"I want to go see the others. Care to join?" Alpha Damian said. He had washed off all the blood; his scent was a mix of mint and lavender.

He wore a simple jacket over khaki pants.

I lay still on the bed, thinking about everything that had happened in less than 24 hours before he barged in… Well, maybe he didn't barge in – it was his room after all.

"When will you take me home?" I asked as our eyes met. Something shimmered between our gazes, something different.

His eyes darted to my ruined dressing. "Check the wardrobe. Pick as many clothes as you'd like," his voice was calm, but the weight still carried pain.

I followed his gaze. The outfit I had on was stained with blood, and I smelled like a dead rat.

I opened the wardrobe, and my jaw dropped. They were all feminine clothes, in contrast to what I had expected.

"Ahem!" I cleared my throat nervously.

“Whose clothes are these?” I asked, hand on a well-steamed casual flowery gown, while my eyes focused on his.

“My Luna's.” He turned to sit on the couch in the room.

He continued, “If you hadn't clashed at my mating ceremony, she'd be here, but I'm glad you did.”

"Maybe if you take me back to where you took me from, she'd get her room back," I shot back.

He picked up a magazine on the table, his eyes shifting from page to page while I spoke.

His eyes were now fully turned to me. I shifted shyly.

I gestured with the dress to show that I wanted him to leave so I could dress up, but he stayed put.

I walked into the bathroom and changed into the cherry-bloom pink, flowery gown.

When I walked back into the room, his jaw dropped slightly. "There's no way you're wearing that out," he finally said, his eyes laced with something that shouldn't be.

In strides, he walked over to the wardrobe and took out a T-shirt and joggers. "Change into this," he ordered.

My breath twisted. Why was he suddenly upset? "This is what I want to wear, and I won't change it for you or anyone else," I retorted.

His fist clenched.

He walked past me out of the room, and I heard keys clang... "Did he just lock me in?"

I banged on the door but stopped when I heard whispers.

"Alpha Damian, information reaching us is that the rogues are getting more reinforcements, and they will be attacking again soon... We need your powers now. Should I reorganize another mating ceremony?" The voice shimmered with concern.

I leaned in closely.

"I'll figure it out, Guike. As my Beta, what you should do now is make sure our borders and territories are guarded."

"Our pack members believe the attack was punishment from the Moon Goddess because you called off your mating ceremony. Your bride is angry, and our soldiers are badly wounded... Honestly, only your power can save us now… that human is trouble."

"I will figure something out." Alpha Damian's voice shot back, each word brewed with anger.

My heart lurched from behind the door. His voice shook even the walls of the house.

The conversation ended.

I sat by the door... Is all this because of me? He could have just continued with the ceremony. Maybe I corrupted the ritual?

My hands ran through my head, my mouth twitching.

Alpha Damian returned later that night, bearing with him a pack of food. He sat close to me on the bed and opened up the food. "Come join me," he said after unpacking the food.

"I'm not hungry," I replied.

He shrugged his shoulders and took a bite out of his sandwich.

"You know you can as well let me go so you can continue with your mating ceremony," my voice was calm, tired even.

He munched. "A mating ceremony doesn't work without the bride," his voice was nonchalant, more focused on the bacon in his sandwich.

"I'll apologize to her. I promise," my tone more pitched than before.

His gaze shifted to me, a glint of surprise in his eyes. "Apologize to who? You are my new mate."

I froze. My lips parted but no words were formed.

He smirked. "To hell with the other bride. I never really loved her. She might be fated for me, but I'm not attracted to her." He continued munching his food like he hadn't just dropped a bombshell.

"Is that how you really feel?" A tiny quivering voice echoed across the room. My eyes shifted to the lady who had just walked into the room.

Alpha Damian didn't as much as raise his head from his food, much like he couldn't care less. It was as though he said all of those things because he sensed her presence.

"I'm your fated mate. You can't just reject me," she added.

Alpha Damian busied himself with the napkin and brushed off the ketchup stain on his palm.

My eyes darted from the lady to the nonchalant Alpha.

She turned to me. "You will pay for this, I promise," her jaw and fist clenched. She walked out without giving me a chance to declare my innocence.

Alpha Damian stood to leave too. "What about unlocking your powers? What about your people? Will you risk all of them for someone you just met?" I asked.