My muscles tensed up as my eyes slowly darted to where Alpha Graham stood with his hands behind his back. I felt a knot in my chest tighten, as I suddenly felt a strong pull towards him.
"Mate! I muttered under my breath gazing profoundly at him, I could tell he already knew I was his mate but he ignored me.
"Welcome Alpha Graham! Father said cheerfully as he made his way to where Alpha Graham stood. They both trotted into the room side by side, and I quickly hide myself in the throng of crowds to save
father from any embarrassment.
"Alpha Graham it's such an honor to be standing before you." Tara said as she raised her dress slightly and bowed to show coutsey.
Alpha Graham didn't respond to her greetings instead he raised his gaze and allow his eyes to roam around the room in search of something. Suddenly his gaze rested on me, he gazed at me profoundly, his gaze scrutinizing every whole of my being. Then suddenly he broke the gaze, I felt my heart constrict as I clenched my chest.
"Alpha Graham is my mate! I muttered under my breath feeling the severity of the mate bond pulling him to me. "This is my eldest daughter Tara," Father
said introducing Tara to Alpha Graham. Tara was beaming with a sheepish smile as she flicked her hair in a seductive manner. I couldn't stand it, I can't let Tara take my mate away from me.
Father must have forgotten but today was my 18th birthday, it was sounfortunate that I was born on the same date with Tara. I was older than her with two years, I always saw her as a sister but she hated me to the core of her heart.
She has taken everything away from me, my peace, my birth right...father's love and now she wants to snatch my mate away from me too? I won't let her.
I slowly emerged from the crowd, just then Gina walked past me but I caught her by the wrist and slowly dragged her to my side. "Stepmother…" My voice was quivering. "Stepmother you have to stop father from forming an alliance between Tara and Alpha Graham." I said with a pleading gaze but
she eyed me with disdain and snatched her hand from my grip.
"Are you out of your mind? Who do you think you are to order me around? She was trying to be calm and I knew I was safe because we were not alone, she won't strike me or punish me in front of everyone. She valued her reputation more than anything in this world.
"Alpha Graham is my mate." I said in haste and she arched her brows and chuckled. "I can see you are finally loosing your mind Jasmine, are you so desperate that you don't have an iota of shame? She cursed loudly.
"Stay away from Tara and Alpha Graham, get busy and serve the guest some
drinks." She said and turned to leave but paused. "Oh! Just a little reminder, if you mess this up, I will end you." She said and finally walked away.
I felt hopeless as my eyes trailed off to where Father was, he flashed a fleeting gaze at me then shifted his gaze back to Alpha Graham. They have been discussing for a while and I was sure Father was feeding him with more lies. Just then I heard the click of a glass….."It is time to make a toast."
Father was suddenly standing in the middle of the ballroom with a glass of wine in his hands raised in the air.
"Cheers to many more prosperous years to my loving daughter Tara." He said casting Tara a quick gaze, she was smiling from ear to ear and was standing next to Alpha Graham.
"Most importantly cheers to the alliance Alpha Graham made with my daughter, today the alliance will be finalized." Father face became more radiant immediately he said those last words.
A guard walked forward holding up a a tray which had some papers on it. I became wary of the imminent action father was about to take. I was sure that document contained the legal procedure
to sealing the alliance once and for all, and just by a signature Tara will become Alpha Graham's fiancee.
I watched as Father took the document and walked up to Alpha Graham. He handed the document over to him, beckoning him to sign it. My blood ran cold as Alpha Graham took out a pen and made to sign the papers. This wasn't right, he should be rebelling against this, I am his mate not Tara. I felt betrayed at that instant, I knew that Gina would probably never forgive me for this but..."Stop! I shrilled and all heads began to turn toward my direction. I emerged out of the shadows of the crowd.
The horrible outfit I was wearing
made me look like a maid, as I languishly trotted to where Alpha Graham stood.
"You can't get married to Tara, you are my mate." Immediately I said that there was an uproar from the crowd. I could hear inconspicuous whispers and silent mummurs overwhelming the atmosphere.
"Jasmine what are you doing? Father said almost in a whisper from behind me. His deadly gaze was enough reason for me to back down but I was bent on finishing what I started.
"Jasmine dear, don't play such a silly prank in front of everyone. Please apologize to Alpha Graham immediately." Gina said faking a smile but I ignored her and focused my gaze on Alpha Graham.
"I am aware that you know I am your mate, why are you doing this? I was sad, deeply hurt but I needed answers.
"You have no right to question my decision." Alpha Graham said without casting me a glare. I have the right to chose who my Luna will be and I choose Tara." He said encircling his hand around Tara's waist and pulling her to himself. I felt my eyes cloud with unshed tears as the courage I had
suddenly began to escalate.
"The moon goddess has chosen you as my mate...I was caught short before I could finish my sentence.
"I will not succumbed to any unknown diety or treacherous demands of the moon goddess." He daid bluntly. "Did you think I will stoop so low as to make you my mate? Never!
His words shattered the remaining courage I had as I slowly staggered backward, I was fighting my tears back but I suddenly let them flow freely. "You are really shameless Jasmine, how could you
try to separate Tara from Alpha Graham?
Gina chipped in her ominous gaze not Leaving me. I was too amused to say a word. All my life I thought about this very day, the day my mate will come like a knight in shining armor and take me away from this wretched people l call family...but I was wrong to think like that.
"Did you really think that Alpha Graham will choose someone like you over me? Tara wore a evil smirk as she placed her head on Alpha Graham's chest and clung to him tightly. She stood upright and gazing at me profoundly. "Don't be delusional Jasmine, you were never born to be royalty, you
will always have to feed from others and beg for food….you will always be nothing more than a wofless Omega servant." She stressed the last word to emphasize her point, immediately I striked her
across her face.
Slam! The slap echoed and Tara face snapped away as a result of the impact of the slap. I always wanted to do this, and I was glad I finally got the chance to do so.
"Tara! Stepmother screamed and
scurried to where Tara stood. Tara's face was distorted and her cheek was as red as a tomato.
"How dare you raise your hand at Tara." Alpha Graham roared and I trembled. His gaze was deadly, so venomous that I could feel my skin crawling. "Guards seize her! He commanded and immediately some guards scurried to where I was and held me down like some kind of criminal.
Their grip was abrasive and I could feel the weight of their whole body on my wrist, that moment I heard a bone in my body snap. "Let go of me! I cried out as my wrist hurted badly. "Don't you ever make the mistake of raising your hands at Tara again, I will spare you this time but the next time this will happen...get ready to die! His words were petrifying. This is hopeless, I should be the one he should be protecting, I was his mate.
"I Alpha Graham of Shadow woods pack….he raised his voice to reject me but I immediately broke out of the grips of the guards and enveloped his mouth with my hands to stop him from saying anything.
"Please….. please don't do this." Tears were glistening in my eyes, there was a thin string pulling my chest and I could feel my strength slowly emasculate. He was about to reject me as his mate, was he
aware that such an act could kill me? I was sure he was aware of this. What would happen if he leaves me here, I just want to be loved. After what I did today, I entire existence in this house was
surely doomed.
I was not strong enough to endure the pain from the severing of the mate bond. I was wofless, there would be no spirit wolf to heal me internally. I watched as he slowly shoved my hands away
from his mouth.
"I Alpha Graham of Shadow woods pack reject you Jasmine as my mate."