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Inhale the alpha

The commotion created by the coming of the son of the Ultimate Alpha wasn't what was infuriating Aaron. Mara knew. She knew it was the meetings they have been having with her father. She does not know the details of the meetings but anytime she eavesdrops, even if it's for a minute, she always hears them talk about the ultimate Alpha. And they share their hatred for the ultimate Alpha.

She wondered if the hatred for the ultimate Alpha is what binds these new packs in her father's home together. If it was, once the hatred of the Ultimate Alpha ends, Asark would probably go back to its warring period. And places like this city would become useless. The elegant buildings, the flowers, and the lights used in decorations would all become useless if war should happen.

"I am already overthinking things. Let me just enjoy the moment," she said to herself.

"So because he helps the poor, you had to honor him that much. Do you respect or fear him?"

"My Lord… our loyalty belongs…"

"Do you respect or fear him?" Aaron repeated his question, mouthing each word carefully.

The Beta didn't reply.

"God, is this the man I am supposed to live my whole life with?" Mara questioned herself. Fighting the urge to go join the people expecting the entrance of the son of the Ultimate Alpha, was not easy for her. She could say the same thing for those who were bowing before Aaron. They probably knew what benefit it would be for them to be with him. The only thing Aaron have ever done is just stress them.

And finally, the man came in. At first, there was confusion as to who it was, among the men who came in. Six heavily built men came in. They had the Noguchi traditional clothing made of 100% wax and 100% leather from any animal. They had a piece of clothing, draped around their necks. And their heights, well to be fair, they were as tall as Aaron but more built than he is.

Mara saw the first man she perceived to be the son of the ultimate. Though he was dressed handsomely, he wasn't oozing the royalty expected of the son of an Alpha not to talk of that of an ultimate Alpha.

"Could it be the one in the middle? No… No person of importance would stay in the middle." She thought. Also, the people had cheery looks on them. Something that shouldn't be on the people's face for the son of an Alpha. And not to mention, this is the son of an Ultimate Alpha.

"Who is he among them?" Aaron asked.

"He is yet to come in."

"Will the bastard… will he come in and let me see his unsightly face?" Aaron said furiously.

Mara looked at her maid. The two maids smile and bow. She expected them to give her a reaction. A pitiful reaction, but they won't want to risk getting caught by Mara.

Just after she returned her face to the crowd, she saw them bow in unison. Even though some people had to hit those before them while bowing, no one seemed to mind.

And then a man came in majestically with a smile. He was draped just like the other men that came in before, but his clothes appears more fluffy than others. His smile was radiating. It was contagious too. Mara smiled. She saw his pink lower lip and it reminded her of her ex-lover. He looks even more well built than the other men around.

His gaze didn't come to her directly but to the people before him.

"Be in peace, everyone" he greeted in a sing-song manner.

"Peace of the goddess and the 12 priests be with you too," she replied within herself in Unison with those bowing

Either she didn't take notice of it or she decided to filter their presence, people from her pack were also bowing down.

"So they have divided loyalty. Well, it's the son of the Ultimate Alpha. My dad pays homage to the Ultimate Alpha after all," she thought.

"Where is the market leader?" He asked in a thick rhythmic voice

"He is with his Alpha," someone replied

"Alpha? There is an Alpha here?" He asked.

"Where is he?" He asked and at that time, he looked around.

"Look at me first! Look at me first!!" Mara prayed within herself.

"It's not his Alpha, Lord Leowulf. It's the son of his Alpha" someone else replied. Mara didn't see who it was, but she was sure it would be someone from her pack. After all, the two lines behind the left eye, which signifies someone from her pack, are easily recognizable.

"Oh! You all should raise your head. Return to business." He ordered those bowing before him.

"Just like that?" Mara thought. She looked at those who had been before her for almost fifteen minutes.

But she could care less about those people. Even though she knew she would experience such a thing, she believed she should not let that ruin the moment. She looked towards the son of the Ultimate Alpha. He was approaching them now. Alone. With a smile.

She looked at him and took down her face. She raised her face again, with the best of her smile. She looked at him and then Aaron. She looked back at the approaching Lord Leowulf or what did she hear him get called.

"Eh?" She shot her face back at Aaron. He was smiling.

"You should raise your heads," he growled at those bowing before him.

"There is no need for you to get worked up unnecessarily. He already broke your pride" she thought.

"Ah! Hello… to be honest, I am a shy one. But it can't be helped that I needed to approach you first. I am Leowulf"

"No need for that. I am Lord Aaron of the Hudun pack"

"Oh! We are making reference to our titles too? I am Lord Beowulf of the Ultimate pack."

"I have heard so much about you," Aaron said.

"End your formalities and talk to me, I am not his mate," Mara screamed within herself. She gave a sharp smile. A smile to call attention.

"And my Lady? You are?" He asked. Leowulf had looked at other people standing with Aaron. The only person of royalty there was Mara.

He wouldn't have talked to her, but he looked at her face and smiled. He didn't see the second mark of identification, that would mean she is engaged. He saw clearly that Mara was from the Volde pack and that Aaron was from the Hudun pack.

There was no sign of marriage between both. And that gave him the chance to speak to her.

"I am Mara of Volde. Volde pack." She replied to him gladly. She saw the look in his eyes. She could sense how lost in thought he was.

"This is perfect," she concluded after inhaling him. Every Felan in Asark has a way of selecting their partner. The Felans of Asark have a more sensitive olfactory way of sensing rather than the men.

"You are a Lady or a humble Felan?"

"I am a Lady. Daughter of the Alpha." She replied excitedly.

"Lord Aaron, is she your mate?"

"No! I am not. He is a friend. An acquaintance of my father."

"Oh! I see."

"Mara!" He growled, then smiled.

Not just Aaron and Mara. The maids with Mara knew how deep in trouble she was. Talking to the ultimate pack is like a crime to her. And denying Aaron was another.

Even though by law, she isn't his mate to be, Aaron has perceived himself to be. And Mara hurting his pride before this Lord Leowulf is unforgivable. Thus, his hatred for Leowulf increased in folds.

"Lord Aaron, can I speak to the market leader?" Leowulf asked, not taking his eyes off Mara.

"Yes! The leader is all yours,"

The leader and others who were on their knees stood up. They all returned to their various shops even though Mara could swear they were cursing Aaron for delaying them. Mara looked at Leowulf as he was walking away. His gait felt different from most she had seen.

"And that is royalty and humility," she sighed within herself

"Mara! Get over here." Aaron dragged her closer and turned her towards him.

"What?" She asked, trying to pull his hard grip off her. He didn't let go, but when she shifted her hand into that of a werewolf and nearly dug it into his arm, he left her.

"What was that? What did you say to him?" Aaron asked with his face nearly in hers.

"The truth," she chuckled. He didn't say anything. He looked at the maid. He gave a bloodshot gaze, and they both shivered. They left both of them alone.

"The truth? That your father hasn't requested for bride price doesn't mean you are not betrothed to me," Aaron growled.

"I am not betrothed to you. Will never be," she replied.

"Eh? What's this sudden growth of courage? Did seeing a member of the Ultimate pack give you morale?" He asked, turning his face at Leowulf.

"There has always been courage in me. I have never been scared of you but of my father,"

"And you think defiling me is not equal to defiling your father," Aaron growled. He proceeded to grab her one more time, but he stopped when he saw her claws.

"Listen, woman… listen… you will not misbehave."

"And what will you do? Report to my father, have him deal with me? Watch me get punished so you can regain your pride that a more manly man smashed? Or wait till my father forcefully hands me over to you, and then you hit me?" Mara cried out silently in order not to attract attention. She moved away from him and towards Leowulf.

Just a few steps close to Leowulf, she gasped. She felt a sudden rush of coldness pass through her veins. It felt like her blood became iced and it just started liquifying. She felt pain in her muscles. A sharp migraine hit her. Her feet became weak and she could swear she wasn't aware of what happened to her.

She saw Leowulf standing with his back before her. She wondered how she got there.

She looked back at Aaron. She saw the rage in his eyes. The hatred his lips were cursing out. And then, just like how a sugar freeze hits, the memory of the past two minutes came back. She stood immobile looking at Aaron. She became dizzy. She wanted to return to him. It would be unheard of if her father was to hear that she left Aaron for another man. Son of the Ultimate Alpha. A pack of elite werewolves that most people in her clan were supposed to hate.

She could barely stand anymore. The subtle scent of Leowulf became choking now. It was the only scent that she could feel. All around her, she couldn't distinguish between any other werewolf. All that she could perceive was Leowulf's strength and scent.

Her senses of perception heightened. She felt danger and her nose itches. She stopped moving and tried to make sense of what just happened. She denied Aaron right before her maids and a stranger she was just meeting. She knew those two maids with her, will be severely punished. She would receive her punishment too but she doesn't know what it would be.

The fear of what her father would do, and the scent from Leowulf were all she could perceive. It blurred much of her cognitive ability. It even blurred her consciousness.

"I don't know what this is. But it seems meeting you might be the end of me." She thought of Leowulf. She didn't know why this is happening now that she met a man she respects and hope will bring her happiness.

She staggered. She was losing consciousness faster now. The sound of her stagger attracted Leowulf. He turned and saw her staggering.

"Lady Mara?" Leowulf called. He dashed to her even before she could take a step further. He laid his arms before getting to her.

"I… I… I love this Lord Leowulf. He is the perfect man," she said and she fell on Leowulf's laid-down arms.

"So you did inhale me, Lady Mara," B

Leowulf smiled.

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