Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Gala from hell

Lyla

I stood at the foot of the grand stone steps, my heart hammering against my ribs.

The pack house loomed over me like a fortress, its cold walls whispering memories of a life I had been cast off from.

I couldn’t believe three years had passed since that fateful night when my parents had sent me away in the dead of the night.

I had felt like a thief, banished without explanation or warning and nothing but a thousand dollars, clutching a single bag that was my clothes forcing me to vow never to return.

But now I was back.

I swallowed the knot in my throat, steeling myself.

I didn’t want to come, but my father’s command was not a request.

The annual werewolf gala was tonight and I was to attend.

I had no choice.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the heavy oak door, and the rush of familiar scent filled my lungs, bringing with it a flood of childhood memories both painful and good.

I had barely closed the door when my mother’s voice reached me.

“You’re late,” she hissed, her eyes narrowing as she took in my appearance.

Her sharp eyes flicked over me as if she was inspecting something unpleasant on the bottom of her shoe.

Beside her, my sister, Clarissa, gazed at me with a look that was somewhere between pity and disdain.

“I see you still haven’t learned to control yourself during your heat,” Clarissa scoffed.

“Father, it’s not a good idea for her to go like this.

She reeks…”.

“You think if we had a choice, I would have driven four hours to go and get her,” My father hissed “The invitation had stated that every family must send a representative that is 18 and above and ripe for mating.

I had no choice.

She was never an option, to begin with.

I flinched, “I’m sorry,” I began but my mother cut me off with a sharp gesture.

“Save it,” she snapped “We’ve been doing so well without you and we want it to remain that way.

Just remember, you’re here because we had no other choice.

Don’t disgrace us today.

If you cause a scene, or so much as draw unwanted attention… we will remove your name from the family register and disown you.

Do you understand?”

wanted to tell them that none of this was my fault

had for me had vanished a long time ago buried under shame and

a wolf, not with the monthly humiliation of my uncontrolled

“I understand,” I whispered.

coldly “Clarissa will

fix that stupid hair of you…” She turned to my sister “Give her one of your wigs

silver streaks

and indicated that

sting of tears behind my eyes but

my hands trembling

later, one of the pack warriors dropped me off in front of the grand ballroom, my father

dress and headed towards

and clinking glasses

the entrance and the moment I stepped

a lamb

up my neck,

body betrayed me again and my pheromones spilled into the

whispers before I saw

turned, their noses wrinkled in

“Is she… in heat?”

“No control at all.

She should be locked

she trying to snag a mate with those smelly

palms, my nails biting into my

ignore them… everything will be

the murmurs and I saw Cassidy Thorne step forward,

mutts attend this year,” Cassidy drawled loud enough for

the epitome of werewolf beauty

their daughters would be like her… there was a time when I wanted to be

suppose they’ll let anyone in these

rippled through the crowd and I felt my composure

to look away and moved to

turning me into a joke among the very people with whom I should by

breathing and fight back tears when I felt

from across the

the room, a man stood alone, dressed in black from head to toe, melting perfectly with

was fixed on

eyes, that were sharp and piercing like

air of quiet strength…but more

the ballroom faded and all I could see

about his eyes that held me captive – curiosity and …something more… My heartbeat quickened, not out of fear but

Who was he?

it, a shadow fell

in front of me, his lips

was a child and was the first person to spread my wolfless situation when we were

because I had rejected the offer to be his girlfriend when

still bore malice against

isn’t the Woodland disgrace,” Darius

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