Rejecting the billionaire, or alpha

Chapter 3

“Are you alright?”

A deep male voice came from behind her. She raised her head to the side slightly and saw a silhouette of a man standing under the eaves, in the shadows. It was dark even with her superior werewolf vision so she couldn’t make out who that person was. His scent wafted in the air, he smelled of sandalwood and the strong masculine smell of a man.

He’s human!

The realisation surprised her because she didn’t know that humans were invited. But after a thought, it made sense since the Ross family has joined the upper class and at this day and age, there is no distinction between werewolves and humans when it comes to benefits and interests.

The richest and largest family in Silver Territory is actually the Owain family and surprisingly, it is a human family who lives in harmony with the Overlord instead of taking over the territory as King. Once she remembered all these facts, Christabel instantly straightened her back and nodded politely. There is no way she is going to get herself in trouble with any of these wealthy families, especially when there’s a possibility that this man is from the Owain family.

“Are you alright?” he repeated his question as though he was not used to doing that.

“I’m alright, thank you for asking. Please allow me to escort you to the banquet, midnight is coming soon,” Christabel gestured to the moon casually.

The man looked up to the moon which was almost full and slightly hidden behind the clouds. He shook his head and said,

“I wanted to take a look at the Ross family’s magic rose but it is now apparent that I am lost. If you may point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it.”

Christabel’s eyes turned cold. There was no Ross magic rose. The rumour that spreaded around the territory about Ross’s rose was about her. Then, Sierra was just born and everyone talked about how Christabel will be given up now that Sierra was born. Everyone who knew of her “magical luck” that makes her adoptive mothers get pregnant, harboured ill intentions to adopt Christabel so that they could get pregnant too. The longer the rumour spreaded, the more sinister it got. She would overhear them talk about how they would pass her around from one family to another after each one of them got pregnant. She was very frightened at that time, wishing that she could go back to the orphanage and begging the Dean to let her stay there until she was 18.

But as a child, she had no say so she worked even harder to be even better behaved so that the Ross family won’t toss her out to the rest like a tool to be used. It wasn’t until a few months later that Darric heard of the rumour and shut it down. But by then, it was too little too late. Christabel had lost all sense of belonging to the Ross family and only focused on pleasing them so that she could stay.

So when this strange human said that he wanted to see her in such a crude manner, and right to her face! She felt a numbing cold run up her fingers to her head. At the spur of the moment, after decades of careful maintenance of her image and composure, she lashed out at him.

“There is no magic rose! Go back to where you came from and stop being such a perv!”

Then she picked up her dress and ran in werewolf speed, her heart thumping hard in her chest. She didn’t look back at all until she reached her room and shut the door behind her. She leaned on the wall with her back and a hand on her chest as she caught her breath.

Damn! That felt good! Ahhhh!!! I just lashed out on him!!!!!

In the moment of ecstasy, came strikes of guilt. It felt so good to lash out the way she really wanted to when she was young, and it felt really good to just run away after that. No consequences, right?

At that time, Vivian mindlinked Christabel.

Vivian: Christabel, where are you? It’s going to be midnight soon. We’re going up the stage already.

Christabel: Ok, I am coming.

Christabel straightened her clothes and her back. Then she made her way to the main garden where the ceremony will be held.

It’ll be ok.

***

The moon was full and high in the sky, shining pure in the sky. Austin stood on a raised platform with the rest standing around him, half naked. He stood tall and strong, his chest heaving as he closed his eyes and his head c****d at one side. The moonlight shone brightly on him, he looked ethereal as he stood out against the dark garden. He frowned slightly, as if he was listening to something.

A chant grew in the crowd, everyone held on to each other’s hands. Vivian and Sierra held Christabel’s hands on either side, muttering chants to the Moon Goddess, praying for his safe transformation. He frowned deeper as the moment came closer. Christabel scrunched her face as she remembered the pain she went through at her first shift as well. Her grip tightened as she sincerely wished that everything would go smoothly for him.

He suddenly opened his eyes which shone bright and pure light. Then in a blink of an eye, his bones cracked and he shifted into a huge, brown wolf. His eyes still shone so bright, they looked like double moons on his face. His nose rose to the air and sniffed around, looking around warily at people. The other guests stood unwaveringly, everyone not daring to make a single movement. Vivian gasped and reached out with her hand. Immediately, Austin’s wolf snarled at her and growled at her. She was shocked and quickly retracted her hand and pushed her body on her husband’s for support. Austin’s wolf whipped his head up high to the moon and howled loudly. His aura rushed out and pushed on everyone’s senses.

“Alpha!” someone gasped.

The rest of the guests tensed up immediately. Austin was the second born child, so nobody thought that he would be an Alpha so they didn’t think of it when they agreed to attend his ceremony. Evidently, neither did Vivian and Darric Ross because if they had known, this ceremony would have been held in private at an enclosed space. This is because newly born Alphas are unstable, they are dangerous as they are disorientated and powerful. A first born male werewolf’s ceremony would be lined with rabbits and small animals to satisfy the Alpha’s killing lust and they would be kept at the enclosed space until morning or until they shifted back to their human forms.

Austin’s wolf stopped howling and his face was scrunched up furiously snarling at everyone under the platform. His eyes reverted to its beautiful brown. Everyone didn’t know what to do, if they run, it will trigger the predator instincts in him but if they don’t, how long will they be in this stalemate?

Worry and compassion rose within Christabel. She believes that Austin wouldn’t hurt anyone here. Her own first shift was painful and disorientating so she knew how Austin felt, he’s such a sweetie, all he’d want is someone with a clear heart to accompany him softly. She wanted to move forward to the platform but before she did, someone at the back screamed, unable to take the continuous pressure of the Alpha.

Austin’s wolf was triggered and jumped out of the platform, towards the poor woman at the back struggling against his hold. Darric immediately shifted into a huge black wolf and knocked Austin to the side mid jump. They rolled on the ground and Austin recovered immediately, standing up to face the new threat - Darric. The guests around them took the chance to run out of the compound. Austin was distracted by all the noise and activity around him, getting overstimulated. Darric growled and slowly approached him from the side. Austin suddenly whipped his head towards Darric and bit Darric before he could make a move. Darric’s whimpers of pain rose in the air, panicking both Vivian and Sierra.

“Darric!” Vivian shouted and wanted to go forward to pull him away. Sierra hugged her waist tight from the back and yelled,

“No, mum! Don’t go! It’s dangerous!”

Austin had Darric on the ground, his body straddling Darric. Darric was at the most vulnerable position right now. Christabel panicked and went forward without thinking, trying to go against the crowd. Someone held her wrist in a tight grip but she extended her claws and swiped at the other person without turning back. Finally free, she rushed ahead towards Austin.

“Austin! No! That’s your father!”

Without thinking, she jumped beside Austin and held on to his nape. With all her strength, she pulled Austin up on his nape and bodily shook him. Austin yelped and dropped Darric. Darric was unconscious on the ground but Christabel had no time to attend to Darric yet. She couldn’t fight against an Alpha who is still radiating his aura and he was so heavy!

She hugged him tight and stumbled a few steps before Austin managed to struggle out of her grip. But her efforts were not in vain for in the few seconds she bought them, Vivian and Sierra had removed Darric from the dangerous zone and got some bodyguards to seek medical help, leaving Austin alone with Christabel. Austin was struggling to stand up while Christabel was half laying on the floor. Her midnight blue dress is ripped at some places and the skirt was spreaded out on the floor by her feet.

“Austin, it’s ok,” she spoke softly, looking directly into his eyes. It was so difficult because his aura has intensified as his emotions heightens. She was pinned down on the floor, unable to move.

Austin’s wolf looked at her while snarling, he gradually managed to stand up and slowly stalked towards her. Christabel’s heart thumped in her chest, watching a snarling and growling Alpha stalk towards her. Her body was cold and covered with sweat, the little wounds on her body made her feel numb instead of hurting. She silently gulped before opening her dry lips to try comforting him again.

“It’s me, Austin. Don’t you remember me anymore? I’m your big sis. Hey, it’ll be ok,” her voice was melodious even if her lips were dry. She bowed her head to show submission as she spoke, averting her eyes so he won’t feel threatened by her.

Austin’s wolf reached her and stood over her. His wet nose came close as he sniffed at her bowed head. Christabel trembled, afraid to make sudden movements in case she spook him and he decides to bite her instead. She squeezed her eyes shut and tightened her fists. Then she took a breath slowly, heightening her senses around her so she could sense his movements better. If she sensed even a little danger, she would have to break out of his hold and move fast. He stalked closer and closer.