Chapter two

I blink repeatedly in shock, unable to believe my ears. “Wh-what?” I shake my head, rejecting his shocking and bewildering statement. I've waited for this day for so long—this is the only dream I have ever pursued. He can't deprive me of that.

“Why? Why can't the inaugural ceremony take place anymore? The Donor Appreciation event starts in an hour!” I exclaim at my brother, my emotions pouring into my words as I glare at him.

“I know, Lana. I hate that I have to be the one who ruins this for you because I know the importance of this event, and the Keep is to you, but we have to halt everything for now.” Matthias replies calmly, his voice sounding a bit tense and unhappy.

“I.. can't…launch the Keep too?” The words stumble from my lips when I realize that everything is being snatched away from me. “Why? Why!” I scream, my voice breaking off at the edge as tears swell in my eyes.

No, this isn't happening. This cannot be happening.

“Calm down, Lana. We are only halting the process for a few weeks until I sort out some important things. You can't be seen in public for now.” Matthias continues saying things I don't understand while I am on the verge of losing my mind.

“Give me a reason.” I shake my head frantically, “no, give two reasonable reasons why everything I ever wanted must be postponed. Why must I not be seen in the public? Are you in danger? Why do we have to stop everything now? Tonight is supposed to be my big day!”

Matthias sighs after my outbursts, his eyes reflecting the usual sternness that surfaces when I'm being stubborn. His expression makes me realize that there must be something crucial happening and that I can't afford to be selfish, so I inhale deeply, attempting to clear my thoughts.

“Are you ill? If that's the case, Katarina and I can treat you. You'll be back on your feet in no time. Just stop being a workaholic and–” Matthias interrupts me before I can finish.

“The Black Pack Alpha, Damon, sent a letter,” he states. “In his letter, he claims that you are his mate, and will be his Luna. He says if I oppose, and don't send you to him in two days, he will randomly send his troops to any Packs.”

The moment Matthias’s words sink in, I feel like a little kid whose favorite candy has been snatched away from me. “No…that’s not true. There's.. no– there's no way,” I stutter, while I try to grasp my sanity. At that moment, I feel lost, like my whole world is seemingly crumbling as tense silence fills the room.

“Lana, you don't know how much I hate my helplessness right now, but I will do whatever I can to make sure that…”

Matthias’s words move past my ears like wind and I shiver as I understand the severity of my dilemma.

I am Alpha Damon’s mate, meaning I can't launch my Keep, and my dreams are shattered.

I hate to admit it, but it seems like fate snatched my lifelong wish, and left me with what I have to settle for.

“Alana! Can you hear me?” Matthias’s deep commanding voice resonates in my ears, snapping me out of my static trance.

I puff out breaths and quickly grab my brother’s white formal shirt when I realize he is serious and this isn't a joke.

“Matthias, I can't be Alpha Damon’s mate. He is mysterious, unpredictable, and vicious.”

My older brother gently removes my hand from his shirt and squeezes it firmly. “Lana, I know. It’s just that if you don't leave for the Black Pack in two days, it will bring harm to our Pack and the remaining six Packs. So, remain in the mansion and forget about launching your Keep until I resolve this, alright?”

“Alright.” I nod, tears gathering in my eyes.

“Don’t worry, I won't force you to marry him if you don't want to.” Matthias soothes and rubs my hands as I try to keep the tears in my eyes from falling.

My shoulders sag after his comforting words. I trust him to keep me safe, but It's hard to believe that a few minutes ago, I was exhilarated and nervous about my inaugural ceremony, and now the event is not even held anymore.

“Lana, Matthias. The guests are arriving, what have you been talking about since!” Katarina’s sassy eager voice booms into the room.

I lift my tear-filled eyes at her as she appears in the room, and she immediately rushes towards me.

“Oh my goodness, Lana, sweetheart, what the hell, are you alright?” She fires at me, her gaze shifting between Matthias and me. “Matthias, what happened, why is she crying?” Katarina raises another question at my brother when I continue to bawl my eyes out in her hands.

“The Donor Appreciation event and the launching of the Keep are postponed.” Matthias declares, and Katarina gasps as I cry harder.

“I'll announce this to our guests and the Pack, so please stay with her. Make sure she doesn't cry her eyes out or do something foolish.” He asserts with a deep sigh before leaving my room.

“Lana, tell me exactly what happened immediately,” Katarina instructs while I wail in her arms.

“Nothing… Nothing ever goes my way. Who needs a mate? I only want to own a Keep and provide healthcare… for less privileged werewolves from all Packs, but now…I suddenly… have a mate. Of all me…. h….had to be..it had to be..” My words stumble as I speak to my Katarina, the weight of the unwanted situation pressing upon my shoulders.

“I don’t understand any of your words. Maybe if you stop crying for a moment—”

“I am Alpha Damon’s mate!” I cry out, cutting off Katarina’s words.

“What! You are Black Pack Alpha’s mate?” She gasps in surprise, “are you kidding? I can't believe you found your mate before me.” She says in disbelief and I roll my eyes at her.

I sniff back my tears and whimper softly, “look, that's not what you should focus on. You know I will never go out there, desperately in search of my mate. I have a career! Why in hell would I want to be mated to someone who is not from my Pack? An Alpha at that. You know how much I hate Pack duties and management. I can't ever be a good Luna!” I continue sobbing when I finally get it all out.

“Oh, my goodness, Lana. You are so fucked.” Katarina says with playful pity in her eyes.

I pout hard and raise an eyebrow. “Should I just run away?”

Katarina shakes her head, “I feel you should accept your fate. If you are truly Alpha Damon’s mate, he will find you even if you hide in the darkest pit of hell.”

“I can launch the Keep in your stead, and visit you every week if your mate allows it. Then after a few years, when you've gotten used to your new home, we can build another Keep in the Black Pack.” she proposes, but I quickly refuse.

“No, I can't leave here..” I assert stubbornly. I can't imagine leaving everything and everyone I've ever loved, for an unfamiliar Pack. The Black Pack for that matter. That's just too terrifying and overwhelming.

“Then simply go to him and reject him. An Alpha like him must want to save his face after rejection. He can't force you to be his mate, can he?”

After Katarina's remark, my mind instantly replays the words my brother uttered a few minutes ago. “He says if I oppose, and don't send you to him in two days, he will randomly send his troops to any Packs.” I can't say these words to her, it seems like a confidential part of the letter.

So, I just nod and try to smile, despite feeling so empty inside. “You've had a long day, Katarina. You should go home. I'm sure Matthias has handled the announcement.” I say to my best friend, my voice trembling from the deep pain of loss in my heart.

“I am to stay with you, by order of the Alpha–”

“No, you don't have to. I already stopped crying. I won't be doing anything stupid either.”

“You promise?”

“I promise,” I respond to Katarina, but my smile crumbles and tears begin to fall from my eyes again.

“Didn't you say you've stopped crying?” Katarina’s eyes also brim with tears as she holds me and comforts me until I wail to my satisfaction.

She sniffs back her tears and pulls me to sit on the bed before ordering a servant to get us wine from the cellar.

“Katarina, since he says I'm his mate, he won't harm me, right?” I inquire slowly, my heart racing in anticipation of her response.

“Don’t worry, he's an Alpha; I hear they cherish their mate,” she replies, her face blushing as she playfully throws a pillow at me.

I catch it and chuckle, staring glazey at my best friend. “You actually believe that?”

“Yes, that's why I really, really wish to be your brother’s mate.”

I toss the pillow back at her, surprised by her shamelessness now that she's under the influence of alcohol.

“Since you believe so,” I murmur under my breath with a sigh as I surrender to my fate.

Strangely after her assurance, it doesn't feel like the whole world is closing in on me anymore.