Chapter 5 Mate

However, I was almost late. Originally, I wanted to sneak in through the side door of the banquet hall so that others wouldn’t find me. But when I saw two guards in gray armor standing at the side door of the banquet hall, I had to choose the main entrance. At the moment I stepped into the banquet hall, I saw the groom Jack and his parents standing in the middle of the high platform. They stood respectfully next to a man in a gorgeous dark blue coat. I saw the man lazily leaning on a red velvet chair with one foot on the other. The moment he saw me, there was a blazing light in his purple eyes. My heart jumped violently, but the next second I was pulled to her side by my mother. I stood beside my mother with my head down. Soon, I heard the sound of boots stepping on the carpet. It was heavy, solemn, and sounded scary! The footsteps were getting closer and closer, and I could smell a very fragrant smell - the smell of grass mixed with the unique fragrance of pine! My heart was pounding and my wolf was cheering and jumping! I clutchrf the sides of my dress tightly, As the footsteps came to a halt before me, I couldn't summon the courage to look up. The man's presence exuded an overwhelming aura, leaving me both captivated and slightly fearful. “Hold your head up!” There was an irresistible majesty in the man’s deep voice. "Hold your head up!" His commanding voice echoed with an undeniable majesty that compelled me to obey. Summoning all my courage, I took a deep breath and lifted my gaze. What I saw took my breath away – a pair of mesmerizing purple eyes met mine. They were undeniably the most beautiful eyes I had ever encountered, and I was utterly captivated. I had never seen anyone with such enchanting purple eyes before. But those eyes were just one aspect of his allure. His handsome face and alluring lips completed the picture of sheer magnetism. Time seemed to stand still as my heart skipped a beat upon laying eyes on him. I stared at him with wide eyes. “If I guess correctly, this necklace should belong to you!” The man took out an emerald necklace from his coat pocket and waved it in front of my eyes. When he saw my stunned expression, there was a smug smile on his lips, and he raised my chin with his fingers and said word for word, “You are mine!” "Mate!" My wolf cried out within me, and then the truth dawned on me – Leon was the magnificent white wolf I had encountered in the forest. He was my mate! It was beyond belief! My mother appeared startled, her eyes flickering between Prince Leon and me with horror etched on her face. I could only offer her a helpless look, and in that moment, she seemed to grasp the reality of the situation. Her face turned pale, as if the notion of me being a prince's mate was a catastrophe in her eyes. The room was filled with gasps of incredulity from everyone present. I had, indeed, managed to shock them all. "No! This can't be true!" I heard Jack's voice vehemently resisting. Prince Leon turned to face Jack, and an eerie silence fell over the room as all present were too frightened to utter a word. His cold eyes bore an intensity that sent shivers down my spine, even making me tremble. Jack, evidently overwhelmed by the powerful presence, seemed paralyzed, unable to utter a single word. "My apologies, Your Highness!" My father interjected quickly, releasing the bride's hand and stepping forward to mediate. He spoke with sincerity, "Please forgive my son-in-law's rudeness! And at the same time, I am delighted that you have found your mate. Allow me to introduce my other daughter, Emily." Unlike my mother, my father appeared more composed, and his eyes even showed a glimmer of joy. I noticed Prince Leon's eyes soften slightly in response, but I couldn't be sure if it was because of me. In that bewildering moment, everything felt like a whirlwind of emotions – shock, disbelief, and uncertainty all intertwined as I stood before the prince, the unexpected revelation of being his mate changing the course of my life forever. The wedding continued as usual. Susan and my father walked slowly arm in arm through the banquet hall door. Susan, in her white wedding dress, looked more beautiful than ever. She wore a low-cut dress with off-the-shoulder sleeves. Compared to her delicate face, Susan’s tall and plump breasts were more noticeable. Only I knew how much cotton she had stuffed in her bra! I watched Susan step by step towards the groom, Jack. She looked at him with affectionate eyes. They exchanged rings under the oath of the priest, then hugged and kissed in front of everyone. However, there was no joy on Jack’s face, which was unusual for a groom. On the contrary, he was very calm. The wound in my heart was torn open again, and all the memories of the times I had spent with Jack suddenly flooded my mind. I told myself I should be strong, but I couldn’t control my emotions. Damn it, hadn’t I found my mate? Why should I remember the pain of the past? I should be happy! After the wedding, when my father eagerly extended an invitation to Prince Leon to visit our pack the next day, the Prince coldly declined. "We're leaving tomorrow!" Prince Leon's gaze shifted to me as he addressed my father, "Your daughter must come with me as well." "But we haven't discussed the aid," my father stammered, his face tinged with embarrassment. He gently passed his hand over the Prince's sleeve, desperately trying to reason, "Our pack needs more than just spiritual support from the royal family. We are facing an economic crisis after our involvement in the war last year. We need financial assistance." "Is your pack short of money?" the Prince asked skeptically, eyeing my father curiously. "It seems like you had enough to hold such a grand wedding for your daughter." "What you saw was only a façade," my father replied in a hushed tone. "Behind the extravagant wedding, we have been struggling financially. We desperately need funds to rebuild." "How much do you need?" the Prince inquired, and in that moment, it felt like they were negotiating a business deal, with me as the bargaining chip. "500,000 gold coins," my father stated with greed evident in his eyes. The Prince fell silent for a moment before granting my father's request. "You shall receive the gold coins you desire," he sneered, "but you must understand that you will never see your daughter again. Once she leaves with me, she won't return." "It will be her honor to accompany you," my father callously replied, taking the opportunity to trade me away for a substantial price. "You," the Prince commanded, pointing at me, "go to my room."