chance mate 34

Chapter 34
Noelle
Is it okay if I puke on the floor while making dog-like gagging sounds?
I’m extremely stressed out. Lucian wants me to marry him today, and my stomach is a mess because everything is falling into place so quickly.
“No, this dress is way prettier!”
“Uh, no? This one.”
“Are you st**id? You should order this one!”
I look up from my place on the couch, smiling uneasily at the three maids who are fighting each other over which wedding dress will suit me the best. And yes, I told them to pick since I’m barely keeping it together.
I know Lucian isn’t Sebastian and that I can trust him. We have marked each other, and he has told me that after the ceremony, he will announce me as the new Alpha of the Midnight pack, yet I still can’t relax.
What if Lucian changes his mind about me when we are standing in front of the pack elder? What if he, like Sebastian, has some secret lover that will ruin it all?
I know these fears are irrational, but can anyone blame me? I thought Sebastian was the perfect mate until his childhood sweetheart showed up with a pregnant belly at our wedding. Since then, I don’t believe in loyalty or true love.
…or, I don’t know. I’m madly in love with Lucian, and I so desperately want to believe that we will make it. But since I’ve been betrayed in the past, I have a hard time believing we will last. And let’s not talk about all those cheating men I’ve read about on Reddit! Marriage and kids hardly seem to matter to men these days…
“Noelle?”
I look up from my seat and see all three of the maids smiling at me. “We have decided on a dress. Do you want to come over and look at it? If you like it, we can go and pick it up right away. It’s from a store in town.”
I stand up cautiously and walk over to the screen the three maid sisters have gathered around. I expect to see a traditional white gown with lace and roses, just like the one Sebastian would have wanted me to wear. Instead, I find myself staring at a dress that is much more…me.
It’s a gorgeous shade of midnight blue, almost black, with an off-the-shoulder neckline and delicate silver embroidery of wolves and moonlight cascading down the sides.
“I…I love it,” I manage to stammer out, surprising myself with the conviction in my voice. “It’s perfect.”
“We thought so, too.”
“It looks perfect for a lycan princess, right?”
“Every girl is going to be so jealous of you!”
The positive feedback brings a smile to my face…but it is completely washed away the second I notice Sebastian’s pregnant girlfriend, Erin, standing in the door opening with a pout on her big lips.
I arch an eyebrow. “What do you want?”
She wrinkles her nose and still manages to look beautiful. It annoys me. Erin is heavily pregnant, but goddamn, is she gorgeous! And while I know envy isn’t a good look on me, I still feel bitter that she stole my mate from me. It doesn’t matter that I’m in love with Lucian-this woman has destroyed my confidence to a hundred percent.
“Is Sebastian here?” she asks. “There was a pack meeting or something, and he told me he would be spending the day here. So, where is my future husband?”
I shrug nonchalantly. “I don’t know.”
Anger washes over her face. “What do you mean that you don’t know? Aren’t you supposed to be the Alpha’s mate?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
Chapter 34
“Uh, everything?” she gives me a deathglare. “Then again, you’re still the weak little Omega that Sebastian left and ack, so clueless and dumb.”
Seriously? Is she going to insult me in my own house? Behind me, the three maids have gone silent, probably anticipating a ***h fight. And it’s on!
“You know, I wouldn’t want to hurt your baby in any kind of way, but your face? Your baby won’t mind if I give you a few punches there.”
Erin snorts in hilarity. “Oh my god, this is so good,” she wipes a tear from her eye and shakes her head with a huge smile on her lips. “Are YOU, the weakling, going to punch me? Gosh, did you do drugs this morning or what? Or maybe you have a death wish.”
The weakling? Oh, haven’t she heard that my lycan has awakened? Dude, this day is only getting better and better. Forget about my anxiety; this b**h is gonna get it!
“Maybe you haven’t heard the news yet, Erin.” I place my hands on my hips, a predatory grin splitting my face. “But I’m not the weak little Omega that I was back when you ruined my wedding and stole my mate.”
Erin’s smile falters. “What are you talking about?”
I lean forward, my voice dropping to a low growl. “You must not know, then. My lycan has awakened. I’m not just an Omega anymore, Erin. I’m the future Alpha of the Midnight pack. Lucian thinks I’m fit to rule.”
The look of sheer terror that flashes across her face is a sight to behold. She takes a step back, eyes wide, while her lips are trembling like two leaves.
“But…but that’s not possible… Lucian wouldn’t let a female…no….it can’t be!” she stammers out.
“Oh, but it is happening,” I reply with a smirk. “I see news travels slowly around here.”
“Y-you’re lying! You’re still the pathetic she-wolf Sebastian left!” Erin retorts defiantly, although she can’t hide the tremors in her voice.
I shrug nonchalantly. “Believe what you want, Erin. It doesn’t change the fact that I will be the Alpha by tomorrow.”
Erin stands there, speechless and frozen in shock, as everything sinks in. She clenches her fists at her sides as she looks
smug satisfaction. between me and the three maids behind me-their faces also filled with
And then, suddenly, she turns on her heel and storms out of the living room. But just before she turns, I see the first tear roll down her cheek-victory without violence; there isn’t anything more satisfying than that.
I turn around with a huff, pausing when I see the three maids looking at me with starry eyes.
“You were amazing, Noelle!” the first one says with the biggest beam ever on her face.
The second one snorts and crosses her arms over her chest with a tough-girl look. “Finally, someone put Erin into place.”
“You did great!” the last one exclaims before coming over to hug me, causing my heart to skip a beat.
I’ve never felt appreciated in the pack before, but I do now. I wonder if it’s something I should get used to?
***
After the maids leave to pick up my dress, I walk outside to get a breath of fresh air. Lucian is in a pack meeting, and although I should be attending it, I chose not to because this will be the last time I have a choice because tomorrow, I will be the Alpha -how sick isn’t that?
I squint up at the sun and dangle my legs from the porch, completely at ease, until I hear someone clear their throat behind me. When I turn around, I have to fight not to laugh since it’s Sebastian.
“Shouldn’t you be attending the pack meeting?” I ask.
He doesn’t move an inch from his spot. He just stands there, leaning against the wall with a dark expression. “No, it wouldn’t be of use since I already know what they are going to say at that meeting.”
“And what is that?”
3:17
Chapter 34
“That you’re going to become the new Alpha after Lucian has married you.”
I can’t fight the smug smile curling my lips. “And how do you feel about that?”
I expect Sebastian to glare at me or throw another tantrum. Instead, he laughs and shakes his head. “I’m honestly impressed. I would have never guessed my first mate to secretly be some super
wolf.”
“So you’re not mad?”
“Oh, I’m furious,” his lips twist into a smile that hurts to see since it reminds me of our past. “But I also know when I’ve been defeated. Well played, Noelle. You chose to get rid of me, and by doing that, the moon goddess gave you an even stronger mate-my brother. And now, you’re about to become the Alpha of the pack.”
I snort. “Well played? It’s not like I planned for this to happen, you know.”
“True,” his smile widens. “But if I were you, I would just accept victory and hold my chin high. People are starting to respect you now, and they will follow your lead if you show them strength.”
My eyes narrow. “Wait, am I going mad, or are you helping me?”
Sebastian shrugs. “Who knows what I’m up to?” He pushes off the wall. “Anyway, pick your Beta with care. It’s a very important role.”
“Huh? But aren’t you the Beta?”
“For now,” his eyes meet mine. “But when you become the Alpha, the elders will ask you to pick a Beta for yourself, and it would be st***d if you picked me, considering our past.”
With that, Sebastian turns to leave but stops when his eyes land on the window. “Umm, you had three maids that were helping you with the dress, right?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, I think you got zero now. Look outside.”
I rush to the window where he is standing and follow his gaze to the garden. My jaw drops at the sight. There they are, my three maids hanging from a tree by their throats.
“Wha…” I s**er back from the window, my heart pounding in terror as I look up
at Sebastian. “Did you
do this?”
He holds up his hands in surrender. “Don’t look at me. I’m innocent, but if you got to know, this looks like the work of vampires. There’s even an envelope on the ground.”
I look back at the maids, furrowing my eyebrows, when I realize he is right: there’s an envelope on the ground, stark white against the blood dripping down on it.
Sebastian snorts. “I know dark humor isn’t your thing, but it looks like the vampires already know that you’re going to be the Alpha. This is their way of saying ‘welcome to the game.””
My heart hammers in my chest as I take in the gruesome sight, bile rising in my throat. How dare they? Why would they? But then again, why wouldn’t they?
“I’m going to kill them,” I hiss, clenching my fists so hard my nails dig into my palm.
Sebastian grins at me, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “That’s what I like to hear.”
And with that, he taps me on the shoulder before he strides off, completely unbothered by the sight of my three dead maids. I’m about to yell at him, but then he pauses.
“Aren’t you coming? We need to take down their bodies from the tree and call their families.”
“And what? Tell them their daughters were killed to send me a message?” I ask, my voice quieter than I’d expected it to be.
Sebastian shrugs. “It’s a brutal world out there, Noelle. And yes, it might not be the call you want to make, but it’s the call you will have to make as the Alpha. I’m sorry.”
His emotionless response sends a shiver down my spine. Realizing that our past may have hardened him more than I’d thought, I turn my gaze back to the ghastly sight. The murderous rage bubbles within me, growing with each passing second.
3:17 PM
Chapter 34
To hell with burying their bodies! The butlers can do that since 1 have to at while the trawber to worsen at harmless, Noelle. The vampires will see how brutal this world can be when an Alpha’s wood ones are hover
“Start your car,” I command, my voice cold as ice. “I’m going to pay some vagjes a vida, w putu Wind
Sebastian’s eyebrows shoot up into his hairline. “Wh-what?”
“You heard me,” I growl. “These vampires need to be taught a lesson, so, for today only, you will my tex
Sebastian gives me a strange look before sighing and stumpány his shoulders in defex. “I cat’t say no, but I really don’t think this is a great idea.”
“Why not?”
“Well, for starters, what if I’m with the vampires?”
I eye him warily. “You’re not,” I turn around. “Come, we don’t have all day?