As they followed the guard, they arrived at a wide hall already brimming with people.
The newcomers of Moonstone were gathered there, standing in loose groups, waiting for the orientation to begin.
Iris scanned the crowd briefly, but her attention kept being pulled elsewhere.
That scent!
The closer they got, the stronger the sweet, rich and intoxicating scent became. Her heart began to race.
The guard motioned for them to sit on one of the carved stone benches along the side, but Iris couldn't sit.
Her body moved on its own, her wolf clawing at her chest with a rising eagerness.
Her mate was right there at that exact place and time, and she was going to meet him. What if he could smell her too and was already coming towards her?
She started walking,then quickened her pace as she followed the scent.
The scent tugged at her like a string. It led her past the crowd, past more guards and pack warriors. And then finally, she stopped right in front of a man.
Her mate! Finally!
He had his back facing her, his broad frame was perfectly outlined under the black shirt that clung to him.
He had dark, tousled hair that curled faintly around his collar. He stood with two other men, casually exchanging words, but his presence... his aura... it was almost blinding.
Iris could hardly breathe.
Her wolf howled within her.
That was him.
She didn't think twice. Her feet moved forward. She reached him, her hand gently resting on his arm.
The man turned.
His face…oh my gosh. He was beautiful.
Sharp, commanding features. He had hazel eyes that looked carved from light itself. His skin as smooth like marble, yet full of warmth. Her breath caught in her throat.
"Hi…" she managed to whisper, the nervousness and excitement getting to her.
He stared at her, his expression unreadable.
Then, without thinking, Iris leaned in and wrapped her arms around him, her whole body trembling at the electric connection between them.
Gasps echoed.
Whispers started behind her.
But something felt wrong, the man didn't move, he didn't hug her back, he didn't even blink.
He looked at her like she was nothing.
And then, for the first time, he opened his mouth.
"…Who are you?"
As the words left his mouth, "Who are you?" Iris blinked, unsure she heard right.
Who are you? Did her mate just ask her that? Why was he looking at her like she was crazy?
She didn't move at first. Her arms were still around him, her heart still beating like crazy.
But he didn't move either.
His arms hung stiffly at his sides. His eyes were blank and cold.
Then his voice came again, low, flat, and colder than before.
"Get your hands off me. Now!!"
The words sliced through her chest like a blade.
Her body trembled slightly as she pulled away, slowly and confused. She felt so embarrassed, her mind raced, trying to understand what was happening.
He looked at her like she was insane. Like she had just done something unspeakable.
Still, she swallowed hard and tried again. "I'm your mate," she said softly, her voice quivering. "I finally found you. Why… why aren't you excited?"
He blinked.
Then a dry, amused scoffed escaped him.
"You're not my mate."
Her breath hitched. "Yes, I am," she insisted, taking a step forward. "The moment I walked in, I felt it. I caught your scent. It led me to you…"
But he cut her off with a sharp and dismissive look.
"No," he said. "You're not. What kind of trick are you trying to pull?"
"I'm not playing any trick!" she nearly snapped, her voice rising with hurt. "Why are you denying it? Is it because I'm from Moonstone?"
His eyes narrowed.
Then he said with finality, "Moonstone or Clawstone, it makes no difference. You are not my mate."
She stared at him, her heart crumbling into a million pieces.
He turned back to the men he was speaking with, as if she didn't exist.
Like her presence meant absolutely nothing.
Iris stood there, her heart in pieces, but she couldn't walk away. She stepped forward, forcing him to face her again. Her voice trembled.
"Why are you doing this? Why can't you see it?"
Her eyes searched his face, the face of the man she had dreamed about, longed for, hoped for. "You keep saying I'm not your mate, but I am."
Whispers had already started to ripple through the crowd. Dozens of eyes turned their way, murmurs rising like a low tide.
Who is she?
What's going on?
Did she just say… mate?
He clenched his jaw. His voice was low but seething.
"Shut up and sttop embarrassing yourself. Go back to the line and sit down."
Iris shook her head. "No," she whispered. Then louder and firmer:
"No. I've waited for you for years. I've felt this bond since the moment I walked in. And now I finally meet you, and you treat me like this?"
Something shifted in his eyes. His mouth twitched as though holding something back.
And then he snapped.
"You're delusional." He spat the word like venom. "You're just some desperate girl from Moonstone. You're not my mate. You're just a wannabe"
The name hit her like a slap. Wannabe. The girl who claimed a bond that didn't exist.
A murmur rose in the crowd, louder now.
The man beside him, about the same age as him, gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Alpha…" he said quietly, trying to calm him. He gave a small nod of warning.
But Zane only stared harder at Iris.
"Stop this rubbish," he hissed. "Right now."
Iris's voice cracked. "This isn't rubbish. This is real…"
She couldn't finish as two large men suddenly stepped up behind her. Their grips were firm as they each took one of her arms.
She froze and the murmurs turned into gasps.
"Let go of me," she said, trying to twist her arm. "Let me go!"
But they didn't.
They were waiting for an order, from tjeir Alpha.