Chapter 2

“Scarlet?” my mother calls from outside my room. “Are you ready?”

“Not yet!” I yell back, fixing with clips right at the top of my head.

“Be ready in 5 minutes. The Shadow pack is arriving shortly.”

Tonight will be the night everyone has prepared for. My father hired a bunch of caterers. He claims we don’t know what savages like to eat so he ordered them to prepare many kinds of food. From sweets to sour to salty. Alpha Blake will have a lot to choose from and hopefully, he will like at least one.

“Scarlet!” my mother yells again.

“I’ll be there in a sec!” Quickly, I put on my mascara and red lipstick. Taking one look at the mirror, I put on my black coat so my mother won’t see what’s beneath it until it’s time for her to see it. Opening the door, I see my mother pacing back and forth impatiently.

“Finally,” she sighs. “You look beautiful, sweetheart. But why are you wearing this coat?”

“I’m cold. I’ll remove it later.”

She gives me a look before turning around and leading me outside my room. The whole mansion is big so it took us some time to get outside. From the stairs, I can already see my father in front of the mansion with Beta Leo and his warriors stood in line to welcome the arrival of the Shadow Pack. I got to give my father some credit. Everything looks properly prepared and the golden star lights make the place look absolutely gorgeous. It looks just like what a dream would look like.

I was a little busy mesmerized by the lights when my mother pulls me towards where my father is standing, telling me to behave. Feeling hot, I finally remove my coat and everyone’s eyes quickly focus on me. Perhaps my dress is a little too sexy. With the heavy attention I’m receiving, my parents finally notice and they turn their heads to look at me. Glares shoot right at my face and I smile awkwardly.

“Scarlet,” my mother starts, “I said nice and presentable. Not slutty like a hooker.”

I chuckle at her face. “Relax, mother. Alpha Blake wouldn’t care. Who knows? He might even like it.”

She shakes her head. “You’ll never listen.”

“She’s just like you when you were younger,” my father comments with amusement, shaking his head.

“She’s more like you,” my mother retorts. “A rebel and a naughty teenager in your younger years.”

My father laughs it out. “She is, isn’t she? But thank God, she has your looks.”

“Well, she is pretty.”

“You’ll always be handsome in my eyes, father,” I say with a teasing smile, hugging him.

“I’m so lucky to have two beautiful women in my life,” he sighs with pride. “Hopefully, Alpha Blake will accept my truce. No more deaths and senseless killings. Peace is in order and I must concede.”

I frown at him in disagreement. “But don’t you think Alpha Blake isn’t the type to accept a truce? You said so yourself. He is merciless and a savage. Peace will never be an option for someone like him.”

My father pulls back, giving me a serious look. “He’s an Alpha, just like me. A good leader will do what is best for his pack and he will understand where I’m coming from.”

“I don’t want you to be hurt, father. And I mean no disrespect but I think you made the wrong decision.”

“Don’t question me, child,” he says angrily.

“I’m just saying—”

“I don’t want to hear any more of this nonsense,” he warns with his deep voice of authority. “You will learn to respect your Alpha, young lady.”

With tears in my eyes, I step back, hurt from his tone of voice as I hug my coat. Shaking my head in disbelief, I force myself to behave. I thought my father will at least listen to me but he didn’t. He thinks I know nothing. He thinks I’m still a child, forever naive and innocent to the ways of war and truce. Well, I’ll prove his point.

Wiping away my tears, I walk off the alignment, heading back to the mansion. I’m already on my way when someone suddenly tugs my arm, pulling me to the crowd that has already gathered around Alpha Robert and higher pack members. The whole pack is here to witness the welcoming of the enemy which is something I hope the Shadow pack will appreciate.

“Janna?” I gasp, looking at my friend who’s already dressed up for tonight. “What are you doing?”

“Girl, you are on fire!” she gushes, looking down at my dress.

“So are you,” I reply with a grin.

“I just wanna tell you... I talked with my father and he doesn’t believe Alpha Blake will do something horrible tonight. He says a strong Alpha does by his word.”

“My father doesn’t believe me too,” I say sadly.

“Maybe Alpha Blake really is an honorable werewolf despite his reputation.”

“Or my father is just determined to save the pack so he’ll believe anything.”

“Oh. My. God,” Janna gasps.

I frown just as I see Janna looking from far behind me. Turning around, I see what everyone else is already looking at. Old black trucks have arrived and a tall large guy is already coming out from the driver’s seat. The moment we saw his face, silence ate the whole crowd. Even I was shocked and speechless.