My mom had walked right into the trap I'd set for her when she'd said the word mate.
In a low tone, I exclaimed, "I knew that was why you were showing me off to everyone! You talked about my grades to them, boasting about me, but the whole time you were hoping I'd find my mate and give up my dreams to stay here with him."
Frustrated, my heart pumped wildly in my chest, and my voice rose in volume.
"Being a game dev isn't something you respect, but it's what I want! I'll find my mate, and you know I want to, but it's not going to be here, Mom! These people are nothing like me! Businessmen?! You can't be serious! The Moon Goddess wouldn't pair me with any of them!"
Even as my mom nervously looked around the room, words kept spilling like vomit from my mouth.
"Maybe she wouldn't pair me with anyone! If she cared about me, she wouldn't have made me like this… like a joke!"
Her face dropped, and she shook her head. "Don't be so harsh on yourself, Em. You're no joke, and I'm proud of you, no matter what degree you earn. But your father and I want what is best for you, and the school you picked is so far away. It's not even on pac k territory! I don't want you out there where I can't reach you, where you're alone with people who don't understand you! What if something happens?"
Well, humans might understand me more than werewolves did, but there was no point in arguing with her. We'd had the same conversation many times before. It had almost become a family tradition to ask if I'd changed my mind about my future at each and every dinner.
Holiday gatherings were even worse as everyone tried to dissuade me from my dreams, but that wasn't my mom's fault. I knew she wasn't trying to ruin my life or be cruel on purpose. She just didn't want me to leave, and I couldn't be upset at her for that.
"Sorry for snapping at you, Mom, and sorry my decisions worry you. You know that doesn't change my mind, though, right?" Over and over, I spun the bracelet on my wrist.
"Yeah," she sighed. "I know, but there's no need to apologize. I'm your mother. It's my job to worry." She gave me a sympathetic smile. "Is it okay if I'm a little disappointed that my plan didn't work?"
I giggled a little, immediately feeling less enraged. "Dad must've been hoping for the same thing, huh?"
Sheepishly, she smiled and pulled me into a one-armed hug.
When a server passed with a tray of champagne, my mom grabbed two. Handing one to me, she said, "Now, just this one, okay? Promise me!"
"Have I told you how much I love you?" When she crossed her arms, I chuckled and said, "I promise to have only one." Taking it from her with a smile, I raised it to my lips.
A loud clapping noise echoed through the room, startling me, and I almost spilled my champagne.
I managed to keep it all in the glass, and trying to find the source of the scare, I spotted Mr. Julius Thompson standing on the stage across the room.
Next to him was Marcus, the spitting image of his father with chestnut brown hair, a chiseled jaw, and eyes as green as spring grass.
Seeing him up there in his tailored suit, drenched in the soft glow of lights and showing off his perfect teeth with a sultry smile, I suddenly wondered if being coupled with a businessman would've been so terrible.
My mom patted my hand, bringing my attention back to her, and she stood. "I'll be back in a minute."
Nodding, I only half-listened while she moved closer to the stage, and Mr. Thompson started speaking.
His voice was deep and smooth, and though his tone was soft, his words held undeniable power.
"We're gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of our son and heir. Tomorrow, we begin to prepare him to be our future leader at Holland Industries, starting with the tediousness of packing for university."
There were a few chuckles in the audience, and then My. Thompson announced, "Tonight, let us toast to his future and to all of yours! May we all find fortune and happiness!"
People cheered, and they raised their flutes high. My hand trembled slightly as I lifted mine, and I stared at it like it was a betrayer.
When I finally managed to lift it, I drank the whole thing and set the empty glass on the end table beside the sofa.
In my chest, my heart fluttered, but there hadn't been enough time for the drink to set in.
For some reason, I was nervous.
I first thought there had to be some sort of danger around. We were at a public event, a crowded one led by one of the most successful CEOs in the city and a crowd full of high-profile guests. I'd even heard rumors that Alpha Callum and Luna Victoria were invited.
While my crystal-blue eyes darted around the room, looking for danger to interrupt the festivities with violence, I suddenly laughed at myself.
I wasn't in some movie. No one was coming to assassinate anyone or pull off a heist.
Trying to relax, I shut my eyes and breathed in and out a few times, but the nervousness didn't fade.
Confused and breathless, I clutched a hand over my thumping heart.
Another server passed by with more champagne, and I nearly broke my promise to my mom by grabbing another flute.
But while I reached for a glass, an unfamiliar heat swept over me, and I dropped my hand. It was warm and heavy, and I didn't know if it was my imagination or real.
A strange sensation of being pulled backward followed it, but. I looked behind me, but there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Except that a figure was striding toward me from the direction of the building's entrance.
Someone was arriving late and was heading straight for me.
The confidence of his stride was intimidating, as was the intensity in his dark blue eyes. Like the ocean's depths, I felt I could drown in them, especially with how they stared right at me, trying to drag me in.
Staring right back, unable to look away, I tried to remind myself to keep breathing.
That man looked familiar, but I couldn't put a name to his face while my heart wildly pounded.
Time seemed to slow as I took in every detail in an attempt to remember where I'd seen him before. He had tousled black hair and a face that could've belonged to a model.
He wore a sharp gray suit that fit so snugly against his body I could make out the outlines of his muscles beneath the fabric as he approached me with a slight swagger in his step.
When he reached me, he extended his arm, and I awkwardly stared at the glimmering gold watch on his wrist, then the smooth skin of his hand for a moment.
From his throat, a deep rumble sounded, and I lifted my eyes from his hand to a face I couldn't believe I was seeing before me instead of in an editorial photo.
Finally, I snapped out of my daze and grabbed his hand to shake it like he wanted.
The air between us crackled with energy and through our hands in an intoxicating feeling that made me want more. It made me shiver, and when he yanked me into him, then dropped my hand and wrapped it around my back in a tight hold, I didn't fight it.
Even enjoying the warmth and current coursing through us, I was still nervous, making my breath shaky.
"What I was feeling was… you?" I whispered, more to myself than him, but he must've thought I wanted an answer.
One of his eyebrows raised, and he firmly but slowly pushed me back until I could see him again.
With his hands on my shoulders, keeping me still, he searched my face, which I'm sure looked as utterly confused as I felt, and then held my gaze.
"You're my mate. What else could that feeling be?"
My mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Usually, I wasn't lost for words, but with so much time to sit there and study him, I'd finally realized who he was.
The man in front of me was none other than Emmet Larson, the Alpha's son.
We'd never met, but I'd seen him at the few mandatory pack functions Alpha Callum had called. It was odd to think that the Moon Goddess had paired us together the whole time, especially considering that in only a few years, his father was planning to retire, giving control of the pack to Emmet.
It made me nervous to think about it, but my wolf wasn't about to let me spiral into a hole of insecurity. She was ecstatic that I'd been paired with something so powerful. I couldn't hear her, not like everyone else could hear their wolves, but I could feel her.
Those excited jitters must've been her doing, but I still felt apprehensive.
All over the room, people were staring. Of course, they were. Emmet Larson had his hands on the shoulders of a girl they probably never thought he'd ever pay even the slightest attention.
But there he was, proving their imaginations weren't nearly wild enough.
Emmet dropped his hands from my shoulder and politely offered me his arm. "Let's go somewhere where we can talk."
"Okay." I stepped closer and raised my hand to take his arm, but it was still shaking. Heat colored my cheeks, and when I finally set my hand on the smooth fabric of his suit, I noticed his lips were pressed together. His head was slightly tilted.
He was probably wondering what was wrong with me. I didn't blame him for that, and I was glad he wanted to leave the prying-eyed swarm of onlookers.
I didn't want them there when he found out my name, not that it would be some complete disaster, but I'm sure he'd have many questions. Not everyone needed to hear the answers, so when he started walking, I quickly mirrored his steps.
As my feet hit the ground, I had the strangest feeling that even if I verbally told him no, my body would've followed after him anyway.
Something like that, so overwhelmingly instinctual, was the fault of the mate bond, but the instincts still sometimes conflicted with our emotions and logic.
We didn't make more than a few steps before he peered down at me with eyes that had narrowed into near slits.
"Wait, why didn't you know who I was immediately? Your wolf should've told you."