Jayden's p. o. v

The Mabon ball party was lit but I hated every bit of it. The time too had ganged up against me... It was cruising at a snail pace. My woolen three piece tuxedo suit was getting heavy on me as time went by.

Only my body was present but psychologically I was else where. I couldn't stop thinking about Luciana. I knew she was going through trouble wherever she was. It was just a matter of time and I will protect her when I become the alpha.

I knew what mum expected of me but I wish she knew what I was weaving in my mind. "Hey son,"her elegantly sharp voice jolted me from my fantasy. I was losed in the vast field of my own thoughts. I was staring at the crowd though window panes but honestly I was not seeing anyone, just some grostegue figures moving back and forth.

"I want you to meet someone right away. You know you are next in line to take over and you seem unaware of some crucial things," she said as she made my neck tie.

"Mum everything will ...."

"I know you better than you know yourself son. I know what you want to tell me but it's not of essence now," she interrupted before she dragged me away. I had not asked why she was so cruel to Luciana yet.

I followed her into the vast sitting room of the pack house. I found myself staring at beautiful almond shaped eyes of the petite lady in a figure hugging long blue dress. Hey beauty was alluring, amazing and stunningly gorgeous.

She beamed with cute smile to expose her set of well arranged white pearl teeth. For a few seconds in her presence , I was lost of words. She was the really definition of the goddess of beauty.

"She's Kelly, Alpha Khalid's only daughter," she began while gazing at me as if to make sure I absorbed every word she said. I shook my head in the affirmative.

I extended my masculine hand to greet her with a smile. "You may get knowing yourselves better I don't have to interrupt you," she said before matching out of the door.

Kelly was gem, a beauty like no other girl on the soil of Canine Pack. It was pleasure talking to her though I struggled. She was the one... My anticipated mate. But how could I have told mum I felt nothing for her at all.

Yes she was a beauty but I could only flaunt her around like a flower...That is if we ever got mated. Who didn't know who Alpha Khalid was? That devil in disguise of human being!

We embraced in tight hug which I had to disengage from.

I walked out only meet another heartbreaking scene. I felt like my heart was being crushed to pieces again. Goose bumps shrouded on rough skin within seconds. My wolf too sensed trouble as the adrenaline rushed in my system.

I was confused as a myriad of thoughts congested my subconscious mind. On her knees again, was Luciana of all the people. Getty, my mum's best friend and the Beta's wife was bitterly cursing her.

Check.

Something was wrong or rather everything was wrong and they were sweeping whatever under the carpet.

I saw her being kicked and beaten but there was no drop of a tear in her eyes. I was fascinated. For a girl of her age to remain silent during such a beating... She was extraordinary.

Were it not for the fact that she was my sister,I would not think twice about choosing her as my mate.

Though my day was spoiled already being summoned by my dad was yet another hitherto. I felt as if I was crawling on needles as I walked to his office.

The Beta, Santiago's presence got me off guard. I noticed his void face as I uneasily settled in my chair.

The tension in the air could be sliced by a sharp knife if it were possible. "Son, I hope you have had a great day," Dad broke the silence with his hoarse voice. Santiago gazed at me as he was expecting a peculiar response.

His deep blue eyes were not fun to stare at for long. My wolf growled again. "Yeah... Yes, definitely," I replied as I swung my hands on my chest.

"Being the next alpha, we thought we should let you know some of the most important things. They will make your administration great," dad continued as he schooled me with his eyes.

"This is a mighty pack and you need guts to run it as an alpha," Santiago added as gulped the whiskey.

"Without wasting I want to talk about that girl," he posed and stared at me as if was reading my mind. My thoughts flashbacked to Kelly, Alpha Khalid's pretty daughter. Ooh... The plans were this serious, but how first? Wouldn't they mind my decision as well?

"Kelly! It was pleasure.... "

"Luciana," he snapped me from my small wirld. It was like a thunderbolt that had scattered my territory.

"I have realized how close you might have wanted to be with her and why I have never wanted you to," he continued. Santiago's gaze almost met the blood in my veins freeze. Dad was saying the truth.

I leaned forward to ensure I missed no word from him."You have been thinking she is your sister all along but the truth is, she is not. She's a curse and she doesn't belong here," he stopped to check the impact of his words.

But I maintained a void face but deep down inside everything went cold. I remained blank and clueless. "We attacked her pack years ago and slain everyone except her and her twin sister. They were then hours old if I can remember well," Santiago explained with pride.

"She is now a slave here and at all costs... Stay away from her!" dad ordered as he gently banged the table. I understood he meant every word he said.

"And you want to ask why she's a slave?" Santiago asked as he raised his bushy eyebrows. I shook my head affirmatively.

"You may not understand if tell you she is cursed. You will still want to know how and why, but those... You will prove on your own," dad added.

Nothing had changed even when I walked out of the chamber minutes later. Yes, I wasn't the same as went but I was just enlightened.

They had just off loaded the burden from my heart and given me another reason to love Luciana. Okay... They had their own version of her and I had mine totally different from what they had.

Whether she was cursed or not, I didn't care. They wouldn't understand if I decided to explain myself.

That night I mindlinked Luciana for the very first time. I wanted to tell her the truth. I stealthily tiptoed to the door of my room.