"For nothing, not the sun, not the rain, not even the brightest star in the darkest sky, could begin to compare to the wonder of you." -Khalid al Rashid (The Wrath and The Dawn)

I will remember this night forever. If there is one thing I am sure of, it's that.

The moon shines bright as if she knows today is a celebration of her. The lunas and I are all covered with a thin white veil that is on the verge of being transparent. Excitement rushes through me as I think of what is to come.

I hear the door creak open and out come the alphas with a blindfold covering their eyes. They are guided by the same women who gave us our veils. Behind them are Chandra Oberoi and his two sons.

Chandra grabs a mic and stands on a platform that is slightly above the extravagant pool.

"I'm sure some of you are wondering why we brought you here," he says.

"The event for this year's Chandani Ball is a mate search. The men have been blindfolded and have to search for their mates. You will all be given one hour. The winners will receive the best rooms in our house for tonight!"

"Please, this is too easy I can sniff out Abia in an instant," the alpha of the Crescent Pack says.

"I agree it is too easy. Luckily for you the veils that the lunas are wearing disguise their scents so you will not be able to find them so easily," Chandra says with a smirk.

"Then how are we supposed to find them?" another young alpha asks.

"Use your heart," Chandra answers.

The women lead us away and each of us is given a spot to hide. I hear Chandra yell in the background that the game can begin. I know Zane will not find me. We are not that close but goddess do I want to spend a night in one of the Oberoi suites. Don't get me wrong, the room I have now is amazing but the suites have a skylight that allows you to see all of the stars. It's nearly impossible to see the stars in Manhattan but that's what magic is for.

I look through the veil and see a bunch of alphas stumbling around. One of them latches onto my arm and let's go once he touches me. It's easy to tell who your mate is through touch, especially if you have been mated for a long time.

"My apologies," he says, before walking away.

I pray that Zane does not end up grabbing some woman thinking she is me. I know it will be harder for him to tell if it is me or not but everyone will think there is some serious trouble in paradise.

At least half an hour passes by before a loud horn fills the air.

"Alpha Karim has found Luna Abia! Only two more winners will be chosen," Aradhya Oberoi speaks through a megaphone.

A minute goes by before the shrill horn echoes through the forest again. Aradhya repeats her words from before but with a different pair of alphas.

My heart drops. I did not think Zane would find me but a part of me wanted him to. I doubt we will get the last spot. I'm busy moping that I do not hear the presence behind me. A hand wraps around my wrist before spinning me until I am pressed against a hard chest.

Pine.

I look up, through the veil, to see Zane staring at me with triumph shining in his eyes. He pulls the yanks the veil off before throwing it on the ground. His face shines under the moonlight and I see something I have not seen in a long time. His smile. His real smile, the kind he would give to his mama.

He buries his face in my neck.

"Vanilla," he whispers, before leaving a light kiss on my mark.

"I didn't think you would find me," I tell him.

"I found you in two lifetimes, you think I can't find you in some game?"

Our moment is broken by Aradhya Oberoi's voice.

"Alpha Zane has found Luna Alessandra! The game is over!"

"Let's go check out our room," Zane says as he grabs my hand.

We walk hand in hand towards the large gold doors with our names on them.

Zane and Alessandra De Luca

Beautiful is a word that does not do it justice. The moonlight illuminates the room that is covered in gray marble. A giant skylight allows me to see all of the stars and I can feel their brightness in my soul.

Zane places his hands on my shoulders causing a shiver to go up my spine.

"We should talk," he says.

"About what?"

"The bond is only going to get stronger over time," he says.

"Okay?" I say, unsure of where the conversation is heading.

"I was thinking once we get back home we can put some distance between us so it does not continue to grow, my house is plenty big-"

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I say, cutting him off.

"Look, Alessandra, we both know we will not work, it's easier this way," he says.

"You won't even give us a shot," I say.

"Are you kidding me right now? We were fucked from the start, I tormented you when we were little, I dated your sister, I almost made her my luna, I sent you away! How can you think we can come back from that?"

"We are mates for a reason, the goddess does not make mistakes," I tell him, my anger rising as he brings up all his faults. He bites his lip before giving me a cruel smile. Zane walks forward, his steps calculated. His eyes go dark and I realize that this is the alpha everyone speaks of. The cold alpha of Blood Moon, who I have only heard of but never actually experienced.

I keep walking backward until I hit the cold wall. He lowers his head until his lips are at my ear. Our chests brush against each other as we inhale the oxygen that seems to be depleting by the second.

"I fucked your sister Alessandra," he says. My blood runs cold. It's not news but it's not something I'd like to hear. He decides to twist the knife in my chest a little more.

"My cock was inside your twin sister Alessandra. How does that make you feel? Knowing the one person made for you wanted your sister instead?"

He was evil. So fucking evil I wanted to scream. I wouldn't though, because that's what he wants. He wants me to cower like everyone else does when they are in his presence, but I'm not anyone. I'm Alessandra Romano, his damn mate, his equal. I was not just some pack member who would bend over backward to accommodate him.

"So that's it? You just want to pretend like we are mates in public for appearances but behind closed doors we are strangers?" I ask, with all the nonchalance I can muster.

"Precisely."

"Ok, what about sex then Zane? What are you going to do when my heat hits?"

His jaw clenches so hard I think it might pop.

"Are you going to sit on the sidelines like a good little dog and watch as someone else, what is it you said? Ah yes, fucks me," I say.

His nostrils flare. Maybe it's the dim lighting but I swear his eyes grow so dark they might be black.

"Because I'll tell you right now, I'd rather have sex than deal with the pain of heat, so if you aren't going to do it who will? Tell me Zane whose cock is going to be inside me?" I say, tossing his own words back at him.

"I'm sure tons of wolves would be on board to take their luna's virginity, maybe I should ask Jaden since we are already so familiar-"

One second I'm on my feet, the next Zane's hand is gripping me in between my legs until I'm at eye level with him. I can feel his fingers pressed against my ass while his thumb is at my front. If he just moved a little higher it would be at the perfect spot.

"Are you seriously turned on right now Alessandra?"

"No."

Yes.

His eyes flash with gold that appears when his wolf is present.

Zane says, but I can tell by the edge of his voice it's Rafael I'm talking to.

"Tell your human to stop being an idiot."

Rafael responds. Zane's eyes return back to their normal brown.

His thumb moves in a slow circle over my clit, and I try, I really do try to hold in my moan, but it escapes me.

"I'm not a gentle lover," he tells me. I almost shout in excitement. It took 2 years to convince this man to take me.

"I don't want a gentle lover," I respond with a raspy voice. His fingers continue to torture me over my dress.

"Take it off," I tell him, before showing him my back where the clasps to my dress are. His hands find the clasps and his lips find my back. I arch my back, pressing my ass into him as he continues to press his lips on my skin as he unclasps my dress. My dress falls to the floor and my nipples perk up as the cold air brushes against them.

I'm left in my black panties while he's fully dressed. I don't get the chance to protest because he wraps my hair around his fist.

"Fuck, I've wanted to do that forever," Zane whispers. He gives my hair a tug and a cry comes from my throat. His grip is so tight that I'm looking up at him.

"You're mine Alessandra," he says, before pressing his lips to mine. The position is awkward because my neck is practically bent backward but I can't bring myself to care. His empty hands grabs my hip before slowly tracing a path up to my breast. His rough hand squeezes it so hard I moan into his mouth. Zane uses the opportunity to slip his tongue into my mouth.

He pulls back abruptly.

"What's wrong?"

"Alessandra.." he says, his eyes shining with fear.

Suddenly my head feels too heavy. I feel myself fall but Zane runs and catches me before I hit the ground. Everything spins and I realize his eyes are gold before everything goes black.