1. The Encounter.

MIRANDA

"I, Alpha Daniel Brooke, reject you, Miranda Cosgrove, as my mate and future Luna. Please leave and never show your face again!" 

Tears welled up in my eyes as he pointed in the direction from which I was supposed to leave.

I turned eighteen last week which I thought would be the happiest day of my life, He came home wishing me a happy birthday, and then we found out that we were mates, I was so excited not realizing the disgust in his eyes. Imagine finding out, after a year and a half, that your boyfriend has been using you to pass his term exams.

We have been friends since high school, though he entered late. He always stood up for me whenever those three troublemakers and the rest of their gang tried to bully me.

It's been two years since high school. He has already gotten admission into college, but I couldn't keep up because I'm facing financial issues. 

"Even so, you wouldn't have betrayed me by dating Lisa, knowing she was one of them."

I had many bullies back then, and she was one of them. I just found out that he was cheating on me with her after she messaged me to stay away from him, sending me videos of them kissing and one would be surprised when I said that I wasn't ready to believe what she sent to me.

I wiped my tears with my hands and sniffed. This betrayal was worse than I ever imagined. He didn't even look like he regretted what he did, he scoffed with his emotionless facial expression showing as he rolled his eyes and then slammed the door. 

If anyone had told me that a day like this would come, I would have said it was a big lie because of how close we were in high school.

Now I finally understand, No wonder I was the only one doing the assignments assigned to us. The worst part was that I would complete them in two different ways for him, working my ass off so he could pick one, but he took both of them. My pea-sized brain didn't realize he was giving the other one to Lisa.

"I accept your rejection and sever any form of ties with you!"

As I walked out of the restaurant, I made sure to behave myself, wiping away my tears and putting a fake smile on my face to avoid anyone looking at me strangely. 

We were having a special guest at the bar that night, so all of the bartenders were advised to be on their best behavior. I needed to act well so that I wouldn't lose my job; I had to work hard to raise money for my tuition fees.

Life was too hard for me, but I had to live it after my dad died because of cancer. I only live with my mother and we are doing everything to survive. We are lone wolves, we don't have a pack to protect us and we are still doing fine. 

A Mercedes Benz drove past me into the restaurant as I saw a familiar face of a woman who was flirting with a man inside the car. 

"Isn't that my mum?" I exclaimed.

"She is!" I watched as the car drove into the restaurant. She looked so happy in the backseat with this mysterious man but the cab I called was already honking, signaling for me to come inside. 

I couldn't believe it. After all these years my mum was dating another man? Or am I misunderstanding? 

Why didn't she at least tell me? My mother had raised me as a single mother for sixteen years after my father died of cancer. Hence, it was surprising to see her with another man.

I entered the car and took the ride to the bar I worked at with a gloomy face.

**********

 At the bar, I found a quiet corner, the dim light casting shadows around me. I took a deep breath and sipped my whiskey. I couldn't decide what was more frustrating, the blaring music or Daniel's betrayal. Just then, Ruby’s eyes widened as she snatched the glass from my hand.

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you drinking?” Her voice was filled with concern.

"I was just rejected by my mate,” I muttered.

"What?” She exclaimed in shock and disbelief. “But is that why you want to waste yourself?" She said, dropping the glass out of my reach.

"I'm so sorry, dear,” she said, wrapping an arm around me. “Just try not to overthink it. We all know recovering from heartbreak isn't easy," she advised as I let out a sad sigh.

Since I started working as a bartender, Ruby has always been there for me when the other staff treated me poorly. And don’t get me started on our manager, Mrs. Andy, her harsh treatment makes me feel constantly belittled but I had no choice than to bear them all.

I returned to work and have been handling customer requests for the past two hours.  I hope I don’t pass out; I took three shots of whiskey, thinking it would help me forget the painful rejection, which was pretty foolish.

In this bar, junior bartenders earn at least eight hundred dollars a month, but I have to work hard to move up to a senior position that pays five thousand and sadly I need to save at least thirty-five thousand dollars while my mom works as a maid in a pack.

"I heard the Lycans are coming, but I'm not sure if they're hosting a party or anything."

I raised my eyebrows. "The Lycans are the special guests?"

"Yes, the most powerful Lycans are coming to our bar today," she smiled as she continued washing the glasses.

I frowned. It had been a long time since I’d seen a Lycan or even heard about them. They’re some of the most wicked creatures to ever exist, and I personally don’t like them and never will.

As I left the kitchen with a bucket of glass cups, I noticed the music in the bar had faded significantly. I started cleaning the glasses and placing them on the shelves, my eyes wandering to see what was happening, there are few guests there who are even set to leave. Where were the special guests?

I scoffed and turned my head to the left, where I saw a man standing in front of my manager, Mrs. Andy. 

The dim blue and green lights made it hard to see him clearly, but his piercing golden eyes locked onto mine, causing my heart to sink. I quickly looked away. 

Could they be Lycans? Their eyes glowed golden in the dark, which was really mesmerizing.

While Lycans are amongst the deadliest of creatures in history, some possess an attractive nature as well.

"Three glasses over here!" Andy shouted as I flinched, her sharp voice rising above the music, which had lowered in volume.

As I began to take the empty glasses to her, I accidentally bumped into a man, causing all the drinks to fall from my hands. 

My eyes widened and my mouth gaped open as I shook my head in horror, watching the drinks pour all over the stranger's body.

"I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry, Mr…" I stammered.

But his scent was also intoxicating. I didn't mind looking up at him as I began to clean the white stains on his shirt with my handkerchief.

"Enough."

That was a very familiar voice. As I looked up at him, our eyes met, and I was taken aback by who was standing in front of me.

"Oliver!!!"

I took a few steps backward. I couldn't fathom who I was seeing as I turned around and saw someone coming in my direction who looked exactly like him.

"Owen!!!"

I gasped and placed my hands over my widened mouth.

I had never imagined in my life that I would meet the ones who made my life a living hell, who bullied me when I was in high school.

What were they doing here?

I can't stand them. I can't contain the trauma they brought upon me, which made me accept the fact that I was a weakling and would never be loved by anyone.

"What the hell have you done??"  

Suddenly, Andy stormed over, with her jaw clenched, she came closer to me as fear welled up in my eyes. I felt like I might pee myself as her eyes widened, and she raised her hand and the next thing I felt was a loud slap on my cheeks.

"My goodness, I'm so sorry, Alpha Oliver. Please don't kill her. I promise she will would be punished instead"

She apologized on my behalf as she turned to me with a stern looking face. "Apologize now!" 

She ordered me, but I remained silent with my head bowed down, shaking within me. How could I apologize to him after everything he put me through? So that means they were the special guests we were expecting.

This is just five percent of what he did to me in high school, and it was done deliberately. My heart raced as I met Oliver's gaze, he shot me a fierce glare then raised one of his eyebrows up.

Apologize? Never!