Verlice

The Alpha King's meeting was held at Swift Pack, one of the top five powerful pack in the werewolf tribe

The previous Alpha King of Swift pack wasn't a strong warrior. to prevent other packs including the vampire from infiltrating his pack, he arranged an alliance meeting which would help the swift pack partner with other packs

Since then, the meeting had become a regular thing.

"Your Highness, are you okay?" Beta Eric suddenly stared at me asked me. I knew he was asking if I wasn't nervous or something.

"I'm fine," I replied calmly even though I was far from calm.

It was my first time attending parties in seven years, and I was afraid that things might change than I recalled them to be. I hope I fit in.

As soon as we arrived at the pack, I held onto Beta Eric's hand, and elegantly made my way to the elevator. The meeting will be held on the top floor at the west wing of the Swift pack.

Arriving at the top floor, I discovered that Alphas, Lunas, Beta, top officials of different packs were already in attendance.

The best name is an engaging party rather than a meeting. I was a lot more relaxed with that thought and with that, I let go of Beta Eric's hand to sightsee.

"Welcome, Princess Elsher." As soon as I arrived at the party, a waitress handed me a glass of alcoholic wine.

My brows furrowed immediately. I was raised by my late father not to take alcohol.

He'll tell me: 'Princess you're elegant, and an elegant princess doesn't drink.'

Being raised like this, I tends to avoid alcohol.

"Non-alcoholic wine, please," I informed her

The waitress smiled and calmly switched the alcoholic for nonalcoholic wine in the platter.

I extended my hand in an attempt to collect the glass of wine from the waitress but before I could…

the most perfect and most delicious masculine scent drifted into my nose. My face flushed immediately and a whole sense of weakness invaded me

My legs weakened, and I almost crashed to my knees when strong masculine hands wrapped themselves around my waist and brought me close to him.

I purred and exhaled in delight when sparks lit up my skin due to the man's contact

"Mate." The person’s masculine voice firmly proclaimed

My eyes enlarged in shock. I thought about my mate this morning but I never realized that Selena will finally give me the chance to come across him today.

I snapped out of my daze and raised my head to stare at his face, my heart racing and tingling in delight

However, seeing him made me froze in shock.

Mate?

My mate was Verlice Mintz?

My eyes dimmed with panic. Verlice Mintz is so powerful than I could control, how can he be my mate? No. It can't be.

I felt tears well in my eyes and sadness engulf my being. I’ve waited for so long, how can it be Verlice? What do I do?

"Nice meeting you, mate." Verlice Mintz expressed with delight in his voice.

In his voice, I could hear his delight in finding his mate; I could feel his urge to wrap his hands around me and flaunt me to the entire werewolf packs

Although I wanted to be excited just like every werewolf will whenever they come across their mates, my rational side wouldn't let me.

The thought of what I was about to do to him made my heart broke into countless pieces

Despite the pain coursing through me, I took a deep breath and mask my expression with a cold facade that I built in the past seven years.

"Nice meeting me, huh?" I retorted coldly and pushed Verlice Mintz away from me with a feigned contemptuous frown. "Unfortunately, I don't feel the same way.

I, Elsher Caddel of Starry pack, rejected you Verlice Mintz of Red Moon pack as my mate," I uttered in a bold loud voice while gritting my teeth to suppress the sudden pain that came crashing over me like a wave.

It felt as if something deep snapped in me, jolting pain deep into my soul. My knees and body weakened and a sense of suffocation gripped me

Despite the pain, my cold facade was still cold as ever

I could hear a loud lot of shocked gasp but what caught my gaze exceptionally was my mate's expression.

Although Verlice looked calm, I could see a lot of pain and questions written in his eyes. It's as if he was asking me why I'd made such a rash decision without consulting him for a talk

Unwilling to see the sadness that emanated from Verlice because I broke Verlice and his wolf’s heart, I turned and bolted out of the hall.

Beta Eric was drinking and chatting with the current Alpha of the Swift pack but upon seeing me, he walked toward my direction in concern, "Princess Elsher is anything wrong?"

There was a searing pain that was running through me as a punishment for rejecting my mate and it made me want to collapse.

I was almost losing consciousness due to my weakness, so I ignored beta Eric and instead ran down the stairs knowing perfectly well that he would come after me.

Gray and Ford stood beside the car by the time I arrived at the spot where my car was parked.

And as if knowing what I was about to order him to do, Gray opened the car door and I entered while heaving heavily.

Crashing into the passenger’s seat, the weight of my decision pressed down on me and I struggled to process the emotions swirling inside me.

“It hurts.” My eyes watered with tears and I clenched my gown due to the pain that coursed through my whole system. "It hurts a lot." I cried out and curled to myself imitating a fetus position.

I always wished for a mate ever since I came of age but I didn't expect my mate to be Verlice.

Even though I didn't want to break our bond, I needed to. It was at this particular moment that I realized the impact of this heavy burden on my life

"Your Highness." Beta Eric's anxious voice suddenly filled my ears

Although I tried to open my eyes, my eyes were half-lidded due to the pain that were coursing through me.

"It hurts, I rejected him. I hurt him in front of the whole crowd. It hurt so much." I cried out while shivering and hiccuping pitifully

Just like every other werewolves, Ive been expecting my mate ever since I came of age, but I never expected that the situation would make me reject him.

I kept recalling the sad expression on Verlice's face, and the more I recall, the more it sent weakness coursing through me.

Beta Eric's gentle hands grasped mine, trying to offer comfort. "Your Highness, did you find your mate?" Beta Eric asked in amaz ement.

"My mate is Verlice... Verlice Mintz." I stuttered in between words while clutching my aching chest.

"Verlice Mintz?" Beta Eric's eyes widened in shock. Soon he sighed and wrapped his hand around me in a fatherly hug.

"Princess, he's someone we should pull toward our side, more he's someone you've been expecting for over eight years now, isn't he?" Beta Eric asked with a sigh while his hand caressed my hair softly.

Ever since Dad died, Beta Eric, my father's beta and his closest friend had taken on the role of my father so his hug and comfort were able to relieve my pain a lot.

I clenched my gown and lowered my head. "But, Beta Eric. He's a lot more powerful than we all could imagine; what if he knew about the pack's secret and decided to use it to his advantage? If he decides to attack us after another vampire attack, you know the result it would provide. Even though I wanted him badly, I need to think of the pack in every step I take." I explain, my voice trembling due to the pain. Beta Eric exhaled as if agreeing with my decision.

"Besides, I can't feel him. I only knew from him that we were a mate. He's so powerful, I can't let him know that I can't shift into my wolf more so feel my wolf's existence." I explained and wiped my tears

Beta Eric sighed and separated from me. He eyed me, "You're right Princess Elsher, but will you be fine?" He asked me with vivid worries

Will I be fine? I was lost in thoughts because I knew I wouldn't.

Every news about Verlice will definitely send me going crazy and craving for him. For his presence

Despite that I already rejected Verlice, I crave his scent… I craved his hug that provided me warmth in that split second

Realizing those made me understand that I wouldn't be fine, but I didn't want to burden Beta Eric; he had more on his plate than my issues.

I took a deep breath and pinch my palm to suppress the pain coursing through me. "I'll be." I lied.