Jane.

“What is your name?” he asks me, then takes a step forward.

I retreat, without even thinking, taking fearful steps backward.First off, he is incredibly tall, and I’ve never felt so short as I do now, towered by him. Secondly, there is this tense aura around him that seems to be sucking the air out of me. And more than all that, I’m having a weird feeling with him being so close to me. Is this a mate thing, or is it all in my head?

His eyes are boring holes in my body, and his eyebrow quirks when I don’t give him a reply.

“I just asked you a question,” he says, his tone somewhat indifferent.“My name is Jane Biller,” I say, taking another step backward, but I almost bump into a waitress.

“Watch it!” He holds my hand and pulls me away. Again, I feel that sensation, like some weird electric power or something of the sort. I snatch my hand away from his hold.

The horrific look in his eyes makes me think he felt it too. He goes pale, giving me a beastly stare like he would gladly opt to eat me up.

“My name is Richard Brown,” he tells me. I don’t understand why he just told me his name.

But then he seizes my hand in a tight grip and the next thing I hear surprises to me.

“I, Richard Brown, reject you, Jane Biller, as my mate and Luna.”

I am filled with shock. A minute passes before I realize what just happened. I hear people gasp. When I stare around, I see a lot of pitiful eyes on me.

Is this a dream, or is it really happening? Did I just meet my mate?

No, no, that’s not it. It isn’t the meeting. It is the rejection.

I just met my mate, but I’ve been rejected immediately. Realization strikes me with a torrent of tears.

An hour before the banquet

Last month, my mom sewed a simple sundress and folded it neatly for me. It felt silky and had the prettiest colors, but I didn’t put it on until today. Because today is a special day. The dress fits me perfectly, and I wonder how my mom got my length right. When I twirl in my room, the hem of the dress seems to twirl as well, and my auburn hair, styled in an orderly ponytail, joins in with a little dance. Even the sandals I’m wearing are new; my mom just bought me a pair from the local market.

My lips curl into a smile, satisfied with how pretty I look. But there’s a knot in my stomach, fastened by my nervousness. Today is the happiest day of my life, the day I get to meet my fated mate, yet my anxiety is getting the best of me.

Our pack is celebrating today, and Alphas from different packs have been invited to the event.

It is a mating ball where unmated werewolf Alphas get the chance to meet their mates, and this happens once a year.

It will also be my chance to finally meet mine.

I was born into a werewolf family, and my father is the beta of the Red Moon Pack. As amazing as that sounds, it hasn’t been easy for me. As the only daughter of the beta, there are a lot of eyes on me – a lot of expectations. I’m expected to have a wolf by now, to be a future female beta, but I’ve remained a clumsy, wolf-less girl. At least, that’s how members of the pack see me. And they bully me for it. Despite being the beta’s daughter, they poke, shove, point, laugh, and curse at me.

So, of course, I have no friends, and my father sees me as a disgrace. I’m the 16-year-old infamous werewolf without a wolf, and he hates me for it. All he wants is a strong daughter who will take over from him when he gets too old to serve as the Pack’s beta. And he doesn’t see that daughter in me. When he looks at me, sometimes a frown, other times a cold glare, all I see is disappointment in his eyes. Maybe his hate will end when I finally meet my mate.

Since my earliest teenage days, I have wanted nothing more than to meet my mate. I have the wishful thought that he will make my wolf bloom when he marks me. Our mate bond will unleash my wolf’s side. And even though there is no guarantee for it, I still hold on to that thought.

My mother has always been there for me, grooming me and teaching me about my mate – one who will love and cherish me. A mate who will accept me for who I am and accept my flaws with a warm heart. I’ve had enough criticism and bullying to last a lifetime, and I don’t think I can take more of it. I pray for a mate who will show me nothing but unadulterated love, and I believe the ever kind moon goddess will grant me this wish.

Our pack has prepared enough food and drinks for the celebration today. The she-wolves are clad in their fanciest dresses, smiling and giggling amongst themselves, and their makeup is done so beautifully. I don’t have a fancy dress or any makeup, but my sundress is more than enough for me. All I want to do tonight is meet my destined mate.

“Jane.” My mother knocks on my door.Asked worriedly： “Are you in there?”

“Yes, Mother. I’m coming.” I rush to open the door.

My mother is all dressed up, and she glances at my sundress. I notice a small smile on her face, a little hint of pride.

"Are you worried about today's banquet?" Mom took my hand, trying to ease my anxiety.

I took a deep breath. I couldn't be a timid girl forever. Although my father's stern gaze always made me unconsciously shrink my body, today could be the beginning of a transformation. My father may re-examine me as his precious daughter.

Thinking of this, I gave my mother a reassuring smile. "No, Mom, I'm fine, I won't let you down today."

"Don't be silly! Honey, you've always been Mom's pride," Mom said unhappily. She didn't want to deny herself all the time. I smiled again, and when we were about to sit down, Mom gently encouraged me.

“I’m sure you will meet your destined mate who will love and cherish you,”

Hearing her say those words so firmly chases away my doubts. I feel confident again, all thanks to her.

“Thanks, Mother.” Ismile and give her a quick hug.I ignoring the pressure my father was putting on me, I focused my attention on the center of the dance floor.。

The enormous hall is beautifully decorated, with beautiful chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and glowing like the moon. Everyone is dressed in their best clothing. The mated alphas have their tables on one side of the hall, where they sit with their lunas, and the unmated alphas have their tables on the other side. The unmated she-wolves at the party are bubbling with excitement.

Soon, our alpha with his luna appeared at the entrance, and I stood with my parents to greet them until they took their seats, My father sits beside the alpha since he is the beta of the pack.

An unfamiliar man caught my eye as he sat in the area of the unmated alpha and the heat gathered in my body.

wish to know more about the remarkable alpha. He is perfectly made, so beautiful that it makes me jealous.

How can a man be so perfect and, at the same time, so beautiful? Is he my mate? I don’t know, since I have no wolf, but he couldn’t be. He seems like a powerful man. I doubt such a man will be mated with someone like me. Maybe I am just drawn to him because of his stunning looks.

“What’s wrong? Who are you staring at?” My mother asks, interrupting me.

“Nothing. I just feel a bit attracted to that man over there,” I say, pointing at the alpha.

“Will you stop it, Jane? Do you know the alpha you’re pointing at? He is the most notorious and ruthless alpha in history. You don’t want to provoke the beast in him.”

But he doesn’t look cruel or ruthless. With his looks, he could be an actual angel from heaven. But then again, they did say looks can be deceiving, right?

“Don’t ever point at anyone again,” Mother continues. “If I were you, I would focus on finding my mate.”

“I’m sorry, Mother,” I say.

Soon, my mother’s friends drag her away, leaving me all alone. I roam around in search of my mate.

The sweet aroma of the food infiltrates my nostrils. My stomach rumbles in hunger, so I go to indulge myself in some snacks, still admiring the aesthetics of the hall. Without looking at where I am going, I bump into a hard chest. I almost fall, but a firm hand catches my wrist.

“Watch where you’re going.”

The voice was a deep baritone, and soon the firm hand lets go of me.“I’m sorry,” I say, then I take a quick step away from him. I felt it. I felt the sensation when he touched me.Is he my mate? Is he the one? When I look up to see who he is, who saved me from falling, I find his dark, brooding eyes staring at me.

I let out a soft gasp. He’s the alpha Mother just warned me about.