CHAPTER 4

CRYSTAL

I closed my eyes for a moment and when I opened them again, he was still standing before me. I was not dreaming! Xavier Fernandez was actually my second chance mate.

"No," I shook my head in the negative. "Impossible."

"Yes," Xavier smiled. "And now that you're mine, you have to help me."

"You are a rogue!" I cried. "I shouldn't be seen talking to you."

"I am the son of an Alpha," He chuckled. And you'd better keep your voice down."

He spun around to make sure that no one was watching before speaking again.

"You're going to help me. My brother and stepmother are trying to steal my throne. You are the key to getting it back."

My heart was pounding in my chest by now. I was trying my best to make sense of everything that was happening, but it was very hard.

Without waiting for my response, he grabbed my arm and started walking in the direction Emily and I had been coming from.

"Let go!" I cried. "You're hurting."

He released his grip on me, but didn't let go. His sharp claws bored into my wrists and I winced in pain.

In a matter of minutes, we were in front of the Omegas quarters.

"Get yourself some neat clothes," He muttered in my ears. "You'll be at the ball with me tonight."

He shoved me through the open door of the room.

"And what if I'm not at the ball?" I scoffed. "What if I don't want to be your accomplice?"

Xavier's dark eyes gazed down on me for a long time before he smiled.

"You don't have a choice, Crystal," He replied finally. "If you don't want me to let out your little secret, you've got to help me."

"Little secret?" I glared at him. "I have no secrets to hide and - "

The sight of Alicia's phone in his hand shut me up immediately and he grinned.

"You see, I've been watching you for some time now, Crystal," He muttered. "I'm pretty sure you don't want those pictures of you everywhere."

"Please," I begged. "Don't leak those pictures. Everyone would think I'm just a slut."

Xavier caressed my face with his fingers.

"Why would I do that to my mate?" He grunted. "Just cooperate and we will be fine."

I nodded slowly and he smiled.

"8pm, dinner ball, don't be late," He whistled before disappearing in the shadows.

I watched as he made his way out and as soon as he had left, Emily closed the door.

"Two brothers, one night, one mate, you?" She stared at me. "Is there something you're hiding from me, Crystal?"

"Come on," I sighed. "We've been friends for years now and you know I'll never hide anything from you. I'm as confused as you are."

She glared hard at me for a while.

"Well, I hope tonight settles everything," She said finally.

I didn't say a word in reply, but I knew that my problems were far from settled. I knew that they were only beginning. The moon goddess had mated me to two brothers in one night, two brothers who were sworn enemies. One had rejected me, and the other had accepted me. I had no idea what it meant, and I hoped that I would not get into more trouble.

A few hours later and it was time for the grand ball. Alphas and Betas from neighboring packs had begun coming in their numbers. The ceremony had barely begun but the hall was already very rowdy.

Emily had found a black dinner gown for me from her box of clothes. It was a little too small for me, but far better than everything I could boast of, and so, I had no option but to manage it.

I walked into the hall at exactly five minutes past 8 and a strong arm grabbed me. I winced in pain as I felt his claws dig into my skin.

"You're five minutes late, mate!" Xavier snarled.

I swallowed hard as his words sifted through my ears. Even though we didn't love each other, 'mate' was too formal a name.

"You can call me Crystal," I said.

"I would call you whatever I want, mate," Xavier snickered. "Now, come along."

Just like that, he grabbed my arm and led me towards a table at the forefront.

Luna Rachel, Alpha Leo, Alicia and a few other dignitaries were sitting on that table. What the hell was he thinking?

"No!" I tried to force my hand out of his grip but he was too strong.

We got to the table finally and he cleared his throat to get their attention. All eyes turned to us and Luna Rachel stood up as soon as she saw him.

"Who invited this animal in here!" She growled. "You killed my husband!"

"I would never kill my father!" Xavier announced to everyone's hearing. "Maybe it's you who killed him because you wanted your son to sit on the throne as the Alpha."

A gasp went up amongst the crowd at his words and I could see that he had stirred them up. Everyone was considering the possibility. What if the Luna actually killed her own husband?

"That's silly," Luna Rachel chuckled dryly. "I loved my husband before he died, and it was his death wish that the first of his sons to find their mate becomes the Alpha of the pack."

I watched as Alpha Leo's face went white at that moment and it was then that I realized what Xavier was doing.

"But my little brother here, Leo, has made all the Omegas in the pack address him as Alpha?" Xavier said.

He turned his attention to Leo. "Is that not true, Leo? Or have you found your mate yet?"

"My - my - mate," Alpha Leo spluttered.

Leo gazed at me, his eyes pleading. "She is my mate. Her name is Crystal. Tell everyone, Crystal. Remember, Alicia's promise - "

Leo glared hard at Alicia who was searching frantically for something in her pocket - her phone obviously, what they wanted to use to blackmail me.

Xavier retrieved the phone from his pocket and waved it in front of a confused Alicia.

"Wolves of the Blood Moon Pack, I present to you, Crystal Thorne, my very own mate, given to me by the moon goddess."

Xavier turned his attention to me. "Crystal?"

When I looked up at the faces of everyone there, I knew that my answer was going to determine who would be the next Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack.

I swallowed hard and nodded.

"Yes," I said. "Xavier Fernandez has claimed me as his mate."