[IRIS POV]
"You're just a waste of space. Did you seriously think you would find your mate at the ball?"
Several wolves laughed as they surrounded me, their fingers pointed directly at my face, while they laughed among their friends.
I gripped onto the tattered shreds. Just seconds ago, it had been a beautiful gown that I had saved up for months to purchase. Now, they were nothing more than scraps of fabric that could no longer be worn.
"Look at little o'l Iris, dressing up for the masquerade ball," someone said. "Seriously, as though anyone can mistake that stench of yours for their fated mate."
"I know you're wolfless, but man, did you really think other wolves wouldn't recognize your scent?"
One by one, they chimed in to throw their insults at me. Some laughed, while others began to throw more than just mean words― a tomato landed square on my face, and as I turned to wipe it out of my eye, an egg cracked against the back of my head.
The Ashbourne Pack had a tradition― every few years, the Alpha's family would throw a party for single wolves to find their mates. Members of other neighboring packs would be invited to increase the chances of someone finding their fated mate.
Every other year, I could only watch as other people happily attended. Some left finding their fated mates, while others left finding temporary fun. However, no matter what, I was never allowed to join.
After all, everyone knew that I was Alpha Rufus Wagner's illegitimate daughter, and the reason why the Ashbourne Pack was now without a Luna.
As such, the people of Ashbourne hated me, and the wolves of other packs avoided me in fear that they would offend my father― or worse, my half-brother, Caius Wagner.
He was my father's perfect heir, and the pack's perfect Alpha-to-be. The members of the Ashbourne Pack worshipped him, and naturally, they followed him in every manner possible, including his likes and dislikes.
Unfortunately, Caius had also branded me as the sole reason why his mother had abandoned him at a young age. He had decided to completely ignore his father's infidelity, and instead, chose to attack a child who barely even knew what scum her father was.
Throughout my childhood, he made sure I suffered the consequences of being born. Ever since I had arrived at the Ashbourne Pack, he had served as my greatest bully and tormentor.
Everyone else simply copied him in hopes of gaining his favor. Over time, their hatred became ingrained in their bones.
This year was supposed to be different. The party's theme was a masquerade. I had figured that if I had a mask on, maybe people wouldn't be able to recognize me. I had even accounted for the fact that they might recognize my scent, and had gotten some suppressants from the pack healer — the only person in this pack who didn't think of me as the enemy — beforehand.
However, I had failed to consider that someone might find me before I could put the mask on.
"Ugly Iris thinks that she can actually be a flower," someone laughed. "When all she is is a weed!"
Unable to take their horrid comments anymore, I grabbed my things and dashed out of the room. Cruel laughs echoed after me. I had to shove my way through the crowd.
The party was already in full swing. Guests from several packs had already arrived. I carefully hid away from them, careful not to be seen, especially without a mask on.
I had hoped to find my fated mate here. It was a slim chance, especially since I didn't have a wolf, but this was the only chance I had.
Even as a young girl, I had believed that finding my fated mate would be the ticket out of this hell. He would've been someone the Moon Goddess herself had created to love and cherish me. He would've been different.
Alas, now, he wouldn't even be found.
My father and half-brother would never allow me to leave Ashbourne. To them, I was a dirty little secret that ought to die here, old and unwanted.
I found a fairly secluded corner away from the main party. Pressed against the wall, I slid to the floor and buried my face in my knees. Tears uncontrollably poured out as I sobbed like a wreck.
The silvery fabric was nothing more than rags, torn like my dreams. It took months for me to save up for this dress, even though it wasn't anything expensive. However, it took mere seconds to be destroyed.
"Are you alright?" a voice suddenly asked, and my body stiffened.
I hurriedly placed my mask onto my face, not even caring to wipe my tears away.
Before me stood a man, tall and proud, his face slightly shadowed as he stood against the silvery moonlight.
However, I didn't need to see his face, especially since he, like the other guests, was wearing a mask for the night. What mattered more was the scent that wafted off of him. It was so alluring that my throat felt clogged up, and my heart skipped a beat as I struggled to breathe.
The thumping of my heart was so loud that I could barely even hear anything else.
The man crouched down so that he could face me at eye level. Gently, he held out a finger, brushing away the trail of tears that had rushed down my cheeks. When he grazed my skin, I jolted in surprise.
It felt as though I had been struck by lightning.
"You…" I trailed off, my voice cracking due to my surprise.
The man jerked as well when he touched my skin, and I watched as his eyes lit up with recognition. They swirled and darkened with attraction, and at that moment, it felt as though my chest was about to burst.
Our gazes collided, and I found it impossible to move away.
"Mate."
The same words left both our lips at the same time. I wasn't sure which of us had the brighter smile.
He held out a hand, which I immediately took. Effortlessly, he pulled me to my feet, his hand resting on the curve of my waist to subtly draw me nearer to him. I could feel his chiseled muscles beneath my palm, and I couldn't resist the urge to press my fingers a little more against him.
Positioned so close to his face, I could see the stunning glimmer in his eyes, filled with excitement.
He had a strong jaw, dark hair, and a striking pair of eyes. I frowned slightly. He looked a little familiar, but I couldn't exactly put my finger on where I had seen him before. I had never left Ashbourne, which meant that this man couldn't possibly be from a different pack― he had to be a member of the Ashbourne Pack.
The pull between us was electric.
I didn't have the time to stop and think before his lips were on mine. We were entangled in each other's embrace. Our breaths grew hot as heat curled in my lower stomach.
"Goddess," he muttered against my lips in between kisses, "you're incredible."
His fingers touched the edge of my mask, and I instantly flinched away, breaking the kiss. His eyes were still fogged over with lust.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Worry filled me. If he knew who I was under this mask, would he still treat me the same? There was hardly anyone in Ashbourne who was kind to me― even those who didn't bully me simply treated me with indifference most of the time.
"I―"
I swallowed the bile in my throat. He closed the distance between us and began to knead the small of my waist. I felt my knees go weak at his touch. Damn it, he was making it hard for me to think.
"Are we doing this in public?" I asked weakly, my voice breathy. "The party―"
If he were to remove my mask, I would prefer it to be somewhere private. At least his rejection wouldn't be witnessed by every party-goer if he decided he didn't want me as his fated mate after seeing my true identity. I hoped that wouldn't be the case.
"No one is paying us any attention," my fated mate pointed out.
His lips began to trail down my neck, and I let out a small moan of pleasure when he brushed against the spot where his mark would go. Then all of a sudden, he pulled away, causing a small whine to unwillingly leave my lips.
His lips curved into a devilish smirk.
"But if the lady wants privacy, who am I to say no?" he mused.
I didn't have the chance to say anything else. In one swoop, my mate carried me, bridal-style. I yelped in surprise and clung onto him, my stomach curling in a mix of excitement and anxiety as he sped away from the party venue.
This anxiety only grew when I noticed where we were headed.
"Wait!" I said, frantically trying to get down. "You can't go in there! That's Caius's room."
If he were a pack member of Ashbourne, then he would know very well what sort of person Caius was. He was popular, yes, but he was also unruly, especially when it came to me.
If Caius found me in his room with my mate, there would be no telling the hell he would unleash on me.
To my surprise, my mate just laughed. "Seriously, that's what you're worried about?"
That's great. My mate was a lunatic. I should've known it was too good to be true that I wasn't mated to a werewolf in his fifties.
My mate sighed. "I didn't want to reveal myself so quickly, but I guess I have no choice."
In one quick motion, my mate whipped off his mask to reveal the jaw-droppingly handsome, yet singularly infuriating face of my half-brother― the very same man who had tormented me for most of my years.
I felt my heart drop.
"Darling, I am Caius," he declared. "Why shouldn't I claim you in my own bedroom?"