DAVINA
"My mother says that my only purpose is to serve Alpha Calvin."
My teeth gritted as I stared absentmindedly at my ceiling from my bed while I hugged my teddy bear.
"My life, my very existence, is to please him…"
My claws grew from my fingertips, piercing through the fabric of my teddy.
"It's sad…but that's the ugly truth, my friend," Chelsea, my blonde-haired best friend, chirped all the way from my wardrobe. She was busy rummaging through my closet for goodness knows what.
I almost ripped my teddy in two, unable to quell the growing brimstone fire lit in my stomach.
"But I'm sure of one thing, my love. You're going to make a wonderful wife," she added. I couldn't tell if she was being half-hearted or truly meant those words.
Will I? I'm getting married to a man that I do not even feel an ounce of love for. Alpha Calvin of Silverback Pack, one of the biggest and powerful Packs in the region, who many ladies would do anything just to be his bride. I should be grateful, right? But how can I when my life was caged before I even got the chance to fly, all because some oldies destined me to be the Luna of Silverback Pack?
"Why should my life's purpose be limited to serving one man?" My grip tightened on my teddy. "Am I not allowed to dream? To chase after the desires of my own? If only I could just vanish." I slammed my teddy bear into my face.
"Oh, honey…" she climbed the bed, and sat beside me. "It sucks…Frankly, I think the two of us vanishing together isn't such a bad idea. Except that, Alpha Calvin will find us, and I don't want to lose my head. I haven't had a foursome yet."
We both chuckled, and then she took my teddy bear off my face, only to be rewarded with her endearing smile.
"It's a cruel fate you have," she continued, trying to mask the depth of sadness in her voice, "But the survival of our Pack depends on your marriage to him. It really sucks to be you, babe."
"I'm freaking nineteen," I whined. "For once, I want to enjoy life.
There are so many things I want to do. Go to the club, have the best night of my life! Sneak out for a party, make out with one random sexy dude…get high…"
She laughed.
"I'm serious, Chels," I said, sitting up, her brows arched in a potent mix of curiosity and amusement.
"I want to explore!" I chirped, "I want to have fun, I want the excitement and the thrill, I want to experience them all."
"Oh, love," she combed through my curly black hair, "Unfortunately, you can't have that. You have to be…what's the word…aha! Perfect. A symbol of hope everybody in the Pack has to look up to."
I rolled my eyes and heaved a lazy sigh before falling to my bed. "In three days from now, I'm really going to be bound to Alpha Calvin for the rest of my life."
"Come on, Alpha Calvin is not all that bad. He's pretty chill, strong, a gentleman, quite handsome, and sexy too. Even if you don't love him, surely his body must be an irresistible snack," she smacked her lips.
"That's the thing!" I sat up again. "With Alpha Calvin, I don't feel anything. My wolf is dormant. Whenever we kiss, touch each other, I feel no spark, no connection. He doesn't excite me, I need that thrill, the passion, the fun…" My brows arched worriedly as she shook her head. "He doesn't tick my boxes."
"Now that's a huge downer you have on your hands there, Girl."
"I'm fucked, Chels. I'm really fucked." I returned to my bed and tucked my teddy back in my face.
"Oh, baby…" she lay beside me. "Running away is almost a mission impossible for you. You're too much of a good girl, you don't have the guts for that."
I whined
"But! I have a better idea."
"Really?!" Her eyes perfectly captured how I lit up like a bulb.
"Yup! There are still three days left until the wedding, right? Then why don't we use the little time we have left to tick your bucket list? We can call this our version of the bridal shower."
"Bridal showers are usually the night before the wedding."
"Doesn't matter, do you wanna have fun or not?!"
"I do!"
"Then we're sneaking out tonight. We're going to the club! Maybe you might just find that random sexy dude and get that thrill you want badly," she squealed.
I grinned. "But I don't think I have any clothes appropriate for—"
She pressed her index finger against my lips. "Have you forgotten this is my forte? I got you covered, baby!"
And boy, she wasn't wrong! This club was proof of her prowess. The music was deafening with its bass beat powerfully resonating with my chest. And the air? It was clouded with a potent mix of varying scents and lust. These are the perks of being a werewolf; our senses are heightened, and so it was no wonder that everything felt overwhelming for me. But Chelsea was quick to introduce a learner like me to the allure of this place, and it didn't take long before I was far gone in the abyss of drunkenness.
I didn't realize when my legs had carried me to the middle of the dancefloor, or how my body swayed wildly to the music like a fury of passion had been lit in me. Wherever Chelsea was, I didn't care. She was probably having fun with one random human somewhere.
Suddenly, my world slowed as I picked up a scent. It was woody, distinct, astonishingly alluring, and it belonged to a man. Who is this man who managed to pique my curiosity? My eyes desperately wandered amidst the rave-crazed crowd, and boom! There he was in a black leather jacket, jeans, and boots, standing with beaming golden yellow wolf eyes pinned on me like I was his prey, and the rest of the world didn't matter to him.
Danger!
My wolf told me. His dangerous grey eyes, black messy undercut hair, 6'2 figure, and the intimidating aura he exuded were enough to tell me this one's an Alpha. If there's any lesson my father has always taught me since I was a pup, it is to always avoid an Alpha from another Pack; they are absolutely dangerous, and ordinary werewolves barely stood a chance against them.
Which is why I should run, right? Yet I was infatuated by his predatory gaze; he wouldn't dare to hurt me, right? So I thought, until he suddenly vanished from my line of sight.
Where did he go? I stopped dancing with my eyes darting around in desperate search for him.
"Looking for me?" his deep voice hushed behind me.
Run!
I yelped, turning sharply to my back, but I lost my balance on my heels. I swayed my hands in the air, hoping he would catch me from falling, but this bastard flashed me a dirty smirk.
Fuck you!!!
And just when I had lost all hope, he caught me with his right palm glued to my bare back. Courtesy of Chelsea for styling me with a short red backless V-plunge halter neck body hug dress.
His face drew closer to mine, showering my cheeks with his warm breath. His eyes reverted to normal; they were grey yet glittering with darkness and beauty intertwined, one that easily enchanted me.
"You're a werewolf," he said, a bit of amusement dancing in his voice.
"And you were going to let me fall," I quipped back.
"Did I?" his left eyebrow arched upwards before he pulled me up with his hand still latched to my back.
Should I say thank you? Hell no! It's his fault I almost fell.
"Take your hand off me."
"Why? You don't like my touch?" his hand trailed downwards to my waist. My breath shuddered as a chain of wildsparks coursed through every atom of my body. What was this atrocious voodoo his hand carried?! Was it the alcohol or this man truly ignited something wild in me?
"What's your name?" he asked, and even if I wanted to reject him, my body had long betrayed me by submitting to the desire glittering in those tempting eyes.
"Davina," I hushed like a good little girl.
"Are you alone, Davina?" The tip of his finger trailed up my back, my lips parted slightly from the new wave of wild sparks he incited. I shouldn't be tolerating this! I belong to someone else! Yet why am I enjoying his touch so much?
I swallowed the lump that built in my throat. "Does it matter?"
I'm sorry, Chelsea, but a little lie won't hurt, right?
He pressed his left thumb against my lower lip, and another wave of goosebumps sporadically spread across my skin. "I only want to dance with you tonight, Davina."
"Are you sure that's all you want?"
His dark smile deepened, and his dangerous golden yellow glow returned. Only a fool would believe those words; those dangerous eyes of his didn't shy away from gleaming with his dark intentions. Obviously, common sense should prevail, and I should say NO. Yet every atom in my body thoroughly enjoyed this moment; I've never felt so alive in years!
Perhaps it's the alcohol, but just one dance with a stranger won't hurt, right?
If only I knew just how wrong I was.