"The girls and I are taking a spontaneous trip to the City to hunt for gowns for your celebration," she revealed, reminding him of the grand birthday ball scheduled to take place five weeks after his return. The event had originally been planned for the summer, but his mandatory attendance at the intensive training program had forced them to reschedule.
"Mother, surely you possess more than enough attire to last a lifetime?" Drake scoffed, knowing full well that she, Beta Ann, and Gamma Las collectively owned a wardrobe massive enough to stock a boutique. Their collection of shoes, bags, and accessories could easily flood an entire house.
"A woman can never have enough elegance, Drake," she retorted sharply, her tone laced with impatience. "Besides, this is no ordinary gathering. Alphas and Lunas will travel from every corner of the nation to attend. All four of us must radiate perfection; we must look like divine beings walking among mortals."
"Four?" Drake interrogated, his mind snapping into focus. Had his mother found a new companion over the break? He certainly had no memory of her mentioning anyone new.
"Yes," she confirmed, her voice dropping to a softer, more hesitant register. "Belle will be joining us this year. Your father and I have delayed presenting her to the world for too long, and we can no longer hide her away. I know she usually shuns these events, but she is turning seventeen soon. It is time she is formally introduced to the other packs."
"That is absolute nonsense!" Drake snarled, the words exploding from his lips. A volcanic fury erupted inside him, shared instantly with Stand. His mother was speaking as if they were planning to parade Belle around like merchandise, offering her up to any worthless Alpha who happened to be present.
"Belle is merely an Omega," he spat, forcing a mocking laugh to hide his true turmoil. "What value could she possibly offer a high-ranking male?"
"She is breathtaking, Drake, and she grows more stunning with every passing day," his mother corrected firmly. "You haven't seen her in months, but mark my words—many powerful men would happily overlook her rank to make her theirs. But that is beside the point; this must be done."
Her words sent Stand into a frenzy of rage inside his mind. The very idea that his own parents were considering handing Belle over to another male was sickening. It was painfully obvious they intended for this ball to double as a mating market, and they were using her as bait.
Dragging in a sharp breath to subdue the beast, Drake forced his voice to remain steady. "You cannot seriously intend to hand her over to some stranger just because he holds a title!" he roared. "Or do you and Father presume to know better than the Moon Goddess herself?"
"Never," she answered calmly. "But there are depths to the mate bond you cannot comprehend yet, simply because you have not found yours." She effectively closed the topic, refusing to debate further. After a moment of silence, she struck him with the question he feared most. "Why does this upset you so much?"
"I do not care about Belle!" Drake barked instantly, his voice cracking slightly despite his efforts. "I was merely stunned by your foolishness. You and Father are fated mates, and you drilled that belief into my head since birth. I despise the girl, but even she deserves to find her true destiny," he added desperately, praying his weak excuse would satisfy her suspicions.
"Mmhmm," she hummed skeptically, clearly not buying a single word. "Well, I must dash now, darling. I will see you in a few days. Travel safely. I love you."
Before he could formulate a reply, the line went dead.
Seething with barely contained energy, Drake slammed the lid on his final box and sealed it tight with tape. Glancing at the clock, he calculated he still had time to shift, run out his aggression, and cleanse himself before meeting the others for departure.
After allowing Stand to tear across the wilderness for exhausting hours, and spending a punishing minutes under the scalding water to wash away the grime, Drake finally stood fully dressed in the lobby. He waited impatiently for his warriors to assemble so they could seize a meal before heading to the airport.
Buzz.,.
The phone in his pocket erupted violently, vibrating relentlessly against his thigh.
"Are you going to answer that, Alpha?" Teodorqueried, his eyebrow raised in amusement. He was his lead warrior and the Gamma's second-in-command.
"No," Drake snapped coldly. He didn't need to glance at the screen to identify the caller. The same person had assaulted his phone over twenty times in the last thirty hours. It was Mylie, Marvin's twin sister. Thankfully, Marvin had the sense to stay clear of their messy entanglement, or things might have turned deadly between them.
Deep down, Drake knew his friends disapproved. Neither Marvin nor Alvin believed she was his destined one. His Beta made no effort to hide his scorn for Mylie, constantly questioning why Drake wasted his time on a female who could never truly be his. While his friends weren't innocent, they were smart enough to stick to fleeting encounters with humans near the borders, avoiding the drama of pack relationships entirely.
But Drake was different. He had been tied to Mylie since middle school, sharing an exclusive but volatile history. Their connection was a chaotic rollercoaster of passion and fights, constantly breaking and mending. He cared for her, yes, but ever since they had turned eighteen this summer, she had become suffocatingly possessive. She spammed him with calls and messages nonstop, desperate to solidify their bond. Yet, buried deep in his heart, Drake was silently begging the Goddess that she was not his mate.
"She better not be,"Standsnarled from the depths of his mind, "or I might make us end it. I have no clue how you tolerate that piercing voice. And let's be honest—the connection isn't there. Belle… Belle would be so much better."
The wolf flashed her image into his thoughts, taunting him with the truth he refused to acknowledge.
Before Drake could silence the beast, the phone shrieked again, shattering his focus. With a look of pure irritation, he yanked the device from his pocket and crushed the power button, cutting off the noise completely. He turned sharply to Teodor, demanding to know where the rest of the group was hiding.
"They are approaching now, Alpha," Teodor stated, nodding toward the glass elevator. The car descended, packed tightly with his men as it finally arrived on the ground floor.
"About damn time," Drake growled, his stomach gnawing with hunger. "I am starving."
As the group congregated, he led the way toward the exit, ready to leave this place behind.