I slipped out of the car before anyone could notice me. The air was cool against my skin as I adjusted my long silver dress and smoothed my hair. My hands trembled a little, but I forced myself to stay steady.
No one knew I was here. Not my parents, not my so-called friends, and definitely not the people who would laugh at me for even thinking about attending this kind of event. It was Rosa's idea. She had smiled at me earlier that day and slipped an extra invitation into my hand. She said I deserved one night to feel free. One night to feel like I belonged.
So I came.
I circled around the side of the royal pack house, staying close to the side. I found a small iron gate that led to the garden. It was half-open, as if inviting me in. I carefully slipped through and walked toward the back entrance. Two servers passed by, chatting about table settings and wine, but they didn't even glance at me.
I spotted a group of guests stepping inside through the service door. I lowered my head and walked with them like I belonged, careful not to draw attention. My heart pounded as I moved deeper into the hall. I was inside.
The ballroom sparkled like a dream. Huge chandeliers hung from the tall ceilings, throwing golden light across the polished marble floors. Round tables draped in gold cloth filled the space, with important older wolves already seated and laughing. The music floated softly around me, blending with the sound of glasses clinking and people chatting.
For a moment, I stood still near the wall, just breathing.
No one noticed me.
No one glared at me or whispered about me.
I was invisible. And it felt peaceful.
I stayed on the edge of the room, watching the guests twirl and mingle. I didn't dare grab a drink or a plate of food. I just wanted to see it all—to feel it. The freedom. The excitement. For once, no one was telling me I didn't belong.
I drifted along the walls, carefully avoiding the main crowd. I soaked in the laughter and the soft music, pretending I was someone else. But my peace didn't last long.
I turned toward a hallway, hoping to take a quiet moment alone. I needed space, but I also didn't want to leave yet. I had just tasted this feeling of freedom, and I wasn't ready to let it go.
I walked further down the hall, my heels tapping softly against the marble. The noise from the ballroom faded as I moved toward the quieter part of the royal pack house. The walls here were covered in golden wallpaper with red velvet curtains hanging beside tall windows. Huge paintings of past alphas stared down at me from their frames, their eyes cold and proud.
I paused for a second, debating if I should go back.
That's when I heard footsteps and voices approaching.
I panicked and quickly ducked behind a large marble statue of a bird. I wasn't sure if it was a phoenix or something else, but right now, I didn't care.
The footsteps grew louder, then Alpha Jaxon appeared.
I had seen him first in magazines my father read every morning. His face was the front cover of the first page. Also, in distant pack meetings , always surrounded by guards and respected alphas. But seeing him this close made my heart slam against my chest. His black suit hugged his broad shoulders perfectly. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his steps were slow but strong, like he owned every inch of the floor he walked on.
He moved with calm power, as if the whole world answered to him.
One of the guards said something to him, but I couldn't hear it. I was too busy trying to control my breathing. My hands pressed against the cold stone of the statue, praying they would pass by.
But fate had other plans.
A loud meow echoed through the hallway.
I froze.
Across from me, a fat white cat with glowing green eyes stared straight at me. It hissed, its tail flicking.
"Holly?" Alpha Jaxon stopped walking and turned his head toward the cat. "What's he meowing at?"
The guards followed the cat's gaze.
Their eyes landed on me.
One of them reached for a small silver bow.
I quickly stood up, raising both hands in the air. "I—I'm not dangerous," I stammered. "I got lost. I'm just a guest. Please."
Alpha Jaxon stepped forward, his sharp eyes locked on me. He didn't blink or smile. He just stared dangerously at me.
The weight of his gaze made my knees weak.
"Bring her here," he ordered.
The guards flanked me but didn't touch me. I stepped toward him, my heart hammering so loudly I could barely hear anything else.
When I stood just a few feet away, something strange happened.
The air shifted.
It wrapped around me like a soft, invisible blanket, heavy but not crushing. My skin tingled. My chest tightened. The air smelled different, sharp like pine trees and sweet like fresh rain. My breathing slowed, but my heartbeat picked up, pounding harder with every second.
Then I felt a pull.
It started low in my belly, a soft flutter that quickly spread through my entire body. My fingertips buzzed, and my legs felt warm and light. My heart no longer beat alone—it matched something else.
It was like an invisible string tied me to him, pulling me closer whether I wanted it or not. I couldn't look away from him. My body knew what this meant, even if my mind was still trying to understand.
Alpha Jaxon's jaw tightened. His eyes darkened, as his eyes glowed faintly in their depths. He stepped closer to me, slowly, and carefully.
His lips parted, and his voice came out as a low, rough tone. "Mate?"
The word wrapped around me like a storm.
My chest rose and fell quickly, as my head felt light. My knees trembled so much I nearly lost my balance. So I grabbed the nearby wall to steady myself.
Mate.
I couldn't believe it. Out of everyone, the Moon Goddess chose him.
Alpha Jaxon. The most feared Alpha in the west royal pack. The one who was known for his cold heart and sharp temper.
I stared at him, lost in his deep golden eyes. My throat tightened, as words refused to form.
"I—" My voice was barely a whisper.
His gaze never left me. The pull between us grew stronger, almost painful now. It demanded I move closer to him, to touch him, to feel his warmth.
I closed my eyes briefly, as the world around me faded. All the noise, the music, the guards—they all disappeared.
There was only him.
Alpha Jaxon took another step toward me, but I didn't step back.
My hand twitched at my side, wanting to reach out to him.
His voice softened. "Who are you?"
I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to work. "Aria."
His lips curved slightly, but his eyes stayed serious. It was like my name meant something to him, though I couldn't understand why.
I felt safe, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I mattered.
Heavy footsteps sounded from the far end of the hall.
"Alpha, your father is asking for you," someone called.
Alpha Jaxon didn't move. He stared at me with an unreadable expression, but his voice was firm when he spoke.
"Hide here. We'll talk soon."
Then he turned and walked away.
I stood there, as my heart continued to race, still feeling the strange pull in my chest.
I had no idea what would happen next, but I knew I had just found my mate.