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.

****

Nicolas POV

Beautiful.

When the unknown she-wolf made her way down the aisles toward the altar, that was the only word that had come to mind. Her warm, rich wildflower scent wafted through the air, filling my insides with lust and adoration.

I have never seen such a beautiful she-wolf before. It left me in awe.

My eyes swept across her flawless, petite, toned physique. Although my massive 6'8 frame would easily overshadow her small frame, she would fit perfectly in my protective arms.

I was drawn in like a siren by her gray, storm-clouded eyes. They were calling me to enter the deep, murky waters, where a maze of secrets lay waiting to be discovered. I was driven to pilot that ship, explore every angle, and unravel all the secrets surrounding her.

My cock twitched at the sight of her plump, rosy lips, and I let out a loud sigh. I could already feel their sultry kisses dancing over my tender skin as my fingers became entangled in her voluminous, jet-black hair.

"You are drooling, Alpha," my Beta and closest friend Ronan said next to me.

I gave a low warning growl out of surprise, and Ronan chuckled into his fist. "I can't help but notice how you are reacting to her presence," he said, lifting a taunting eyebrow.

With a huff, I rolled my eyes. Ronan's ability to detect even the smallest shift in my mood was something I hated.

"Who is that she-wolf?" I asked, hoping to shake off the lustful thoughts, and fortunately Ronan had not given me time to read the file he had given me before coming here. I just found out that we had to go to a important mating ceremony after returning from a business trip.

"Her name is Zara Silverwood," he said. "She is the sole heir to the Silverado Pack and the daughter of Alpha Rico and Luna Rita."

"A silver wolf," I muttered to myself. That explained why the ceremony was so large.

Silver wolves are goddess-blessed wolves. The chosen packs were blessed with different special abilities and were given a unique silver mark to set them apart. It was a warning to rogues and other creatures to stay clear.

"Interesting," I said, putting my arms across my chest. A she-wolf becoming the Alpha and leader of a blessed pack was an uncommon occurrence.

"Totally," Ronan replied. "She has selected her Beta to become her mate."

That took me by surprise even more, and I furrowed my brows in discomfort at that fact.

My eyes shifted to the chosen mate, observing him positioned at the altar, adjusting his clothes.

"He seems a little anxious," I remarked.

Ronan agreed with a simple nod of the head.

"I have been watching him," he replied. "He seems to be very uncomfortable about this mating ceremony."

"But?" I asked.

I had a feeling that Ronan had already gone and asked questions about the soon-to-be mated pair.

"One of the pack warriors told me that Beta Levi knows the future Luna very well," he replied.

"As though they are best friends?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows together. That was an interesting fact. I wonder why she would take her Beta as a mate and not an Alpha.

"Yes," he replied. "And to top that off, the mating arrangements were made in a hurry."

Why would she do that?

Was she pregnant?

I hurriedly slid down from my chair as Zara suddenly glanced up with a slight tilt of her head and her eyes flickering between black and silver. I guess her wolf must have scented me and was now aware of my presence.

"Why are you acting so weirdly?" Ronan huffed next to me.

I pulled myself back up in my chair, rolled my eyes at him, and crossed my arms around my waist.

Why was Ronan so focused on me today? Was I really behaving so strangely?

"You better tell him," Ray, my wolf, suggested. "He can help."

Ray was right. At least, by telling Ronan, he could keep me out of trouble.

"Because, my friend," I said. "My second chance mate is that she-wolf over there who is getting mated today."

I never imagined that I would actually say those words aloud. It sounded so right, yet so wrong.

My hand immediately moved to my top inner left pocket, where tucked away safely was an old picture of my fated mate, Isabella. I have kept her picture with me at all times as a constant reminder to myself to never forget her or that awful day.

I sighed.

Isabella was perfect in every way. She was full of sunshine and warmth, and her smile could drive away the rain. She would dance through the pack house, greeting and chatting with the members as she took care of their needs, her gorgeous golden locks always swaying around her face.

Her large, stunning blue-green eyes were constantly beaming with joy and vitality. The pack loved her dearly. She was amazing; she was wise and kind.

The only flaw Isabella had was that she was gifted with an Omega wolf. But that didn't keep me from claiming her as mine. I loved her the moment I laid eyes on her.

My body felt as though an electric current had been sent through it, and my heart prickled in my chest. I can still feel the raw pain of losing her that night.

Tears welled up behind my eyes, burning to be released. Isabella passed away while giving birth. Our son died with his mother.

That was our curse—only strong, ranked wolves could bear an Alpha pup.

I blinked the tears back, shaking my head to get rid of the sorrowful thoughts.

"That is fantastic!" An excited Ronan cried out. "Go and end the proceedings. We need to take our Luna home."

I shook my head.

"I am unable to!" I replied.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because of—"

"What?" Zara's beta lashed out, cutting me off and stopping the proceedings.

A smile appeared on my lips. She must have told him her little secret.

Which confused me. Why would she tell him?

"What just happened?" Ronan asked, confusingly turning his attention back to the proceedings.

"I believe my mate has just told her chosen mate that I am observing the events," I retorted, sitting back in my seat.

"They seemed to be in a heated argument," he commented. "Why can't I shake the feeling that this whole ceremony is wrong?"

"That is not something I can answer," I replied. "She was distracted the moment she entered."

"And you are the reason for that," he commented, turning to glare back at me.

"I might have been," I shrugged.

Ronan shook his head, and a smile followed at the corners of my lips.

"Stop being an asshole," he growled. "And go claim your mate. She is standing right there."

"I am incapable of doing that," I said, pointing to her as she stood at the altar and continued with the ceremony. "Her decision has been made. She desires to be mated with her Beta."

"But have you already made up your mind?" He asked, disbelief crossing his eyes.

"She made it easy," I answered. "Besides, it doesn't matter."

"Come on, Nic!" Ronan hissed. "Isabella has been gone for three, four..."

"Five!" I cut him off. "It's been five years."

Ronan released a breath, shaking his head.

"You know, Nic, my sister would want you to be happy again," he said, his eyes pleading.

"She is not Isabella," I growled.

"Fair enough," he remarked, putting up his hands defensively. "However, let me remind you that finding your second chance mate is rare. There must be a reason why the goddess paired you two."

"Like the reason why she paired me and Isabella?" I snapped. "And now she is gone. She and my son."

Ronan ran a hand over his face and sighed deeply. The death of his sister hurt him just as deeply as it did me.

"It is no secret that Isabella was sick," Ronan said. "The doctor informed you about her health issues."

"If only I had not gotten her pregnant," I muttered angrily. "She might still have been..."

"The illness would have eventually consumed her," he snapped, cutting me off. "Now stop blaming yourself, grow some balls, and go get your mate before they decide to mark each other."

****