CHAPTER ONE.

                  Ella

                  

I clutched my dress tightly, my other hand holding up an umbrella over my being, to ward off the rain. Up above, the sun made sneak peeks through the hitherto cloudy sky.

It had barely drizzled, but I couldn't afford to let even a drop touch my skin. I threw the cab driver who had dropped me off, a tight-lipped smile, making a mental note to bring my car over to school the next time.

Throughout the ride over to my home, I had caught the fool throwing lewd glances, through the rearview mirror, at me, and had cursed at him in my head. It was lucky I had been in my best mood yet, else he'd have felt his scrotum in his mouth by the time he'd dropped me off.

My day at school had been quite hectic, and all I craved was a good rest. My father's mansion bequeathed to him by the Alpha of The Feral wolves pack, came into view. It stood proudly, the center of attention, with a huge, giant gate. Right at its front, in the middle, was a fountain. It was carved in the shape of a huge grey wolf, with water spilling down its mouth.

It was a sight to behold. A majestic one at that. I didn't admire the sight like I usually did, and instead waltzed into the mansion. And I definitely wasn't ready for the sight that greeted me.

A man was seated on a sofa, a cup in his hand, his face prim as it usually was. Without turning, he began speaking.

"Get dressed, you'd be going on a date with someone." He said in a tone that gave no room for any disobedience of any sort.

My heart thudded against my chest, and I felt a stinging sensation at the back of my eyes. 

"I'm not going," I whispered, sure he'd hear.

He did. He whirled around and threw me a hard glare. "What did you just say?"

"What you heard, Father. I get to choose my own mate. I'm going on no blind date." I spat in fury.

His eyes narrowed, and I felt the temperature in the room suddenly drop down a few degrees.

I hadn't stood up to him before. I waited with bated breath, watching as he rose to his full height. Imposing, and grim-faced, my father looked every inch the Beta he was.

"You, Ella wouldn't disrespect me. You'd do what I say!" His voice rose a notch higher, and I instinctively took a step back.

My wolf felt threatened by his aura, and I inhaled deeply, trying to keep her in check. Struggling to form a coherent speech, some footsteps suddenly interrupted our little riff.

I turned to a smiling-faced woman approaching us, with her hair tied in a bun. I scoffed and turned away.

"Sweet Ella, you don't have to act so disrespectful. Your father wants the best for you." Stopping at my front, so close that I could smell the mint on her breath, she said.

My wolf growled at her words, and I shut my eyes close, trying to get a hold of my emotions.

That was how it had always been. My father seemingly wanted the 'best' for his daughter who hadn't gotten a mate, by setting up as many blind dates for her as he could. And my so 'sweet' and 'caring,' stepmother who loved me so much that she always defended me.

It was all a facade of course. I knew she hated me as much as I hated her.

"Move away," Angered by my father's arrangement, I spat. 

Her eyes narrowed into slits, and she flared up. "You'd go on the date, Ella. Who knows, he might be your mate." She said softly, throwing me a wink, which my father couldn't see of course.

"Freshen up, Ella. You just have a few hours to get ready." My father's voice cut in.

"I said I'm not going, Father!" I yelled.

"Don't you think it's shameful for you to be without a mate, Ella?" My stepmother threw in, that sickening smile still plastered on her face. My stomach churned, as I struggled not to retort.

I felt my weight turn light, and swaying a little, I stumbled my way upstairs. Taunting me about my inability to find my mate had turned into a source of satisfaction for my stepmother. 

"A maid would deliver the outfit you'd be wearing, to your room. It was specially picked by your stepmother." My father's words halted my steps, and I whirled around.

Since when had my stepmother become so 'considerate,' to the point of selecting the outfit I'd be putting on to a blind date?

I took a long hard look at my stepmother, watching as she lazed over to a sofa, and made herself comfortable.

"Yes." And with that, I hurried over to my room, afraid that I'd burst.

....

"I don't know what to do, bestie. I don't want to go, for real." I whined over the phone, as I lay on my stomach.

My friend's firm voice floated over the phone. "It's your dad's decision. Just get it over with, bestie. I'm not saying it's worth it, but who knows?" She said.

"A blind date? Are you for real, Lila?" I groaned.

"If you don't go, you know as hell that'd irk him. Besides, he isn't forcing you to become the gentleman's mate, is he? It's just a blind date." She said, and I pictured her shrugging.

I sighed. She was right.

There was a knock at the door, at that moment, and I sat up. 

"Talk to you later, bestie," I said.

"Yeah, make sure you call, and tell me how it goes." She said and hung up.

A maid was at the door.  I received the boxed package which she was sent to deliver and shut the door close.

It turned out to be a beautiful blue gown, very much suitable for a date. It had pearls lined around its neck, and a slit designed to expose the right leg, up to the knee. It was beautiful, I had to admit.

However, I couldn't help but feel uneasy about the whole arrangement. 

I flung the dress on the bed and walked out the door. The fact that I had no mate didn't give my father whatever right to force me on a blind date.

He wasn't in his chambers when I walked in, without bothering to knock. I was about to leave when I heard a somewhat hushed voice. I traced the voice, stopping right in front of the bathroom.

I had never eavesdropped, however, following my instincts, I didn't move away from my spot.

"Yes, it'd go well, I assure you." I heard a voice that was unmistakably my stepmother's say. 

My heart skipped a beat. Whatever was she hatching?

I decided to move away. She wasn't talking about me, I was sure. It'd definitely cause a riff if she caught me eavesdropping on her conversation with whoever it was.

I had already begun moving when she spoke again.

"You'd recognize her at once. She'd be putting the blue gown which you gave me. She's yours. All you have to do is make sure she doesn't return to my pack." Her tone was cold, and I stood frozen on the spot.

Who was she talking about? It was me of course. The gown I'd be putting on was blue. Although I had suspected she'd been up to something, I hadn't expected it to be so ferocious.

My mind whirled into action. I had to get away from there before she caught me. I hurried out when I suddenly tripped and stumbled over.

"Who's there?" I heard her alarmed voice call out.

Dragging myself up, I ran out of the chambers, not stopping till I was in the solace of my own room.

I leaned against the door, my heart thudding so fast. I leaned against the door, trying to process what I had just heard.

'What do you think we should do now, Wolfie?" I asked the only one I could, my inner wolf.

There was silence from her end before I heard a sigh.

'I think she wants to sell you out. Your father probably doesn't know.' Wolfie observed.

I shook my head. Of course, he didn't. Maybe he did.

'What should I do then? I have an hour left before the date. I can't just refuse to go, without giving a valid reason, you know?' I rubbed my temple in frustration.

'Try calling Lila.' Wolfie suggested.

I nodded. She might come up with something.

A few rings later, without my best friend picking up, I flung my phone on the bed, groaning.

I opted on leaving a voicemail but decided against it. 

Maybe I was overthinking everything. Maybe I wasn't even the one my stepmother was referring to. I shook my head. Who the hell was I kidding?

I lay on my bed, only a thought on my mind. I wasn't going on a blind date with no one. If she thought I'd be easily sold out, she'd better rethink.