Chapter 3

Sophia's POV I wanted to tell him about what his brother had done to me, but before I could, I felt unsteady. Darkness began to descend around me. I felt myself slamming into his hard chest. His strong arms encircled my waist almost immediately. When he touched me, I felt a strange sensation that I had never felt before. Before I could comprehend the unfamiliar feeling, I passed out in his arms. When I opened my eyes, it was already evening. A few times, I blinked my eyes. I could see the ceiling of my room. I sat up and rubbed my forehead. For a minute, I could not understand what had happened. My thoughts immediately went to the scenario in which Bruce was with Luisa. At first, I was under the impression that it was a nightmare. But then I realized what I witnessed today. Bruce cheated on me. "I will never forgive you, Bruce. I hate you." I wanted to get out of bed. However, my mind stopped when I thought about how I got back home. My eyes widened. I covered my mouth with my hands. I fainted in Alpha's arms! How? Why?? Did he send me home? I went downstairs to ask my mother. She was cooking something in the kitchen. "Mom?" "Sophia? You woke up?" my mother turned to me and asked. She cupped my face and said, "What happened to you, my child? Are you feeling okay now?" "I am fine, Mom. Who sent me home?" "Your brother took you back home." "Brother?" I was confused. "He said he was going with Alpha to a pack meeting. They were in a hurry. But a girl appeared in front of one of their vehicles, and Alpha went to check for himself. Since Abraham was the Gamma, he also went to check on the situation and make sure everything was in order. But then he saw you unconscious. He told Alpha that you were his sister and brought you back home." I lowered my head. "He must be feeling embarrassed because of me." "No, my child. Why are you saying this? You are his sister. You are his responsibility." I nodded my head. My mother told me to eat something, but I refused. I was not in a mood to eat anything. I went back to my room. I cried a lot in my room. I tried not to cry out loud because I did not want my mother to be aware of my shattered heart, at least not at this time. When it was midnight, My mother and brother came to my room with a birthday cake. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" I was stunned by their sudden appearance. I immediately wiped my eyes and tried to hide my face with my hair. "Sophi, what happened?" Abraham asked. "Nothing, Brother." He placed the cake on the bed and sat beside me. My mother sat on the other side. "I didn't ask you about today. What happened to you?" "I was just tired, brother. Nothing else. I am sorry that I wasted your time and embarrassed you.” "No worries, silly girl. This is not something you should cry for.” Abraham said, and he patted my head. “Now, make a wish and cut the cake." My mother told me. I closed my eyes. 'I don't know what to wish for. From now on, I will follow my fate wherever it may lead me.' I said to myself and blew out the candle. I cut my birthday cake. I had to smile because I did not want to show my sorrow to my family. After eating pieces of cake and giving me two envelopes, Abraham and Mother left my room. I put the envelopes in a drawer. I did not have a mind to open them. They worked hard, and the money in those envelopes was their earnings. How could I always use those without giving them anything in return? I lay on my bed and tried to fall asleep with a broken heart. The next day, I spent the entire day confined to my room. Due to the fact that I did not go out for lunch, my mother brought lunch to my room. She informed me that I needed to get ready in time because Abraham would send someone to take us to the pack house. "I don't want to go, Mom," I told her. How could I go to that house? It was my ex-boyfriend's house. I had no relationship with him now. I did not want to see his face again. "You have to go. It's Alpha Bryan's engagement ceremony. Your name is clearly stated on the invitation card. You can't deny it, my child. It's a rule." I was an omega. If there was any rule that I breached, I would not be able to survive any royal retribution. Therefore, I had no choice but to consent to going. I started to get ready in the evening. I wore a simple white dress that my mother bought for me as a birthday present. I put on a pair of white heels. Then I put on some light makeup and let my hair down. My mother saw me when I went downstairs. "You look so beautiful, Sophia." "Thanks, Mom." She hugged me and cried. "If your father were here, he would have been happy to see you." I patted her back. She was right. I was missing my father. "I am not going with you." "Why, mother?" "My back pain returned." She replied with a low chuckle. "Then I am also not going as well." "No. You have to go. We talked about this before." I sighed and told her to take care of herself, then I left my house. A car was parked outside. The driver came out and opened the back door for me. As soon as I got in, he returned to his seat and started the car. The car reached the pack house. I got down and called my brother. He came out to take me inside the house. He held my hand and headed to the other side. "Not this side?" "No, this is the residential area. We are going to the next building, which is a massive hall. That is used for all kinds of events.” I gave him a slight nod and continued going. I was praying not to see Bruce. I did not want to see him and lose my sanity there. I entered the hall. It was large. The hall was decorated beautifully, just like the pack house I had seen yesterday. "Stay here and enjoy the party. I have to go somewhere now. I will be back in half an hour. Call me if you get bored," Abraham said to me. I turned to him. "What are you saying? What would I do here alone?" "Just enjoy the engagement ceremony. Your boyfriend is here too. So I don't think you'll need me here. But don't get too close before our confirmation, okay?" I lowered my head and nodded my head. If he knew what Bruce had done, he would have been very angry and probably killed him in anger. After my brother left, I stood in a corner for a while. I looked around and noticed the former Alpha and Luna. They looked delighted. All the guests were waiting for the ring exchange moment. Suddenly, my view turned foggy. I smelled something I had never smelled before. It was a mixed smell of rain and forest. It was a very addictive scent. I turned my head left and right, then sniffed the air to smell the scent more and more. My legs began to step forward without my approval. People started to gather around someone or a family. They said now Alpha and the future Luna would exchange rings. But who could control my wolf? She disagreed to stop my steps and tried to take over me. I felt like I would pass out if I could not reach the owner of the scent. I took another whiff of the air and then proceeded to the direction where the scent was coming from. I pushed the crowd and took long strides in front of the royal family. They turned their heads toward me. I could sense Bruce's eyes on me. However, my eyes were not on him but on someone else. Someone, that I could not believe it was his scent that pulled me here. I was unable to think of anything. I moved closer and stopped in front of him. Everyone started to whisper about why I suddenly went to the couple at the moment of their engagement. My wolf started to chant, 'Mate. Mate. Mate.' I was shocked that I found my mate. It was the scent of my mate. But the owner of the scent was none other than Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha of the Night Shade Pack! His eyes turned red when they darted at me. He glared at me, showing that he was not pleased to see me or to learn that I was his mate. My wolf could not take his cold look. I felt my knees tremble upon seeing his fierce eyes. I fell on my knees in front of him. I raised my head and looked at him. My eyes turned ocean blue. Tears streamed out of my eyes. I could not stop myself from calling him in front of everyone. "Mate"