Chapter 4

"Don't look at me that way, Rett." Alpha's tone was laced with irritation, and it was clear that any action taken at this point would not be taken lightly. Nero Astadel voiced his complaints to his Beta.

They sat comfortably in the limousine. The Alpha with his legs crossed sat in a relaxed position. The mere thought of attending such gatherings fills him with an intense aversion. With her arms crossed, the Alpha gazed out of the window.

With a heavy heart, he made a conscious decision to delay his arrival, fully aware of the consequences that would follow. The reason for his reluctance was none other than Alpha Maurius, the formidable leader of the city, whose presence he wished to avoid at all costs. He harbored a distaste for his own bravado and the manner in which it interacted with fellow Alphas.

"Exercise patience for a few hours, Alpha," the Beta advised. "We couldn't have been there for more than a couple of hours, yet you're still running behind schedule," Rett replied. His Beta tone was laced with teasing. Nero cast a disdainful glance towards the Beta, rolling his eyes in a display of contempt.

Nero's demeanor exudes a sense of unease, for his entire being is on the brink of collapse. As he set foot into the unfamiliar territory, an inexplicable unease began to gnaw at him.

Despite his best efforts to shake off the feeling, it persisted, a persistent nagging at the back of his mind. He couldn't quite put his finger on what was causing this sense of disquiet, but he knew that something was amiss.

The Alpha was feeling a sense of confusion and restlessness. Despite having arrived only a few hours ago, he appeared to be driven by an insatiable desire to scour the entire city in search of what his system yearned for.

"Alpha?" Alpha Relief washed over Nero as Rett's voice echoed through the air. He gazed upon the Beta, his eyebrows arching upwards.

"What?" Nero retorted to his Beta with a menacing growl. The sound of Beta's snort echoed through the car.

"You are truly terrible, Nero. If our friendship hadn't been of such long standing, I might have been led to believe that you harbored some sort of ill will towards me," Rett remarked, feigning a sense of hurt.

As best friends, Rett often referred to her as Nero when they were alone.

"Do not bring that up," he spat with venom, his eyes narrowing at the offender. Alpha Nero's anger flared as he spoke, "Be grateful that your mate is not present. Your lack of tact and penchant for drama would surely have earned you a blow from her."

A smirk played on Rett's lips. Alpha Nero paid no attention to Rett's taunting and instead turned his gaze towards the window once more.

The sleek limousine in which they were traveling hailed from the Alpha mansion, an opulent estate situated in the southeastern region of the city. They were collected from the hotel where they were presently residing.

"We have arrived, Alpha," Beta Rett declared. Nero, the alpha, emitted a low, menacing growl. As soon as the vehicle came to a halt, he promptly emerged from its confines.

He yearned for the ball to conclude promptly, eager to return to their city without delay. Despite his trust in his staff, Nero couldn't help but worry about the security of his city.

As he emerged from the vehicle and set foot upon the smooth, paved pathway leading to the grand estate, the assembled crowd of individuals and lycanthropes scattered in fear at the mere sight of him.

"F*ck!" He let out a quieted exclamation, the profanity slipping past his lips.

Several individuals appeared pale and trembling, overcome with fear. With a nonchalant air, Alpha Nero rolled his eyes, seemingly unfazed by the reactions of those around him. It was evident that these individuals placed their faith in hearsay, alleging that he took lives without any justifiable cause.

He entered the room ahead of Rett, who followed closely behind. The invitation was deemed unnecessary as the guards displayed a willingness to grant them entry. As they were ushered in, their body trembled uncontrollably, their head bowed in submission.

Alpha Nero snarled, his eyes scanning the surroundings with disdain. "See, this is why I despise coming here," he muttered under his breath. Beta Rett, standing beside him, chuckled at his Alpha's irritation. The Beta takes pleasure in observing his Alpha endure pain.

The attendees of the gathering promptly disperse or steer clear of anyone crossing their path. As Nero crossed the threshold of the mansion, his heart began to race uncontrollably. It was as if his body had taken on a life of its own, and he was powerless to stop the surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins.

The scents of orange and chocolate wafted into his nostrils, filling his senses with their rich and enticing fragrances. The aroma caresses his nostrils, soothing his senses. The alluring aroma permeated his entire being, causing him to nearly shut his eyes in ecstasy.

He was left with no alternative but to draw the substance into his lungs.

As he made his way down the crimson pathway towards Alpha Maurius, his jaw clenched with determination.

Alpha Nero sensed a warm gaze on his right side and instinctively knew its origin. He resisted the urge to cast his gaze upon it, for fear that his entire being would be thrown into disarray.

"Congratulations on attending the mating ball, Alpha Astadel. May you find your mate," Alpha Maurius said to him. Nero had the urge to roll his eyes, but he refrained from doing so and instead offered a cordial greeting to the elderly gentleman.

"Good day, Alpha Maurus. Thank you for allowing us into your humble abode," he remarked coldly. Alpha Maurius gave a subtle nod, understanding that Alpha Astadel was not one to engage in social interactions among the lycans.

Alpha Nero felt his emotions intensifying as he searched for the source of his unease. His eyes scanned the area until they landed on a pair of brown almond-shaped eyes staring directly at him.

Alpha Nero is a man for whom the world comes to a standstill. The faint current that coursed through his body now surged with a furious intensity, electrifying his veins. The woman held in her possession a will that bore a solemn promise from him, a vow to go to any lengths for her sake.

Transported to their own world, he and the woman found themselves in a place that was entirely unfamiliar. The lycan within him stirred, its primal instincts calling out for its mate. Alpha Nero was taken aback.

'Mate is a fairy tale!' His mind echoed with a deafening scream. 'It is impossible!' Alpha Nero's mind reverberated with another shout.

Nero was in disbelief at the current turn of events. It had been centuries since the lycans had last acknowledged the existence of their destined mate. The connection between the lycan and their fated partner had long been forgotten, spanning several hundred years.

Their eyes were fixed on one another. Alpha Nero is more sensitive to mate bond than woman. As they locked eyes, a sudden shift occurred, and they found themselves transported to a world where only the two of them existed.

His hands trembled uncontrollably, and beads of sweat dripped down his forehead. The Alpha gritted his teeth, his gaze averted from the woman before him.

The man was able to divert his gaze. He made a conscious effort to avert his gaze from her, all the while keeping his ears attuned to Alpha Maurius' words. However, his mind was unable to fully absorb the Alpha's discourse.

The woman's face was preoccupying Nero. Uncertainty gnaws at him as he struggles to discern the veracity of his current circumstances. Not even a glance was spared for the woman.

Alpha Nero's mind wandered as he conversed with Alpha Maurius; his thoughts fixated on a pair of captivating brown eyes that had locked onto his own earlier. Hope glimmered in her eyes, which were visible to Nero. He also observed both admiration and sorrow.

Alpha Nero attempted to console her with words of reassurance, but deep down, his pride and principles conflicted with his attempts to provide comfort. 'The f*cking hell! What is going on with me?" He yelled to himself.

After a few moments of talking with Alpha Maurius, he didn't catch up on anything they were talking about. He cast a fleeting glance toward the periphery of his vision, hoping to catch a glimpse of the girl's eyes once more.

Unfortunately, they had vanished without a trace.He was trembling in terror as a sense of terror gripped him from within. He had been on the verge of leaving Rett and the Alpha of the city behind, determined to track down the woman he sought. Yet, as he had done countless times before, he halted himself just in time.

"So, what is your opinion about it, Alpha Astadel?" Alpha Maurius asked him."It depends on how one treats their people, Alpha," he replied, his tone measured and thoughtful, despite not yet knowing the topic at hand.

Alpha Nero could not seem to shake his restlessness, no matter how many times he attempted to restrain himself. The individual with whom Nero conversed, the Alpha, gave a nod in agreement. Alpha Maurius found himself perplexed by Nero's own actions.

"Will you make a decision on a life partner tonight, Alpha Astadel?" Alpha Maurius persisted, this time with a smile that made Nero uncomfortable.

Nero possessed the uncanny ability to read someone's thoughts. "The prospect of choosing a partner at the ball had left me without a clear strategy. I'm afraid none of these women appeal to me," he declared resolutely. Alpha Maurius was taken aback by Alpha Nero's response.

Alpha Maurius stood there, his mouth agape, unable to form any words. Earlier, when Alpha Nero glanced at the woman's plight, he did so without showing any emotion.

The Alpha went forward and peered around for the woman without responding, as if he had completely forgotten what had just been uttered.

"Alpha! Where are you going?!" Rett's voice echoed through the empty hallway, calling out to him. However, the Alpha remained steadfast, refusing to meet Rett's gaze.

With lightning speed, he scoured the area in search of the girl. He trailed after the alluring aroma that emanated from her. Those who impede his progress are merely fearful and hastily clear a path.

He searched for the woman with utmost seriousness. "D*mn!" He uttered a curse. Exiting the grand mansion, he caught a whiff of her alluring scent and began to follow it. He is directed outside.

"Have you happened to catch sight of a woman, draped in a midnight-hued gown, departing from this vicinity?" He spat out his words at the guards, his anger visible. Their throats tightened as they contemplated their reply. "She went in that direction, Alpha."

He fled the scene without expressing his gratitude. The rapid beating of his heart reverberated within his chest, as if it were a prisoner yearning to break free from its bony confines.

At the sight of her graceful gait, he couldn't help but let out a silent yelp of excitement. However, his expression quickly turned to one of fury when he observed another person make physical contact with her, an action that she evidently did not appreciate.

"What! I have already made it clear that you are not wanted," she exclaimed firmly. "Leave me alone!" she cried out, her voice echoing through the empty road. The sound of her voice echoed through the forest as she snapped at the lycan with the ferocity of a tigress.

Alpha Nero was infuriated and yanked out his own claws and fangs as the lycan refused to back down.

"Get off the woman, f*cker, or I'll rip you to shreds!"