Page 3 of The Alpha's Daughter
Chapter Three
LOU
Iswallowed hard as I stood between Titus and Calista on stage, looking out at the crowd of shifters from different packs. I scanned the area where the Bravemaw pack was grouped together, but I could not find Jax’s face anywhere. I knew I had made the right decision to be here, but I wanted to talk to him. I was not giving up that easily. The Senate Grand Master preached in front of us at the podium, wildly gesturing and going on about bonds, tradition, and the blessing of the Moon Goddess.
Screw the Moon Goddess. I snorted quietly. Fidgeting in place, I tried to discreetly lean over to see around the Grand Master until I felt a firm tap on my arm from the side where my mother stood.
“Pay attention,” she hissed. I sighed, squaring my shoulders and shaking my head, causing my beachy blonde waves to sweep against my neck. I had tried to sneak away from the house early to find Jax, but my attempts at stealth were lacking. If only I had been able to shift. I blamed the fitted red cocktail dress Calista had picked out. It was impossible to fly below the radar and I was apprehended before I even made it off the porch. From that point forward, I had not been left alone.
“Why? You’ve already decided on my future, anyway. Hell, this is just a formality,” I countered under my breath, teeth clenched together. To my left, Titus growled. It was the first acknowledgment of my presence that he had made since I ran from the study. He could be angry with me if he wanted. I didn’t care.
The car ride had been uneventful, albeit tense and silent. He had run out of things to say, which was a relief. I am not certain I could have held a civilized conversation to save my life. And now I stood, awaiting my fate alongside at least a couple hundred other young adult shifters from more than a dozen packs. My attention drew to my right and I caught the eye of the Whiteclaw Alpha, Archer Donovan. He gave me a small smile.
My wolf chuffed, unimpressed, and I dropped my eyes. If I was being honest, he wasn’t even bad to look at. His sandy blonde hair was cut short and styled into the perfect balance of business and frat boy. Neat and clean, but slightly messy around the edges. His tanned skin made him look like a surfer and he had a killer smile that would drop the panties of even the most innocent she-wolf. Except even now, as attractive as he was, I felt nothing. Not even a little blip of desire. What the hell was wrong with me that I couldn’t manage to feel any attraction to a hot guy?
“The Moon Goddess has blessed the Waters of Unity! Unmated who are 18, please come forth and drink to reveal your fated bonds.”
A cheer rose from the crowd as the youngest of the unmated made their way to the bottom of the stage. My heart clenched as I watched each of them approach the fountain and drink, and I remembered my first sip of unity water. I was so full of hope and so sure that the goddess would show me my fate. I wondered how many young wolves had the same hopes I once had. Tears began to prick my eyes but I blinked hard to send them away. I forced myself to look forward until my eyes locked on someone in the crowd.
I had never seen him before, but he stared back at me as intently as I stared at him. Something in his eyes made me want to draw closer, to get a better look at his angular nose and chiseled features. Even my wolf sat up. His brow furrowed as he studied me. As if I were the one who was some strange creature that had never before been seen. He raked his hand through his shaggy chocolate brown hair andoh, boy. I felt myself suck in a sharp breath. He wore a blue suit and white shirt that was open at the collar, which did nothing to hide the toned and taut muscles underneath. His gaze traveled a lazy path down my body and I flushed, biting my lip. His eyes darkened before he finally looked away and leaned over to talk with another man standing at his side.
“Mama,” I nearly choked. “What pack is that over there?” I glanced over at her and gestured in his general direction.
“That’s the Wild Ridge pack. They have been around for centuries, but they’ve mostly kept to themselves until their new alpha took over. This is their first ceremony with us, I believe. Why?” Her suspicion was understandable, if slightly inconvenient. The last thing I needed was her nosing around or getting the impression I was about to be uncooperative.
“I’ve never seen them before. I just thought I had seen everyone that was a part of the Southern Packs.”
“Ah, yes. They are generally considered to be less civilized than the rest of us. Full of lone wolves and banished shifters, so I’ve heard,” she clucked her tongue and shook her head as though this were the most scandalous news she had ever heard. “I would keep your distance, Lou. Your father said their Alpha is… unpredictable.”
I made a non-committal noise and glanced back toward the unknown wolf. He was watching me again, frown firmly in place. I frowned back, feeling like I was going a little crazy. I had never even spoken to this wolf before and here he was, frowning at me when all I could think about was how it might feel to have his hands on my body. It was starting to freak me out. I plucked at my dress and absently reached up and tried to smooth down my unruly blonde waves.
“You look wonderful, Dear. The Whiteclaw pack is so lucky to have you for their new Luna.” Calista smiled and reached over to rub my back. Swearing under my breath, I stepped out of reach and finally caught sight of Jax for a brief moment. My heart seized. I started to lift my hand in a wave until I heard the words that ran ice through my veins.
“Unmated who are 21 or older, please come forth and drink to reveal your fated bonds.”
Exiting the stage, I found myself caught up in the swarm of shifters being led toward the fountain to take my last ever drink of unity water. I looked around, but there was no sign of either Jax or the handsome Wild Ridge shifter among the mass of wolves. My hand shook as I took a cup from the Grand Master.
“Blessed be your union.” I looked down into the cup and back up. Behind the Grand Master, Titus crossed his arms again, his eyes stormy and face set firmly in a scowl.
“Eat your heart out, you son of a bitch,” I whispered, closing my eyes and downing the water like a shot of whiskey. I sidestepped the table and started making my way through the mob in the general direction of where I had last seen Jax. I stopped and stretched up on my tiptoes to scan the sea of heads, frowning when I suddenly felt a sharp pull from my chest. My hand flew to my sternum and I could barely contain my panic.
“No…” I whispered, my eyes growing wide and focusing on the faint, silvery pink line of smoke that started extending from my torso. I shook my head violently and pawed at my chest, willing the smoke to dissipate. This couldn’t be happening to me.
“Hey, look!” A she-wolf near me called out, starting to clap and watching the smoke wind its way through the packs. Soon, more wolves stopped their progression to clap and cheer, parting wide in the direction of the smoke. I took a step back and stumbled, smacking straight into a wall of surprised shifters. I had to get out of here. My legs felt like spaghetti but my feet still desperately tried to gain traction to propel me in the opposite direction.
Blood roared in my ears and I pressed my palms to my chest where the steady pull was becoming more and more intense. My wolf surged forward toward the pull, one word repeating over and over in our mind:Mate.
