Chapter Four

Chapter Four.

                           Zeeland

Jaslyn's expression was grim and determined as she lifted the cup towards her lips. My heart raced fast, and just when she was about to drink from the poisoned wine, I barked, “Stop!”

Arching an eyebrow at me but without saying a word, she lowered the cup.

“You passed,” I said quietly.

“Passed what?” She asked with obvious confusion.

“The Luna's test,” A member of the council said from behind her. My face closed up at the sight of him, and his face wasn't better off.

He'd supported my stepbrothers and had wanted one of them to become the Alpha. Of course he wasn't pleased that Jaslyn had passed the test to become the Luna, which had in turn cleared the passageway for me to become the Alpha.

“Congratulations,” he was saying now, his eyes trained on me as if saying the battle wasn't over. I knew that of course, and was prepared for whatever was coming.

I lifted my chin. “Thank you, Tyvera.”

He grunted what passed either as a response or admission of anger, and stomped off.

“Care to explain where you went to at the start of the party?” I asked, once he was out of earshot.

Jaslyn flashed a guilty glance at me, and shook her head, her mouth opening to speak.

“And don't think of lying to me.” I warned.

Her mouth snapped shut, opened and snapped shut again. A furious look crossed her face.

“I’ll do that after you tell me what this-” she gestured at the cup in her hand, and back in the direction where Tyvera had gone, “-was all about.” She finished off.

My brows furrowed. “Trying to change the topic?”

She merely shrugged.

I was inwardly pissed. “This was a test.” I finally said.

She waited, and when I didn't continue, frowned. “And that can pass off as an explanation?”

I didn't respond.

Different looks flashed across her face, anger, frustration and even guilt.

On a sigh she said, “I went to relieve myself.”

I scoffed at that explanation. “That’s not true.” I knew it wasn't, because I sent my Beta to search for her. I’d been worried, but I'd never admit that to her.

“Well, you better believe it. Why would you think I was trying to run away? And before you say I had every reason to, of course I do. But I was in the clutches of slave traders for years, and didn't try to escape. Why should I do so now?”

My argument died on my lips, and I clamped them shut. She was right.

But in that brief moment when I'd thought she escaped, I'd felt an agony that was greater than what I'd felt at the news of my parents death. And I didn't like it one bit.

I didn't like the fact that I was currently ogling at Jaslyn in her beautiful and sexy outfit, like a sexually starved man. Fortunately, she didn't notice.

“Kiss me,” I blurted out without thinking.

“W-what?” she whispered.

Gaining control of my thoughts once more, I gestured at her to draw close. It turned out to be a huge mistake. I'd been aware of Jaslyn's scent ever since she dashed into the party hall. It was a beautiful and intoxicating scent; a mix of vanilla, flora, and an undertone of chocolate. Whatever cologne she was putting on was fucking good.

But now, within close proximity I was hypersensitive to her scent, and it was all it took not to pull her close and ravish her right there in front of everyone.

“Pretend to kiss me.” I whispered subconsciously in a low voice. While werewolves weren't known for heightened hearing, there were a few guests within earshot.

I felt her stiffen, and a low gasp escaped her lips.

“Act naturally,” I hissed, tightening my grip around her waist. “There are people watching us.” I added.

She let out a low breath, and lowered her lips towards mine. My gaze was suddenly focused on her full and puckered lips, just as I felt a hardening sensation in my groin area.

Once close, she let her lips briefly graze my cheek, and let it remain there for a while. From our angle, it'd seem to everyone else that we were kissing intimately.

“Good enough?” she murmured against my cheek, and I almost groaned at the effect it had on me.

“Yes.” I said stiffly.

She nodded, and withdrew with a forced smile.

Her gaze was unreadable as she glanced at me before looking away, and gesturing at a waiter and grabbing a drink.

I gave myself a mental shake, and schooled my expression into a cold one. Jaslyn was nothing but an Omega, my fake mate and someone I didn't want to have sexual relations with.

‘She’s our mate.’ Raven whispered into my mind. I almost gave a startled gasp. My inner wolf hadn't spoken to me in years and I'd almost forgotten that we could communicate with each other.

‘No, she's not.’ I whispered back, even though there was no need. We were inwardly communicating after all.

‘And what if she is?’ He argued stubbornly. I sighed outwardly. He wasn't going to back down easily of course.

‘Then I'll reject her.’ I said without thinking.

‘You’ll do no such thing. Why would you reject our mate?!’ He yelled hysterically.

‘She’s not our mate, Raven. She's an Omega, and below my class.’ I grunted, in a pissed off tone.

I didn't realize I'd spoken the last part aloud, until I heard Jaslyn's breath hitch audibly. I turned to see a hurt look cross her face before it vanished.

She moved away just as one of the guests came over and politely requested for a dance with her. My lips parted to quickly mutter an apology, before I swiftly changed my mind, and shook my head.

I wasn't wrong. There was no way she could be my mate. An Omega couldn't be mated to an Alpha.

No way.

I massaged my temple, and faced the direction where Jaslyn was now dancing with the average looking guy. He didn't even measure up to her shoulders, and constantly stepped on her toes. But it was the way Jaslyn intimately wrapped her arms around his neck that had me shooting laser stares at them.

‘Jealous?’ Raven sneered in my mind.

“Fuck off.” I hissed outwardly.

Thankfully, Raven didn't retort. I tried to force away my gaze from Jaslyn and Mr Average Looking Guy. He was no longer stepping on her toes, and they were now in sync. For a brief moment, I wished I was the one dancing with her.

Just as the thought surfaced, I forced it back.

“Alpha,” Dmitri’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I turned towards him. He'd always addressed me as his Alpha for as long as I could remember.

“Found them?” I asked, referring to my stepbrothers. They'd disappeared the same time as Jaslyn. Worried that they were up to something, I'd ordered Dmitri to search around for them and report if he found something unusual.

“Not yet, Alpha.” His expression was grim as he glanced towards Jaslyn's direction.

“Congratulations,” he muttered quietly.

I nodded in response.

Itching to crack my knuckles out of habit, I leaned against my chair trying to pretend I wasn't affected by the fact that Jaslyn was dancing.

Dancing with someone else that wasn't me.

Movement beside me pulled me back to reality. Dmitri was watching me closely. I flashed him a questioning look.

“Do you really think she ran away?” he whispered quietly.

I swallowed. “I don't know. But we should keep a close eye on her. Armand and Benoit too. They wouldn't take this lying down.” I said, my tone equally grim.

He nodded, but had a conflicted look on his face.

“Anything else?” I prodded.

He sighed and nodded. “The Inter-pack Alpha-Luna competition is in a few months.” He reminded me.

I frowned. “You’re worried about me? That I'd fail?”

He shook his head. “Not you. Her,” he said, referring to Jaslyn.

“What do you mean?” I sat up straight.

“She has no inner wolf, how's she going to compete with other Lunas?” He asked, and I suddenly felt faint.

The fact that I hadn't considered that made my stomach clench. I was always organized, and prided myself on it. On the fact that I never lost control. However, since Jaslyn crashed into my world, everything seemed to tumble over for me. For the first time in years, I was looking at a woman as a woman and not some mediocre being.

I quickly pushed the thoughts away for fear of sporting an erection in such a public place.

“What do you suggest?” I asked my Beta on a sigh.

“Every werewolf has an inner wolf. We just have to find a way to awaken hers.” Dmitri suggested.

I nodded. That made sense.

When I turned back to Jaslyn, she was dancing with another partner. Another average looking man. And she was fvcking laughing at whatever funny thing he said.

Damnit.

“Roll me over.” I ordered Dmitri who obeyed without question.

Jaslyn turned a startled glance and forced a smile at us when we approached.

“A word with you.” I said, staring directly into her eyes.

“But I'm still dancing-” she began saying.

“Outside. Now.” I said with narrowed eyes, gesturing at Dmitri to roll me over outside.