Avery's POV

A few days later I stood in front of my mirror. I pulled my nightshirt away from where my shoulder met my neck.

My bite mark was already healed.

That was remarkably fast.

I touched the smooth skin in disbelief.

There was now no visible indication of what had happened under the Mating Moon. I knew the mark was still there, but it was sealed inside and invisible to others.

If only I could reach out and find the man who had mated with me! However, since my wolf was dormant, I also could not sense my mate through the bond.

I had no way to find him, or communicate with him. I didn't even know what he looked like!

Today was the Mating Ball where the Nightwolf Alpha would choose his mate.

I needed to find someone to accept me by the end of today, or my father would kill me to save face.

It felt like an impossible task.

A commotion rose from down below, and I lifted my head from my knees, listening.

"Alpha Gideon is about to arrive!" I heard my step-mother snap.

"Finish the preparations." Zara's tone was tense and fearful.

Alpha Gideon was not someone anyone would mess with.

I pressed my hand over my heart, feeling it thud against my palm. I could hear it clearly in the silence of my dusty, still, bedroom.

It was time for me to leave, but when I stood and tried to leave my room, the door lock clicked loudly.

From the other side, I heard Zara laughing.

"No one want you anyway. You might as well just wait for death, dear sister!"

Gideon's POV

Being Alpha of Nightwolf pack means dealing with a large amount of bureaucratic bullshit.

Tradition was a venerable word that sometimes felt more like a venomous curse. I had long ago learned to face uncomfortable duties head-on.

Still, there were few obligations I despised more than this one to which I was headed.

It was the day of the mate selection.

I had done my best to distract myself from the distasteful task to come. Spread across the leather seat next to me were thick dossiers detailing the most recent reports on attacks throughout my territory. The ledger in my hands detailed my commands for troop movements, and where to place our scouts as the dangerous time of the dark moon approached.

Paperwork, unfortunately, was not enough to occupy my mind these days.

As my driver guided the sleek sedan through the dense woods, I watched swirls of mist rise above the trees. Thick bands of vapor arced up towards the distant sun and shattered into smaller puffs, drifting down the valley into which we were descending.

The motion reminded me of a woman, arching her back in pleasure off of the forest floor beneath me. She too, had shattered and disappeared.

"Still no sign of that girl from that night?" I snapped. It came out more harshly than I intended, and my Beta sitting across from me widened his eyes in surprise.

"Apologies, Alpha." Tegan replied carefully, "No new marked women have been reported in any pack I searched."

I tapped my fingers on the seat and frowned. Within me, my wolf was pacing in aggravation.

"Keep finding her. At all cost."

Tegan flinched at my response but said nothing as the car rolled to a stop at the Silvermoon ceremony hall. Behind us in the drive, more vehicles from my pack parked behind us.

I stepped out of the car, and straightened my jacket. There was a group of women standing near the door, eying me appreciatively.

Their scents were all shouting a mix of curiosity and fear. I saw a few dive out of my line of sight to avoid attracting my attention. Didn't they know that motion is what attracts predators' attention?

Foolish.

I knew why they were running though. I had heard what the other packs said about me, and the things I had done.

I couldn't care less.

But with my scary reputation, it was more difficult to believe that some of their cheeks were flushing already. I guess there were always lunatics who would take any risk if it meant a chance at power and status.

I spared no more attention to any of them while I strode towards where the old Alpha of Silvermoon was waiting.

"Alpha Gideon." the old Alpha nodded his head in greeting over our clasped forearms. "I am honored to welcome you to this hall."

"Alpha Leon." I nodded brusquely in return, suddenly weary of these formalities. "I understand there was a rogue incursion here a few nights ago. I encountered some of them as well. Have you been able to make any way into locating them? It seems to be originating somewhere near your borders."

The old man's face took on a distant, wary expression.

"Oh, well now, let's see." Alpha Leon cast his rheumy gaze around the room, as though the answers were written on the far wall. "No, we haven't located that. We've had some other incidents that have required our focus."

Something in his tone gave me the distinct impression the rogue issue hadn't featured in his attention at all, much less been the center of his focus.

Irritation bubbled up within me with all the subtlety of a geyser.

"Then I suggest you focus on that," I ground out, "and stop causing trouble that I will have to clean up."

Silence fell over the ceremony hall. To the side, I saw Tegan's lips twitch. He knew how much I was leaving unsaid. Alpha Leon was lucky he'd only gotten a taste of my temper.

Even if I caused him to lose face in his pack, I couldn't bring myself to feel sorry about it.

If his pack had been patrolling properly, my mate would not have been almost attacked. My wolf might be less angry, and I might not need to claim her right there in the forest to calm my wolf.

If my wolf was patient enough to take her back to my packhouse, I wouldn't have let her just run away the next morning.

The awkward moment passed, and formalities resumed, but I had already checked out. I moved through the greetings and hospitality traditions - my mind miles away. The sooner I got out of here, the sooner I could resume my search for her.

In the middle of what felt like an endless parade of Silvermoon's eligible mates, one of the men in the crowd approached.

"I'm Cohen, the Gamma of the pack, Alpha Gideon," He said. "I am responsible for organizing this mating ball. You have been shown all the daughters of our highest ranking families. Which matches are you most interested in so far?"

Everyone went quiet in the room. I could sense expectation, fear and curiosity bubbling from the crowd.

I glanced at all the girls in the room and crossed my arms. No big difference.

"I don't really care. Anyone will do. Before I take volunteers, however, you need to know-" I paused. "I won't mark anyone I choose today. Prepared for that..."

"But the tradition-" Alpha Leon hesitated.

"The tradition doesn't force me to mark anyone. Just marriage," I cut his words before he could finish. "I have a marked mate already."

Now the room was filled with apprehension and wary glances.

I guess no one wanted to be picked under these conditions, by an Alpha known to be ruthless and a mistress to compete with in the future.

I was glad. It was better if no one volunteered anyways.

"So anyone will do," I turned to the Gamma who spoke to me earlier. "Maybe your daughter?"

"Oh-, She-uh-she's mated to Ryan already. So-" The gamma clearly panicked and stuttered.

"Father, how could you forget about Avery?" One of the girls walked to the front and turned around to face me. "Alpha Gideon, I'm Zara, the Gamma daughter of the pack. Forgive my father for neglecting to mention that I also have a sister."

"She admires you a lot, but she isn't here because she hasn't been feeling well lately. Maybe you'd like to meet her?" she continued, but there was something to her smile that made me feel like she was scheming something vicious.

Still, all women except my fated mate were all the same to me.

"Fine. Bring her to me."

Avery's POV

The key turning in my door seemed obscenely loud.

When Zara stepped in, her face bore a haughty and pleased expression. My stomach sank. This wouldn't be good.

"Lucky you. You get to live a little longer." She informed me, dumping a pile of clothing onto the bed. "Your marriage has been decided."

So. They had found some unlucky but obliging wolf to foist me onto.

I tried to stir up an emotion, but all I felt was relief that I wasn't going to die.

Until she told me who it was.

"You will marry Alpha Gideon." Zara crowed triumphantly.

A flare of panic raced through me. My fingers trembled where they gripped the blankets.

It can't be! The man is ruthless! I might as well die anyways!

Zara looked at my pale face and laughed.

"Oh yes, you're the only woman he would agree to marry." She stepped to the bed where I sat and pulled me to my feet. "Get up, Bride-to-be! It's your lucky day!" she sneered.

I clutched at Zara's arm frantically as she hauled me up.

"Zara, if he discovers that I was marked, he will kill me," I pleaded.

"Actually, he won't mark you because he has a marked mate already. Who knows what happened to her! I bet you will enjoy all the drama." My stepsister laughed in my face, "And if he still finds out you were marked, just kill yourself before he tortures you to death."

Zara snatched my hairbrush from my dresser and began attacking the knots in my hair. She twisted my hair up into a pile on top of my head and secured it with a clip. Then she held out a formal dress from the pile of clothing she'd brought.

"Get dressed. Your fiancé is waiting, and he doesn't look like a patient man."

When she was done preparing me I didn't recognize the woman staring at me in the mirror. The draped shot silk of the dress clung to my body suggestively and the flashy beading and high neck of the collar sent the whole outfit into "trying too hard" territory.

I had always preferred simple styles that weren't so flashy. A dress like this was not something I would ever have chosen for myself.

None of this was.

You can feel sorry for yourself later. If you survive.

Zara surveyed her handiwork with satisfaction.

"Well, no one will mistake who you're intended for." She smirked, "Let's go."

I blinked at the sunshine as we stepped out of the house. Already it felt like ages since I'd felt the sun on my face and the breeze on my skin. I would have rejoiced more in my freedom if it didn't feel like I was headed to my funeral.

The path to the ceremony hall was lined with members of the pack. They milled about nervously, anticipation thick in the air. I saw Lillian, a friend of mine, staring at me worriedly.

"Avery!" Lillian rushed to my side as we passed, "Are you sure you want to do this?" she whispered.

I was touched by her concern. Lillian was one of the few packmates who'd never judged me for not being able to summon my wolf. She had been kind, and also brought me news about my mother when she could.

I wished I could tell her everything but that would only put her in danger as well. Although it felt like I had no true choice at all, I could choose not to endanger anyone else.

I hugged her tightly instead, trying to put all of my gratitude and friendship into the embrace and then kept walking. She dropped back, her eyes full of questions, but she didn't pursue me any further.

"Smart human " Zara laughed at me under her breath as we continued on, "keeping your mouth shut. Let the wolves do the talking, hmm?"

A familiar man stepped into our path. Seeing his handsome figure sent a pang of ice through my heart. Maybe one day it wouldn't hurt to look at him and remember how foolishly I'd loved and believed him.

Ryan squared his shoulders and stared at me with disdain as we approached.

"How quickly you've changed, Avery." He said in a snide, cold voice. "It took no time at all for you to cling to another Alpha."

There had been a time when Ryan had claimed to care about my well being. How quickly the man I thought I knew had changed.

And now he accused me of being false? Anger boiled under my skin at the double standard.

"Well you would know all about betrayal." I snapped back, "If anyone's trust was misplaced, it was clearly mine."

I glanced between him and Zara, "Congratulations, you two really are perfect for each other."

Ryan's jaw clenched and he looked away guiltily. I hoped he was remembering now all the times I'd shown him my loyalty. He would be lucky to get half as good from his new mate.

Zara snorted, "Oh don't let her fool you with that innocent bullshit. She's no helpless victim."

She ran her fingers underneath the lapels of Ryan's jacket and leaned into him to whisper, "She was so desperate to get back at you that she allowed someone else to mark her!"

"WHAT?!" Ryan roared and reached for me. I tried to pivot away but he snatched at the high collar of my dress and yanked it roughly.

The delicate silk and bead work was no match at all for the Alpha heir's strength. My dress tore to my collarbone, exposing my neck.

"Wait-, the mark is gone-" Ryan questioned. "She healed this fast?"

Zara seemed to be surprised too, grasping my neck even harder.

Suddenly, the pain abated, and Zara's grip loosened. I looked up to see a large, dark form looming over us, silhouetted by the setting sun.

Something familiar about him.

I could not see his face at first, but his Alpha aura was menacingly palpable as he pushed Ryan and Zara away with a casual shove.

The stranger turned to face me, and I was struck by his handsome appearance.

I should thank him.

"Thank yo-" I started to say, but the man cut me off.

"So you are my chosen bride - " His eyes narrowed. "But why did I hear something about you being marked?"