Not the right mate

Humans have come to believe that no event in their lifetime happens for the first time. They believe no humans live for the first time. There would have been someone in the past who acted nearly in the same manner as you are. Appearance might be near similar or might not be. They believe in reincarnation. They also believe that angels exist.

What about creatures that are beyond human genes? It could be that their genes are augmented with that of humans and some animals to create a new hybrid. Such as the werewolves. And what do the Werewolves believe?

"You! My dear, are the most perfect. There is no being like you. There has never been anyone like you, and there will never be," that's the perfect praise everyone from Asark gives to a beautiful woman. An astonishing woman that makes men drool.

And Mara will never be tired of hearing such. After all, she knows how rare of a gem she is. She knows her worth. Even though she tried being humble, men never stop letting her know that they would prefer if she was proud.

"Mara!," Aaron called her from behind.

"Mara, my beloved" he smiled and ran towards her. He got to her place within a few seconds.

Even if Mara loved being praised by men. She appreciates the lostness of men's sanity in her eyes. She loved how they became humble just at the sight of her. Their thirst that they want to be quenched by her presence and love. Even though she respected their readiness to go beyond their limits just to have enough time with her. She hated it coming from Aaron.

"Oh, Aaron! How are you?" She greeted with a facade smile

"Oh! My wolf luck has greeted me with pure luck today. It says I will either be at my happiest today or see what would make me happy for the rest of my life," Aaron smiled, his face oozed with confidence.

"And isn't that lovely? And have you seen it?" She asked with interest even though she knew his reply.

"Yes! And here you are my beloved. You are the one my wolf luck told me of."

"That's… mph!" She sighed

"I am short of words. But that's reassuring" she smiled. She looked away immediately. She looked at the maids with her.

"So where are you going? The woods or the city?" Aaron smiled.

"I planned on going out alone today. Just to be with my maids and not anyone else." She replied

"In Asark, there are two laws that attract heavy punishment from every pack. No pre-marital sex and that every male who knows his mate must treat her respectfully." Aaron said, appreciating his vast knowledge of Asark's law.

"That's exactly why I will appreciate it if you will leave me alone. Let me…"

"And you think Lord Horgan would let that slide?" Aaron said. He knew what her father would do if he heard she rejected the son of his friend. The future alpha of the Hudun pack.

The Hudun pack is a friendly pack to her father. Recently, there have been more Alphas coming to see her father. Even Alphas who have been hostile in the past have been visiting more often. And ever since the Huduns have been coming, Aaron has become unnecessarily close ever since then. And her father hasn't been complaining. She knew her father already accepted her to be a mate for the future alpha of the Hudun, but she doesn't want him.

And she couldn't deny it. The last time she had brought home someone she thought would be a perfect mate, her father had done a blood moon on him. The Asark punishment for premarital sex is blood moon on the male part, and her father had accused him of seducing his daughter.

Since they believed the female werewolves were not capable of thinking for themselves not till they are a hundred and fifty years old, Mara was spared of punishment.

"So after you my lady," Aaron said.

In Asark, a world dominated by werewolves. The apex predator. A world that was once part of the open earth but shrunk for some reasons best known to people of the old days and the sages of the modern-day. In Asark, werewolves are the prevalent creatures, hence it's no surprise to see wolves who are either in their werewolf form or shifted to their human form.

Mara is always in her human form. In this form, she is able to show off her beauty. She could move around and let people marvel at her. They were other beautiful female werewolves in Asark. Ones more beautiful than her, but only in their human form. Every single one of them looks just as ugly as a monster, once they shift to their werewolf form.

Mara in her human form ran towards the city without informing Aaron. She would try her best just to get out of his presence.

"I knew it. The daughter of Lord Horgan is not someone to tamper with," he commented at her speed.

Even though he praised her speed, she knew he was faster than him. If not, how did he catch up with her even though she left before him?

"You should give a cue the next time you are about to take off," he said.

"I am sorry. It's a bad habit that grew old." She apologized. She is not just tired of his presence, but that there is nothing to be done to get rid of him. Her father had warned her never to keep him hanging.

"Be friendly to him. He is a good one," he had ordered her. Even though she was the only daughter, the difference between her and her maids is just her name.

They arrived at the city after ten minutes of running at super speed. Mara's paw felt sour because she had to run at speeds she doesn't usually run, just so she could outpace Aaron.

"Why have you come to the city?" Aaron asked

"You should have asked at first before agreeing to come with me," Mara replied without looking at him.

He felt embarrassed. He felt his nerves rising and the will to punch her. This wasn't the first time he felt so, but he had to resist himself. No wolf is to hit a female wolf that he isn't married to or who isn't his daughter.

"Tread softly princess. Well, all these emotions can wait till the day I get to marry you." He thought, letting out a grin.

"Now patience, Felan." He called to her, "Being with you erases all reason from me." He smiled.

When Aaron started hitting on her, she had rejected him and looked down on him. She pitied him. She had wanted to avoid what happened to her former lover with him, but Aaron wouldn't stop. She had once warned him never to approach her again, she had shifted into her werewolf form to drive home her point, but he didn't listen. He was a persistent one. She had started growing interest in his determination even after countless warnings from the daughter of Lord Horgan. Even if her father isn't the Ultimate Alpha, he is one of the well-known Alpha in Asark. Or was it his fierceness that was feared?

She began hating Aaron on the day he decided to flex his influence over her and her lack of choice.

"My father won't be available for tomorrow's meeting. He asked me to be here on his behalf." She heard his voice say to her father, right before she was about to knock on her father's door.

She came in and saw him kneeling before her father.

"Oh! And my little beloved princess is here. I must say Lord Horgan, my interest in your daughter is one of the best things to happen to me," he said bowing before Mara.

She ignored him and moved to her father.

"Father, mother said…"

"Mara!" Her father growled deeply.

"Yes, father!" She shivered.

"Right before you is the future alpha of the Huduns, and how dare you ignore him like he is nothing. How dare you!" He growled deeper. He stood up from where he was sitting. He moved closer to her. She knew what was coming for her, and she continued shivering. He pulled her by the hair. He pulled her back and slapped her. And Aaron, who claimed to love her, stood just as her father helped him redeem his pride she had shattered. And right then, she knew she would never love him and she should never keep him wanting replies.

But here in the city, her father isn't around to hit her. She can reply as she wants but punishment that would await her at home would be immeasurable. She was thinking of a way to apologize. Even was about to go on her knees when a group of wolves in their human form came to Aaron.

"Lord Aaron. It's such an honor to meet you here. We really appreciate your presence. What shall we get you?" The oldest man said.

"Your Lordship! Come to my store and take whatever it is you want," another man said. Even though Mara could swear the man didn't mean it.

Right before her were about a dozen werewolves, with some bowing by putting their forehead on the ground before him. Others bow by just bending before him.

She knew those bending were the Betas, and those with their foreheads were the Omegas.

"They are the people of my pack!" He looked at Mara and bragged. She knew who they were. No other pack would bow or even recognize most sons of the Alpha. The only person from a pack every member of the other pack knows is the Alpha.

"Very humble and loyal people," she replied. She looked at his eyes, as he searched around for the higher Betas. It seems they were none around. Those ones who will hurt his pride. They won't bow to anyone except the Alpha.

"Why don't you go anywhere and pick whatever you want," he ordered her.

"No! I am fine. What I want is from the store over there" she pointed to a store that doesn't have what she needs.

"Are you sure, because they owe me loyalty and soon enough, it will be to both of us." He said.

She returned his smile with hers. She saw people from her pack, but they didn't come to greet her. They all remained at their stores. Something she knew wouldn't be the case if it had been her brother.

"Yes! I don't…"

She got interrupted by the hurrying and screaming of people. She saw everyone gathering towards the middle of the plaza, with a sense of urgency. People of other packs who weren't bowing were muttering to themselves and they all went to the middle.

At first, she thought a robbery was about to take place, but she saw smiles within the faces of most of the people around.

"What's happening?" Aaron asked no one in particular. He left where he was standing and walked out towards the open, but keeping distance from the middle where they were gathering.

"I guess it's the son of the Ultimate Alpha," a member of the Aaron pack said.

"Son of the ultimate Alpha?" He asked.

"Yes! He comes here once every two months and…"

"Enough! Do all those people belong to their clan?"

" No sir!" The same man replied

"Then why do they all gather for him? Why will they bow for him?" Aaron asked.

Mara could see the anger and restlessness on his face. He felt cornered. He was beginning to have sweat beads pile up on his forehead.

"It's the tradition of this market, Sir," the same man replied.

"Tradition of this market? Who started it?" Aaron barked in what might be his lowest voice. He stood right before the Beta that had been replying to him.

"I made it so, Sir."

"Eh? You made it so. And what about them bowing to the future alpha of your pack?"

"He comes here often. You rarely do. When he comes, he makes sure those who need help get it." The Beta replied.

Mara comes to the city once in a while and even when she does, she might never come into this particular market. She would just walk around. The city is like a fairground for every Werewolf in Asark. Even though some people never come either due to proximity or title, the city always booms. Though, no one sleeps in it. Everyone returns to their pack's territory at the end of the day.

She had never met the son of the Ultimate Alpha. She heard rumors about him, things she didn't want to believe. Bad rumors. She had always wanted to meet him. Even if it's for the clarification of her doubts. Everyone in her family has been taught to hate the Ultimate pack. But here she is with her heart racing, wanting to meet the man. She could feel every strand of hair on her rise. Every part of her, eager to meet him.

Right at that spot, she promised if the man could nullify all the rumors about him that she had been taught, she would give him every part of her. Her heart, body and soul. In fact, without having met him, she already loves his presence. Not many wolves are loved by people of other packs. But here is a man that she believes is in a fairytale. A wolf widely loved by all. Even though she feared it would be a one sided love, she promised to hold him dear till the end of her days.