Chapter 4 The Alpha Ceremony

Jaque POV

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It had been three days since the Masquerade Ball was held, and for those days, I focused on my studies. I was glad that I didn't see Adam lurking around the packhouse and the campus. He also graduated from this school a few years ago, and as the future Alpha, he was required to check the development of every facility and the status of everything in the pack.

I hadn't seen Jasmine's shadow loitering around either. The last thing I heard was that Adam called for her presence in the mansion. She must have been jumping around like a five-year-old kid, considering her wish would be fulfilled someday.

Or perhaps...SOON!

"Hey, girl!" Kelly tapped me from behind. I was sitting alone on a picnic bench under these tall pine trees at the back of the school. My classes had ended 30 minutes ago, but I didn't want to go home yet.

"Hey!" I greeted back with a smile. She sat across from me and placed a plastic cup of iced sweet americano in front of me. "I know you're gonna need this tonight. Just in case they will order you to help wash the clothes at the packhouse again!" she added with concern showing on her glowing look.

"Thanks!" I sipped the straw, and the aroma and sweet taste of the coffee tangled with my feelings right away. "Hmm, didn't I tell you, you're an angel in disguise?!" I told Kelly while giving her a grateful smile.

"Hush! We're sisters, not maybe by blood, but for me, you're my only sister!" she cooed while tapping my hand that was resting on the table. "How are you doing?"

I knew what she meant. Kelly was the only person in the pack who knew my secret, our secret. The rejection one. She promised not to tell a single soul about it, and I believed her. Kelly and I had known each other for 10 years. We're practically like sisters now. She's a family to me.

"I'm doing good. I finally moved on!" a deep sigh escaped my lips as I glanced at the surroundings. It was autumn. The maple leaves were changing in color. Our state, Vermont, had the largest growing maple trees. They changed colors around mid-September and continued changing through October. The shades of fiery red and golden yellow were dancing in the wind on top of the mountains.

"You've moved on; you mean like you accept the job at the laundry department at night so you can avoid your evil stepmother and useless dad? To add, you're just earning a penny for that horrendous work!" she stressed out. Her tone was like my mom's if she was still alive.

"It's not horrendous at all. The omegas there are friendly and I got to save money for my plan!" I also told her about my leaving after our graduation. At first, she was adamant about letting me go. But she also realized it was for the best, especially if Adam chose Jasmine to be his Luna.

"Still, that's a hard job. You go to school in the morning, then work in the evening. Even our little Saturday bonding once in a while is sacrificed!" she pouted her lips while stomping her feet on the ground. I chuckled at that little cuteness she was showing at that moment. Kelly, for sure, could brighten my mood.

"You're adorable. How I wished you were my mate," I jeered, earning me a scowl.

"Shut up! I'm not lesbian, darling!" she jeered back. "Speaking of Luna!" she stopped chewing her egg mayo sandwich and sternly stared at me. "Our future Alpha, whose name was not to be mentioned, ugh!" I chuckled at her words and expressions. "Would be having another party tomorrow night!" extravagant, huh?! They were just throwing away cash like that!

"Party for what this time?" I also disliked the idea. Alpha Drake and Luna Rose were one of the richest in Vermont and some neighboring states, but having two parties in a week, I shared the same opinion with Kelly.

Too much and too showy!

"For our future Alpha's ceremony and the declaration of his Luna!" she rolled her eyes as she took a big chunk of her sandwich.

I was, for a while, zoned out. That must have been the reason why Jasmine had been staying in the mansion. They were preparing her for the Luna title. Impressive for the pack members who didn't know the truth!

That I was Adam's fated mate!

"Well, good for her!" I just shrugged my shoulders and was about to get up from my seat when Kelly and I heard a crisp voice I didn't want to hear.

"Hey, Jaque!" it was Jasmine.

"Oh geez! Speaking of the slut in the flesh!" Kelly whispered. The disgust on her face was visible.

"Hey, my dear sister!" she stood beside me, her hands were on her hips. Beside her were her cronies, Amanda, the cheer captain, and Zara, her full-time worshiper. Zara followed Jasmine everywhere. If Jasmine gave Zara access to our house, sure, she would like to live there for a long time.

"Yes, Jasmine!" I answered blankly. I glanced at Kelly, and she was pissed. She was gradually eating the sandwich she bought from the school canteen while her scowl was fixed on them.

"You have to do my hair tomorrow afternoon. Mom's favorite hair stylist can't come. She is in New York for her son's wedding!" as demanding as she was, she didn't realize I had classes tomorrow afternoon.

It was Kelly who cut the string of my patience. She stood up and slammed her fist on the table, making her knuckles red. I could even feel the pain in it. All three of them shifted their shocked stare at my best friend.

"What's your problem this time, Kelly?" it was Amanda while playing with the strands of her long, curly black hair.

"Oh! Don't you piss me off, all three of you!" Kelly deeply voiced out. "Jaque isn't going to do your hair tomorrow afternoon, and for the rest of your pathetic life!"

"You watch your tongue!" Amanda pointed her index at Kelly, but the latter just slapped it.

"You're talking to our future Luna here, Kelly!" Zara chimed in. She was a shoulder shorter than the rest of us but still tall at an average height. "How dare you say that to her? You wanna be punished?!" Zara was indeed enjoying being Jasmine's biggest fan.

I got up and strode to Kelly. I held her arm right away. Kelly was a sweet friend, but once she's pissed, better go away. "She's not my Luna. I will never accept her as my Luna!" Kelly spat out, making Jasmine gasp in fury.

"Kelly, I'm warning you. I'm going to be your Luna soon, and the first thing that I'm going to do is punish you!" Jasmine roared.

Their voices were so loud that some of the students were now circling us. I nudged Kelly's arm, but she was hell-bent on fighting these three wolf b!tches.

"Oh! Bring it on, b!tch!" Kelly even dared. Jasmine was now beyond furious, and so was Kelly. I kept nudging my best friend and pulling the hem of her shirt, but her mind was already clouded with rage. Rage for me, for everything they had done.

"Kelly, c'mon. Let's go!" I tried to talk to her, but she was deaf. All she wanted at the moment was to punch Jasmine and give me justice.

"You b!tch!" Jasmine raised her hand, ready to attack Kelly when an authoritative tone barged in, making us all glance behind Jasmine. "What's going on here?" it was Andrew. Behind him was Adam. His stern look was glued to me.

For a while, the three she-wolves stopped and fixed their fanatic stares at the future Alpha and future Beta. Kelly was still shaking, and her fists were held tight. Her eyes were on her brother, who didn't even care to take a slight glimpse at Adam.

"Adam, babe!" Jasmine immediately looped her hand around Adam's muscled arms. The latter just took a glance at her, then shifted back his gaze at me. "These two were bullying me. Jaque doesn't want to do my hair tomorrow for the coronation night, and Kelly just went frantic. She said she doesn't recognize me as her future Luna!" she uttered in a self-deprecating tone. Her cronies bobbed their heads in approval at once.

"Oh! I didn't say that. Know your terms, Jasmine. Buy a dictionary!" Kelly answered back. I clamped my mouth with my palm with Kelly's obvious declaration of Jasmine's stupidity. Andrew also coughed while tapping her shoulder. "I said I don't want to accept you as my Luna!" if there should be Andrew's female counterpart, that was Kelly, his own sister. They're like twins when it comes to fierceness and calmness.

"You?!" Jasmine was stupefied. She automatically cried and asked for Adam's help. "You heard that, babe. They have no respect for me!" she leaned her head on Adam's broad chest. The latter hugged her at once. If only Adam would see Jasmine's expression now, she was sneering. Even Andrew shook his head in disbelief.

"Jasmine, you should stop bullying Jaque!" Suddenly Andrew butted in. He also held my hand while giving Jasmine a dagger stare. "It's not her job to be your servant. She's your sister for f*ck sake!" he was pissed. I could tell from the tone of his voice to the tight grip of my hand.

"Andrew?!" I asked, confused. Kelly was just sneering, thinking her brother was acting as our shield and Jasmine and her friends should be worried about it.

"Andrew, what are you talking about?!" it was Jasmine. "Why are you taking their side?" Is it by any chance that Jaque is your mate?"

Everyone gasped, especially Kelly. Her vision shifted from me to her brother, who, at the moment, was also staring deeply at me.

"Andrew, what is this?" I asked in a whisper, forgetting that Adam was watching us. Andrew leaned his head closer to me with just an inch away from his mouth to my lips. "Don't worry, I got this!" he also whispered back with a smile.

"Brother, is Jaque your...mate?" Although Kelly knew that Adam was my mate, a second-chance mate could also be possible.

"Answer your sister's question, Andrew!" it was Adam with a stern tone. His sharp gaze could totally cut Andrew in half. "Is... Jaque... your ... mate?" he couldn't utter properly. He was stuttering but didn't really show it. His tone was deep and authoritative.

"I can't tell, Adam. I just don't want Jasmine to bully Jaque again. If she's going to be our future Luna, then she should act like one!" Everyone was dumbstruck at his stern voice. His eyes were fixed on Jasmine, giving her a warning. "If not, I might follow my sister's words. I can't respect and obey a Luna who bullies her pack members!"

That was rich coming from a future beta!

"Andrew, are you out of your mind?" Jasmine didn't want to admit defeat. "Babe, look at them. They're disrespecting me in front of you!" she was acting like a clingy girlfriend who couldn't live without her man beside her. He was not even his fated mate. How stupid and unscrupulous?!

Andrew glanced at me and suddenly touched my cheek. "Are you all right?" he asked. His words were laced with worries and concern. I almost jolted at the sudden electricity his touch made.

"Yeah! I'm all right. Thanks for this, but you don't have to ~"

"That's enough!" Adam roared, cutting me off. His eyes were still fixed on me. We all stared at him with our mouths hung ajar. "Tomorrow night is a very important event in Blood Moon Pack. This isn't just about the Alpha Ceremony, but the Rogue King Logan Knight is also coming!"

Logan Knight?!

All five of us glanced at each other with an awe look. We all knew about Logan Knight. He was ruthless and fearless. However, none of us, not even in other packs, had seen him in person.

A lot of speculations said that he was old since he's been the Rogue King for a decade now. Others said he was too d*mn ugly; that's why he was hiding his look from all of us. Some even said he was not real and just a myth to scare the pups in every pack.

"So, I want all of you to be on your best behavior when he comes!"

Andrew glanced at me when he noticed I was staggering. He placed his hand on my shoulder to keep me steady. When I glanced at him, he just gave me a wink. A f*cking cute wink.

"Especially you, Jaque Davis!"

What?! When I shifted my stare at Adam, I saw red on those sapphire orbs. Was he furious?!