Chapter One
“Cassandra , be quick with those clothes! I’m starving!” Tabitha yelled at the lady hanging clothes outside.
“Yes, mother,” she replied, making her earn a glare from Tabitha.
“I’ve warned you several times not to call me your mother!” she bellowed, “I can never give birth to a loser like-”
“Tabitha!” Her father’s voice interrupted the woman who glared at Cassandra before walking away.
Cassandra sighed as she watched Tabitha walk away. It has always been like this with her and her stepmother anytime her father who happened to be the pack outgoing beta, was not around.
Her life used to be the ones read in books, about little girls who were treated like a princess by both parents but ever since her mother died, She hardly saw her father and he just had to marry a step wife so someone would be around to take care of her. Needless to say, he didn’t know he left her in the hands of a witch.
She forced a smile on her face and turned to her father. Even though she was angry he wasn’t always around, she couldn’t blame him that much because he was the beta of the pack and had a lot of things to attend to especially now that the Alpha had passed away and his son was to be crowned Alpha soon.
“Cassandra , are you ok-” he tried to ask but she cut him off still sporting the fake smile.
“It’s nothing,” she interrupted, squeezing out a dress.
“I’m fine. Always,” Her last words came out as a whisper.
She always had to tell him that she was fine. She couldn’t complain and even if she did, it still won’t change anything.
She was trying to stop herself from crying but the tears flowed freely.
“Ohh dear Cassy,” he wrapped his hand around her.
She instantly melted into his arms. Although tears were running down her cheeks, she couldn’t help but feel a little happy. She has missed being in her father’s arms.
But the moment could only last for a few seconds.
“Sir, the guest has arrived.” The guard announced and Alec nodded, separating from the hug.
“I’ll be right there,” Alec replied before turning to face Cassy. “I’ll be right back.” He patted her hair before leaving.
She sighed. She always never had time to be with her father, he was always busy. His absence gave Tabitha the opportunity to always maltreat her.
“Cassy,” Audrey called out, jolting her out of her thoughts.
Cassy ignored her pretending not to hear. Despite the fact that Audrey was Tabitha’s daughter, they had a good relationship. One thing Cassy was grateful for.
“Come on sis. Are you angry with me? Did I offend you?” she pouted staring at her sister.
“You did nothing wrong,” Cassy replied without looking at her.
Although she had good a good relationship with her step sister, she could not help but let the anger she had for her mother out on her sometimes.
Audrey sighed. “I understand that you’re upset because of my mother. I just wish she could stop doing all these.”
“You don’t have to worry about me, Audrey.” Cassy tried to smile but Audrey could already see through her mask.
She opened her mouth to say something but couldn’t utter a word as she heard her mother’s voice.
She gave Cassy an apologetic look. “I’ll be back-”
Cassy shook her head. “You don’t have to.” Audrey nodded and walked out.
Cassy sighed leaning against the wall. Everything about her seems to be crumbling every day. If only she could just have a mate.
“Mate,” Her wolf, Natalia whimpered.
Cassy strongly believed in the mate bond because of her parents’ relationship before her mother died. Her father loved her mother so much, that the love had extended to her. He did everything to make her happy and at the last minute, he did everything he could to keep her alive but yet she chose to leave.
Their bond made Cassy believe that finding her mate was the best solution. She craved for someone who had the authority to stand up for her at all times. She was a weak werewolf, one which everyone despises but she was sure her mate was going to accept her.
“The moon goddess always knows why she pairs us up as mates,” Her mother’s voice echoed in her head.
Thankfully, the mating ball was going to be held soon. She couldn’t wait to meet her mate!
She wished Tabitha would allow her to go this time. Cassy was twenty-one but she had only attended the ball once, she was then she was 18 and had gone with Alec but after that, Tabitha has not let her go but unknown to him she had not gone for two years now.
“What the hell are you still doing there!?” Tabitha’s voice dragged her out of her thoughts and she quickly began to line the clothes.
Every member of the Miller family was present in the dining except for Alec and Cassy.
Tabitha and her daughter sat, waiting for Alec who was presiding over a meeting for the upcoming mating ball.
“Mom, is he going to come back early? I’m really hungry.” Audrey whimpered, pouting.
“Oh, my poor baby. He would come soon just be patient, okay?” Tabitha patted Audrey’s hair.
Tabitha doted on her daughter. She always wanted the best for her and would do anything to please her.
“I’m sorry I’m late.” Alec apologised entering the room.
Tabitha and Audrey sighed, happily. Finally.
He sat down, picking up the spoon and scooping some amount of casserole into his mouth.
Looking around the table, his face contorted into a frown. Where is Cassandra ?
He glared at Tabitha who was sitting opposite him. “Where is Cassandra ?” he voiced out his thought.
Tabitha chuckled. “There are a few things she didn’t take care of in the kitchen earlier so she has to finish it.”
Alec sighed, he still didn’t understand why Tabitha hated Cassy so much. She always picked on her at every little opportunity she gets. At some point, he began to regret re-marrying.
“Audrey, go get your sister,” Alec ordered.
Audrey made to rise but Tabitha placed her hand on her legs, glaring at her.
She gulped and picked up her spoon, avoiding her father’s gaze.
Alec opened his mouth to protest but Tabitha beat him to it. “When would you stop opposing me?”
“Until you learn to treat my daughter rightly!” His voice raised a beat, making the mother and daughter flinch. “Damn. I’ve lost my appetite.” He glared at them again before storming out of the room.
“Cassandra ,” Alec called out, entering the kitchen where Cassy was mopping.
He couldn’t help but notice how weak she looked while she cleaned the floor. She looked like she was lost in her own world as she went on doing her work.
Alec sighed before calling her name again and this time she answered.
“Good evening, father.” she tried to smile but her cheeks were failing her.
How could she smile when she had only eaten a little loaf of bread for breakfast?
She has been working since she woke up and barely had time to rest.
“Evening, princess.”
Cassy almost snorted. More like a slave.
“Get ready princess, we are visiting the palace,” Alec announced before she could think of anything else.
“What?” Alec could see the excitement in her eyes, something he rarely saw.
“Bu-but why?” she asked and he gave her a questioning look. “I-I mean, I still have a lot of work to do.”
“Audrey would handle that. Now go dress up like the father’s princess I know.”
Cassy smiled and dropped the mop before skipping out of the kitchen.
Cassy felt bubbles of excitement in her as he father led her to the palace.
She felt very happy, Tabitha always made sure she kept her from leaving the mansion in the name of protecting her. She had lost several jobs and worse, her happiness got snatched.
Cassy loved enjoying nature, outings and shopping which Audrey had easy access to but she didn’t.
She was more of a slave in her father’s house just because she was weak and couldn’t fight for herself unlike her step sister, Audrey.
They both entered the palace and Cassy couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of the palace. It wasn’t her first time there, but she seldomly went there.
“Beta Alec.” A group of men greeted in unison.
“Elders.” He greeted back, smiling.
Cassy bowed slightly, curtseying and the men nodded.
“Everything is already in order for the ball. The date would be announced by evening.” One of the men informed him.
He nodded. “Very well, Alphonso.”
“She is?” Alphonso asked, referring to Cassy.
“Oh this is my daughter, Mi-” Alec tried to say.
“Good day sirs. I’m the beta’s daughter, Cassy,” she interjected with a faux smile on her face. She couldn’t allow her father to tell them a name she didn’t approve of.
“She is beautiful.” He complimented.
Cassy thanked him and Alec asked her not to wander too far. He had something to take care of.
As soon as her father left, she went in search of the garden. Whenever she came here since she turned 18, she always loved going to the garden but somehow she always missed her way.
“I’ll go …. This way!” she pointed to the east wing of the palace.
She strolled to the east wing with her hand on her back whilst looking around, admiring whatever she saw.
She was almost at the end yet there still was no sign of the garden and her legs were becoming weak.
Cassy was about to take another step when she felt her heart racing. What was going on?
She tried to suppress the feeling and continued to look for the garden when her senses heightened as she smelt one of the most pleasant scents ever.
“Kay-” Natalia was interrupted by her father.
“Cassy!” Alec called out, getting closer to where she was.
“Father!” she ran to meet him.
“I told you not to wander far, didn’t I?” He asked and touched the tip of her nose, making her smile.
“Let’s go home now, shall we?” Cassy nodded and they both left.
A young man walked into the library and bowed to the man who was going through the book in his hand.
“You may speak, Ben.”
Ben was his closest friend and the only person who understood him after his father. He was going to appoint him as the beta of the Night walker during his coronation.
The young man bowed again before speaking. “The ball is going to be heard in two days and you are required-”
“I only asked for the day,” Kai interjected. “I won’t be there anyway.”
“But-”
“I’ve always told you that I don’t believe in this mate stuff. I know I’m required to have a Luna but I’m not interested,” he told Ben. “Even if I want to have one, I need a capable and strong person and not a weak person. Someone who can fight alongside with me.”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
Ben smiled. “Very well sir.”
“The coronation would be held after the ball. The elders hope you can have your mate before then.”
Kai nodded before walking out of the library with Ben trailing behind him.
Kai stopped in his track as the smell of strawberries and roses waft into his nose.
“Mate.” His wolf, Allen whimpered.
He quickly rushed in the direction the scent was coming from. The east wing.
“Kai, Where are we going?” Ben asked but Kai was not going to answer.
He needed to know who she was. He thought he didn’t like the idea of having a mate but somehow, smelling his mate excited him.
He has been waiting for her to show up for two years, till he finally gave up.
He was almost there when the scent began to dissipate. Standing at the end of the east wing where the scent was still a little bit stronger, he couldn’t help but wonder why the moon goddess would let his mate show up and let her disappear just like that.
He tried to ignore the stares of the servant and other ladies in the palace as he walked to his room.
Kai have always been stealing the spotlight ever since he was a kid. He had chocolate brown hair with emerald green eyes that stood out. Girls always flocked around him which gave him access to a lot of them.
And no, he wasn’t a Playboy, but he had desires.
“Is anything wrong?” Ben asked when he saw the look on his face.
He shook his head. “No.”
How can everything be okay when his mate showed up and disappeared just like that?