The Forced Mate

Chapter 2: Catastrophe dusk

I was all dressed and about to step out of the house, when I suddenly overheard my dad, talking to my mom. I instantly tiptoe back into the house and hide behind the door.

"Did you inform Maria about the Blue Moon?" My dad asked.

"Not yet! But Jackson, when do you plan on telling her the truth?"

I could see how serious my mom was as she asked him the question. Both of them stood beside the car, staring at each other in the eyes, all worried.

"Soon Catherine!" He replied faintly as they continue looking at each other.

"Blue Moon?" I muttered to myself with a surprised face. "Are they referring to our pack?" I looked confused.

"Maria!! We are getting late, let's go!" My dad calls out my name with his husky voice. I quickly put myself together and walks out of the house.

By the time I got outside, they were already in the car, waiting for me. I instantly hopped into the back seat, and my dad drove away.

********

It's almost 8 pm when we eventually got to our destination. The distance from the packhouse where we are staying to Bernard's place was almost an hour which I found tiring.

Practically, all the werewolves in our pack stay at the packhouse but, the Gilbert family seems different. They chose to stay away from there, and no one explained to me why it has been like that.

When we got to the entrance of the house, my dad pressed the little bell beside the door. A few seconds later, Bernard's mom was the one that came to receive us.

"Alpha Jackson, good evening..." She bowed her head to show some respect to my dad. Then she turned to face my mom too with much respect. "Luna Catherine."

After my parents returned her greetings, she raised her head and stare at me, who was standing behind them.

"Maria," She gave me a sharp look as she mentioned my name, and forced out a smile on her lips. From what I've just seen, I could tell that she doesn't like me being here.

If it wasn't for what is going to happen to my dad in the pack, I'm sure I wouldn't be here, going through all these embarrassments.

I reciprocate her greeting by bowing my head to show respect but I was regretting it deeply. Right from time, I knew Bernard's mom doesn't like me around her son.

I've overheard her talk to Bernard twice, about staying away from me. But her son was adamant about being my friend.

Before we got here, I've been thinking about how she approved this engagement. But I'm so sure it's her husband, Beta Gilbert, that would convince her.

"Come on in!" She smiled at my dad, and lead the way into their living room. Beta Gilbert was seated on the couch, while Bernard is nowhere to be found in there.

Beta Gilbert immediately stood up and hugged my dad so tight, as if, they haven't been seeing each other almost every day.

After they exchanged pleasantries, he greeted my mom too and moved over to me. The strappy long peach dress I wore, sits upon my delicate fair skin as soft petals, its hue the many pinks of a rose garden.

I felt special in it, pretty. It can be the little things that set the right mood, that make things go well. My long brown hair was tied in a bun and I had no make-up on. I was looking all-natural, but beautiful and elegant.

"You are beautiful Maria, welcome to the family dear!" He sounded so excited as he smiled at me and gave me a side hug.

"Thank you, sir," I replied while I drew myself out of his embrace.

I could see the genuine love he has for me from his eyes unlike his wife, Luna Victoria. Yes, she's a luna... But she's still in a lower rank compared to my mom.

"Everything is set, let's go to the dining hall!" Luna Victoria breaks the silence as she maintained the fake smile on her face.

"Where's Bernard?" My dad asked when he couldn't see him around.

"He's attending to something important but would join us very soon!" Luna Victoria was the one that replied while glaring at me as she speaks.

What could be more important than our engagement this night? How could he be absent and act as if, I'm the one throwing myself into this whole s**t!

I was pissed up but continue to act cool as we all have our seats. Why are my parents not paying attention to these little detail and knowing that this engagement shouldn't be happening?

"Maria, pass the wine in front of you." Luna Victoria said with a raised brow, and I gently picked up the bottle of wine and gave it to her.

Throughout our dinner, all my attention was focused on the door, waiting for Bernard to show up.

I only took a bite of the food served to me since I'm not that hungry. I just want this night to come to an end, so I can return home and relax.

It's past ten already, and Bernard hasn't shown up. What's going on? Am I getting engaged to myself or what? I don't understand.

Why is everyone not bothered by Bernard's absence? Why am I the only one hoping that he should show up? I was totally confused!

After dinner, we all proceeded back to the living room to talk more about my engagement. My dad and Beta Gilbert started with business topics before they finally moved over to why we are here.

"These are their engagement papers that need to be signed tonight." Beta Gilbert handed some papers to my dad.

"Okay!" My dad collected it, and begin to go through it. My mom was just quiet all through and didn't intervene in anything. As well as Bernard's mom too.

Both of them don't get along that well since I've known them. They don't talk much except if exchanging pleasantries.

It has always been my dad and Beta Gilbert that is super close, which makes Bernard and I, also close.

"It's cool, I like it!" My dad raised his head and smile.

"Shall we begin the signing?" Beta Gilbert seems impatient to wait longer.

"Sure, let's do it!"

My dad brought out a pen from his inner suit pocket and gave it to me. "Here Maria, sign the documents."

Are they kidding me or what? This engagement involved Bernard and me, but the former hasn't shown up. And they expect me to sign the papers just like that? No, I won't!

"How am I supposed to sign them when Bernard isn't here?" A hint of anger could be heard in my voice.

"Don't worry, Bernard would sign also as soon as he arrives?" Luna Victoria replied nonchalantly.

I looked in her direction, and I caught the glimpse of anger on her face. She seems to be controlling herself from the moment we stepped into their house.

"I need to see Bernard first before signing on these papers!" I angrily dropped the pen on the table in my front, and abruptly stood up. "Excuse me please!"

I walked out of them and went to stay outside. Before I left, I saw how my dad was pleading with them, and that got me angrier.

He isn't fit to be the Alpha of this strongest and powerful pack. He has no commanding aura that most Alpha possesses and that always pisses me off!

I was outside for a couple of minutes when my mom came out and suddenly tapped me on the back. I still put on a long face after I saw her, and refused to look at her in the eyes.

"I thought we'd talked about this before we left home sweetie." Her angelic voice melt my heart instantly, but I was not going to buy it this time around.

"Yeah, we talked and I agree to your terms. But no one tells me that, my mate won't be around for our engagement...That's ridiculous mom!"

"I understand you dear, but Bernard's presence isn't what we needed. As long as he would sign the papers too, then it's fine."

"It's not fine with me! Why are you and dad so damn weak for the titles you hold? You both needs other wolves to be scared of you, and not the other way round!" I couldn't hold my anger anymore as I start spilling words that is hurting me deep down.

Even as I yelled at her, she was only smiling back at me. "We are not weak Maria... You won't understand why we are like this towards everyone."

"Then make me understand mom! I'm tired of trying to live in others' shadows when am the Alpha daughter!"

"Alright dear, I will explain all that you need to know after tonight's engagement. I promised!" She said convincingly.

My face brightened up immediately I heard her, and I let out a sigh of relief. Finally, I would get to know about everything that they've been hiding from me.

After lots of persuasion from her, I later agree to do the signing. We both walked back into the house, and I apologize for the act I pulled earlier on.

Beta Gilbert only smiled at him and asked me to sit down. But his wife wasn't that pleased to see me come back. I looked away from her, and I picked up the pen.

I signed all the necessary parts and gave them back to my dad. He and my mom also signed respectively, before handing it over to Beta Gilbert. Then he and his wife signed too.

"I believe everything is settled now right?" My dad asked.

"Yes... Once Bernard signs his part when he returns, I would send a copy to you tomorrow morning." Beta Gilbert assures us.

"Thanks for hosting us, and putting up with my spoilt daughter attitude, I appreciate it." My dad gave him a handshake.

When I heard what he just said, I let out a smirk and shook my head in disgust. Are they not supposed to be happy that, their son would be marrying the Alpha daughter? Why are we the ones thanking them?

I guess I would get answers to all my questions after we leave here. I can't wait to get home! After we bid farewell to them, we stepped out of the house and heads towards where our car was parked.

We are almost there when my nose suddenly perceives a strange scent. I don't know if I should be happy or not because this is the first time I would perceive something apart from food since I was born.

I halted in my tracks and turned to check if someone is around the vicinity but I saw no one else. I have this feeling that there's someone around here. Maybe the person is staring at us right now? That I can't tell.

"What is it, Maria? Why did you stop walking?" My mom asked when she turned and saw me not moving an inch from where I stood.

"Can you both smell anything?" I sounds so curious as I asked them.

Their eyes met, and replied in unison; "No, we don't!" I looked at them in disbelief as the smell continue to get stronger.

"You are assuming stuff dear!" My dad told me with a chuckle, and start walking.

A whole Alpha and Luna can't perceive the smell? What's happening? I kept wondering as I continue to walk towards them. We all hopped into the car, and begin our trip back to the packhouse.

All through our journey back home, I felt uneasy after what I perceived a while ago. The scent doesn't seem right to me, and I had the feeling that something might happen tonight. But I tried not to think too much about it.

We are almost home when a big truck starts driving in our direction. My dad instantly pressed his leg on the brake, but it appears as if, it has stopped working.

"What's going on? Why is the brake not working?" He yelled out and pulled the steering wheel to the other side, so he can avoid the truck.

"Dad, what's happening?" I screamed out from behind when I saw how the car starts jerking.

"Honey, what's going on?" My mom asked at the top of her voice too.

"No!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

That was the last word I heard before I lose consciousness...