Zara

It's the day of the Mate Matching Ceremony, and I'm ready to set my plan into motion.

I'm seated at the edge of my bed, waiting for Jared to come and pick me up. I dressed up in some ripped jeans, a black tank top, and a red jacket. My black hair's been styled in a ponytail, something I hardly ever do as my hair is curly and a tad difficult to tame.

I step out of my room just in time to hear a knock at the door. As I turned to go and open it, Sharon darts past me and opens it first. Jared steps in, and the two share a long look at each other.

Shameless, they are. How did I miss it?

I clear my throat and they both turn to look at me. I walk over to Jared and wrap him in a hug. I know Sharon's glaring at me, but it only serves to fuel my audacity even more.

I run my lips against Jared's jawline and whisper in his ear, "I missed you."

He looks surprised for a moment, but then he responds with a small smile. "I missed you too."

He's not looking at me, his eyes are on Sharon.

I pull away from him slightly and ask, "Why are you looking at Sharon like that?" I ask to throw him off balance. "Are you taking her to the Ceremony or me?"

Jared's eyes slightly widen. He must think I'm suspicious and will try to avert my attention. He finally looks away from Sharon and focuses on me with his dark brown eyes. "I'm here for you, baby."

I force a small chuckle and run my fingers through his dark short hair.

"Thank you. Now, Let's go." I pull him with me out the door, still feeling Sharon's eyes on me. I can imagine her boiling on the inside. "Sharon will join us later," I add, and watch for her reaction out of the corner of my eye.

She curls her hands into fists as she watches us leave for the event.

I did what I had to do. If I hadn't intervened, Sharon would have found a way to go with us like she did the last time. And from what I remember, she and Jared kept making eyes at each other while I was right beside them.

I was so stupid to not have noticed anything back then, and I'm glad that this time around, I got the upper hand. My plans are coming together quite nicely.

I smile to myself.

The ceremony is rising to a start when Jared and I get there. We settle down inside one of the tents closest to the stage.

The dancers get into position and the musicals begin to play the opening song for the event. The sky above rumbles, and the clouds darken. Rain is on the way.

The sound of the drums and harmonious singing swirl around me. I suddenly want to join the dancers as they dance.

With a clap of thunder, rain starts to pour.

Sharon and her mother rush into the canopy where we are seated soon after, panting and wet from the rain.

As Sharon twists her shirt to get rid of the excess water, she looks at me with so much malice. I can feel a taunt coming from her.

"Aren't you supposed to try to help me? It's your fault that I got here late—"

"Be quiet," I interrupt her irritating whining. "I never stopped you from coming along. And if you knew that rain was about to fall, why couldn't you take an umbrella?

Sharon's mouth is clamped shut as she watches me with mild surprise. When my stance is unyielding, she looks to Jared for backup, but he doesn't say anything.

She must not know what to do about my sudden response, as she knows me to be someone who usually flees at the first sign of conflict.

As she opens her mouth to speak, the music comes to a stop, and all dancers scurry back into their own canopy.

Jared squeezes my hand with his. "It's almost time."

I nod at him, although I know that I'm not leaving this place as his bonded mate.

The mating ceremony usually happens on the day that a full moon is expected to occur each month. Females who are ready to be mated are asked to come before all pack members and select a mate that they will bond with for life. This is because in recent times, the probability of finding one's true mate has greatly reduced, so the Mate Matching Ceremony acts as a substitute for the real mate bonding.

Of course, it isn't as strong as the true mate bond because it doesn't occur naturally on its own, but is initiated through a ritual that involves the interested mate marking one another.

The rain has reduced to a light drizzle, so those ready to be mated step up to the stage. The woman picks a mate out of the two men interested in her, and they mark each other.

When they leave the stage, I remain seated, even though I'm supposed to go next.

Jared gets up to his feet and looks at me. "Zara, it's our turn now."

I say nothing, and continue to ignore him.

He sighs, and other pack members turn in our direction, trying to understand what the problem is. Some other males rise to their feet, ready to approach me as it is customary for other males to approach a female that they're interested in being bonded with during the ceremony. I wave them away, however.

"Baby. Is this about yesterday?" When I still don't respond, he goes down on one knee by my side. "Zara. Yes. I love you, and that's why and want us to be mated. I want you to be by my side, as my Luna."

I look into his eyes and get up to my feet. I feign agitation. "I really do want to be your mate as well, but," I turn to Sharon and Florence, "my family doesn't think I should give up the chance to partake in the Alpha Selection Ceremony. They said it'd be a waste of my skills, and I really don't want to disappoint them."

"What?" Jared turns to look at them as well, eyebrows furrowed in displeasure. Since the other two can't hear our conversation, they only look back at him in confusion.

I cough into my palms. "I'm sorry, I know how this must look to you, but I didn't mean for this to happen." I rub at my dry eyes and look away from his stare. "I need—I need some space." I dodge his grasp and jog out of the canopy, ignoring his calls.

When I'm sure that I'm a good distance away, I chuckle to myself. I never knew that I could act so well.

I walk for a little distance more, kicking up dust and dried leaves from the forest floor and keeping my ears peeled for any unusual sounds. For Jared's sake, I hope he's too busy arguing with Sharon and her mother to even think about coming after me.

I'm already in the lead this time.

I come to a stop as all the breath wooshes out of my lungs in an instant. I drop to one knee from the suddenness of it all. It's like a jolt went through my heart.

My skin heats up and the back of my neck itches. A pleasant smell enters my nose and it's like all my favorite scents merged into one. I inhale deeply. I can't get enough of it, and I raise my nose into the air like a dog.

"He's here," says a voice from deep within me. It's a voice I would recognise anywhere.

I want to cry in relief. My wolf . . . can finally communicate with me.

What she says next, however, fills me with dread. The last words in the world that I want to hear.

She fights to escape from within me, ready to rush to the source of the inviting scent. I clutch my chest even though it does little to keep her at bay.

"Mate!" she cries.