Chapter 3

******* We make our way inside the birthday or inauguration ceremony. Is it? I don't know what they're calling this joint celebration. Santiago looks around "Hmm masquerade theme…why wasn't I told?" I turned to face him, he obviously didn't go through with the invitation. "Did you read the entire invite?" "Oops." He grits his teeth as we walk further into the room. All eyes are on us, wait did I say us? Let me rephrase that, All eyes are on me. I keep a straight face as we proceed to walk to the table reserved for us and we take our seats. People continue to gape and talk in grumbles. Santiago reaches for a glass of whiskey and chunks it down, dismissing the stares we are getting. "Once again you've managed to take word out of everyone's mouths, classic." He murmurs, making me laugh. I grab a mask from a waiter, quickly placing it on my face. People are afraid of me and with reasonable justification. I am Alpha Adrian after all no one comes close to me except for maybe one person, Alpha Ryan. That might be the reason why we don't see eye to eye. The night starts out smoothly. Girls throw themselves at us but I'm somehow not able to flirt back. My Wolf is angry. He has never been fascinated by the thought of getting laid, he contemplates it as infidelity to his mate. I haven't met her though it was to happen before I turned 18 and I pray it doesn't transpire because Mates are absurd they just make you weak and bring you down. Who needs a mate? not me, that's who and if I do ever meet her I will reject her because I would rather die than waste my costly time on a Mate. Sandy, a girl from my pack who occasionally warms my bed approaches us and sits next to me. She's a good lay nothing more, I couldn't possibly fall in love with any woman I'm more of a lone wolf. "Alpha Adrian, I was thinking.... " My hand brushes the side of her cheek, "You're not good at thinking baby." "True." she giggles. "But this is an idea that you'll like very much." "Tell me." She smiled, leaning into my ear, "I was thinking we could do that thing you like, I have two friends who would like to join." "The more the merrier baby." I playfully nibbled on her ear. Cutting through Sandy's giggling, is the voice of my Wolf, Hunter. You know that voice inside your head? Not your conscience, the other one, the one well that's hunter for me, only I can hear him. He lives in the back of my head just like every person's Wolf. We communicate mentally so no one ever really hears mine and Hunter's conversations. I've been tunning him out since we got here but he won't cease to unnerve me. "What is it Hunter?" I sneer. "She's here." "Don't start again with that crap you're alone she's never coming forget it, it's been over six years and you still tell me the same story.. not good Hunter." "It's different. I can feel that she's here. She's in this building. I can sense her." He growls. I know this will end with mental torture or physical torture so to avoid this squabble, I kick my feet to the ground. Sandy's eyes fly to mine "Umm Alpha, where are you going?" Placing a hand in my pocket, I grin at her. "Just taking a walk, why don't you and your little friends keep Beta company?" I wink. She giggles, staring at Santiago who hates me and is probably screaming for help in his head. He is not a fan of Sandy but unlike me, won't push a girl off his lap. I decide to look upstairs but before that I take a quick trip to the bathroom in the east wing. The lights go out and I make my way with the help of my flashlight, dashing through the crowd without bumping into anyone only to bump into some girl. I reach out my hand to help her up but instead of grabbing it, I feel her soft, gentle, trembling hand on my cheek. When the lights come on I snap out of it. I push her hand away and look for the nearest exit, my heart is racing, my Wolf is screaming and worst of all I can still feel her hand on my cheek. My mind seems to have lost the map to this building I've been in a million times. Alas I find myself outside. Air, so much air. I need this air! "Why did you do that?" My Wolf inquire's. "Shut up! " "That was her!" "I know." "She needs us." "Who is us Hunter?" I growl aggravated by the fact that he dragged me to her. I can't get over the fear in her eyes, the way she quivered. "She is our mate, our Luna." "Weak. Weak, weak." I chant, "Don't tell me you couldn't smell the fear in that girl and those hands that have never held a weapon nor held a training yard gate." I snap. "What pack is she from?" "I don't give a shit Hunter and forget we saw her." I reach for my phone and text Santiago to meet me outside. My Wolf and I have nothing in common. He is sensitive when it comes to the mate issue but I on the other hand, well you already know my views on the matter.