as we were about to get into the vehicle and leave, a maid delivered a letter to her. She read through the letter and immediately said she had to leave.

I begged that she postponed it, but she said it was important and urgent

This was my fourth shot, and I should really think about slowing down.

But I had nothing else to do – the main reason we were all gathered here was for Alpha Axel to choose a mate, and the Alpha Axel wasn't even in the ball. No one has seen him since we got here.

Hence, the ball could not start and I have been busying myself with shots of alcohol.

   I hoped he would show up, as the only reason I was here was because I had to warn him about his impending death, which was tomorrow. I wasn't here to be his prospective mate, I was here to warn him.

I didn't know how or where he would die, but I knew he definitely would die tomorrow if precautions are not taken – my visions have never failed me.

So I had to find him and tell him to be careful, maybe seek help from his sorcerers and diviners.

"Your drink, ma'am." The clink of the glass on the counter snapped me out of my thoughts and I looked up at the bartender.

A slight smile danced at the corners of my mouth, "Address me as Princess Erin," I murmured, leaning in closer, my voice hushed. "Ma'am is for the aged folk," I jestingly added, eliciting a chuckle from the bartender.

"Sure, Princess Erin. Please, enjoy your drink." He said, gave a slight bow of reverence before he turned and left.

Fourth shot; I downed it in a quick gulp. It was then the alcohol started to get to me; the instant wave of hotness settled uncomfortably in my chest and beads of sweat started to break out of my forehead.

The room suddenly became too suffocated and puffy as I found it hard to draw in a fresh breath.

Ultimately, I decided that I had had enough shots for the night and it was time to step aside for a while, maybe for a few minutes.

Probably by then, this Alpha Axel guy would've shown up and this ball would begin.

As I hopped off the stool, I missed my step and nearly tripped. However, I was quick to gain my stance and continued to slightly stagger as I made my way out of the auditorium.

   Immediately I stepped out, the soothening of the gentle wind hit me, tingling my skin and prompting up the sparse appearance of goosebumps.

I looked in front of me and a large ladder–like stairway stood before me. I arched my brows as I looked at it in curiosity – the same curiousity thrived at the end of the day and I found myself walking up the stairway.

Turned out the stairway led to the very top of the auditorium, not a balcony but the roof itself – a flat space.

Debris was scattered about; broken plastic and woods littered all over, a rickety air conditioner was perched on the wall and that looked like it would pull apart with each turn of its blade. But then, my eye caught something else…

"Father, you can't keep treating me like in a fucking child, for god's sake!"

"How dare you speak to me in that manner, son? Have you completely lost your mind?"

The older man, who had been referred to as 'father', was dressed in a purple regal uniform – just like the ones the royal wolves wore, so he was definitely an Alpha.

The younger man was dressed casually; khaki pants, a white shirt, with it's sleeves rolled up to his upper arms and—you won't believe it— but he also had on sandals! At a ball? Such atrocity!

Who the hell does that? He looked like he was dressed to go out on a Sunday evening stroll.

   The argument continued and I watched keenly, not being able to hear anything as their tones were now hushed.

The younger man had his hands tucked into his pockets as his father spoke and from the looks of it, that action was setting the old man off.

Eventually, the Alpha got enraged and stormed off and I quickly hid behind the rickety air conditioner to avoid being seen. I watched as he took another exit and went downstairs.

     Immediately his father left, the man let out a loud groan that startled even me. Then he picked up a nearby, idle chair in a fit of rage and suddenly smashed it on the ground and it made my heart jump, the wooden splinters scattering all around

I forced myself to swallow down the frightened gasp that escaped my mouth and literally had to pin my lips shut.

The rolled up sleeves bared his muscles and they tensed, the indents rippling in anger and sweat glistened on his skin.

He looked like he would explode from anger any moment from now, he was heaving heavy breaths and staring awfully long at the broken chair on the ground with gritted teeth.

A moment more passed and he pulled back, running his hands through his dark–brown hair and then walking away from the mess he made.

He had his back turned to me now, he put his hand into his back pocket and took out a cigarette and a lighter as well. He lit the cigarette and inserted it into his mouth, taking in a drag.

    A tingling sensation welled in my chest, urging me to take advantage of the fact that he wasn't looking now and leave here – he looked like the person that wouldn't be pleased, should he know that I have been watching him.

Yet, I still found myself rooted to that very spot, my eyes taking in his form before me and feeling the sensation of the mysterious and enigmatic aura he emitted.

Just in that moment, his shoulders slacked and he took out the cigarette, a puff of smoke escorting the removal.

Suddenly, he turned around to face me and our gazes met. I felt the strong intensity of his boring deep into mine and I nearly melted into a frightened puddle at the spot.