CHAPTER TWO

CATANIA’s POV

It took me almost an hour to arrive at the castle and I'm confident that I am the last guest to arrive. Even the guards were shocked and I believe my disheveled state got them more confused.

I have the worst family anyone could ever wish for.

As I walk across the well cut lawn that leads to the banquet hall, I admire the blooming flowers at the corners of the lawn and in the green carpet grass. There are lights all over the yard, lighting up the entire surrounding and making it look very beautiful.

If I didn't have anything important to do there, I would have stayed out here instead. The solitude out here is way more condusive than the pretense and competition going on in there between wealthy families.

One of the reasons why I hate ceremonies like this.

Wealthy families often come to show off their wealth and gossip about each other and I hate it!

When I arrive at the door leading to the banquet hall, I take off the leader slippers I have on and put on my black sandals heels. If I dare go into that hall with my slippers, I will be crucified!

The ballroom is just like I had expected. Enormous, beautifully decorated and jam packed with people of different classes. The women are chatting in small groups and I can bet that they are busy telling each other how much their clothes, shoes and jewelry cost.

As I push through the crowd, I try to spot my parents and when I do, I immediately walk over to them. Not that they need me, but I just want to let them know that I have arrived, even though I now look awful.

"Ewe! What is that stench?" Mia cries holding her nostrils as she turns to face me, causing the people around to look at me as well.

"You reek of perspiration and dry leaves, look at how disheveled your hair is. Your dress is a mess!" She rants with a disgusted look on and the other girls around start laughing at me.

I feel a painful lump form in my throat as tears sting in my eyes. Mia always does this.

"I… I… had to walk all the way here, remember?" I try to defend myself.

"All the more reason why you should stay far away from me and my parents. In this very shabby state of yours, it'll take a miracle for any guy to notice you. Even if you find your mate, I can bet my life he is going to reject you! Such an ugly bonehead!" She lashes out and I look at our parents, hoping that they'll say something, but when I realize that they won't, I quickly turn around and force my way through people, targeting the door.

I want to go far from Mia and my parents.

Sometimes I wonder why they adopted me if they never planned to love and treat me like their daughter. Don't get me mistaken, I'm happy that I grew up with a family. I mean, my adoptive parents are rich and I grew up as a rich kid, but their disdain for me has never gone unnoticed.

There has always been a clear difference in the way they treat Mia and I.

Most times, I chose not to think about it, but I break down everytime Mia rubs it in my face.

She is actually very cruel and I wish I never see her again. I wish I could just run away and never come back.

Oh how I wish I could find my mate during this ceremony. My life will change for the better if that happens.

I wipe the tears that have been streaming down from my eyes and try to keep my breath steady. No matter how many times I promise myself not to cry over this issue, I still fail in the end and cry.

"Hello" A deep masculine voice greets me from behind, violently snapping me out of my thoughts and causing me to tremble on my seat like I had been caught committing a crime. My heart rate skyrockets and I feel hot air escape through my nostrils. There's an adrenaline rush all over my body and right now, the fright and flight response has taken over me.

I turn around swiftly and my heart falls into my abdomen when I see our Alpha, Alpha Chase, standing gracefully behind me with both hands behind his back. He has on his usual blank countenance and I swallow dryly as I rise up on my feet with my head bowed down.

"Alpha Chase" I call as I do a slight bow.

"Lift your head up" He orders and I reluctantly lift up my head to look at him, but the moment my eyes meet with his, I quickly look away causing him to chuckle.

The air right now feels like sulphur steams and all the hairs on my body are standing erect.

This is my Alpha we are talking about.

Alpha Chase.

He is our leader, our king and it's not everyday that we get to see him. His domineering aura is enough to make someone tremble just standing a few meters away from him. His aura is powerful and his deep Alpha voice is enough to make me tremble to death.

I have no idea what to say to him. Having an encounter with Alpha Chase did not cross my mind even for a single second!

My soul leaves my body when he walks over to the built garden chair and sits down.

"Al… Alpha…" I stutter nervously.

"Please take your seat" He instructs politely and I lifelessly lower myself to the chair, making sure to leave ample space between us.

The entire scenario is too overwhelming and I feel like I'm going to faint.

"What is your name?" He suddenly asks and I look up at him with my mind blank.

I have forgotten my name.

I don't know what I'm called.

"Ex… excuse me…I…" I stutter nervously.

"I believe you very well heard what I asked. I do not like repeating myself"

"Sorry, I'm so sorry. Catania… the name is Catania"

"Catania is not a name" He replies coldly and I immediately understand what he is talking about.

"Catania Gabriella Collins"

"You have a beautiful name Catania. What are you doing out here all alone?" He asks calmly and bow my head down as I play with my fingers.

"Well… it's was quite hot in there, I just wanted to come out and get some fresh air"

"I see… however, I didn't know fresh air made people cry"

I jerk my head up to look at him and my eyes lock with his. He looks at me long and hard as if he's trying to see through me and uncover all my secrets. When I get uncomfortable, I avert my gaze from his and stare at the grass beneath. "You have the audacity to lie to your Alpha" He speaks with a calm but deadly voice and I shake with fear.

What did I just do?

"I'm sorry…"

"There's no need to be sorry, all I want is for you to tell me why you are out here all alone, crying when your mates and probably your family is in there, having fun"

"I… I… was mocked by my sister. You see, my family doesn't really love me and they always push me away at gatherings like this. That's why I'm out here crying and asking the moon goodness where I went wrong." I explain with my head bowed down.

If my parents find out that I'm having such a conversation with the Alpha, they will definitely call me an ungrateful bitch and kick me out of the house.

"Family sucks, doesn't it? '' He asks out of nowhere and I'm stunned by how informal his words sound.

I had no idea my Alpha could talk so casually.

I chuckle lightly and I look at him.

"Yeah, it does"

"You and I have something in common then" He says with a smile. I badly want to ask him what he means by that, but I do not have the audacity to question my Alpha, so I swallow my words.

"Come with me"

"Huh?" I mumble look at him as he rises from the chair we are both sitting on.

"The ceremony is about to begin, do you mind walking with me into the hall?" He asks calmly and I blush a beetroot.

I can't believe Alpha Chase is asking me to walk with him into the ballroom. What an honour!

"It'll be an honour" I agree with a wide smile as I place my left hand into his out-stretched palm and he helps me rise on my feet. He then takes my right hand into his left arm and we walk out of the garden in silence.

I have a good feeling about this night.

I can swear on my life that the moment my wolf will be awoken, only good things will happen to me from then on.

If only I knew…