"My mate surely will be a very handsome man with amazing eye color. I can picture it already." Amy said with excitement as we walked through the training center. We had early morning laps with our leader, Alpha Luke. He is always up early and we, the other trainees, always wondered why he leaves his mate's arm to lap with us everyday. Not that we don't enjoy his company, we just believe he enjoys the moment with the love of his life."That's good for you Amy. I really haven't thought about mine." I said as I picked up a water bottle from the stacked ones. I gulped down without a pause.

"You my friend Emma, with brunette hair and cute baby blue eyes, you're a beauty and I'm sure your mate won't be half of what you're." She said with so much praise.

I laughed at her. "You are beautiful too Amy. I don't think you would get less either."

" Thank you, now let's go grab some breakfast, I'm starving" she said and dragged me to her house. Her mother had already placed some covered meals on the table before we got there. We don't usually meet her because she works at the pack house where the Alpha and Luna live in. Amy's father died in the rogue attack just like my parents too. I don't really talk much about them because it reminds me I'll never see them again.

It was a night before the whole mating ball. It was a ball that allowed all mateless wolves to meet each other at a particular place from different packs. It was held every year in different packs across the kingdom. This upcoming one will be held at the Palace. The last ball was held in a neighboring pack just at the South end of ours. The pack are as wealthy as us but I doubt it will be compared to this new ball that would be held at the palace.

I am so excited to see what the kingdom palace looks like. I have never stepped foot there even though my mom once told me we visited when I was little, I didn't want to count it in. Secondly I couldn't wait to leave my pack. It will be my first time and I am super excited. Though once we find a mate we have to go live with him wherever his pack is located.

I went through my cosmetic stuff to pick a good shade to match with my ball gown. I have a thing for black but today I decided I want to change into something bright. So when I was picking up my dress with Amy, I chose a deep red gown that has a tiny strap and open back cut to my waistline. I want to look irresistible to whoever my mate is tomorrow night. It's not that I'm up to some mischievous plan like seducing him or something. I just wanted to make him find me so appealing to look away to someone else. I almost laughed out aloud at my crazy thoughts. If my friend Amy was with me, she would definitely say I'm insane.

The sound of the door closing downstairs brought my attention. I was already at my place. Immediately, my room door opened. I stared at the tired face through my mirror before I turned to look at him. His brunette hair was messy and I noticed it was wet from sweat. He had bags under his eyes and a lot of little stubbles on his chin and jaw.

"You look like shit." I said with a smile.

He nodded and collapsed on my bed. " And hello to you sister."

I rolled my eyes. " I told you. This beta office you took, isn't easy. You always see how dad used to come back home tired and cranky." After our parents died, Andrew had to take over as beta since was in office when he died. He didn't care how tiring the job was but he took it. Though I believed he saw it as a means of escape from grieving and also as a duty too.

He hummed and gave me a thumbs up with his face in my pillow. He raised his head sharply to look at me with a confused face."Why are you all chirpy today?" He asked.

I laughed at my brother. Was he saying I'm not happy on a normal day? I wouldn't blame him. We both are always oddly silent ever since Mom and Dad died. We barely had long deep conversations. We would always keep it short and plain. It never passes the; boring continuous check up and whatever that is meant to satisfy our hunger, food.

"Excuse you? I'm always chirpy." I defended myself.

" I know my sister and she's never so happy all the time. So I know something is wrong."

I was about to say something and he cut me off.

"Wait, I know why. The ball tomorrow. That's the reason." He said with a weird smile. His hazel eyes shone with mischief.

"I don't know what you are up to but I'm not falling for it. By the way, we are both mateless." I said and turned back to look into the mirror.

"I already told you Emma, I'm not ready for a mate. You should even focus on something else, you are still too young to be so in need of a man." He said with a serious face.

My brother Andrew, never supported my decision to Join this year's mate season. He wanted me to wait another year before I do. I'm quite stubborn among the both of us, so he let me be. He, on the other hand, lost his mate in the rogue battle that took our parents' life also. We have never talked about it and I guess it won't happen soon. So, I never pushed the topic up.

"We're done with this discussion Andrew. Go to your room before you drool on my bed."

He groaned and dragged himself up. " I don't drool young lady and mind you, You're talking to your Beta show some respect."

I laughed at his last sentence and watched him leave my room before I turned back to what I was doing. As much as I wanted to listen to my brother's advice, I knew he understands my main reason why I joined this year and that's why he never tried to forcefully stop me from going.