Chapter 1

Scarlett POV 

I was sitting in my room and looking at my reflection in the mirror, thinking of today's ceremony. 

Today is the day I have been waiting for. It is the mate bonding ceremony where every girl of my age comes out to find their mate. 

I'm happy and sad at the same time. 

At nineteen, I didn't have my wolf which made every wolf of my pack laugh and make mockery of me. 

I'm scared to go and join the ceremony because of the hatred I would be receiving from the wolves. 

"My princess, you can't keep on staying inside like this, you have to go out. The ceremony has already started." Vanessa, my maid said, Jolting me out of my thoughts. 

"I'm nervous, What if I don't find my mate?" I said, sadly. 

"I'm very sure, the moon goddess will send your mate to you," Vanessa said, with a convincing tone. 

With so much persuasion from Vanessa, I decided to give in and went out to join the ceremony. 

As I descended the stairs, I saw the whole pack already gathered, charting and drinking. 

Some of the wolves cast a disgusting glare at me as I passed through the crowd, looking for where to sit. 

"So, you have finally decided to come out from your hiding huh!" I heard from behind and I spun around and saw Luna, my stepmother, and her daughter approaching me with a smirk. 

"Good evening, Luna" I greeted her. 

She scoffed and glared at me, "What makes you think you can find your mate without your wolf?" she asked me, ignoring my greetings.

The wolves laughed and whispered to each other's ears. 

This was one of the reasons why I sometimes thank the goddess for not giving me a strong hearing, I can't imagine the insult they will be insulting me right now. 

" Mother, why don't you let her know that I have found my mate.?" Jane, my step-sister, said to Luna as she crossed her arms on her chest with a devilish smile on her face. 

I was stunned, " What! Jane has found her mate?" I muttered to myself with surprise. 

"If I were you, I would be hiding my face in shame" Luna mocked me. 

She was about to say another thing when we heard from behind, "There you are my princess?" my father, the Alpha said, walking up to us. 

I was relieved to see the Alpha, at least I have someone who cares about me. 

Luna was angry about seeing the Alpha and left angrily with Jane. 

"Don't take her words to heart, just ignore them and enjoy your day" Alpha said, with a soothing voice before leaving to welcome some of the Alpha that just arrived from other packs. 

I thanked him and found myself a seat at the back away from everyone's gaze. 

A maid brought a wine for me which I gulped down at once to ease the pain in my heart. 

A few seconds later, I started feeling dizzy and having headaches. My vision became hazy and blurry with sweat all over my body. 

"What is wrong with me?" I asked myself, wiping the sweat away from my forehead. 

I stood up and quietly left the ceremony through the balcony, to avoid drawing attention from people. 

I worked haggardly holding my head that was hurting. 

I couldn't tell if I had taken the right route to my room because everything was spinning in my eyes. 

I suddenly stepped on my gown and almost fell before strong arms came wrapping around my waist, preventing me from falling. 

I looked up to see the fellow that had caught me but I only saw countless heads before I blacked out.

…..... 

My head that was hurting woke me up from sleep. 

I blinked away the haze of sleep from my eyes while scanning my surroundings, and I got the shock of my life,” What am I doing here?! Why am I naked?!” I asked in a daze as I couldn't remember how I ended up here being naked on the ground. 

I stood up from the floor, wiping the dirt off my body when I noticed a blood stain on my thigh, a painful tug arose in my chest as I felt like a thousand arrows were being pierced into my heart, “Did I just lose my pride as a woman?! Who could have done this to me?! Who did I offend?! Why would someone choose to do this evil thing to me?!” my heart weighed heavy in my chest as tears forced to come out of my eyes. 

I didn't know why anyone would decide to hurt me like this when they already knew the consequences of this action. 

All my life, I have been bullied by the pack because I don't have a wolf. My father was the only person who always stood by me. 

How could I tell him this? This is going to bring shame and disappointment to him. 

My heart continued to pound rapidly with tears flowing from my eyes as I put on my clothes that were tossed around the place with my hands trembling while I glanced around in order not to be seen by anyone. 

I swiftly ran out of the garden with my heart pounding like a galloping horse as I made my way to my room through the backdoor to avoid being caught by anyone. 

…….. 

I shot my door behind me immediately I stepped into my room, threw myself on the bed, and wept bitterly, as my heart ached with pain. 

I tried to recall what happened to me but I couldn't. 

I only remember drinking wine before I suddenly felt dizzy. 

A painful tug aroused in my chest as I felt like a thousand arrows were being pierced into it as different thoughts ran through my head. "Oh wait! Hope is not what I am thinking?! The drinks, my drinks were drugged? Who could have done this to me?" I asked myself in horror as I wept uncontrollably, Thinking of what to do. 

I can't tell a soul about what happened to me because the penalty for sleeping with a stranger was banishment. 

" My princess, breakfast is ready,"  Vanessa informed me from outside, jolting me out of my thoughts. 

I sucked in more air as the pain moved into my chest and squeezed it painfully while I stood up and went to the restroom to freshen up before I dash out of my room. 

 I was going in the hallway, still in thought with my head bending down when I collided with someone, crashing my head on his chest.

I looked up and my gaze fell on a pair of beautiful blue eyes, gazing at me with a smile. 

"Are you okay, my princess?" He asked with a smile. 

"Ummm… Yes." I stuttered. 

Mate," he altered. 

I gazed at him in confusion, "How do you mean?" I asked not understanding what he meant. 

He smiled and blurted out, "You are my mate.” 

I was astonished as I couldn't believe what I just heard. 

I couldn't perceive his scent because I don't have a wolf yet. 

He introduced himself as Alpha Carlos of the Blackwood pack. 

He was known as a ruthless Alpha who was feared by all,  Many Alpha were dying to form an alliance with him for protection. 

I can't believe the moon goddess mated me with a strong and powerful Alpha. How lucky could I be? Did the moon goddess decide to wipe my tears by mating me with such a powerful Alpha? 

He made his intentions known to my father before he left for his pack. 

My father was so happy that he gave us his blessing. 

Alpha Carlos began sending gifts to me and sometimes, he would take me out. 

He adores and treats me like a queen. We fell deeply in love and we can't do without each other. 

He went to meet Father to pick a date for our wedding. 

I was so happy that I was going to marry someone that loved and adored me. 

A few days before my wedding, I felt sick as I developed morning sickness and couldn't eat. Father got scared and called on the Family doctor to check on me. 

The doctor ran a test and stepped inside holding the result of the test with a frown on his face. 

"Doctor, what's wrong with my princess?"  Father asked, anxiously. 

"Your Highness, she's pregnant." he blurted out, gazing at me with disgust. 

"What! Pregnant?" I asked in disbelief as I felt a cold sweat run down my spine. 

How can I be pregnant when the Alpha has not even touched me?