Torn Between Mates

#5 Unrivaled Wolf

"Is this how we are going to present ourselves to the guests? They have started arriving, and the choice of clothes is just bizarre. Don't you have any sense of accountability for our reputation? Don't we have money?" Fionna, the present Luna of the Bluemoon pack and the mother of Loui and Levi, grunted when she saw the dress code of the stewards. "I want all of you to wear face masks!" She ordered, glaring at Ella. She knew Ella was beautiful. She didn't want anyone to see her face.

How could someone be wearing such a simple dress and still look so beautiful? She was wearing old clothes with no makeup or preparation. She was a naturally gifted beauty. But her attire would make others wonder if the Bluemoon pack didn't care about omegas like her. She would end up becoming a damsel in distress. It would be outrageous. No one has the right to forget about their generosity. They were charitable in adopting her after the late alpha. No one would consider their munificent act. Everyone wants to find faults to get some material for gossip.

Ella looked at her clothes, reading Fionna's expression. She had only a handful of clothes. She was wearing the best she had for the morning meeting. It isn't her fault that she doesn't own a fancy dress for Fionna's eyes when she doesn't own one. She gaped at Luna, feeling offended by her haughty remarks. If she spoke her mind, she might lock her up and stop her from participating in the events before the ball that was paying handsomely for a change. But she had opted out of working on the ball. She wanted to attend it like a normal person. It was her only chance at finding a mate. But would she stop her from attending the ball if she didn't have a dress?

"Luna, I don't have a dress." Ella looked down, fidgeting with her fingers. She was worried that Fionna would now ask her not to go to the ball.

Fionna glared at her suspiciously. How can an adult woman not own a dress? But was she planning to attend the ball? With her looks, she would steal Harper's chances. There were already rumors circulating that alpha Riven visited her during his last visit. She was really conniving.

"Don't you worry, Ella? I have plenty of dresses. I haven't even worn it once. I will consider lending you one if you help me to cook something yummy for alpha Riven." Loui interceded, wiggling her lips into a sly smirk at Ella. It was her way of chastising Ella and showing Ella her place. She wanted to remind Ella that she could never have Riven. He belonged to her. Ella was a mere parasite, incapable of having someone noteworthy. She wouldn't leave any chance to humiliate Ella. What could a dress do when they were planning a masquerade ball?

"You can't lend her a dress!" Fionna whined.

"It's a masquerade. I changed the theme this morning," Loui replied, understanding Fionna's worry. She felt a little humiliated that her mother compared her with Ella.

"How kind of my daughter!" Fionna praised Loui, her eyes beaming with pridefulness. She then scowled at Ella as if she robbed Loui. Fionna's warm eyes were unexpectedly sending cold glares to Ella. "You better pick something modest and not plunder my daughter too much." Fionna didn't even wait for Ella to reply. She left Ella hanging.

"If you oblige to my wish, the dress shall be yours. Otherwise, you won't be able to attend it, even as a steward. I might not want to be reasonable always!" Loui cautioned, grimacing at Ella. She took a step closer, towering over her.

Ella had no clue why Loui hated her so much. But she didn't whimper nor renounce Loui's offer. If making a meal was the cost to get herself an entry, it wasn't a big thing. She cooked every day. Loui's loungewear would be much better than what she was wearing now. So, she reasoned that wearing her burrowed gown was only a blessing in disguise. She compared Loui to the fairy godmother of Cinderella. The difference was that she wasn't aware of it. She let out a small smile, picturing herself in a Cinderella dress with glass slippers, dancing with her prince charming. Suddenly, his face changes into Riven's. She reddened, making Loui suspicious.

"Are you already fantasizing? Dare not even think about Riven. He is mine." Loui scoffed. How could Ella ignore her presence?

"What? No!" Ella stuttered, worried that she was caught. "I will prepare something delicious. Umm... I have to attend to the guests." Ella turned to leave, making an excuse. But Loui stopped her. "I don't care about your rhetoric until and unless you are not pulling anything like last time. Don't even dare to daydream about Riven."

"Never," Ella blurted out. "How can I ever dare something like that?" Ella spouted, looking down at her shoes. What was so wrong if she admired Riven like other girls? Wasn't he every woman's fantasy? Was Loui not considering her as a woman also? She wasn't the only omega who found him handsome! It surprised her that someone like Loui was also jealous of her.

Loui glowered at her. But when she couldn't find anything disagreeable, she soughed. "I am watching you," Loui forewarned Ella before sauntering away.

When Loui finally left, Ella let out a deep sigh, running to attend to the guests. The more guests she could help, the more was her incentive. But by the time she reached the guest house, everyone was already on their way to the party near the lake. She sighed. She lost the incentive. At least she had to hurry to the lake to earn some tips. That would be the official start of the event. The unmated wolves would have already started mingling. But she had to hide her face and serve. What a life she had!

On her way to the lake, Ella heard girls mewling that alpha Riven was already on his way to the party with his beta. Apparently, he was dressed in all black and looked like a model straight from the posters. Ella felt a hormonal rush through her, making her twitch. She shook her head to get hold of herself. The atmosphere had become extra enthusiastic after that piece of news. Everyone had dolled up to grab attention. The game was already on. Ella hissed. How was she going to match up when she had only the ball on her plate?

But then she made peace with herself. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. After what had happened the last time, she knew her eyes would search for Riven and she would end up attracting Loui's wrath. She felt a heat rush through her when the memory of how close they had gotten flashed through her eyes. Riven had been kind and attentive towards her, unlike anyone. Irrespective of people's belief that he was arrogant and imbecile, she faced a sweeter side of him. She regretted not using that opportunity to tell him about her pathetic life and seek his help. But everything happened at an unrealistic pace, making her overwhelmed. If she could go back in time, this time she would run away with alpha Riven. But from how he had to leave when Loui called for her, she knew she had lost her chance.

Ella checked her watch. If she used the shortcut, she could still make it on time. She quickly got dressed up in her uniform and wore the mask. Her heart raced when she thought about seeing Riven. She was skeptical that he would recognize her. What if he has forgotten about their chance encounter? And what if she made some mistake? Will the Bluemoon pack wolves still be harsh to her in front of other pack members and ruin all her chances? She went back and forth.

Once Ella was behind the treeline, and sure that no one was seeing her, she shifted into her wolf. She had always loved how free it felt in her wolf form. It was a shame that she had to hide her wolf. She was worried that people would consider her an abomination since she was a late shifter, even for a late bloomer. Who shifts for the first time in their twenties? Also, her wolf was comparatively larger, faster, and faster than most wolves she knew. But it was weak like hell except for the exceptionally weird ability to heal. She could heal from anything in a matter of seconds, while others take time.

Ella was still on her way to the lake through the forest when she picked up a pungent essence. She couldn't remember where she had sensed that distinguished scent. But it wasn't long ago. Her first instinct was to ignore it. She began to run in her path. She was already late. But a few meters away, she could no longer ignore the uneasy feeling. What if someone important is lost? But it was not a very pleasant scent. Everyone who is introduced to the pack begins to develop a pack smell. Their pack's essence was hyacinth. They call it the pack smell. And she was sure that the bitter smell did not belong to any pack.

Ella gasped in incredulity at her response. Why was she following that ridiculous smell when neither did she feel any belonging to the pack nor was she a fighter? What was the motivation for such recklessness? Was she out of her mind? She hissed, hoping it was a wealthy visitor who would pay her handsomely for her kind help. After all, she was going out of her way and losing all that ridiculous tip. She decided to ditch whoever it was if she felt unsafe at any moment. With her speed, she was positive she could escape easily. With that in her mind, she followed the smell, sniffing the uneven ground of the forest.

Ella was deep in the forest when the smell grew intense. She couldn't fathom why someone would be this far in the forest. All connected packs agreed through a cordial pact that the middle area of this vast dense forest was a no-wolf region since, for a long time, it was the cause of several disputes over territory. She decided not to follow it further. They must be rogues. She was on her way back when she realized that the essence was pungent because it was an amalgamation of pack smells. So, she couldn't pick anything. She wondered if she was near an unofficial base of rogues or traitors. That thought terrified her. Did she get herself into some trouble? She sped towards safety.

Ella ran like her life depended on it. And it did. She could hear the noises of the party soaring when a big gray, ugly wolf jumped in front of her, impeding her path out of the blue. She rattled, howling out of reflex. She didn't want to get caught and die. She huffed, taking steps back in defense. But when another wolf howled from behind her, she gasped, feeling anxious. It was a big brown wolf, sending deadly glares at her. It snarled at her, showing its sharp teeth.

She was no match for a single omega wolf with basic training. How was she going to fight two savage, powerful wolves? Was it the day she would die? She wailed, afraid to die after living such an unproductive life. Her entire life played across her eyes, and there was not even one moment she could cherish. How can someone's life be so mundane and unworthy? She closed her eyes, a teardrop escaping from the corner of her eyes. Probably her body will decay since no one would want to trouble themselves to search after her dead body.

She shut her eyes, swallowing hard, making peace with her pointless life. She had given up on the living world. But at that very moment, something burned inside her a wish to live. Strangely that small meeting with Riven rekindled her desire to live. She didn't want to die yet, no matter how undeserving she seemed in others' eyes. She still had to endure a little more. Then she can escape this place. She was young. She still had hope. She opened her eyes with a new determination to escape. Her eyes sparkled with a purplish hue for a split second that was easy to miss. Right! All she has to do is escape when she gets an opportunity. She was fast enough to oust anybody. Also, she wasn't far away from the lake. Even if no one cared about her, they would certainly fight the rogues. Or the rogues wouldn't follow her there. Either way, she would live.

She turned to her right to escape. But another feral wolf growled at her. She quickly turned to her left, but two more wolves were gnarling at her. She closed her eyes, praying to the moon goddess. It has to be the day she dies. How would she escape five wolves?

Ella appealed to them to let her go with watery eyes, submitting to her cruel fate. She shifted to her human form, weeping and pleading with them not to kill her. "I promise I will tell no one anything. Please let me go!" She screamed, kneeling before them, surrendering herself. The wolves snarled, showing her no mercy.

As if her prayers were answered, a huge black wolf emerged from the bushes. It leaped at them, its golden eyes as sharp as the sun. It howled so loudly that his voice was enough to make others submit to his superiority. Was he their boss? Or was he there to help her? She gave up completely, acknowledging her destiny.

Her eyes popped out in appreciation for its valor, strength, agility, and fierceness. The magnificent wolf was unrivaled. When its golden eyes met her Bordeaux orbs, goosebumps sprayed over her body. She felt like it could look at her blatant soul.

There was no way she could surpass the magnificent black wolf. She closed her eyes.