Chapter 0002

When we finally got to the ball, about an hour later, my heart was still pounding in my chest. But that all but vanished when Ryker held his hand out and helped me out of the limousine at the front steps of the packhouse. I looked up at the packhouse that looked completely different from our ‘packhouse’. Ours was a mansion that just suited the Alpha family. But this was a proper packhouse that was open to the pack. Something that ours should be, but my father is too much of a bastard to let other people come stumbling through his house.

As we walked up the stairs we were greeted by the hosts and Ryker led me into the grand ballroom that took my breath away. It was decorated with candles and fairy lights hanging from the ceiling with a large chandelier in the middle of the room. Everything else was in gold and silver, the tablecloths and chair coverings and even the curtains. It was absolutely beautiful.

Ryker chuckled to himself when he saw the look on my face and he knew that I was blown away by what I was looking at. And then my attention was drawn to the really long tables along one side of the room where all the food was set out for everyone. And that’s where Ryker started guiding me as soon as we got there.

It wasn’t long before I realised that everyone was looking towards me and Ryker and I was a little unnerved by that. I was trying not to look around the room and just concentrate on Ryker and what was in front of me. But I could feel my hands shaking a little bit and I tried to steady them the best that I could.

“Don’t you see that this proves dad wrong?” Ryker asked with a smirk on his face.

“What do you mean?”

“They're not staring at me. They see me every year. They're all staring at you. Because you are beautiful and they can’t take their eyes off of you.” Ryker says. And I could feel the redness in my cheeks as I started to blush at the thought of everyone thinking that I was beautiful.

I turned back to look at the buffet, trying to not cause any more attention to myself. I had never actually been to anything like this before. No fancy parties or anything. Dad never saw the reason for me to go to fancy parties. I was better off being left at home. That’s what he thought anyway.

While Ryker and I were choosing what food to put on our plates we were approached by a man in his 30’s. He was well built, about 6 foot 2 with his brown hair slicked back but a sickening smile the second that I saw it. The same smile that I had seen too many times before. And one that I never wanted to see again.

“Hello Summer. I am so glad that you’re here.” James said standing between myself and Ryker and taking my free hand in his very tightly. I tried to pull it away but his grip was too tight.

“Hello Alpha James.” I said, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible. But I knew that my heart was giving me away. It felt like it was about to beat out of my chest.

“Your father told me that you were going to be here. I am so happy that you agreed to come Summer.” Alpha James says.

“Well, I just turned 18. Isn’t this what we’re meant to do?” I asked, trying to pull my hand away but he wasn’t letting up at all.

“Yes. Of course it is Summer.” Alpha James says, starting to rub the back of my hand as he was speaking to me. He then turned my hand over and started rubbing the palm of my hand as well. And it was starting to creep me out how he was saying my name at the end of every sentence.

“And what are you doing here Alpha James? Looking for that elusive mate that you can never seem to find?” Ryker asked. But Alpha James’ eyes stayed fixed on me. So Ryker stood around James and took my hand in his, striking a straight and dominant pose in front of the creepy Alpha.

“No Ryker. I came here because I was invited by the hosts. They thought that it would be good for their image to have older unmated wolves at this mating ball. To show that no one should ever give up hope.” Alpha James snarled while stepping back slightly. Almost like he detested Ryker’s very presence near us.

“So true, you should never give up finding your fated mate.” I added. And Alpha James took my plate out of my hand.

“I insist that you join me at my table. I will not take no for an answer Summer.” Alpha James says. And I peered over his shoulder at Ryker, who looked to be getting very annoyed at this point.

“Alright. Only if Ryker can join us there.” I tried to bargain with him. I felt like I was really left with no choice but to join him anyway, I didn’t know anyone in this whole room except for Ryker and everyone was still staring at me. I hated the fact that Alpha James was my only choice.

Alpha James’ eyes changed color slightly when I suggested that, but I really didn’t care. I didn’t want to be left alone with this man and he reluctantly agreed.

So he led us over to his table and they needed to make room for Ryker, but that wasn’t too hard since the second I sat down Alpha James pulled his chair over towards me, as close as he could possibly get. His legs were touching mine and I knew that it was on purpose. The same way that I knew it was on purpose that Ryker was sitting three seats away from me. I looked up at Ryker and he was giving me a really pitiful look. He didn’t envy me right now and neither did I. But the second a waitress walked past us I grabbed a hold of her and I grabbed a glass of champagne off of her tray. And Ryker put his head down trying to hide the smile on his face.

I realised that I was the only girl sitting at this table and the men were all talking politics. Except for Ryker, who wasn’t saying a whole lot unless the men asked him for his opinion because they knew who he was. And Alpha James, who was sitting right beside me and still not taking his eyes off of me. Making the whole evening very uncomfortable for me.

I tried to avoid looking at him, so I started looking around the room and I noticed that there were still a lot of people looking at me. But there was one table in particular that got my attention. There were five men sitting at the table and the one in the middle was leaning back on his chair fiddling with a beer bottle in his hand that was resting on the table, I could see that the table was right next to where the hosts were sitting and I could tell immediately that he was a very important person. I didn’t know who he was though. I had never seen him before but as he held his intense gaze on me, I knew that I couldn’t look away.

I saw him stand from his seat and I was blown away. He was at least 6 foot 6 with brown hair in a messy sort of do but he somehow made it look really attractive with a body like a Greek God. An Adonis. He was taking strides over to our table and his eyes were fixed on me and I felt my breath hitch a little as he got closer.

The closer he got the more I started to feel a little out of sorts. I was having a little trouble breathing and I grabbed on to the table for stability as I felt the room start to spin and then I caught the sweet aroma of honeycomb hit my nose.

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from those emerald green eyes of his. The most gorgeous eyes I have ever seen in my life. And it wasn’t long before everyone else at my table started to notice as well. They all turned to see this man walking towards us and then looked back at me. I felt James’ grip tighten on my hand like he wasn’t going to let me go.

“Alpha Ethan. I’m surprised that you are here tonight.” James says. And he had the most serious look on his face. His eyes going from emerald green to black as he saw James holding my hand.

“Unless you want to lose that hand, I suggest you let go of her hand.” Ethan growled through gritted teeth.

I could feel James shaking slightly but he looked straight at Alpha Ethan and moved his hand off of my hand, and placed it around my shoulders instead.

“I don’t think this is really any of your business Ethan.” Alpha James smirked.

And almost in the same instant, Alpha Ethan grabbed Alpha James by the front of the shirt and pulled him straight up out of his chair, knocking the chair backwards. His feet were dangling above the floor while Alpha Ethan looked him square in the eye, “Don't you ever touch my mate again!”