Danica's POV

“What?! I mean, Why? Is this your way of luring me into making a bigger mistake that would keep me in prison for the rest of my entire life and not just my youthful years?” I asked and he laughed. A sound I could give anything to hear again.

“Now, why would you ask something like that?” He asked and I shrugged once.

“Because I'm a useless omega you'll be glad to depose? Besides, I didn't even think before jumping in and trying to save one of your subordinate's sister and now I might have made things worse” I muttered, avoiding his gaze as much as I could.

“No, you didn't unalive her if that's what you're worried about” he said again and I finally met his gaze, which had a little smirk curling up his lips again.

“How… how would you know that?” I stuttered.

“The energy I felt around her when I passed beside her body to find you was very much that of someone who was alive and kicking” he replied and my head did a 360 spin.

‘Felt her energy? How does that even happen?’ I wanted to ask but it was probably going to be because of some Alpha syndrome whatnot.

“To find me? Why would you want to find me?” I asked instead.

“Because I need your medical attention?” He replied calmly and I sighed inwardly before stylishly pushing myself away from the wall and away from his body.

“With all due respect Alpha, you don't seem like someone who needs medical attention” I told him calmly, keeping my head low. “I don't see anything wrong with you” I added, my voice rising a bit.

“You can only see what is wrong with me if you take off my shirt, Dani” he muttered huskily and I felt heat rise to my cheeks rapidly.

*Something needs to be done about that voice of his. Please goddess…*

“What?! Take… off your shirt?” I stammered and he nodded once.

“Take it off” he murmured and my cheeks practically burned.

God help me, my fingers itched to do just as he ordered but thanks to the fear of getting tricked again, I held myself back.

“I dare not trespass anywhere around the Alpha. I'm sure the royal doctors can help even more than I ever will. Excuse me, Alpha” I pronounced with a deep bow and immediately turned to leave but he pulled me flush against his hard body so easily that it knocked my breath out of my lungs.

Our eyes locked and he kept it locked, daring me to break the contact as his strong hand on my wrist slowly led my hand to the buttons of his shirt.

“It's just a shirt, Dani. It doesn't bite” he muttered and oh, those words couldn't have sounded naughtier.

I undid the first, the second button and down to the sixth, which was the last one. With each new one I unhooked, my body felt hotter than the last, my breath becoming labored and when I was done, it was impossible to look away from the toned chest and abs that glared at me.

‘Oh. Moy. Gowdess. This is seur unfair bitch!’ I screamed inwardly, as my gaze skimmed all over his chest and his prominent tattoo that called to my fingers for as long as I couldn't even imagine until my gaze fell on the painful looking stab wound in his lower stomach.

‘Is the mate bond supposed to make you feel so hurt when you're not even the one that is wounded? Because right now, it feels like my heart is being ripped out’

I slowly touched the sides of the wound, trailing my fingers over the surface gently and I watched his hard muscles flex beneath my fingers.

“You're not going to stare at my bare chest all day now, would you Dani?”

“This must have been so painful” I muttered, sniffling back the tears I didn't realize was streaming down my face.

“It was, okay? But not anymore” he said with an assuring look on his face as he lifted my chin until I was looking directly into his eyes.

“Then why isn't it healing? Alpha bloods heal faster no matter what” I asked, not convinced by his response.

“Because it was a silver sword. I had an unhealed silver wound in the same spot before this happened is why” he replied, which wasn't in anyway making me feel better.

*The first person I would unalive with my two hands is the jerk that did this to him!*

“Why is your cheek swollen?” He asked, caressing the part of my face that received two slaps by my father's hand.

“I… I had a drastic fall” I lied, swallowing hard as I tried to escape his firm yet soft grip on my chin and luckily, he didn't stop me.

“Do you always cry when you see a wound on a patient or is it just me?” he suddenly asked and I immediately cleared my throat, wiping my tears as I put on a tough front.

“I always cry when I see a big wound on my patient” I lied again and he hummed in response, a low masculine hum that sent a warm feeling through my chest, leaving me wonder if he didn't realize I was lying or if he was just doing a good job hiding the fact that he knows.

“I didn't see you cry while you treated Anabel” he added and I almost glared at him. Almost!

“Well, just because.” I shrugged. “It would take three days and my proper first aid kit to help you recover from that” I added, changing the subject of discussion as I pointed at his wound and he nodded once.

“So do it” he said and I blinked.

“The party isn't happening in three days” I reminded him.

“You'll be coming to the palace to treat me, not here” he replied immediately, as if expecting me to say that. “And it's an order” he added and god, can my body feels hotter from how stern he sounds right now.

“Yes, Alpha” I muttered and I clearly saw him bite back a grin.

“Three days it is then, Dani” he murmured, and I couldn't help but wonder if three days probably had some other meaning I knew nothing about. “You might wanna go check on your patient now,” he added and I bowed slightly before turning to walk in the same direction I came.

“You should disinfect the wound twice everyday to avoid more complications or a bigger wound” I stopped to tell him and he nodded carefully, his eyes staring into mine intently.

“You would be there to disinfect it yourself anyway” he said cockily and I scrunched my nose up in a displeased look despite the annoying palpitations of my heart.

“I'm just saying… keep that in mind” I told him before turning away from him again, a big blush creeping up my face.

*

Finn's gaze locked on mine the moment I stepped out into the hall but I didn't hold his for long before looking down at Anabel who had tears in her eyes. She is awake and that is all that mattered. Whatever she was crying about was zero percent my concern.

I took five steady steps towards them before squatting to Anabel's level.

“That might leave a little scar but luckily it would blend with your skin color. I wasn't mean enough to give you an ugly scar even though I was sincerely tempted to” I told her with an expressionless look on my face and she blinked once.

“Did she really save me?” she whispered, asking no one in particular.

“You might wanna sniff out your cocktails next time before taking any sips or were you just so desperate to mock me that you'd rather risk your own life?” I added, disregarding her question completely but before she could think of answering, I stood up and walked away from them, praying that the party just ends already.

Eventually, it did and I couldn't help but ponder on my conversation with Alpha Alexander.

Did he not realize I'm his mate?

Or did he decide to keep it to himself since I'm not ‘worthy’ to be called his mate?

Was he embarrassed to be seen with me that he couldn't claim me in the hall but rather came all the way to the desolate hallway to check me out?

*'You ran away from the hall as soon as you sense him, Danica'* I reminded myself.

Why didn't he say a thing to me when we met?

Maybe he didn't feel the bond and was only nice to me because he was oblivious to the pull?

I doubt he would smile at me if I had admitted to being his mate. I concluded my wandering thoughts as I walked towards my father's car.

“Danica, what was that stunt you pulled back at the party?” Freya questioned and I could hear the anger and restlessness in her tone, making me scoff inwardly.

*What mother gets angry when her daughter saved someone's life?*

“I only….” A hard slap to my face stopped my words midway and I instantly felt the metallic taste of blood on my tongue.

“You attention seeking slut! How dare you?!”

Danica's POV

I held my cheek painfully, tears blinding my sight momentarily as I looked up to face Joey who was seething with an anger that threatened to unleash mine.

She had some fucking guts to raise her filthy hands to my face! And for what?!

“What the hell did you do that for?” I growled at her with bloodshot eyes and I saw her swallow nothing, pupils dilating before she quickly recomposed herself.

“You're talking back at me after what you did?” She scoffed, raising her hand to slap me again and I would have fucking put her in her damn place if my Father hadn't beat me to it with his commanding voice.

“Enough of this nonsense, you both! Get in the car. Now! And stop being such a nuisance!” he thundered irritably, his glare fixed on me. Just me! It has always being only me who gets to bear the blame for everything even if she was at a fault. The thought made more tears pool at my eyes but I didn't let it fall.

It is all Joey ever wanted. To see me break down in front of her so she could always remind me how far beneath her my place lies and I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing her wish come true, again.

I couldn't even if I tried. Not with the flirty Alpha's touch lingering on my face and wrist like his hands were still there, sending sparks and shivers through my spine in a good way.

I know I shouldn't feel this way about another mate of mine, since I was obviously always fated to assholes but deep down, I looked forward to seeing him again. Asides saving Anabel, he was the best thing that happened to me so far on a bad day like today and I simply wanted to know if all his gentleness was just a charade to make me voice the bond we had and then humiliate me like the others did, or if he was just that caring kind of person unlike what the rumors says about him.

Whichever one it was, I wouldn't be Danica fvcking Grayson if I let it slip that he was my mate in the next three days I planned to spend taking care of his wound.

The drive was terribly silent but I could feel Joey's glare on me throughout till the car suddenly pulled up at the parking lot. As a former beta, my father owned a house befitting enough to be called a mansion with a parking lot.

“Danica. Meet me inside in five” my Father said sternly, his face contoured with a deep frown and I didn't miss the smirk that suddenly appeared on Joey's face.

Stupid bitch!

I got in to meet my father sitting on the sofa, looking pissed and I hesitated going to meet him until Joey shoved me forward.

“What was the trash you pulled at the party?” He thundered and I bit the insides of my lips hard.

“I could help Anabel, Father. So I did” I said and Joey scoffed behind me.

“I doubt that!” She gritted, glaring at me. “What she wanted at that party was attention. She wanted everyone to notice her, Father” she added, facing my father with clear sincerity in her eyes. She would win an Oscar award for the best actress in the universe.

“There were professionals at the party. Anyone could have saved her” he chipped in, disregarding Joey's comment… or maybe not.

“Everyone was prepared for a mating party not a medical rally. No one could have saved her without a full medical kit but I could.” I told him again, hoping he was convinced and I saw how his face twinkled slightly, knowing I was right.

“I told you to stay low, Danica. It was a sincere instruction from me to you but you decided to defy me? What if things had gone south and you killed the gamma's sister? You wouldn't only be living in the streets, you'll also spend the next twenty five years of your invaluable life in prison,” he suddenly said and I felt his words pricked harder into my heart.

“Anabel only survived because the moon goddess didn't destined her death yet. A simple allergy couldn't have killed a werewolf! You're just an attention seeking slut” Joey said hatefully, her voice rising another notch as if she held some grudge against me for saving Anabel's life.

“Not everyone is like you, Joey. I saved a life and that is all that matters!” I talked back immediately, pissed by her baseless outburst.

“She's lying father. I can prove to you that she only did what she did because of the attention of everyone and she did get the attention she wanted” Joey blurted and my eyes narrowed on her the same time with my father and Freya as she brought out her phone.

“I have proof of your true nature Danica, are you still going to keep denying it?” She said with a sinister smirk.

“True nature? What the hell are you talking about?” I asked in anger and confusion.

“I'm talking about how you went behind everyone's back to fool around the Alpha, you whore!” She yelled in my face and two more pairs of wide eyes rounded on her.

“After you clearly warned her to stay far away from the Alpha, she went to seduce him without anyone knowing, Father” she continued, showing them a photo on her phone.

Father snatched the phone from her hand the moment he saw whatever was displayed in the screen and he sprang up to face me almost immediately, eyes piercing and furious.

“How dare you try this nonsense with the Alpha, Danica?” He bellowed and I flinched, a pang of nausea and adrenaline coursing through my veins at his anger and the picture that glared at me.

A picture of me unbuttoning the Alpha's shirt! Taken and edited perfectly to convince anyone that I was the slut she described me to be.

“I…. This was… it was Alpha Alexander's order” I tried defending myself.

“The Alpha would never give such a vulgar order, Danica. I saw you with my two eyes” she was quick to add.

“Oh really? Is this about me or the Alpha, Joey? Because you sound so terribly jealous right now” I blurted in anger and she immediately planted a deep slap to my face.

“I'm only looking out for you because you're my sister and we can't have you soiling the family's name more than you already did” she murmured bitterly and I raised my hands to return the favor but then Father chose to intervene.

“Enough!” his commanding voice boomed in the air, forcing me to lower my hand in defeat.

“It isn't what it looks like, Father” I murmured, holding back hot tears as hard as I could.

“You say Joey is lying against you but she has proof to back up what she saw and you don't, Danica. How much more are you going to keep lying when the truth is out in your face?” Freya questioned, anger lacing her concerned features.

At that moment when my father's disappointed glare hit my skin, I badly wanted to tell him the entire truth. From how the Alpha wanted me to check on his wounds and how he wanted me to come treat it for him at the palace but I stopped myself.

Joey would probably use that against me too. She would twist the story to make me a liar and they would believe her. They always do.

“I don't need a proof for you to believe that I did save Anabel's life too, do I?” I suddenly asked and I saw the frown that formed on my father's face.

“You did it because you wanted to win the Alpha's favor when I clearly warned you, Danica.” he responded and I swallowed the painful lump that grew in my throat. “And for that you'll be grounded in your room for three days to reflect hard on what you've done wrong!” He said sternly and my eyes widened as I exclaimed.

“What?!!” “But…I”

“It's either that or you pack your things and walk out of my house this instant. Your choice” he concluded and walked away without sparing me another glance, leaving me to wonder if I am truly his daughter or if I had been adopted at some point.

Alexander's POV

“Do you think she felt the bond but decided not to say a thing?” I asked no one in particular but the only person next to me in this car was Blake, my annoying yet helpful beta.

“Or maybe she didn't feel the bond at all? She's an omega without a wolf… so I heard” he stated and I sighed. “Do you think she's fit to be your mate? You wanted a strong mate” He asked and I ran the tip of my tongue over my lower lip.

“That’s why I'm keeping her close to me for the next three days to find out more about her” I told him, trying to convince myself than him that it was the only reason I invited her to the palace but I knew deep down from the moment I laid my eyes on her at the party when she was talking to Finn and Anabel that I probably wouldn't be able to let her slip away. Ever.

*Weak or not!*

She's the first female wolf to ever make my wolf lose his control. She was the most beautiful creature I've ever laid my eyes on, and trust me when I say that because I've met countless women even before I became Alpha and I knew what was special when I saw one.

It's like the goddess spent more days sculpturing her to be a perfect woman. My perfect woman.

I couldn't keep my eyes off her when she suddenly blurted that she could help treating Anabel nor could I keep my eyes off her when she bumped into me in the hallway with those enchanting teary eyes and I didn't miss how hard she tried to avoid meeting my gaze. My wolf, Rage, wanted nothing but to claim her right there and mark her as his… as ours but it took all my willpower to convince him not to scare her pretty face off, especially when she doesn't even feel the bond like we do.

She might be an omega to everyone but all I could see was a lonely little wolf that needed a little push. A push I could give to make her unleash the pent up demon that kept sparkling in waves of sadness in her pretty green eyes.

*‘Sadness!’* The word echoed in my mind and I frowned slightly.

Why does she look so sad?

“Do you know anything about her aside from the fact that she's a wolfless Omega?” I asked, facing Blake who suddenly pulled up the car as we reached our destination.

I got out of the car before him and when he did, he began to fill me in with the details I wanted to know.

“Well, she's the daughter of the former beta, which makes it harder for her to move around, carrying the omega title on her head”

“A black sheep?” I summarized all he said in three words and he nodded in affirmation, leaving my thoughts to wander to the bruise I saw on her face.

'Could it be she's been bullied somewhere?' I thought to myself. And yes, I trusted my guts enough to know that she didn't simply have a drastic fall that only caused that dull red bruise on her face.

“That! And she did have a mate before but he rejected her openly” Blake added as we strode through the walls of the pack house towards my office.

“Mean” I whispered, wondering who could be the blind b*st*rd that did that to someone like her. It's better if I didn't know who he was so I didn't bother asking.

“Rich, coming from a man who sliced off five fingers of a fellow wolf because he stepped on his toes” Blake scoffed and I immediately slapped the back of his head.

“I told you there was more to the story, you b*st*rd!” I glared at him in contempt.

“I doubt that” he rolled his eyes and I scoffed.

“I could kill you right now but I don't want to soil this holy ground with your blood when my ‘Mamacita Doctino’ is coming to me tomorrow” I gritted at him with a charming smile, clearly mocking his lack of a mate.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you but I found my mate too” he replied with an annoying smile and the smile on my face faded immediately.

“Is this how it works now? Listening to all my secrets and refusing to tell me a single TMI?” I asked, slowly unleashing the dark scary aura around me but the b*st*rd didn't even flinch.

*He's got some really high confidence in his life, I see.*

“You were busy flirting with your mate, so was I with mine” he shrugged, while keeping a safe distance between us.

*Right. His confidence does have limits.*

“You really like her huh?” I asked, a little more serious than I was a second ago.

“She's an interesting woman, but she looked a bit sad and distracted all night” he replied and I couldn't help but remember the look in Danica's eyes. She wasn't just a bit sad, she looked like an epitome of sadness and beauty combined.

“Is she an omega?” I asked, knowing Omegas tend to have the highest tendencies of being sad, but he shook his head.

“Her wolf is strong, she didn't smell anything like an omega but she has no idea who her parents are” Blake explained and I stopped in my tracks.

“What?!”

“She was raised in a less privileged home until she made enough to send herself to school. Her name is Bianca Fischer” he added and a frown formed on my face.

“You both sure talked a lot for a single night” I joked as we continued our stroll to the office.

‘Did you see what that girl did at the Mating night gathering?’ A whisper made its way to my ears and a frown immediately crossed my face.

‘I heard she's just a useless omega who wanted to act out because she knew the Alpha was watching’ another voice pricked my ears and my anger flared.

‘The moon goddess was the reason the gamma's sister woke up, I tell you’ a different voice mocked with a laugh and I practically teleported myself right where the gossip came from.

“Then I guess if I had your head on a platter right now, the moon goddess should replace it without any stress in the world, don't you think?” I growled behind them, making out the maid that gave the last comment with ease.

The trio jumped, their faces drained of color as they fell to their knees immediately.

“I'm… sorry, Alpha” they stammered, sniffling back desperate tears.

“I could say the same about you too. Working when the Alpha watches but when he's not there, you slack off and gossip as if it's what you're being payed to do here” I continued hotly, terribly holding myself back from plucking out their tongues from their mouths. “You should be thankful I'm in a good mood because of that Omega you just called useless, otherwise, I would do more than just firing you three this instant” I added and their eyes widened as the rubbed their hands together, begging desperately as if they didn't think of the consequences before doing sh*t in my pack house.

“We're sorry, Alpha. Please forgive us”

“You should always remember that the same Omega you just gossiped about saved your pathetic lives but It's a bummer that the moon goddess doesn't have the power to hire you back after you're fired by me. But you could try climbing all the mountains in the world and maybe, just maybe she'll listen to your pointless prayers one day. Now out of my sight before I do something really drastic” I gritted sternly, mockingly, watching them scurry off in fright as I made my way to my room instead of the office.

A tiny sting in my lower stomach made me remember Danica's warning to disinfect so I immediately mindlinked Blake to get me a disinfectant from the Pack's royal clinic.

I unbuttoned my shirt and I couldn't help but remember how f*ck*ng pretty she looked while staring at my bare chest. And those fingers…

‘You want her just as much as I do, Alexander’ Rage purred and I let out a tortured groan as I stared at the big man straining against my pants.

Fine! Agreed. This was going to be one Long. Hard. f*ck*ng day.