Chapter 1 Mating Ceremony.

Sapphire glanced around almost disdainful as she took a lick of her ice cream. Everybody. Paired off with mates.

She scoffed internally.

Not that she was jealous. No. She wasn't. It's just a little bit annoying to be one of the few left unchosen.

And where was Skylar anyway? She glanced left and right, hoping to spot her sister.

Wham!

She ran straight into a tree. Or not a tree, she thought, judging from the hushed whispers around her. If it was a tree, people would come to her aide immediately. Or was it a tree and people just didn't want to bother?

"Er," she began. Apparently her brain had short circuited.

A smile appeared at the corner of the tree's mouth. "Hello." It said.

"Alpha Nicholas?" It was more of a question since her eyes were still seeing stars and couldn't yet focus properly.

"Are you okay?" He didn't wait for her to reply as he called out to someone. "Hey. Get her sitted for a few minutes until she's okay."

****

"Sapphire Goldstone, where the hell were you?"

Rubbing her head, she replied, "I ran into a tree, er, Alpha Nick. Head first."

"Oh." Her mother paused.

"I gotta go apologize."

"No need to. I'm sure it's fine. He'll understand. He can be nice sometimes."

"Nah. I want to."

And off she went, pep-talking herself as she went along. She found him sitting with another Alpha, his brother.

"Alpha Ryder?"she called, bowing.

The brothers both turned.

Nick smiled. "It's you. How are you feeling?"

"Fine. Thank you. I just wanted to apologize for earlier." She ignored Liam's, Nick's brother, intense green-eyed gaze on her face.

He smiled again. "It was an accident."

Relieved, she smiled back. "Thanks. Bye."

As soon as she left, Nick turned to his brother. "What's up?"

"Mate." Liam managed to choke out.

Nick's eyebrow went up. "Really?" Then a smile softened his face. "I'm happy for you, man."

"Thanks." Liam stood up. "Maybe you'll find your's soon, too."

At that, Nick threw back his head and laughed. "Just go, Liam."

****

"Can Miss Sapphire Goldstone, please step forward? You have now been claimed as a mate by Alpha Liam Ryder and he is now to be claimed by you."

"Surely they don't mean me, do they, Mom?"

"I'm sorry, baby."

Before anyone could say anything else, Sapphire entire body shook and she morphed into a full white wolf and took off. Liam, from where he stood , watched and went after her.

Sapphire could hear the footsteps behind her and she pounded harder but despite the fact that she was running her fastest, it was impossible for her to evade him. She couldn't outrun an Alpha, even though he was in human form.

"Turn around!"

But it was too late. The branch wiped her across the face, drawing blood. She came to a halt.

"Christ." Liam crouched beside her and took out an handkerchief. He dabbed at the blood. "Hey, careful. Relax. It's a small cut. It'll heal fast." he continued talking, taking her mind off what had occurred.

"Mom!" she cried as she sighted the older woman, morphing back into her human shape, fully naked.

Liam diverted his eyes and turned to the Mother who held a bundle of clothes. "I'll be waiting."

Her mother bowed her acquiescence. "Of course."