I walked down the stair case arm laced with my father as we saw people from our pack, mingling with people from other packs.

Soft music was playing, every girl had their makeup and nails done. Beautiful dresses were worn and all the guys looked equally as handsome.

But one guy caught my attention right away.

Unknown.

I saw him just standing there in the back corner watching me with a wine glass in his hand. He took a sip and looked away.

I could feel my stomach drop knowing he was so calm about all of this. It wasn't the fact that he was here that scared me.

It was the fact that no one else took notice of his presence.

Everyone acted like they didn't notice someone unfamiliar on our territory. But then again, near by packs attended but I still don't see why they didn't question why he didn't smell like anything.

He looked up at me from his wine glass and smiled a sickening smile. A smile that made me want to turn around and run back up to my room.

My father must've noticed the way my body tensed because he gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Don't be nervous. You look beautiful Evangeline." I kept my eyes on unknown but nodded my head so that my father knew that I heard him.

My father and I reached the bottom of the stairs and people came to introduce themselves to my father. Mostly past alphas and Luna's.

"You must be very proud of your son David." A past alpha said as he and my father spoke.

"I couldn't be any prouder. I know Nathaniel is new to this but I know he will be a great leader."

They both talked, and the Luna jumping in here and there giving her two scents.

I looked around the room and found the one person I was looking for.

Braxton.

There he stood, wearing a midnight blue suit and tie. His gold watch, to match his somewhat gold tie. His hair looked amazing, he had a nice clean shave and hair cut. The way His jaw would clench when he spoke made him even more unbelievably sexy.

I guess he felt my eyes on him because he turned his head and stared right at me. If I could, I would just jump into his arms and never let go.

Starring at him was like starring into a painting. His eyes were painted with different emotions but it was perfectly framed by an artist.

We stood there and starred. I looked at him so intently because I knew today might be the last time I could see those gorgeous eyes.

Why he was starring, was beyond me. But I really wasn't complaining. It wasn't until I felt a hand being placed on the back of my back that I broke eye contact with Braxton and looked at my distraction.

But when I did I knew I regretted it right away. Unknown stood there with a smile on his face as he leaned over into my ear. It was then that I noticed his scar was covered. Like somehow it was gone but yet still there.

"Forgetting something?" I felt him place a cool medal in my hand and I knew it was the knife.

I wanted to pull away but I turned slightly so no one could see it and hid it in the secret pocket inside of my dress. I could feel anger bubble inside of me but it wasn't by me.

It was Braxton. I looked back over at him to see him starring intently at unknown.

This whole mate thing was getting out of control. I wanted to scream every cuss word I could think of at unknown but it wasn't my fault.

I felt angry, and then it was gone. I felt chills run up my arms and I felt cold. I turned back to Braxton who had his back turn towards me.

It hurt. It hurt knowing my mate would rather feel nothing towards me, than to feel jealous over someone else talking to me.

"At least now it'll be easier. Who wants a mate that doesn't want them?"

I turned and watched him walk away from me. I turned back to look at Braxton but he was no longer there.

"I do." I whispered. I closed my eyes and felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned and their stood I boy I didn't recognize.

He wasn't that bad looking either. Blondish brownish hair, kinda tall, and he had a nice smile.

He was cute, but not as cute as Braxton that's fursure.

"You must be Evangeline. My name is Joshua but you can call me josh."

He extended his hand and I just looked at it.

"No offense but how do you know my name?" He pulled back his hand and shook his head.

"I guess I can see why the moon goddess paired you and Brax up together."

He smiled and I stiffened. He noticed and dropped his smile.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I went to walk away but he caught my arm.

"Hey woah, look no worries. I'm Braxton's third in command. You're secrets are safe with me."

He let go of my arm and I starred at him. He lifted up his sleeve and it was a tattoo of the packs initials with three wolves. Finally, I smiled.

"Eva." He looked confused and I laughed.

"The only people who call me Evangeline is my father and Braxton. Everyone else calls me Eva."

He nodded his head and smiled down at me.

"Sweet. So why aren't you with your mate? I get it the whole secret thing but shouldn't you guys at least be kind of close?"

I had to laugh out loud at that and a lot of people turned to look at me. I could feel myself turn red but smiled at Josh.

"It's complicated."

He nodded his head at me and looked around.

"Yea I guess you're right. He's not really one to be lovey dovey i guess. But he'll come around don't worry."

Would he though? would Braxton come around? I get that things haven't been easy for either of us right now but he could at least make an effort.

But he doesn't. he's cold, heartless at times, and I'm not even sure if he knows what the meaning of love is.

"Relax, i could hear the wheels in your head turning." I could hear the playful tone in his voice and I just laughed.

"Its just I can't see braxton loving me." I shrugged my shoulders and looked up to see him with a frown on his face.

He looked around the room and then turned back to me again.

"I wanna tell you a story Eva. Wanna take a walk?'

I didn't know whether to say yes or no. I mean he is Braxton's third so I know he wouldn't try anything.

But for the people who do know about he and I, I don't want them to think anything of this. But then again that would require them to care about me and I doubt thats even an option for them.

So I nodded my head and he stuck out his elbow for me to take.

"My lady. well, my Alphas lady"

I hesitated at first but I ended up grabbing it and we walked towards the back of the pack house.

We continued walking towards a little garden that was hidden. We finally found it and I let go so I could sit down on the bench. He followed me and we kind of just sat there for about ten minutes without speaking.

It wasn't awkward, it was more of a comfortable silence.

But then finally, he spoke.

"Strawberries."

I looked over at him confused.

"huh?"

"His favorite fruit is strawberries. When he has a bad day, he'll send someone to the store to get them for him. Its what his mom did when he was having a tough day. She'd buy strawberries, chocolates, whip cream, peanut butter, anything really and they would come up with the weirdest combinations. It was pretty funny to see. One time when we were being bad his mom said he couldnt have strawberries for a whole two weeks he through a fit. Demanded that someone get 'the future alpha' strawberries or he'd banish them from the pack. of course, no one took him seriously but still."

I looked at Josh and he was smiling looking towards the Gardens like if he was reliving the whole thing again.

"Strawberries, ill remember that." I smiled and got lost in my thoughts.

But then i remembered something. Ive been wanting to ask this for awhile now.

"Can I ask you something?"

He nodded his head and waited for me to continue.

"How did his mom..."

I kinda left it there I really didn't want to say the whole thing so I knew he knew what I meant.

"You sure you want to hear this?"

I thought about it. Do I? should I wait till he tells me himself? But what if we never get to that point in our whatever it is that we have.

Who am i kidding this is the last time ill see him.

"Yea I'm sure. This could be the last time I ever see him."

He gave me a questioning look but didn't ask about it.

"Braxton, his mom and Braxton's little sister were out in their secret place. Its a little creek in the pack house that only the Alphas family is allowed to visit. Its been in their family for awhile. And one day we had a rogue attack. His mom heard what was happening and she shifted. "

I was surprised. He wasn't always an only child. No one ever spoke of her though.

"He has a sister?"

Josh rubbed his face and sighed.

"He HAD a sister. Not anymore."

Oh god.

"Did she... with his mom?"

He laughed and stood up.

"Wait and listen."

So I intertwined my fingers and waited till he continued.

"Like I was saying, They were all out one day and rogues attacked. She told braxton and Arabella not to make a noise. They stayed hidden but it didn't last long. A rogue came out of no where and attacked his mom. Another came out and attacked his sister and him. He tried to protect her but in a second he was out numbered. Rogues held him down while they made him watch as a rogue sliced his moms throat with its claws. Blood poured out and then he started to claw at her stomach and Braxton saw the whole thing go down."

He was quiet for a minute then continued.

"We heard him scream. But we had our own rogues to fight off. His dad fought 6 rogues at once trying to get to all of them. I wanted to help but I couldn't. we were all kids. What was I suppose to do? Anyways, soon his sister screamed and when we got there it was like a blood bath. His sister was no where to be found, and his mom.... she was gone."

He came and sat down right next to me. he sighed and i didn't know what to say.

"It wasn't your fault you know. Like you said, you guys were kids what could have you done?"

He shrugged his shoulders and looked at me.

"I could have done something to help them."

I laid my hand on his shoulder and I could feel every emotion he felt it was weird.

"There was nothing you could have done for him then. Now, theres everything you could do for him. Be there for him because I won't be around forever."

He nodded his head at me and closed his eyes.

"And his sister? Did you guys ever find her?"

He shook his head.

"No. But we're still looking. Every month he sends out a search team to look for the rogues that killed his mother and took his sister. He's offered money to anyone with any information that could lead to her rescue. But so far nothing. He hasn't given up, none of us have."

I nodded my head at him and again we Just kind of sat there.

"At least Braxton knows what the bastard looks like. He said he'll never forget that ugly scar that ran across his eye, the way he didn't smell like anything, the way he sounded. I can't wait till we catch him."

My body tensed and all I could think of was to get up and run.

Josh noticed and he grew worried.

"Hey you ok? You look pretty scared."

I tried to calm down but i could feel my hands begin to shake.

"I-Im F-f-fine." Josh noticed my stuttering and I was silently cursing myself. He turned from worried to suspicious.

He got up and crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn't the nice, down to earth guy right now. He was now Braxton's Third in Command.

"You don't know who I'm talking about right? The person I just described to you right now doesn't sound familiar?"

I didn't say anything but i tried to get up, only to have him push me back down. How the hell do I tell him? Should I tell him? No. I can't.

"Please, let me go. I have to get back to the party."

I tried again but I He still wouldn't let me go.

"ANSWER ME!" he screamed and that kind of pissed me off.

I got up and when he tried to touch me I used my powers to pick him up. I used my hand and I pushed him against a tree.

"This, is MY territory. YOU will not order me around got it?"

I let him go and he fell to the ground grabbing his throat and coughing. He looked up at me and I could tell he wanted to shift.

"If you want to fight we can fight and it'll stay between you and I but just know, my powers aren't under control so if I kill you, i will not apologize for it."

I started to walk away but I heard him.

"You do know him, don't you?" He whispered it but he almost sounded hurt.

I heard the bell for the ceremony to start go off and I knew it was time.

"Yes. The same man who killed Braxton's mother killed mine. But he'll pay for it with his life. I promise."

With that I left him on the floor and headed towards the ceremony.

___________________________

I know I'm a horrible person but I will be uploading allllllll night for you guys! I've been gone and haven't updated in a month but I'm updating all night!

So sit back and enjoy! 💕

COMMENT AND VOTE !