Chapter 3: Engagement
“Um, excuse me?” I blinked, looking at the man who obviously had mistaken me for someone else. “My name is Leila and not Monique.”
The man snapped out from the momentary stupor which he had fallen into.
“Forgive me,” the old man approached while the two other wolves gave way, their eyes never leaving the newcomer. “But you look so much like her. The resemblance is unmistakable.”
“Look like who?”
“My mate,” he admitted.
“Where is she now?”
“She died,” the sadness in his eyes was undeniable. He must have loved her so. I had no idea what it felt like to have a mate and to lose one. “But what did you say your name again?”
“Leila,” I repeated, watching the man narrow his gaze at me.
“I have a daughter who looked so much like her too. She gave her the name…” the man trailed off, giving me another once over. It wasn’t predatorial, but rather it was inquisitive.
It was then that his eyes landed on something hanging by my neck. Following his gaze, I touched the heart-shaped pendant dangling from my neck.
“Where did you get that?”
I pursed my lips.
“I didn’t steal it,” I said in defense. “This has been with me ever since I was young. I know not who my parents were, but this necklace was the only thing I have.”
Flipping the pendant, I showed the man the name engraved on the back.
“That’s how I got my name.”
The man looked into my eyes, his eyes getting misty.
“You two, bring her to the infirmary. I need to know.”
Startled, uncertain, and suddenly nervous, I stared at the man and the two wolves with us.
“Hold-up, what’s going on? Why are you taking me to the infirmary?”
“Please, Leila. It would only be a quick blood test.”
Seeing no other way out, the man appearing to be harmless, I hummed.
“Alright. I’ll come along.”
Following the wolves who, only moments ago, were adamant about throwing me out, I glanced at the man. He followed behind, seeming to be deep in thought.
Arriving at the infirmary, the smell of antiseptic made me wrinkle my nose. The man led the way then, greeting a few staff inside. He stopped by the door and let me inside.
A female doctor greeted us, bowing respectfully at the man. She wore a white robe; her curly brown hair was neatly ponytailed at the back of her head.
Despite the mask covering half of her face, I could tell from her dark brown eyes that she was strikingly beautiful.
“Forgive me for the unannounced visit. I need your help, Wicca.”
The female doctor smiled.
“It’s alright, Richard. What can I do for you?”
“This young woman here. Can you run a blood test for me?”
“Sure, that would not be a problem.”
‘Pray tell, what on earth is going on?’
I felt so lost but found myself following the female doctor, Wicca, as she gave instructions one after the other.
A small needle was used to prick my finger, and she took my blood sample. Then, she disappeared along with the strange man.
When they returned, Wicca looked at me, smiled broadly, and whispered something to the man’s ear. He nodded, turning to me once the doctor left.
Approaching me with tentative steps, the man I learned was Richard took both of my hands in his; the expression on his face was a mixture of pure joy and sorrow.
Gently clasping my hands in his, the man stared into my eyes.
“Leila,” he murmured, my name sounding like a song on his tongue. “My dear Leila. I finally found you.”
I wasn’t sure how to react; my confusion clouded my thinking ability.
“Who are you, exactly?”
“My name is Richard, Alpha of the Silver Crescent Pack,” I blinked, my brain slowly processing this information. “And you, Leila, are my missing daughter.”
–
The mystery of my birth had been a troublesome thought for me. What kind of parent would want to abandon their child and never try to look for them?
But I never thought that a day of someone claiming me as their child would ever come until it happened.
The girl staring back at me in the full-length mirror, fully dressed in black, freshly showered, and with my belly full, tugged at the corners of my lips and formed a slight smile.
I twirled around, still mesmerized at how beautiful I looked with my dark brown hair dancing behind me.
A light tap on the door seized my attention. It creaked open; father poked his head, catching my gaze and looking at me; pride sparked in his eyes.
“As expected, you looked lovely, just like your mother.”
I smiled back.
Only a few days ago, he was no one but a stranger to me. But after discovering that I was his long-lost daughter, he was no longer just a stranger but my father.
And I was no longer a rogue.
Today, he asked me to come with him to join the annual meeting among the wolves. He said to dress pretty as he would be introducing me as his daughter.
The thought enthralled me and made me nervous at the same time.
“Ready?” he asked to which I replied with a nod.
He extended a hand. I slipped my arm in his, smiling at him.
“I’m scared,” I whispered, letting father Alpha drag me out of the room.
“Don’t be. Today you will meet my wife and your half-sister.”
I giggled, warming up to the idea of having a sister.
We took the car and arrived at the designated mansion where the meeting was to be held.
At the entrance, the usherettes dressed in blue gave out intricately carved masks to the guests piling inside.
I readily accepted one, already feeling giddy about how this meeting would turn out.
Father patted my hand lovingly, and I followed his lead. We entered a grand hall littered with several other wolves.
Banners hang above us, each bearing the insignia of each pack. Servers milled around, offering drinks and some snacks.
I put the mask on, my eyes scanning the crowd nervously.
‘Alpha Matteo must be here,’ I thought bitterly, recalling how our last meeting went. My hand landed on my abdomen on instinct.
Several seconds in, his familiar scent wafted in my nose. I turned to the double doors that father and I had just strode in.
Alpha Matteo passed through. He looked even more appealing in a suit. On his arm, a beautiful lady dressed in the same color as I walked beside him.
Her lovely hair was neatly ponytailed at the back.
The other wolves watched their entrance. Alpha Matteo stood by the front; he glanced at the eye candy clinging to him before taking a filled glass from the nearest table and a fork; he clinked the glass and captured everyone’s attention.
My brows knitted. Her face looked awfully familiar.
“A lovely evening to my fellow wolves,”
“Ahoo! Ahoo!” the crowd cheered.
“As you all know, marriage is a sacred covenant among our kind. It binds two people and two families, making each stronger. With that, I am pleased to announce my engagement with this fine woman, Lady Elsie of the Silver Crescent Pack!”
While everyone cheered, I was fighting with inner turmoil. My insides were churning in revolt, wanting to puke at the sight of Alpha Matteo and his fiancé exchanging a quick kiss.
Father leaned a little closer to whisper in my ears.
“That’s Elsie,” father pointed at the lady beside Matteo. “Your step-sister.”
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness came over me. My lips curled as if to let out a ferocious snarl. However, I had to fight to keep my cool and instead gripped my father’s arm.
“Dear father,” I whispered back to him, laying the sarcasm thick on the next words that followed. “When are you going to do the introductions? I’d love to meet my sister and her groom-to-be.”
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone