Alpha Lake paused the moment he entered the hall. He scented it again, that same scent that haunted him throughout the previous full moon.
But, before he could locate which direction the scent came from, it seized completely, like he had imagined it, just the way it happened on the previous full moon.
His wolf had gone berserk, running around in a frenzied manner, searching for the source of that scent.
He needed to find her as soon as possible. For the first time in his life; he felt like he needed someone for himself, someone he could call his own, he felt hopeless, he felt lost.
He had searched the forests till dawn, but he found nothing. Lavender and honey, it was quite familiar but he did not want to believe it, it couldn't be possible. He was sure Audrey was dead, her weak human body would never survive those gashes, and even an average wolf could not survive that. He was one hundred percent sure that the scent was not Audrey's, he hated that he could still remember her lavender scent, and it annoyed him that the scent he smelled that night was similar to Audrey's, but this one was mixed with honey and it was way more addicting than Audrey's.
This scent was irresistible, when he found her, he would bury his nose in her neck to satiate his long-suppressed desire.
He would enjoy punishing her for hiding from him, making him long for her like a fish out of water. He knew he had found a mate, but he did not understand why she chose to hide from him.
"Let's welcome Mr. Aloha to the stage!" The emcee's voice was heard all over the large room.
Audrey unconsciously sat up, Avery must have sensed the Alpha and wanted to warn her about the enemy but she had cut her off, hiding her scent, She could not risk exposing herself when she hadn't even gotten what she came for.
She was going to see her worst enemy for the first time after so long, and she still remembered what Bill had told her before leaving her to die in the cold dungeon in a pool of her blood.
'Courtesy of the Alpha.'
She scoffed quietly as she saw everyone stand to welcome him to the stage.
They clapped their hands as he marched up to the stage and stood in front of the microphone.
She stared at him attentively.
He indeed changed. He has become more handsome, his shaved jaw has become more chiseled.
The black tuxedo he wore screamed money, he effortlessly outdid everyone tonight, and his sex appeal was oozing from miles away. His magnetic eyes scanned the crowd as if he were looking for something or someone.
Audrey took her glass and downed everything in a go, she was not supposed to be checking that asshole out, despite his good looks, he was a complete douchebag and a devil. She loathed him and everything that concerned him, behind the fine exterior was a monster and unfortunately, she had the chance to witness him in his monster mood.
She was surprised at herself, she had never fancied him before, so, what changed?
'Wow! He looks yummy.' Audrey was shocked to hear Avery's voice, she immediately shut her out and looked up to the stage and, surely, she saw the Alpha's eyes looking right at her.
Shit!
Alpha Lake was just about to address his guests, but he suddenly paused and turned his eyes sharply to the center of the room. His nostrils had just taken in that tantalizing scent. This time, he knew it was not his imagination, the scent was too strong for him to have imagined it. He instinctively looked up in the direction of the scent, and he almost did not believe what he saw.
A girl who looked just like Audrey sat beside Victor Russell, sipping her wine. It was as if she felt someone looking at her because she looked up and locked gazes with him.
For the first time in his life, he felt uncomfortable from an ordinary stare, and a woman too. She calmly held his gaze like she was silently challenging him into a staring battle, he didn't know what to do, or how to act.
"Sir, your guests are waiting, speak to them." The emcee whispered beside him.
He quickly looked away from the strange girl, cleared his throat, and started talking into the microphone.
Audrey sighed in relief as Alpha Lake removed his prying eyes from her. She was almost busted.
WHEW!
"Good evening everyone. Umm, there's a lot of things I'd like to say, but I'll just settle with saying, thank you." He looked around the room, seeing people smiling kindly at him.
"I want to thank each of you for always supporting my business, I didn't make it here on my own. Tonight I'll be gifting everyone a bottle of my newest and most expensive brand of wine."
The room was immediately filled with the sound of clapping and excited chattering.
Alpha Lake raised his hand and everyone quieted down.
"That's not all. A ten percent discount will be given to the first five hundred people to purchase my latest model of car, starting tonight. So, enjoy your evening everyone, thank you all for honoring my invitation."
Alpha Lake finished and walked down from the stage.
He went over to his table which happened to be near Mr. Russell and his strange girlfriend. He felt disturbed by her.
"You did great man, you managed to bribe and manipulate them into buying your products. Tricky beast." Alpha Lake ignored Alpha Sebastian, he was not in the mood to entertain his nonsense at the moment.
He kept his view locked sideways toward the people who occupied the other table.
"Alpha?" Andrew called out but Alpha Lake kept his eyes locked in the same direction, not answering.
"Alpha?" He tried again but it seemed like he was talking to a rock.
"Al-Audrey?" Finally, he got his attention. Alpha Lake speedily jerked his face toward his beta, bitterness etched all over his face.
Andrew drew back from the angry Alpha, scared of what his fate might become if it was really Audrey who was sitting happily in Alpha Lake's gala, sipping her wine leisurely and minding her business.
But he knew it was impossible, not like he hadn't wished for her survival, but he knew no magic could exonerate her from the grasp of death after he had left her to die one year ago.
Deep down, he wished hard for Audrey to be alive somewhere, anywhere, as long she was alive, he believed they would surely meet, and he would not fail to make her his mate if he ever saw her again. Maybe miracles do happen.
Alpha Sebastian who stood beside their table talking with a businessman suddenly felt the atmosphere turn chilly, he immediately left his companion and returned to their table before things went haywire.
"Tone it down Alpha, you're making the guests uncomfortable." Alpha Sebastian said as he sat beside Andrew.
Alpha Lake slowly looked around, and surely, everyone looked scared and uncomfortable, but he was surprised to see that Mr. Russell and his date seemed just fine. They were not affected by the Alpha command he had released, they were laughing and sipping their drinks like no one's business.
"Why did the temperature suddenly turn cold?" Alpha Sebastian asked, looking from Alpha to Beta.
Andrew subtly tilted his head toward Audrey's table.
Alpha Sebastian followed Andrew's indication, and when he saw the beautiful goddess who sat with Mr. Russell, he felt his soul leave his body, he froze in place, unable to make up any reasonable explanation for what he was seeing. He knew that Audrey was long dead, but who was he seeing?
"Audrey!!" Alpha Sebastian called loudly, making Mr. Russell and his date pause and turn towards them.