Zara's POV

"What the heck was that about?" I asked when we entered the hallway, heading toward the offices.

Levi appeared even more withdrawn and melancholy after talking to his father.

"It's nothing," he said.

"Do not lie to me, Levi," I growled. "I am just as familiar with your father as you are. What was it that the two of you were fighting over?"

"Damit, Zara!" His hands clenched into fists as he snapped. "Leave it alone. I am capable of handling it on my own."

I wanted to say something, but the sound of laughter erupted from my father's office, cutting me off.

"It seems like someone is with him," Kaya remarked, causing a shiver to run down my spine.

"Is it someone we know?" I asked.

Kaya took a whiff, her eyes narrowing.

"I am not sure," she uttered. "Yet there is a familiar scent lingering in the air, and it is coming from your father's office."

The door to my father's office screamed on its hinges less than a second later, and when it opened, I saw the enormous wolf I called father. He was grinning and appeared to be content about something.

"Damn," Levi mind-linked. "Your father appeared to be pleased with something."

I suppose the treaty-signing process went according to plan.

"Ah, there you are, Zara," my father said. "We were expecting you."

"We?" Looking back at Levi, I asked, startled.

I have never seen my father this happy before. For an Alpha with a short fuse, he was behaving a little strangely. This was not how he usually behaved.

I quickly turned to look at my father again, hoping to pick up some clue as to what the devil was going on, but all I saw were his beautiful, joyful gray eyes.

"We should probably head inside to see what all the excitement is about," Levi mind-linked me, sounding like himself again.

"Levi's mood swings are going to give me whiplash," Kaya remarked.

"I suppose so," I replied to Levi, as my heart began to race.

"Come, come; we cannot have our guest waiting," my father said, extending his arm and waving us in.

As we followed my father into his office, Levi and I shared the same expression of confusion on our faces. His massive back was facing us, obstructing our view.

My eyes swept over the 6'9" Alpha; his gray hair was neatly combed, and for once, he appeared to be completely rested.

Was this what the quick trip away had done to him?

I froze in my spot when I smelled the faint scent of grassland, making my heart skip a beat.

"No! It can't be!" I let out an internal hiss. "He would not dare come here!"

"What the f*ck, Zara!" Levi bumped into me and growled behind me.

"Sorry," I mumbled, wide-eyed.

"What's going on with-" Levi's voice faltered when my father turned away from us and approached his table, confirming my worst fears: Noah f*cking Flinch!

"Is that?" Levi mind-linked, and I nodded my head.

"What brings him here?" He mind-linked.

"Come, come, have a seat, Zara," my father called out to me. "We have a lot to discuss."

I gave a nod and walked stiffly over to the lone chair that was left open in front of my father's desk.

"Beta, you are welcome to sit," my father gestured toward the lover's couch near the wall.

Levi cast a sidelong glance at Noah and shook his head.

"Thank you, Alpha," Levi grinned stiffly and said. "However, I would prefer to be at Luna's side.

My father's eyes swept over the two of us, expressing confusion with knitted eyebrows.

"Very well," my father said. "Suite yourself."

"Zara," he uttered next. "I understand that you are familiar with Alpha Noah."

I forcefully swallowed the lump that had appeared in my throat, and I slowly nodded my head.

"Great," my father said, sitting back in his chair with a smile forming on his lips. "Alpha Noah has also informed me that you are his fated mate."

"What is your father talking about?" Levi growled over the mind-linked. "Is he your mate? How come you have not told me? Are you keeping secrets from me?"

"Don't play the protective beta now," Kaya barked back at him, making Levi quiet. "You are giving me a bloody headache!"

I gave a nod in response to most of the questions, staying silent throughout.

I wanted to rip the smile from Alpha Noah's face as it appeared on the corners of his lips.

"Superb," my dad went on. "Alpha Noah has requested your hand."

All the hair on my body rose. The bastard was using my father to approach me.

"Is that so?" I finally found my voice.

Both my father and Alpha Noah nodded.

"Interesting," I said as I stood up. "Were you told by Alpha Noah that he rejected me more than a year ago?"

My father's smile wavered as Alpha Noah's face turned to ash.

Did Alpha Noah really believe I would just blindly obey an order from my father without a fight?

"He did what?" Levi roared behind me.

"There is more," I said. "He rejected me in favor of a mate he chose."

"Is that true?" My dad questioned; his face hardened, and his eyes shifted black—Marcus, his wolf, must be fighting for control.

"It is," Alpha Noah admitted. "Nevertheless, I can explain. I was given a love potion by my chosen mate in hopes that I would fall in love with her and make her my Luna. It was not until I rejected Zara, feeling her pain, that the spell broke, and I came to my senses."

"Liar!" Kaya growled, grabbing control and extending her claws. She wanted to rearrange Noah's face.

"Calm your wolf, Zara," my father ordered.

Levi's arms snaked around my waist, and he pulled me back to the back of the office. Kaya was outraged, and she didn't stop fighting against his hold.

"Why haven't you told me?" Levi eventually asked when I could regain control. His eyes revealed pity, which was the exact reason why I didn't want him to know.

I inhaled deeply. Since the secret was already known, lying about it would not make things better.

"There wasn't much to tell you," I said. "He kissed his chosen mate and rejected me in less than two minutes."

"Damn, I am sorry," Levi said, pulling me into a bear hug.

"Don't be," I said as I slowly withdrew. "It is better this way."

I sighed.

In less than a day, word of my rejection will get around the pack, and everyone will feel sorry for me.

My gaze moved toward my father; he and Alpha Noah were in a heated argument. All of a sudden, my father's smile returned as he nodded.

"Oh, no!" Kaya grunted. "What did Alpha Noah say?"

"We better find out!" I hissed. "Before-"

"Are you still in control?" Levi asked, seeing my face harden.

I gave a nod.

"Kaya is just upset," I explained. "She doesn't like Noah much."

With a nod from Levi, we headed back to my father's desk together.

"Zara," my father said gently. "After discussing the situation with Alpha Noah, I have made a decision."

"Decision?" I gasped, feeling my heartbeat racing up. "What kind of decision?"

"Well," Alpha Noah said. "I am willing to give us another chance since you have not found a second chance mate yet."

Was he f*cking serious right now? And my father agreed to this?

I turned to look at my father; he seemed happy with the arrangement.

"Willing?" I glowed with disgust. "I am not interested."

"Zara," my dad, glared at me menacingly. "You will not be able to assume leadership of the pack if you are not mated."

I wrapped my arms around my waist. I am familiar with the pack regulations. Without an Alpha, a she-wolf cannot lead a pack; however, an Alpha can lead a pack without a Luna.

I rolled my eyes. Our pack's politics are so incredibly complex and unfair.

"Who said that I don't have a mate?" I asked.

That startled all three of the wolves, who were now staring at each other, confused.

"Levi and I have agreed to be chosen mates," I continued. "It's better this way. Levi is well-versed in all the rules and regulations and is well-liked by all. He will be a wonderful and just Alpha."

The three wolves gave me a skeptical look.

"What are you doing, Zara?" Levi mind-linked me when he finally realized what I had just said. "That is not something we have ever agreed upon. You know I can't...."

"Just go with it," I mind-linked back.

"No!" He growled over the mind-linked. "I can't lie to your father. This isn't right!"

"We are not lying," I mind-linked. "We are just buying some time."

"Beta Levi, is this true?" My father asked.

My heart hammered against my rib cage as Levi appeared like a deer caught in headlights. I crossed my fingers and hoped that Levi would go with it.

"Come on, Levi," I mind-linked him. "I am unable to pair with this cunning weasel. Look at him. Something is not quite right in this situation. He cannot become the leader of the pack. He will destroy everything our fathers built."

Levi looked at me, then back at my dad.

Shutting his eyes, he forcefully swallowed.

"Yes, Alpha," he replied as he gradually opened his eyes. "We have put such an agreement in place."

I interrupted Noah as he was about to say something.

"Are we done?" I asked, getting to my feet. "Can we leave now?"

My father nodded but cleared his throat when Levi and I both reached the door. Both of us looked back at my father, anticipating his final comment.

"Oh, no!" Kaya whimpered. "I know that look!"

"It means trouble is..."

"Zara. Beta Levi," my father turned serious. "Kindly be aware that your mating ceremony will occur on the next full moon."

My heart plummeted—that was this weekend.

****

Zara's POV

"I cannot believe you are doing this to me," Levi groaned, which seemed to be the hundredth time in this hour. He had been complaining about our mating arrangement, and the subject was now officially getting on my last nerve.

Was it even possible for him to simply comply with my request and follow along without all the extra drama? The mating ceremony wasn't such a big deal.

We were just claiming to be chosen mates until we found a more suitable mate, or maybe our second chance mate—that's if such mates still exist.

I sighed, closing my eyes, as I counted to ten. I didn't want to lose my cool composure; it was moments before the mating ceremony, and my father would notice if something was wrong.

"Come one, Levi," I said, taking his hands in mine. I was about to beg. This was important to me. He must help me, or else I will be forced to mate with Alpha Noah, and that thought revolts me. "The concept is not all that bad. At least you are aware of the kind of mate you will have. You are familiar with me. We will be fine."

"Are you serious?" he snarled, pulling his hands out of mine. "What excuse will you offer the pack when we do not mark each other? Hmm?"

"I will come up with something," I replied with a sigh.

My father had put a lot of effort into this mating ceremony. He even went as far as to invite every Alpha on the continent to attend the ceremony.

There was no way we could back out now. The pack house was already filled with Alphas, Lunas, and ranks from all over who had come to witness the exchange of our mating vows.

Levi started to pace back and forth with his hands in his hair.

"I do not think I can do this, Zara," he remarked. "I cannot lie in front of all those wolves. They will know the ceremony is just a lot of bullsh*t!"

"Levi, you are not lying," I snapped. I was about to lose my temper. I took a deep breath. "You are simply protecting your future Luna from her has-been-mate, and by doing that, you are keeping the pack safe and out of his hands. Stop worrying now. Everything will work out the way it should."

"It is easy for you to say," he snapped. "You are not the one who will not be able to fulfill his obligations to his mate. Or did you forget that I am gay?"

"Seriously, Levi?" I scowled. "I have not forgotten about that. That is the exact reason why this would work out perfectly."

"You have got to be kidding me," he growled. "Have you ever given this plan of yours much thought?"

I shook my head.

"Nope, not really," I replied and shrugged. "But think of it this way. We can simply reject each other as soon as we find our second chance mate, and everything can go back to normal. I promise you, everything will work out just fine. Trust me."

"You think that by finding your second chance, everything will go back to normal?" Levi shrieked, throwing his arms in the air. "It is easier said than done!"

"What is?" I asked, knitting my eyebrows together. What was Levi going on about?

"Finding a second chance, mate!" Levi snorted. "You have about a one in a million chance of getting one."

"No, it is not," I argue. "Second chance mates still exist. Rejected wolves can still find love a second time."

"What happens if we don't?" he asked. "What are you going to tell the pack when we can't give them the next heir?"

"That will not happen," I muttered. "The goddess will not let the pack go without an heir."

I haven't given much thought to the implications of mating with Levi.

Even if we cannot work out the dynamics surrounding our mating arrangements, I still think this is the best option.

It is true that Levi is gay, but I never put much thought into his sexual preferences. I loved him for who he was; I saw him for him. I trusted him with everything I had.

If Levi chickens out now, I will have no choice but to accept the proposal to be Alpha Noah's mate and Luna; otherwise, he will have the power to challenge my father for the Silverado Pack Alpha title.

"Are you sure?" Levi asked, coming closer and placing his hand on my shoulder.

I nodded. The goddess always made sure there was an heir to her blessed packs. I doubt that she will turn her back on us now.

My gaze roamed over the reflections of me and Levi. If we were a normal couple and this ceremony wasn't staged, we could have easily gone through as an ideal power couple.

I sighed, laid my hand over his, and raised my eyes to meet him in the mirror.

"I am," I said. "Our love for one another has never changed. We trust one another. All you need is a little faith. We can do this. The goddess will provide; I know she will."

A knock on my bedroom door startled both of us, and a moment later, the door opened to reveal Janey. The redhead omega was tasked with helping me get ready.

"Zara, can I come in?" She asked, knitting her eyebrows together, when she saw Levi. He was not supposed to be with me before the mating ceremony.

I gave her a nod and returned my attention to Levi.

"Go get dressed," I said. "I will see you shortly."

"Very well," Levi said with a sigh. "I will wait for you at the altar."

"I will be the one dressed in white," I chirped, a little too excited. Levi huffed and rolled his eyes before walking out the door and shutting it behind him.

Janey seemed curious, but she decided to just keep quiet and started with my hair.

I watched as her hands skillfully transformed my hair.

"Did you finish your studies at beauty school?" I asked in an attempt to strike up a conversation.

"Next week, I will be taking my final exam," she stated, glancing up to meet my gaze in the mirror. "Hopefully, then, I will get my diploma."

"You certainly know what you are doing," I said. "I love my hair like this."

"Thank you," she muttered. "However, I am far from having your hair done perfectly."

"That is absurd," I said. "My hair looks amazing. There is no doubt that you will ace your exam."

Janey blushed at that, and a smile appeared on her lips.

"Thank you for the compliment," she uttered.

After Janey finished my hair, she moved on to my makeup, and once she was done, she turned me to face the mirror.

My hands were drawn to my red lips as I gasped in shock when I saw my reflection in the mirror.

I have never been one to wear a lot of makeup—I usually just wear foundation and eyeliner—but I looked like a magazine cover model.

"Are you pleased with how you look?" Janey asked anxiously when I didn't say anything.

"Yes," I replied. "It is perfect, beyond my expectations."

"Do you think Beta Levi would approve?" She asked.

It surprised me that she asked me if Levi would approve instead of my father.

"He would love it," I said. "Thank you."

Janey headed toward my closet and carefully pulled my mating dress from the hanger. My mother gave me the dress as a gift; it was her old mating outfit, passed down from Luna to Luna.

The dress had undergone some modifications, which I was excited to see.

My heart leaped out of my chest as soon as Janey revealed the dress. It was even more exquisite than the original dress.

"Amazing!" Janey said. "Is this Luna's old mating dress?"

"Yes," I replied, touching the pearly top and the modifications I had made to the old dress.

"Beta Levi is one lucky wolf," she said. "The Alpha ought to feel pleased by your choice."

"He is," I replied.

Janey helped me get dressed, and tears sprung to my eyes when I saw my reflection in the mirror. The dress was a perfect fit!

The moment Janey tied the last button, there was a soft knock on my bedroom door, and my father, appearing as though he had been called, peered around it.

"Bloody hell!" he exclaimed when he saw me. "Zara, is that you?"

He flung the door open, shock, amazement, and disbelief visible on his face.

"Hello, dad," I said, feeling my face turn crimson under all the makeup.

"Wow!" He gasped once more. "You look amazing! I almost didn't recognize you!"

"Thank you, Father," I said, turning my gaze toward Janey. "However, Janey is solely responsible for this picture-perfect image of me."

After thanking Janey and extending his arm to me, my father and I left my room to go down to the proceedings.

However, I never thought that the most intoxicating scent would turn my world upside down.

****

Zara's POV

The inside of the mating hall was beautifully decorated. White wild flowers were hanging from the ceiling, and red rose petals were scattered on the floor, creating a beautiful flowery path to the altar.

My father made sure that this stunning ceremony would be remembered for years to come.

The hall was packed and overcrowded with huge wolves, and there were even wolves standing outside hoping to get a glimpse of the mating proceedings.

Levi was anxiously fiddling with his cufflinks as he waited at the altar. Next to him stood his two brothers, Jack and Frank, three years older than him, playing the best-man part.

My gaze roamed over Levi. He looked so handsome in his black tuxedo, white dress shirt, black dance shoes, and navy blue bow tie. His golden hair was neatly combed back, and he had a deep and serious frown stuck on his face. He did not seem to be too happy about today, but as my best friend, I knew he wouldn't let me down.

On the other side of the altar, my cousins, Jeanie and Sandra, stood, both dressed in navy blue dresses flowing down to the floor. They were each holding a small white bouquet of roses.

"Did Janey do Jeanie and Sandra's hair too?" I asked my father.

"She sure did," he replied.

"I am impressed by her work!" I commented.

"So am I," he replied.

Levi caught a glimpse of me standing at the entrance, and he stopped fiddling with his cufflinks and froze in place. He blinked a couple of times before his jaw hit the floor. It took him a few seconds before he could fix his composure, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Wow!" he mind-linked. "You look gorgeous!"

Levi's facial reaction got a lot of attention, and the whole hall turned to look back at me and my father.

My face heated, and I bit my lip. I wasn't used to this kind of attention.

"So do you too, handsome," I replied, embarrassed.

"I feel kind of honored to be the one standing next to you at the altar," Levi said, a beautiful smile on his lips.

My father chuckled next to me, finding the situation humorous.

"It seems like no one expected to see you this beautiful," he said proudly. "You should dress up more often."

I raised an eyebrow, huffed, and rolled my eyes. It wasn't at all true. I regularly went and dressed up for events.

"But you never looked like this!" Kaya mused. "You look amazing! Janey did an excellent job. People will now expect you to look this way more often."

"Not going to happen," I replied.

The wolf howl marked the start of the proceedings, and my father pulled me forward toward the path to the altar.

The moment had come! I would stop at nothing to ensure the safety of my people.

My father and I strolled down the path together until the sweetest smell of honey and vanilla attacked my nostrils.

I became intoxicated by the aroma and started to move more slowly. The scent was overpowering my senses, and I was dying to have a taste of it!

"Mate!" Kaya howled and fought for control. Startled by what she said, my body stiffened, and my heart rate escalated. I was unable to control my breathing. I managed to push her back.

"Mate is here!" she grumbled, angrily at me. "Find mate! Find mate now!"

Why now? Why here? Why always at the most inconvenient times and places?

Was this some kind of fluke or my punishment for deceiving everyone with my plans?

"Are you nervous?" My father whispered in my ear. He must have noticed my reaction just a few seconds ago.

I looked up at him and shook my head.

"No," I lied. I was now beyond the word nervous!

"You can always cancel if you are not sure about Beta Levi," he said calmly.

That made me smile. My father was always so patient with me.

"I know you two have been friends for, like, forever," he continued. "But I never thought that you two would actually go and tie the knot."

Neither did I. This subject never even made it onto my personal agenda.

"You know," he said, side-glancing at me. "Alpha Noah..."

Kaya growled in my mind. Alpha Noah's name only brought her pain and suffering. I would not want to go through that pain with her again.

A scene from that night, when Alpha Noah rejected me, flashed through my mind. The rain was pouring down on me, and it was shivering cold outside. The more I ran from the pain, the colder I became—it was the emptyness that Alpha Noah left inside my heart, growing like cancer inside me.

Kaya was devastated and even more heartbroken than me. She couldn't understand what he saw in his chosen mate. She was nothing more than an omega.

Kaya pleaded with me to give Noah another chance. She begged me to go back and search for him.

I sighed, remembering that I had given into her request.

We sneaked into the Red Howl Pack and easily found Alpha Noah's chambers. His pack seemed to be laid back, with minimal guards on duty. I could hear him inside his room, grunting and moaning.

Someone was with him. Was it her?

My heart broke, sending another painful feeling through my body. I knew what it meant, but Kaya refused to give up and leave. She wanted to claim her mate.

I closed my eyes and swallowed hard as I slowly pushed the door open. The scent of an unknown she-wolf had already tainted Alpha Noah's intoxicated grassland scent.

I wanted to gag and turn around and run away, but Kaya refused.

Kaya grabbed control, hearing Alpha Noah moan and grunting even louder.

If only I hadn't given into Kaya's request.

The banging of the headboard slamming against the wall increased, and Kaya froze.

I could feel her heart shattered in a million pieces, yet she did not turn around. She took one more step forward, ignoring the banging of the headboard against the wall.

My hands flew to my lips when I saw Alpha Noah's bare back, his pants lying around his ankles and him thrusting into a redheaded girl. She was standing on all fours on the bed with her ass in the air.

"Ahh," the girl moaned. "Deeper, Alpha! I want to feel all of you inside me. Please! Please, don't stop! "

It wasn't even his chosen mate he was f*cking!

Was that how my life would have been?

As soon as the thought occurred to me, I immediately dismissed it.

"No, I am fine," I said. I assured my father.

I was sick of hearing about that foolish, obnoxious wolf who thinks he owns me. After tonight, he would have to move on and find another she-wolf to amuse himself. He had his chance.

My father nodded, and we headed forward. My gaze unintentionally moved over the sea of wolves, searching for the person behind the delicious vanilla and honey scent.

I could not help but notice Alpha Noah. He and his beta were seated in the third row from the front. His stunning face was contorted with utter fury.

"He has some nerve to come to the proceeding!" Kaya growled in my mind. Just the mere thought of having Alpha Noah here in the proceedings angered her.

"My father must have invited him," I replied. "And to think I once found him good-looking."

"I hope he is not going to do or say something stupid today," Kaya said, the hair on her back raised.

"I doubt that my father would allow that," I replied. "My father made sure to put extra precautions in place in case someone tries to sabotage today's proceedings."

My father stopped a couple of feet from the altar and Levi came closer, shaking my father's hand.

"Look after my daughter. Treat her with love and respect," my father said seriously. "Or else..."

Levi's eyes grew wide, his back stiffened, and he shivered and swallowed hard. All the while, I muffled a chuckle behind my hand.

Levi had always been very careful of my overprotective father, and I couldn't blame him.

I was the only child, not because my parents didn't want more pups, but because my mother lost her ability to conceive more pups due to a rogue attack.

My mother was pregnant with me when the attack happened, and my father almost lost us both that night. My father doesn't speak about that night, but my mother told me how painful it was for him to see her on the verge of dying.

"Yes, Alpha," Levi said, his voice breaking. "I will take good care of your daughter. You have my word."

"You have my blessing," my father said. He nodded, lowered his head, kissed my cheek, and handed me over to Levi.

I found the proceedings dragging and boring. I have never been one for long speeches.

The elder person who was doing the proceedings was giving us a lecture on how to live our lives as a mated pair, and I wasn't really focusing on any of that.

We were not planning to do the deed; I would never expect Levi to go that far.

"Why are you not listening to the elder?" Levi mind-linked.

"I am," I replied via the mind-linked.

"You are not," he argued.

"Are you calling me a liar?" I asked, raising a perfectly molded eyebrow and turning my gaze to look at him.

"Yes. No. Maybe," he replied.

"Which is it?" I mind-linked, shifting my eyebrows together.

"I don't know," he mind-linked me, looking down at me. "You seem very distracted. Even more distracted than your normal self."

"It is because I am," I replied, turning my attention back to the elder.

I couldn't help but wonder to whom that intoxicated scent belonged. I could taste the scent on my tongue, and my mouth watered to have a taste of it.

I was even more curious to know from which pack he came.

I was dying to know what he looked like.

My heart pinched hurtfully inside my chest. So far, he has made no effort to stop the proceedings and claim me.

Was he scared, or did he just accept the fact that I had taken a chosen mate?

"Why?" Levi asked. "Do you have cold feet?"

"No," I said. "But I'm pretty sure that my second chance mate is watching the ceremony."

"What?" Levi gasped, making the elder stop talking, and murmurs followed from behind us.

That was not the reaction I was hoping for at a time like this!

"Is there a problem?" The elder asked, removing his reading glasses and placing them on the podium.

"No, no, no," I said, giving Levi the death glare. "Please continue, elder."

"Are you sure?" He asked, searching for any traces of dishonesty.

"We are sure," I said. "Please continue."

"Beta Levi," The elder asked. "Are you fine with proceeding?"

Levi opened his mouth, yet he didn't say anything; his gaze slowly shifted toward me.

"Levi, don't do this. I beg you, don't you dare say no," I mind-linked him.

"Yes, elder," Levi said. "Please proceed."

"Very well," the elder said, returning his glasses to his eyes.

"Where were we? Ah, yes," the elder said as he continued to search where he stopped.

"Zara, I think we should stop the proceedings," Levi linked after a moment. "Your mate will be hurt if we-"

"If he really wants me, he can come and claim me right here," I replied.

"Oh," Levi said, a naughty smile on his lips. "Cavemen style. You like it rough, huh?"

"No," I replied, rolling my eyes. "That way, I would know that he really cares and wants me, but so far, he hasn't made any effort to stop this ceremony."

"Maybe he is shy," Levi replied.

"I doubt that," I said. "Wolves are not shy about claiming their mate. They make a big fuss about it to ensure that everyone knows that they have found their mate and are now taken."

"Maybe he is cautious," Levi commented. "Maybe he was rejected before..."

"Maybe," I replied, and a breath escaped my lips.

For some reason, this almost felt even worse than Alpha Noah's rejection.

****