CLAUDE

I FLEXED MY shoulders as I approached my fathers office. He had called for me about twenty minutes ago. I placed my balled fist on the door to his office, ready to knock but before I did, he muttered a "Come in."

I pushed the door open and my father was seated behind his desk, a smile playing on his lips. "Son, take a seat." He said and I did.

"You called." I said curtly and his smile wilden.

"Ahh, yes. I will just get straight to the point." My father cleared his throat and placed his intertwined fingers on the desk. "There is a very important meeting that would be going on in Green Hill Pack—after the war and them helping us reclaim our pack, we have been offered a chance to —- and now that's you're no longer a kid, I want you to go to the meeting in place of me."

I swallowed harshly at the mention of the war, the same war that I had been rape by that—I pressed my eyes closed and puffed out a shaky breath. No, I couldn't think of it. It has been five years since it happened and I am healing.

"Claude?"

I snapped my eyes open, cleared my throat and shifted in my seat. Right. I forced a smile and nodded "Of course I would love to go.When is the meeting?"

"In two days time but it would be best you leave tomorrow."

I waited for him to continue talking then stifled a sigh when I realized he wouldn't be giving me a reason as to why I should be leaving tomorrow when the meeting is in two days period. "Alright. Would that be all?" I asked and he wave his hand and without any more words said, I left his office.

——

I arrived at Green Hill Pack and I was given an en-suite along with the few others that arrived earlier from other packs. I quickly took a shower and changed into fresh clothes. My eyes darted to the clock on the wall and since the meeting would be taking place tomorrow, I decided to take a stroll around the pack.

I jogged over to a random stranger and cleared my throat. The man turned around and he looked to be around the same age as me. "Sorry for bothering you, but do you know any bar that's close by?" I asked and his stiffness reduced as he eyed the building behind me and took in my scent.

"You must be one of Alpha's guest. If you're driving you just need to go straight and then take a sharp turn to the left. It isn't hard to miss since today is Sunday it's going to be packed." He grinned at me and my lips tugged at the side.

"Thanks." I muttered and walked towards the car I had brought to Green Hill Pack.

Soon, my car was parked outside the bar and true to the strangers words, it was parked. As I entered, pretty much everyone moved away from me and I knew my scent was putting them off since I didn't smell like I belonged here.

I almost regretted making the decision to find a bar but since I was already here then fuck it. I ordered a quick drink and not up to five minutes, I had a female pressing her body into my side.

"You aren't from around here, are you?" She asked and I turned my head, my eyes raking over her figure before I shook my head. "No." I answered curtly and she brought her face closer to mine and ran her tongue over her bottom lip.

Her smile wilden and she leaned even closer and whispered in my ear. "Hmm, want to have some fun?"

It it was any other time—preferably three years ago, I would have taken the opportunity any women threw at me and stick my cock in every single female I could but now, I just couldn't.

I wasn't attracted to any of them. I wasn't attracted to women.

My drink was finally ready and I brought the cold glass to my lips and looked at her over the rim of the glass. "Sorry, love. I would have to decline your offer."

She huffed and threw her brown hair over her shoulder and I knew my rejection hurt her more than she was letting on.

About five drinks later, my nose began to pick on a very very delicious scent that had me whipping my head so fast that I thought I would get whiplash. I tried to find where the scent was coming from and as soon as my eyes met with her, my whole body tensed and my eyes wilden.

The females lips stretched in a wild grin and she began to walk towards me. My heart began to beat fast against my chest and I quickly scrambled out of my seat and dashed for the door. My hands were shaking as I reached for the handle of my car and spread down the road.

I found my mate. I found my mate. Ifoundmymate.

The thought was suppose to make me happy, finally my mate was suppose to be the most happiest moment in my life but I couldn't bring myself to be happy.

I knew what was wrong with me deep down. I knew why I wasn't happy and that was because I was broken.

He broke me.

———-

I was late.

I was fucking late to a very important meeting and if my father ever finds out, he would kill me. "Shit. Shit. Shit." I muttered as I fixed my tie and rushed down the stairs to the hall we were using for the meeting.

The door were already shut and I cleared my throat as I stood in front of it and the two guards eyed me then pulled the door open.

All eyes were fixed on me as I walked into the room and I pushed the nervousness that creeped up my spine and made my way to the empty seat that was reserved for The Rising Moon Pack.

"Sorry I'm late." I said and a few of the Alphas and other ranking members sneered at me before Alpha Landon cleared his throat, taking the attention away from me.

"Let's continue," Alpha Landon said and even with that, I couldn't focus on what he was saying. The only thing that filled my senses was that scent again and even from where I was seated, I could feel her eyes on me.

My mate was in the room with me and this time there was no chance at running away.