Chapter 3. Heartbreak

“Good morning,” I greeted merrily as I stepped into the dining room.

Today was the day of the prom, and I couldn’t get more excited, but my excitement faded at the scene in front of me as my steps faltered to a stop.

Inside the dining room, only the Alpha and Luna were present. Usually, the Betas’ and Gammas’ families were present too. How unusual...

“Good morning, Alpha and Luna,” I greeted them.

“Sit down,” he said in his Alpha tone.

My body moved at his command, and I sat on his left. What’s with the serious atmosphere?

“Make sure nothing goes wrong today. Don’t make us lose face in front of the other packs,” he said as he sipped his coffee.

“Don’t worry, Alpha. I’ll make sure the ball runs smoothly,” I answered with my head down.

“Are you excited about your birthday tomorrow?” he asked, and his tone shifted to his usual fatherly one, which made me lift my head and look at him.

“Yes, I can’t wait for your surprise.” I grinned at him as the unsettling feeling in me turned into excitement again.

“I’m sure you’ll be stunned tomorrow,” he said, and I swore I saw a vicious glint in his eyes, but it disappeared a second later.

“I can’t wait,” I smiled at him, and he smiled back.

Goddess, if only I knew the kind of surprise they had in store for me, I wouldn’t have said those words.

“Good.” He nodded in satisfaction, and that same vicious glint flashed through his eyes again for a second.

I was about to ask if something was wrong with the pack, but he and Luna Rose stood up to leave.

“Remember, don’t embarrass the pack and enjoy your night, as tomorrow everything will be different,” he reminded me before leaving with Luna Rose, who had been quiet throughout the entire exchange.

Of course, tomorrow everything would be different—I was turning into an adult! That thought made me happy again.

How naive I was back then to think that was what the Alpha meant when he said everything would change...

“What was that about?” I heard Greg’s voice as he strode toward me.

Greg was one of the most good-looking werewolves in our pack. Standing at 6 feet tall with a muscular build, dark blonde hair at the nape of his neck, and deep blue eyes.

It wasn’t a secret that many girls went gaga over him; with the added fact that he would be the next Beta, he was a catch for sure. It was just my secret that he didn’t know. I had tried to show him my feelings on multiple occasions, but he didn’t seem to catch the hints.

Although I had planned to talk about the mate subject tomorrow, I would tell him about my feelings on our birthday, and hopefully, I would then be his chosen mate. Or better yet, maybe I was his destined mate! Yeah... keep dreaming, Aleena!

“Huh?!” I was confused by his question.

“Alpha suddenly ordered us to leave the dining room so he could talk to you. He sounded very serious,” Greg explained.

I repeated the Alpha’s words to him. Nothing seemed wrong with our talk.

“That’s weird,” he said as he took his place on my right and began piling his plate with food.

“Maybe there’s a problem with the rogues.” I shrugged, not mentioning the vicious glint in the Alpha’s eyes.

He nodded in agreement as he began wolfing down his food, and I followed suit. We chatted happily throughout breakfast and went to check the ballroom, making sure everything was in order, until it was time for us to get ready.

The maids helped me with my bath, gown, and makeup, and I was finally ready an hour before the prom.

I was standing in front of the mirror, checking my reflection, when I heard a knock on the door. The maid opened it, letting Greg come in.

“You look beautiful, Aleena,” he said as he studied me.

“You look handsome yourself,” I returned his compliment with a slight blush.

“Let’s go. We need to get there now,” he said before turning to leave. I was sad that we wouldn’t be walking arm-in-arm, but we weren’t mates so that we couldn’t do it.

We walked toward the ballroom and saw the Alphas, Lunas, Betas, and Gammas. As we were the main families, we were stationed at the front to greet our guests.

Around thirty minutes later, the other packs started arriving. They all arrived together—in large buses for each pack. The guests at the prom consisted of all the Alphas, Lunas, Betas, and Gammas. As for the students, they were mainly the final-year students, just like Greg and me.

The Crimson Blood Pack was the last to arrive, and oh wow... They all wore shades of red, even the males, and they looked stunning! Not even a little strange.

The Alpha and Luna came to greet us, but the one who caught my eye was the Beta. He was alone, still unmated, and looked no more than 25 years old, with piercing onyx eyes that looked even more striking than Greg’s, and slicked black hair. He was the definition of “dark and dangerous,” looking dashing in his blood-red tuxedo with a black tie.

I had met him before, but I had never noticed him like this; it must be because I was still naive then and only had eyes for Greg.

I searched for his name in my mind and found it—Beta Kyson Night.

We welcomed them, yet Beta Kyson only nodded briefly and went inside without even waiting for the two Alphas and Lunas. How impolite, I thought to myself.

“I’m sorry, you know how Beta Kyson is,” the Luna of Crimson Pack, Luna Christine, apologized.

Alpha Andre chuckled and replied, “Don’t worry about it; we do know how he is.” He looked back toward the Beta, and I swore that vicious glint appeared again! What is going on with Alpha Andre today? He seems so hostile!

“Shall we all move inside?” Luna Rose invited everyone in, and the Alphas agreed.

We all began walking inside, with the two Alphas in front, followed by the two Lunas, then Beta Erick and his wife, and lastly Greg and me.

I looked at the two Alphas and Lunas and realized how different they were. Alpha Liam and Luna Christine looked so young compared to our pack’s Alpha and Luna. They actually looked as young as Beta Kyson.

“You two go and have fun,” Alpha Andre dismissed us as we reached the ballroom. We nodded and separated from them.

Greg and I mingled, chatted with our friends, and made new friends from other packs. This continued until five minutes before midnight. Greg suddenly took two drinks, offered one to me, and led me to a quiet corner.

My heart began thumping. Is he going to ask me to be his mate? Then we heard the clock's chime from afar, indicating it was midnight.

“Happy birthday!” he cheered, clinking our glasses together.

“Happy birthday!” I returned.

I waited until he finished his drink, but the mate subject still didn’t come out. My heart sank, but I decided to be brave and ask him myself.

“Greg... actually, there’s something I wanna say to... to ask you,” I began shyly.

I was about to continue when I saw him suddenly look up, sniff the air, let out a low growl, and bolt away.

What is happening? I began running after him. Is there an enemy here? But when I saw him, my heart broke. I ran out of the ballroom into the garden outside.

How could it be? How could my first love, the one I’ve loved for so long and wanted as my mate, find his mate today? How unfair! I cried when I heard a rustle, and Beta Erick came to me.

“What happened to you, Aleena? Why are you crying?” he asked, reaching out toward my face. I instinctively stepped back.

“Why are you pulling away, Aleena? I know you want me,” he said with a predatory look as he stepped closer.

I gaped at him. When did I ever say I wanted him? Is he crazy? He’s mated and Greg’s father, for Goddess’ sake!

Before I knew it, I was cornered against a wall, and my wrists were pinned.

“Let me go!” I yelled and struggled.

“You smell good, Aleena,” he said as he sniffed my neck. His free hand roamed over my clothed body before he ripped one side of my dress.

No, no! It couldn’t be! I kept struggling, but it was useless until I remembered something. I lifted my leg and kneed him. He backed away, clutching himself.

I took the chance to flee and bumped into the last person I wanted to see.

“Aleena, meet my mate,” Greg said, but then he turned serious when he saw my condition. “What happened to you?” he asked with a low protective growl.

“Nothing. I fell into the bushes. I want to go home now,” I lied and walked away, but he grabbed my arm.

I was about to pull away when he suddenly sniffed me. “Why is my father’s scent all over you?”

“Oh, he helped me when I fell. Please, Greg, I need to go back to my room. I can’t stay at the prom like this,” I begged.

He looked at me suspiciously but finally let go, and I left without another word.

When I reached my room, I took a bath, washing away the Beta’s scent, and quickly went to bed.

Heartbroken, I cried myself to sleep while thinking about what had happened—the way Greg was kissing his mate passionately and the vile things Beta Erick might have done if I hadn’t escaped.