Chapter 5. Mating Ball

Issahil's POV

“See you soon.”

He placed a kiss on my forehead and left me in my room. Once he’d made me his personal maid, he gave me my own room and everything. Trying to control the bubble of excitement floating inside me, I went to prepare for the what was going to be the best night of my life. 

I believed he was going to propose to me. I was going to be his new Luna, just as he’d promised. He had said he adored me and wanted us to be together and he was sincere, I knew he was.

Making my way down that stairs, I went into the ballroom and there he was, looking at dashing as any Alpha could be.

“Issa?”

I turned. I didn’t expect to see her here, my heart spiked in fear as it usually did when I was still living in the Moonville pack.

“Lillian.”

“I don’t need to ask how you are, it shows already.”

Her face was scrunched in raw jealousy and disdain. She’d always been jealous of everything I was and represented.

“Why, thank you.”

I was not going to let her get away with treating me as she’d done back in Moonville. There was her place, here was about to be mine.

“The Alpha has such a kind heart.”

“Why do you mean by that, Lillian?”

“He treats his slaves well.”

She’d intentionally used the word ‘slave’ to get on my nerves.

“I am his personal maid, not his slave.”

“What’s the difference? What do you call someone who was bought by a man for the sole purpose of serving that man for the rest of her miserable life?”

My breath hitched, and I pressed my lips together to stop the tears. I hated why I couldn’t be strong. I thought of how tonight would end and that calmed me. I was going to have the last laugh. By the end of tonight, I’d no longer be a maid.

“Circumstances can change Lillian, never be too quick to draw conclusions.”

“There are circumstances that have been fated to remain what they are.”

“Which is?”

“Unfortunate.”

“You’re not the Moon Goddess, Lillian. You’re a werewolf like me. Only her has the final say.”

“Please Issahil, get a hold of yourself. You need to start thinking rationally or maybe you can’t. The human gene in you won’t let you, or the Omega wolf you parade about with is too busy struggling to stay alive than being smart.”

She’d struck a cord, I wouldn’t lie. Still, I gritted my teeth, Lillian wasn’t going to see me cry, not tonight. Not ever again.

“It’s time for the Alpha to choose his mate. Young ladies gather round and let the Alpha make one of you his Luna bride.”

The Alpha’s Beta and friend announced. This stopped every meaningless chats and gossip. Girls gathered round and stood in a single, straight line. I held back a little because servants were not allowed but I made sure to be visible so he can see me. 

He was coming in my direction. I closed my eyes, not wanting to be overwhelmed when he came near and picked me. Oh, the head rush of excitement.

“I choose you, Lillian Morbelle, granddaughter of Alpha Elihas Morbelle of Moonville as my Luna.”

My eyes snapped open as I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard. What? No, this couldn’t be. I watched in painful shock as he offered his arm and Lillian took it, a victorious smile on her face. I could only stand rooted to my place in shock. The tears didn’t bother to hide themselves anymore. They came pouring. I was trying to understand what had just happen but I couldn’t think, my brain was scrambled.

“What is going on here, Alpha?”

I had walked over to them, pain and rage fought side by side in my heart, making a messy bleeding work of it.

“Oh, it’s the slave.”

“Stay out of this, Lillian.”

My hands were fisted by my sides, I had never fought before but with my current state of mind, I was ready to indulge in one with her.

“Alpha, what is going on here?”

My voice got louder. People were beginning to look at me but that wasn’t my concern. My heart was breaking, my head was spinning. 

“Why are you creating a scene, Issahil?”

“I won’t be creating this scene if you had done the right thing.”

“And what is the right thing?”

He looked bored. Alpha Logan Night was looking bored talking to me.

“You promised.”

“Promised what?”

“You said I was the only woman. No other.”

“Well, in that moment you were the only woman. I mean it was just you on the bed, no other.”

His tone was taunting and mocking. Lillian laughed at that.

“On the bed?”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“Yes, on the bed. Where else did we happen, Issahil?”

“So, I meant nothing to you?”

“You meant something. You were a good object of satisfaction while it lasted.”

People roared in laughter. I thought I heard uncle Duncan’s own somewhere in the crowd. More tears fell.

“A good object of satisfaction, you say?”

“Issahil, it was good while it lasted. Now, you have to go back being the loyal personal maid you used to be.”

“You said I was beautiful. That I was a very interesting companion. You even came to my room this evening before the ball. You made love to me and promised to always be there.”

“I am still here. If you need anything, come to me and as your Alpha and master, I will fulfill it.”

“You took my virginity. You broke me.”

“It wasn’t without your consent.”

“Why? Why did you do this to me?”

“All this fuss because I chose my Luna? What did you think? That it was going to be you?”

“What is wrong with me?”

“I can’t get mated to a slave. You’re just good for easing a man’s stress and satisfying his sexual needs, nothing more.”