CHAPTER TWO

“You want me to leave the pack?” I give a shaky laugh, my tone disbelieving. “Dad, are you hearing this?”

My father is staring at the ground, his fingers entwined so tight that his knuckles are white.

At his lack of response, something cold moves through my body, and this time my voice is more scared, “Dad? Dad, why aren’t you saying anything?”

“He agreed to this,” Robert says. “It’s for the good of the pack.”

I’m beginning to feel hysterical at this point, “This is a joke, right? I can refuse, can’t I? I refuse. I won’t go. This is my home-”

“Enough!” My father’s voice is sharp in a way that I’ve never heard before.

I slump onto the couch, shell shocked, mumbling, “This isn’t real. This can’t be real.”

“Unfortunately, it is,” Robert tells me. “The sooner you make your peace with this, the easier it will be to adjust.”

“But my family is –”

“This mating is a political thing, Danielle,” The Alpha says, his voice calm. “You are the only female who fits the requirements.”

“But-”

“We all have to make sacrifices, Danielle,” Robert’s voice is stern. “You are no longer eighteen-”

“I’ve not even had my first shift!” I cry out. “I don’t want to go through that without Mom and Dad!”

I can see my father’s hands bunch into fists, but he’s returned to pretending as if he is not part of this conversation.

“Cameron will see you through your first shift,” Robert says, ruthlessly. “This is for the betterment of the pack, so you don’t get a choice.”

It’s like being handed a death sentence. Everything within me goes numb once I realize that things have already been decided for me.

On seeing my expression, Robert’s voice gentles, “I know it seems like a difficult thing we’re asking of you, but this is for the best. And you can always come back and visit. Besides, you are being mated to the sole heir of the Moore family from the Black Crescent Pack, Cameron Moore. He is a handsome man and an eligible bachelor. He’s twenty-six, just a few years older than you, and rich. You will want for nothing.”

That strikes me as odd, “He’s single at twenty-six? Why?”

Robert sighs, “He lost his mate.”

“What?” I am on my feet once again. “You’re giving me to someone who already had a mate? How is that fair?”

“His family wants another mate for him. They approached me and I chose you, thinking it would be a good match. You are mature for your age and attractive enough to stand next to Cameron and make us proud. You are the best representative of the Silver Stone Pack we can send. Besides it will better our alliance with the Black Crescent Pack.”

His reasoning is logical, but my head is spinning.

“You’re asking me to leave my entire life behind.”

“We all make sacrifices for the pack, Danielle. This is your turn.”

“Dad?”

It’s now that my father looks at me. His gaze is hollow as if he’s looking right through me, “Your mother and I agree with Robert.”

That’s all he says, and Robert puts a heavy hand on my shoulder, “Start packing. We leave right now.”

“But-”

Going against the Alpha is never an option because I am bundled into the car within half an hour, after receiving a one-armed empty hug from my father which I only got after begging him for a decent goodbye.

I have no idea what happened overnight to my father but as we leave our pack, I feel sick to the stomach.

*

The Black Crescent Pack is a five-day journey by car alone. It is one of those packs which is abundant in resources because they are located near a forest. By the end of the journey, I’m exhausted.

However, not enough to not gape at the large, gated mansion we pull into.

When Robert had said ‘rich’, I clearly had not thought how much.

He doesn’t speak to me till we are at the door, “This is important for our pack. Remember that always. Your actions speak for us. After I leave, you will be a member of this pack, but you still represent us.”

The whole place looks like out of some Victorian magazine.

There is an actual butler who guides us into the drawing room where the family awaits us.

"This is Danielle," Robert introduces after the greetings are over with, gesturing to me. "Danielle, this is Vivian and Cameron's father, Michael. And of course, Cameron.”

Cameron is a handsome man, but he has a brooding air about him. He is dressed more casually but his parents are more well-groomed. There is in aristocratic air about them which makes me nervous.

Cameron doesn’t even acknowledge me.

Instead, his dad shakes hands with both me and Robert, “We’ve been waiting.”

"The future Mrs. Moore," Vivian smiles at me, kindly. “It’s lovely to finally make your acquaintance, Danielle.”

Cameron’s face tightens into a scowl at her words, and he looks visibly upset.

He doesn’t seem to be someone who is very interested in his future mate. His parents seem happier to see me than he does.

The feeling of being unwanted intensifies.

“I’m sure you will adjust to our house and its rules very soon, Danielle,” Vivian says with a smile. “You’ll be sleeping in Cameron’s room ton-”

“No, she won’t,” Cameron says, abruptly, his first time speaking since I’ve entered the room.

I flinch and Robert’s hand on shoulder tightens, almost painfully.

Michael shoots Cameron a sharp look but Cameron isn’t looking at him. However, his father lets out a fake laugh, “Cameron just lost Maria a few months ago. The loss is still fresh. You’ll have to be a little accommodating Danielle.”

“A- A few months ago?” I stammer shocked beyond belief. “But I thought-”

Robert’s hand on my shoulder tightens so much that I nearly gasp in pain.

But my panic has set in.

Why are they getting me mated to a man who just lost his mate?!