The Prime's Forbidden Mate

Ava's POV "You're not wearing that to my engagement party, are you?" My sister's voice cut through the bedroom like broken glass. I turned from the mirror, still holding the simple blue dress against my body. Luna stood in my doorway, perfect as always in her designer gown, diamonds glittering at her throat. "I wasn't planning to go," I said quietly. "Good." She stepped into my room uninvited, her heels clicking on the worn wooden floor. "It would be embarrassing for everyone. Michael's family doesn't need to see... this." She waved her hand at me like I was something disgusting. Michael. My mate. The one who rejected me three months ago to be with her. "I know my place," I whispered. "Do you?" Luna laughed, cold and sharp. "Because you're still living in our father's house like a pathetic little puppy, waiting for scraps. Michael chose me, Ava. He's going to be Alpha because of me. Because I'm strong, beautiful, and everything you're not." Each word was a knife to my heart. The mate bond might be rejected, but it still pulled at me, still made me feel every moment of Michael's happiness with her. "I'll be gone soon," I managed to say. "I'm leaving after graduation next week." "Next week?" Luna's eyes narrowed. "That's too long. You think I want you lurking around, making everyone uncomfortable? Making Michael feel guilty?" "He doesn't feel guilty." The words came out before I could stop them. Luna's face darkened. In two quick steps, she was in front of me, her hand cracking across my face. The force sent me stumbling back against the dresser. "Watch your mouth," she hissed. "You're nothing. A weak little omega who can't even shift properly. Mom died giving birth to you, and for what? So you could grow up to be this pathetic?" Tears burned my eyes, but I wouldn't let them fall. Not in front of her. "Get out of the house tonight," Luna commanded. "I don't care where you go. Sleep in the woods for all I care. But when Michael and I come back from our party, you better be gone." She turned to leave, then paused at the door. "Oh, and Ava? If you ever speak to Michael again, if you even look at him, I'll make sure Dad throws you out of the pack permanently. You'll be a rogue. And we both know what happens to weak little omegas who become rogues." The door slammed behind her, leaving me alone with my racing heart and burning cheek. I sank onto my bed, finally letting the tears fall. Three months of this torture. Three months of watching my mate love my sister, of being treated like dirt by my own family. My father barely looked at me anymore, too disappointed that his younger daughter couldn't keep an Alpha's interest. A soft knock at my window made me jump. I wiped my eyes quickly and looked over to see Rachel, my only friend, perched on the tree branch outside. "I heard Luna yelling," she said when I opened the window. "Are you okay?" "She wants me out tonight," I said, voice hollow. Rachel's eyes flashed with anger. "That witch. Where will you go?" "I don't know." I looked around my small room, at the few possessions I had. "Maybe the old cabin by the lake. Just for tonight." "Ava, you can't keep living like this." "What choice do I have?" I asked. "Michael rejected me. I'm weak. I can barely shift. I'm everything they say I am." "No, you're not." Rachel grabbed my hands through the window. "There's something special about you, Ava. I can feel it. My wolf can feel it." I wanted to believe her, but how could I? I was nineteen years old and could barely maintain my wolf form for an hour. Other wolves my age were training to be warriors, finding their mates, starting their lives. And here I was, being kicked out of my own home. "Come with me," Rachel said suddenly. "My cousin is having a party in the city. Not a wolf party, a human one. You need to get away from all this, even if it's just for one night." "I can't. If Luna finds out—" "Luna will be at her engagement party until dawn. Come on, Ava. When was the last time you did something for yourself?" I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Pale skin, dark circles under my green eyes, long black hair that I never bothered to style anymore. I looked like a ghost. Maybe it was time to stop being one. "Okay," I heard myself say. "But I need to pack a bag first. I'm not coming back here tonight." Rachel smiled, the first real smile I'd seen all day. "Good. Wear something that makes you feel powerful. Tonight, we're forgetting about Michael, Luna, and this whole miserable pack." An hour later, I stood outside a downtown hotel in a borrowed red dress from Rachel, my heart pounding. The city lights were bright, the music from inside thumping through the walls. I'd never been to a human party before. "You look amazing," Rachel said, linking her arm through mine. "Now come on, let's go have some fun." We walked through the lobby, past the main ballroom where another party was happening—some corporate event from the looks of it. That's when I smelled it. Pine and midnight and something wild that made my wolf suddenly wake up. I froze, my eyes scanning the crowd. And then I saw him. Tall, dark-haired, in an expensive suit that did nothing to hide the dangerous power underneath. He was standing near the bar, surrounded by other important-looking people, but his eyes—ice blue and intense—were locked directly on me. Another mate? No, that was impossible. You only got one mate in a lifetime. But my wolf was practically howling, pulling me toward him with a force I'd never felt before, not even with Michael. "Ava?" Rachel touched my arm. "You okay?" The man started walking toward us, cutting through the crowd like a predator. Everyone seemed to move out of his way without him saying a word. "We need to go," I whispered, panic rising. "Now." But it was too late. He was already there, standing so close I could feel the heat radiating from his body. "Running away already?" His voice was deep, rough, like whiskey and smoke. "But you just got here." "I'm sorry, you must have me confused with someone else," I managed to say, trying to step back. His hand shot out, catching my wrist. Not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to stop me. The touch sent electricity shooting through my entire body. "No confusion," he said, those ice-blue eyes boring into mine. "I know exactly who you are." My heart stopped. How could he know me? I'd never seen him before in my life. "Let go of her," Rachel said, stepping forward. He didn't even look at her. "Your friend is safe with me," he said, still staring at me. "Aren't you... Ava?" The way he said my name made my knees weak. But how did he know it? "I don't know you," I whispered. A smile played at the corner of his mouth. Not a nice smile. A dangerous one. "No," he agreed. "But you will."