Mate!

Eleanor's POV

It's been three months since I lost my parents and my life had been worse. My parents had no relatives so there was one to take me in. 

I learned to fend for myself while being treated like a parasite by the rest of my pack members. Three months since the little peace I had was shattered.

I couldn't even go to school anymore. Not like I could afford it anyways. 

There was no one to share my grief with. No one bothered.

But I didn't care. All I wanted was my mate. I was waiting for my mate. He was going to take me away from all these toxic people.

Mother told me that a mate is someone who would treat you right. Someone who is destined to love you till death just like she and Father .

I had always loved the way my father treated my mother. He treated her like she was the most precious treasure in his life.

Mother told me that my mate would always stand by me, he would always understand me and believe in me no matter what people say about me and I was waiting for my mate to come and claim me and take me away from here.

That was the reason I decided to attend this year's royal ball. A royal ball is an event where unmated werewolves from all around the universe gather and party with the sole aim of finding their mate.

Father told me that sometimes, one's mate might not live in the same pack with them but once their paths cross, they feel the bond. 

I was very certain that my mate was not from my pack. I don't know if I would be able to bear the pain of my mate being one of those evil beings.

I was so glad when I heard that the annual royal ball was scheduled to be held in my pack. I had no reason to think of how to get to the venue.

I stared at my mother's flowery gown. The one that she had won the first day she met her father. Father was swooned by her looks and I intend to do the same to my mate.

I wore the gown, it was just a simple blue gown with not many designs on it but it had a flower embroidery design on the left chest. I stared at the image in the full mirror. I looked glorious. 

I stepped my feet into my mother's heels. The one father had bought for her the day I was born to celebrate my arrival.

She never wore them because she felt they were too expensive and must have caused her father a fortune. I know that Mother would be so proud of me. Watching me dress up for my mate.

I placed the only jewelry that mother had on my neck and I was ready to go.

I stared at my image in the mirror for a while then I was finally ready to go. My dress was not the best but I looked decent.

Walking into the ballroom, I felt as though I had just entered another life. Everything felt so magical. I could feel it already, something major was going to happen tonight that would change my life forever.

I felt jumpy all of a sudden. My head felt dizzy but a scent came across my nose, one I had never smelt before. I sniffed harder to get more of this delicious scent.

As though I were being controlled by magic, my feets started moving on their own. I was getting closer and closer to the delicious scent with every step I took.

The scent was getting stronger and stronger and I knew without doubt that I was closer to it.

I suddenly hit my head on a wall I didn't notice was there. I opened my eyes and instead of a wall, I was met with someone's chest.

I stepped back and cleared my throat to apologize.

"Mate."

Huh

"Mate." He repeated and I raised my head to meet the gaze of the most handsome person I had ever set my eyes on. He was exactly the kind of person I had spent my nights dreaming of spending eternity with.

Wait! He just called me his mate? I have finally found my mate!! I screamed inwardly. 

For a minute, I was lost in his green eyes that spoke of mystery.

"Mate," I said as though I were under a spell. Well, I was under the spell of his beautiful eyes.

I don't know how long I had stared at him, lost in his forest green eyes. The hold they had on me when I felt something claw at my hand.

I looked down at my hand to find his fingers plucking into my skin. I raised my teary eyes to meet the eyes that held adoration in them a moment ago just to meet nothing but disgust, disdain, and contempt.

He pulled me roughly by my poor hands. 

Tears filled my eyes as I tried to stop him from hurting me by removing his fastened fingers from my arm but he wasn't having it, instead, he increased the pressure of his fingers.

When he finally let go of me, he pushed me so hard that I fell to the ground bringing down the small decorated table that had a tray of wine glasses on it. 

In the process of that, the content of the glass spilled all over my light blue gown. All eyes were on me. I didn't need to lift my face to know that I had suddenly become the center of attention. 

I could feel their judging eyes boring holes into my skin but I refused to let the tears drop. I had promised myself over the shallow grave I dug for my parents to never let someone else make me cry and I wasn't going to break that promise now. 

Mate or not!

I picked myself up from the ground and dared to look into the eyes of the one that was meant to protect me. The adoring look I had seen was gone with no traces.