ALPHA ZEHRAN'S REDEMPTION

CHAPTER FIVE

IYRA'S POV

The moment we stepped into the hall, it was as if we had been transported to a realm of pure magic. The grand ballroom was adorned with cascading crystal chandeliers, the walls decorated with twinkling lights and lanterns. The air was filled with music and laughter as we navigated our way through the crowd.

As we made my way through the crowd of guests who were absolutely stunning, I couldn't help but notice the murmurs and whispers that seemed to follow us. Many heads had turned in our direction and to my surprise, several people approached to offer complements, rather than the chastisement I had braced for regarding our return.

My nerves had significantly calmed as I interacted with more people. I had many people coming to tell me I was deemed to the best dressed at the occasion and might be competing with the to be Luna. Eliza had been so delighted, pleased to share the vision of her work. I was probably bright red by the time I had made it to the center of the hall.

I was particularly conscious about my birthmark, it had been glowing faintly ever since the shift but no one had really brought it up, they seemed to think it was all part of the look. One thing that had me so stunned was the number of men who approached and asked for a dance. At first, it was a little scary but exciting but after a few, it got too much for me and I politely declined their invitations. I definitely didn't miss the rude stares and nasty looks I got from some women but I chose to ignore them and focus on enjoying the night.

As the evening progressed, the hall was still alive with a symphony of sounds. I had danced and drank so much so that Willow was begging me to take a rest. Eliza had earlier wandered off to speak to one of the iconic designers in town that she idolized and I was probably in my last dance of the night.

I was a little annoyed that the so-called alpha and his soon-to-be Luna hadn't graced us with their presence yet when a sweet scent wafted through the air, captivating my senses. The fragrance was so intoxicating, it had me enveloped in a hazy trance. The intensity of it all had me feeling both excited and unsettled as I turned away from the man chatting to his hearts content to search for its source.

I couldn't really see much from where I stood but things seemed to be strange as a hush falls upon the hall that had been buzzing a minute ago. The scent seemed to get stronger as whispers of the alpha approaching began to grow and suddenly, the crowd seemed to part.

My gaze landed on a figure standing at the edge of the dance floor. He was towering, his height making the guests standing around him look like miniature dolls. His piercing eyes met mine and I felt a jolt of electricity run through my entire being.

“MATE!” Willow exclaimed, her voice the loudest I've heard since yesterday.

A gasp breaks from the crowd as I realized he just uttered the same word. My heart raced, palms grew sweaty and a warm flush crept across my cheek as he starts making his way to me, his strides long and purposeful, eating up the distance between us with ease.

This can't be really happening right? It took far longer than a day to find a mate after shifting.

Right??

This thoughts kept racing through my mind as he made his way to me. I could barely sought through my thoughts with Willow screaming mate over and over again.

As he drew nearer, the rest of the world seemed to have faded away and it was as if we were the only two people in the room. The air seemed charged with electric energy.

When he finally stood before me, mere inches away, I was struck by his striking features. His chiseled jawline, piercing gray eyes and lustrous dark locs were all consuming and I found myself wishing to be in the cocoon of his large arms. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he stopped in front of me, his towering height making me feel small and vulnerable.

“Mate.” He whispers this time, his voice low and soft, reaching a hand to gently brush a strand of hair behind my ear. The touch sent sparks flying through my body.

I swallowed hard, my voice caught in my throat. He became particularly fascinated with the glow of my marking, his hands already raised, reaching over to trace it.

I stepped back, feeling compelled more than ever to step even more closer to him and take him all in. By now, Willow was tearing my mind in shreds.

With that, he seemed to come to, suddenly realizing we were in the middle of celebrating his betrothal to someone else. The hand he had raised earlier hangs as he looks at me, his eyes full of hurt and torment.

Feeling like we have made enough drama for the guests, I took one more step back and turned around ignoring Willow's loud protests to go back. I could here his thundering footsteps following me out.

I was ready to bolt out immediately the midnight air hit me when I felt him grabbing my hand, the unfamiliar tingling sensation returning. I turned to him, in the shadows, his eyes took on steely almost piercing quality, their intensity boring into me, yet there was a softness to them as well.

As we held each other's stare, the rest of the world seemed to fade away. I found myself captivated, unable to look away as if his eyes had cast some sort of spell over me. We stood there, seemingly frozen in time. Suddenly, he let out an unbelievable laugh, his eyes shining with a mix of disbelief and wonder.

“You really do ex… you're really my mate.” He said, his voice low and rumbling, a huge smile spreading across his face.

He reached out a hand, as if to touch me but I instinctively stepped back, the reality of the situation weighing heavily on me. His smile falls as a flash of hurt crosses his features, his brows furrowing in confusion.

“Why won't you let me touch you?” He asked, his voice laced with a hint of desperation.

I stared at the ground, as a single tear rolls down my cheek. Lifting my gaze to his, I could see the pain reflecting in them as he moved closer to me, not sure what to do.

I gesture to the him and the huge building behind him. “It's because of who you are.” I finally whispered.

Without another word, I turned and ran leaving him standing there with a heartbroken expression as I fought against all odds to run back to him and take my words back.