ANDREA’S POV

“I reject you, you filthy Omega!”

I heard my heart breaking into pieces when I caught my boyfriend Beck kissing another woman under the moonlight. The way they embraced intimately as if they were made for each other tore open something inside me.

As if the past two years he spent with me was a joke.

When I accepted Beck as my boyfriend two years ago, I worried. In our world, Alphas paired with Alphas or strong Betas. Omegas were… the lowermost. Gentle, obedient, weak. But Beck had sworn it didn’t matter.

He gently convinced me that I was the best gift for him and promised to love me with every strain of his life. Even if one day his fated mate appeared, I would be his only love.

So when he told me that we'd bond at the grandest Hunting Festival in history, I was beyond excited.

It would be significant. I mean, right in front of all the ones who longed for destined mates, we would take our vows as chosen mates. It was enough to prove our indestructible love.

Yet now, he was holding another woman in his arms. The woman who he called his mate. The woman who wore the mark which he'd promised to give me.

"She's my mate, Andrea. You know I can not control this." Beck smirked shamelessly.

"You liar! You proposed to me!" I yelled, refusing to accept this cruel reality. "You promised I was the only one for you!"

"Come on, Andrea." Beck rolled his eyes. "Did you really believe I wanted to bond with you? Get over yourself. If it weren't for your pretty face and sexy body, I'd never have even endured an omega circling me."

“You told me you didn’t care about status!” I spat, trembling.

"It's more than status. Tiana isn’t just wealthy—she’s an Alpha heir. And you? You’re just a lousy salesperson and a weak Omega.”

IAs if it wasn’t enough, Beck was determined to trample my self-esteem into the ground.

“Why would I give up a gem like her for a stinky stone like you?” He continued cruelly, "Do you know how stinky you omegas smell? No superior wolf will want you as a mate."

That was the last stroke, crushing my already broken heart into powder.

I couldn't believe that. I trusted him and he just fooled me as a clown. For two fucking years! How could I have been so stupid?

I felt my wolf, Emrae bristling, wanting to attack. 'Let me at him, Andrea. I have to kick this bastard's ass!'

'No, set back,' I held my wolf. Fighting made no sense here. Beck took me on this cruise and I had no other accompany. As an omega, I couldn't defeat them alone. It would only cause more trouble for me.

But it didn't mean I'd tolerate this shit silently. I took off my engagement ring and flung it in Beck's face so hard that it made a bloody mark on his chin. But that didn't come close to the pain I was feeling.

“It's I who dumps you," I hissed. "I never want to see your face again."

I left them without looking back. When I opened the greenhouse's door, a cool wind brushed my face, bringing a fresh scent to me. I looked forward and almost got knocked off my feet by the force of what hit me.

'Mate!' Emrae yipped excitedly.

All my fury and hurt of being betrayed by my boyfriend disappeared like mist in the face of the powerful, electric connection that sizzled between me and him—my mate.

He was sinfully handsome, with his dark locks that were just begging to be pulled and those plump lips that promised nirvana if they touched you. His eyes were a bewitching swirl, drawing me into a universe just for us.

More stunning than the sudden realization of my mate was the realization that he was Alpha Kade Nightshade, the most powerful Alpha in New York City. What on earth?!

“Hey, what’s wrong?” a female voice cut through the moment.

My tunnel vision widened, and I noticed the she-wolf on Kade’s arm. That was an understatement—she was wrapped around him like a vice, nuzzling his neck. He had a hand resting low on her hip.

His eyes were firmly on me, but he didn't push her away even though he had felt our bond already.

I scoffed, crashing down from my high.

“You’re all the same,” I whispered shakily, backing away. I refused to be caught up with another slimy bastard who couldn’t keep his dick in his pants.

***

KADE’S POV

It was another annual Hunting Festival and countless prominent packs were in attendance tonight—for making a union or finding a destined mate.

But I just felt bored.

It had been too long—seven years. I still hadn’t found her. My mate.

I almost gave up on the plan of finding her but my wolf Jaxon, stubborn as always, refused to claim anyone but our mate.

'Shake off the slut hanging on your arm, Kade!' Jackson grumbled discontented. He always wanted me to be decent at the Festival, so as not to ruin our fated chance.

I didn't understand what the point was. I mean, I had waited so long and she never came. Maybe she didn’t even exist. Why should I give up the right to have fun?

'I only promised not to mark others,' I reminded Jaxon, not bothering to hide my annoyance. 'I didn't promise to lock my dick.'

Alpha Nightshade was notorious to the world. Countless women wanted to climb into my bed, but no one could stay more than one night. Having women just to satisfy, not to be ruined. That was what my grandfather cautioned me about.

Weakness was not tolerated in the Nightshade blood. Since my parents died early, my grandfather trained me strictly. I never failed him. Shifted at early nine, defeated a grown Beta at twelve, killed a rogue at fifteen, and won my first battle at seventeen. Now, at twenty-five, I was already the King of the East Coast.

The only thing I had failed him was not married yet.

My pack, Obsidian Howl needed a noble Luna and I needed a strong heir. He always nagged about that but deep inside me, another voice asked me to wait.

To wait for the one that the Goddess had made for me. But what if the Goddess had no plan for me?

I roared in chagrin and the blonde with my dick in her mouth whimpered even harder. I gave a few quick thrusts, exploded, and then pulled away. My fun was ruined now. I needed some other entertainment.

"Alpha—" the blonde begged after swallowing hard. "I know a place. And we can play something different there. Something more...fun." A glint of cunning flashed in her eyes and I had to say she was a bit smarter than other brainless beauties.

"Lead the way," I demanded.

When we passed the greenhouse, a cool breeze blew across the garden, and a sweet scent came to me. It was a hint of wildflowers, unfamiliar but pure. I couldn’t move as it rooted me to the spot.

I turned my head and that's when I saw her.

Her lavender dress hugged her curves in all the right places, dipping low enough to expose the toned, tan expanse of her back. Her dark hair was curled into an intricate bun adorned with pearl clips. And even though it was tight with anger, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

'Mate!'

The word roared through my blood when our eyes met. My wolf surged forward with a possessiveness that nearly knocked me off my feet. Every instinct screamed at me to get her, to claim her, to make sure every other bastard in this city knew exactly who she belonged to.

From her eyes, I was sure she felt our bond too. I thought she'd run into my arms begging for my touch, yet the next second, she just turned and ran off without looking back.

What the hell was wrong with this little omega? She thought she could escape a powerful Alpha?

After seven long years, I'd finally found my mate.

No fucking way was I letting her go.