I'm Not Yours

Chapter 9, Ah, I was hoping

Yawning I walk to the fancy room full of nice dresses and makeup supposed to make us look pretty. Apparently, the mate bond isn't enough to get a guy to like us. I guess it's because we are human, not gifted with the grace and beauty of the wolf race.

Looking over I spot Ashely in the crowd of about 75 girls and push towards her. Today is the day.

After a long, early morning of cooking and helping prepare the food for tonight, I am exceedingly tired. It probably doesn't help that Ashely and I have been spending our sleep time planning. But I'm confident in our plan, it's almost flawless.

Before I reach my destination the guards from the first fateful night make their presence known by letting out a chain of growls. Like one wasn't enough, all of them need to prove themselves able to growl.

I turn with the crowd to face them. As soon as all eyes are on them they start to speak. Giving the same lecture about how the Alpha was looking for a mate and the importance of this night. The poor girl doomed to that fate. It would probably be 10 times worse than a regular mate bond. I heard that the higher the rank in a pack the more possessive. Once again, I feel sorry for the poor soul stuck with the Alpha of this atrocious pack.

As soon as the speech is over with we are sent to our respective hair, makeup, and design teams prepared specially for this night. After all, we had wolves to impress, didn't we?

Hours later we were all prepped and standing nervously before a large double door. I chewed on my bottom lip as my heart raced against itself. This was it. My eyes closed for the briefest moment as I tried to calm my erratic heartbeat. My entire body was on alert, my soul reached out from my standing position between two other girls.

If this didn't work, if we failed we were dead. Werewolves didn't take lightly to anyone who ran away. It was cowardly. A disgrace.

"The doors will be opened shortly. You are to be impeccable. Perfect. Not a single movement shall fall short of extravagant. If your mate is not beyond these doors then pray to your futile gods that someone takes to you. Every single one of you is being given to a wolf tonight, mate or not," the main guard states. His eyes held a predatorial gleam in them as his words left his mouth in a venomous path to our ears.

What? My eyes shoot open and at him. He never said... We were doomed either way. Just being sold off like slaves. My body shook slightly. The importance of tonight finally hitting me. We never had a chance.

My eyes find Ashely's over the crowd and I'm suddenly insanely greatful for our long nights creating an escape plan. We weren't going down without a fight. Granted we may die, but slavery somehow seems worse.

The doors are opened and hundreds of wolves look up on us. The ballroom is filled with werewolves from all around the country. All vying to find a mate tonight.

We stood at the edge of the grand staircase. We all held our breaths as the world seemed to halt in that moment. All of a suddenly we were brought back to reality with the striking orders to move.

"Move it or I'll pull you down beside me," our guard hisses at us.

Picking my dress up I start down the long staircase. As I reach the bottom a guy dressed in a black tux extends his hand to me.

"Alpha James. And you are?" his smooth voice echos in my mind.

Alpha, shit nope. I don't deal with Alphas. It takes all my strength for my to press out a tight lipped smile.

"Jessie," my voice is small but controlled. I do a little happy dance in my head cause it didn't waver.

My hand slowly reaches towards his.

Don't be mates. Don't be mates. Please God, I can't be mates with an Alpha.

Our hands meet and there are no sparks. I let go of the breath I didn't know I was holding. Looking at him, his face cast downwards in disappointment for a split second before he schools his features.

"Ah, I was hoping. Well, nevertheless would you like to dance?" Alpha James asks.

Before I can respond he is pulling me into the throng of people.

Carefully placing his hand on my hip he leads me into the dance. Sighing silently to myself I focus on the movements. It's been so long since I've really gotten to dance. My old life was full of recitals and practices. Dancing everyday, now I hardly dance at all. If I dance at all.

When the dance is over I politely muster up a smile and walk away from Alpha James.

Before I get to far however Ashley comes running towards me like all of he'll just broke loose. Alarm bells immediately sound in my head. The only reason she would be so brash is if she found her mate.

Breathing heavily she grabs my arm as she nears me.

"It's him... I cant...I can't stay. You coming??"

She gasps for air in between her words. Before I can say anything a booming voice cuts through the crowd.

"Move! You will not escape me. I am your mate!" She freezes.

"Please," Ash's voice is smaller this time.

"Of course."

*****
xoxo~Knight

Stay beautiful