When I woke up from yet another nightmare, I groaned and looked at the wall clock and saw that it was already six and I needed to get up.

"Clara, it's already six; get up," I said, tapping her.

"So soon," she whispered, then sat up rubbing her eyes.

"What are you going to do about your mate?"

I shrugged. "Nothing. I don't want him, and I don't want to talk about him now. Let's go get ready."

I stood up from the bed and headed to the bathroom, not wanting to discuss the man who was plaguing my dreams, so much that I didn't sleep last night.

I am so angry that the moon goddess had paired me with that arrogant jackass, robbing me of the chance to have a mate, because I was so not going to claim that fool. I showered and then was putting on my clothes when I got a message.

It was the hospital management, and it said that the owners were coming today and we had to come to be in the office at eight. The Storms owned the hospital, and my father once told me that they were Lycans. But in the mundane world, they were just called the Billionaire family; some articles even called them an occultic group that feeds on young blood while explaining why they were always young.

The lifespan of a wolf was a few centuries, but that of a Lycan was even more; there were some rumors that they were all immortal, while some said that they lived for ten thousand years, but no one knew as they were secretive, and my father said that years ago, the Lycans wiped every bit of their information from the library after they were attacked.

I dressed up immediately, putting my hair into a bun, doing a bit of makeup and then lip gloss, and then grabbing my bag while searching for my keys.

"Clara, where are you? We are going to be late. The Lycans are coming to the hospital today."

She ran out holding on to one of her footwear, then dropped the dangling earring on the table.

"Thank God that we did not drink much last night; we would have looked like death this morning. At least something good came out of last night."She then slapped her mouth.

"Sorry I forgot that you don't want to mention last night," she said, then put on her shoe.

She came out, and we locked the door and headed to the car. She snatched the car key from me.

"You drive like a grandma. I want to get to work early and also grab food on the way."

I rolled my eyes and bit down a retort then got into the passenger seat. I put on my seat belt immediately when I saw how she smiled before turning on the engine.

"I know that you don't want to talk about last night other than when you told me that the fine-ass man was your mate and he called you loud-mouthed and said that anyone that would be with you would be unfortunate."

"Since you know, why are you bringing it up?"

"I just think that not telling him because of that seems extreme. I mean, he helped a pregnant couple out and brought them to the hospital, so you must have caught him at a bad time."

"He then wouldn't even come to see the baby and brushed them off when they were thanking him for taking them."

"True, he does seem like an ass, but he is still your mate."

"Yes, but he doesn't know thanks to my coating spell. Also, you know how I feel about men like that. I already have one at home that is trying to boss me around. I will be damned if I chain myself to an egoistic asshole by myself."

She nodded. "Okay, let's drop the topic. You didn't mask your scent though."

"Shit, I forgot; I was in a hurry after I got the message that the Stone family was coming."

"Speaking of them, I heard their ages start in thousands, but they don't look like it, and they are also very handsome." She winked at me while saying the last part.

I rolled my eyes. "Maybe, but I haven't seen one. You know they like to keep to themselves; besides, they are still thousands of years older than you. That's like your great-grandfather, and where did you get the information?"

"From the dark web, some women who had slept with a Lycan told their experience. There were about ten of them, though, but they said it was so good that they turn you loose in every way and are super generous, so I am hoping to get one today."

"I thought you had a boyfriend."

She shrugged, "Yes, but he would understand; besides, he gets some from his secretary sometimes. We are here."

I looked around and noticed that we were in the hospital; I stored it in the back of my head to ask about her relationship with Jackson.

When we got inside the hospital, everything was neat, and the directors were running helter-skelter putting things in order. I grabbed some more snacks from the vending machine before I headed to my office and Clara to her post.

In front of my office was Mrs. Petra, one of the directors. She smiled when she saw me.

"Good morning, Mrs. Petra."

She touched my arm. "Good morning, Alina. How was your night?

"It was amazing," I lied. She did not need to know how fucked up last night was.

"Good, they sent me to tell you that you, Lilian, and Joshua will sit in the front chair inside the auditorium; be sure to make his attention focus on you guys so he will ask you any question he has."

I nodded, but she was not done.

"Do not dare flirt with him. All I said was for you to make him believe that this hospital has one of the best doctors and nothing else.

I scoffed, "You know me, Mrs. Petra, I never step out of line. I uphold discipline always".

" Yes, you do," she agreed. "I wish your friend Clara shared the same sentiment as you, but she doesn't, so she would not be coming."

I opened my mouth to defend Clara, but she waved me off. "Nothing you say will change our minds. She is not coming; go to the others immediately when you drop your bag."

With that, she left, and I opened the door. I swallowed my coffee in two mouthfuls then proceeded to put my coat on and then headed to the auditorium.

Everybody was already seated when I arrived; my stomach felt queasy, and I felt butterflies in it. I was feeling hot under the AC and warmth in my temple of pleasure. I felt the same way when the fool touched me yesterday, but that was before he insulted me.

I looked around to see if he was anywhere inside this hall, but there was no one; instead, someone whistled.

"Wow, they are so handsome; I can see one of them," she said, straining her head to see more, but a male doctor pulled her down.

"Sit down and collect yourself; save that chitchat for when they leave."

She rolled her eyes and then sat down; we could hear the voice of one of the directors now. She was telling them a joke about the receptionist, but I heard no one laugh at the joke but her. I was still clutching my stomach when the door opened; the directors came in first, and then a very tall, handsome man came in and held the door for him. My Mate.

My mate was dressed in formal attire: a black suit and black Italian shoes with that shiny gold ring on his middle finger.

My heart stopped, and I tried to shrink into my seat but Mrs snapped her fingers and signed for me to come forward.

His friend or brother was speaking to him, but I doubt he was listening; instead, he inhaled, then his nose flared, and he turned to where I was.

"Miss Stone, come forward." Mrs. Petra whisper-shouted, but my legs refused to move.

"You are my mate." He whispered, staring at me, and the next thing I knew he was in front of me, and his mouth was on mine.

With his hot mouth fused to mine, I couldn't think straight. I didn't know when my hand went round his neck, but I held on tight for my dear life. He was kissing me like I was his last meal, nipping, sucking, and teasing. While his hands were all over me. He grabbed my backside and started kneading it. I gasped, which allowed him to slip his tongue into my mouth and explore the inside of it.

He started nipping my throat; I felt his sharp canine graze my neck. He continued kissing the same place before stopping abruptly.

"I can't feel your wolf; why can't my Lycan feel it? I need to mark you," he whispered in my ear, and I grimaced.

Just like that, in front of everyone, he didn't even ask if I wanted it.

I came to my senses immediately, then pushed him with all the strength I had in me. He fell backward before he caught himself, which was very impressive.

"Alaric, remember she is just a girl," his friend whispered.

Alaric, so that is his name.

"I know, Brian," he answered hoarsely.

I was breathing heavily, still looking into his eyes, when he stretched out his hand.

" Come here; you are my mate; you know what is expected of you."

And like that, my infatuation with how handsome he was cleared, and I had to escape. I was not going to be a doormat for anyone not after Agnar.

I clutched my heart and said, "Give me a moment."

I pretended to be going to stand next to him, but then I dashed to the door and tried to escape, but someone grabbed my hand and slammed the door shut.

I pulled my hand away from the guard and then spit on him before I turned and was faced with an angry Alaric. His eye color was no longer green; it was pitch black.

"Everybody get out through the back door," Brian said, and soon it was just me and my mate.