Chapter 8 Chapter 8

"This is Meyra Atkins, the newcomer actress who won the best newcomer award at a film festival two months ago," Liam said.

The woman named Meyra Atkins who was introduced by him reached out to Jayden in a shy manner. "Hello, Mr. Jayden, it is very nice to meet you," Meyra said softly.

Jayden took Meyra's hand for a moment and quickly let go again. His face remained expressionless. "Yes, thank you."

Meyra looked a little surprised to see Jayden's cold attitude. She tried to be bolder and more intimate. "I think you should see the movie I'm in, Mr. Jayden. It's a great story about--"

"I'm sorry, Ms. Meyra, but I don't like movies," Jayden cut in dryly. He looks at Liam with raised eyebrows. "How long will this event last?" he asked Liam, who looked uncomfortable because Meyra looked like she wanted to cry at Jayden's attitude earlier.

"In a minute," Liam answered nervously. "You should sit down at this table Jay, I'll make sure the emcee doesn't take too long to wrap this up."

Liam then left in a hurry while leading Meyra. Jayden sat in one of the chairs reserved for exclusive guests. He was bored and feeling a little irritated, because he did not like this kind of crowd. Not to mention the women who constantly tried to stick to him and some of them even really approached and tried to seduce him openly. How annoying.

Liam stares at a bored looking Jayden in the distance. He cursed himself for being unlucky because his uncle, Jayden's father, ordered him to find a woman to introduce to Jayden. By now, he was sure, Jayden would be cold to him over this.

Jayden took a sip of the wine in his glass and made up his mind to leave this event as soon as possible. His job is to deliver the speech he will give to Liam alone, as punishment because his cousin is more on his father's side than him.

Jayden knows, why Liam is so diligent in introducing many women to him, it must be an order from Andreas. His father is stubborn and annoying.

Jayden takes his phone from his jacket pocket and calls Liam.

"Yeah, Jay?" Greet Liam once connected.

"Liam, prepare your welcoming speech," Jayden said in a calm tone.

"Huh? What do you mean welcoming speech?" asked Liam confused.

"Ask the emcee what time I have to give my speech and replace me. This is boring and I'm leaving."

"Hey, hey, Jayden, you can't do that" Liam says frantically. "You're the president of the company, so it's you who needs to appear and give the speech. I just--"

"You're the cousin of the company president, favorite nephew of the go-getter Andreas Franzine, and also the chief director of Franzine's industrial PR division, so I'm authorizing you to replace me giving welcome."

"Damn, Jay, you can't--"

"You know I can! And stop being a matchmaker for me, Liam. I hate it when my father does it and I could beat you if you keep doing my father's whims. I'm going!"

However, before Jayden could leave, Black suddenly woke up and started growling under his breath.

"Hey shut up Black, this is not the time for you to show yourself off," Jayden said quietly, to himself. "Lots of humans here and nothing dangerous at all."

Black growled softly and Jayden realized it wasn't a growl to sign of danger, but a feeling of pleasure. Jayden intended to ask Black, but suddenly Jayden's sense of smell caught a very familiar scent, which he remembered very well even though five years had passed.

Jayden was taken aback, while Black began to voice his pleasure more clearly at the realization that his master had realized what he was feeling.

"Black, this is her scent," thought Jayden. "Vanilla ... and lavender."

Black confirmed Jayden's words and told him to move to find the owner of the scent. Jayden stood up and started following that scent he could never forget. Sweet vanilla and fresh lavender scent.

Jayden was stunned and froze, when he saw Lea, standing in the middle of the crowd, looking very prominent among the other guests around her.

Jayden still remembers how Lea looked five years ago. She was very beautiful, with an aura of sadness, heartache, mingled with an aura of seductive and sexy beauty.

The Lea who was in front of him was different. She looked prettier, sexier, but it was clear she was no longer sad or hurt, for now her grace, confidence, and maturity seemed to predominate.

Jayden felt his libido churning inside him, but suddenly the memory of Lea just leaving made him feel a pang of rage. Black told him to calm down and asked nicely about Lea leaving five years ago.

Black sniffs out Nada's presence who is happy but also has something to hide. Where she stood, Lea felt inside herself, Nada wake up and sniff the air.

When that very strong scent hit Lea, she became alert. It was a very strong scent lingering in her memory. She had never forgotten this intoxicating scent of cinnamon and musk even though so many years had passed and she had tried hard not to.

Lea rolled her eyes and was stunned, when her eyes met Jayden's. There he is. The alpha, her second mate.

The Moon Goddess had made a strange arrangement five years ago, bringing her together with the man, who later became her second mate after a painful incident with Garry. The man who had marked her and made a deep impression on her.

Lea looked closely at Jayden, saw his different appearance and thought how a bellboy could attend such a big and important event. Did he sell himself into the mistress of a rich lady?

A hand gripping Lea's arm interrupted her thoughts. Lea turned her head and saw Nina beside her.

"Lea, have you met the CEO of Franzine Industry?" asked Nina half whispering. "I saw him earlier. You should see him too because he will also give his personal assessment as the person who will pay us if we manage to get his approval."

Leah shook her head. "No. I haven't met her," Lea replied. "I heard that he rarely appears and is hard to find."

"Hm. He's a difficult person to approach. He's the alpha of the Horizon pack and very anti-publication. Not many people get to meet or approach him. I was also surprised when I heard he would come and give a speech before the team from Franzine did their presentation."

Nina took Lea's hand. "Come on, we still have to meet a few more people, before this event is over. Who knows, we might be lucky to meet Mr. Jayden, the CEO in person."

Jayden saw Lea leaving his place with a woman. Lea's eyes flickered to him, which meant she was aware of Jayden too and recognized him. After all, Jayden had marked him and Lea had become his mate that night.

They may have been distant and separated for five years, but their scent had bound each other. Their wolves make the bond. Black and Nada had been attracted to each other and remembered each other's scents, which would come back to form strong memories when they met again, two kilometers away at most.

Black smelled Nada's scent in the middle of the crowd because his sense of smell was only open to Nada, his mate.

Seeing Lea being taken away by a woman, Black growled for him to find its mate. Just when Jayden was about to check on what's happen, a woman's hand grabbed his arm.

--

This woman is Fely. She was observing Lea's every move in the crowd. When she found that Jayden's eyes were also on Lea, her expression became more vicious. Why do all men like Lea?!

Especially a great man like Jayden, alpha from Horizon pack, CEO of Franzine Industry, who is strong and rich.

The most important thing was that she hardly sees his gossip.

So she's going to stop it all!

With definite steps, Fely approached Jayden who looked like he was looking for someone. Fely lowered the shoulders of her dress, exposing her pale neck and shoulders, also lowered her dress at the cleavage.

She's beautiful and hot, Jayden must be attracted to her. Fely already knew that of the five candidates who would be selected in this pre-audition round, three of them weren't a problem at all for her. They were far below him and not worthy of his opponents to worry about.

The only opponent she has to get rid of is Lea, but she has worked out a perfect strategy with Nina to get rid of Lea. All that remains is to conquerJayden Franzine, the owner of the company. He is the main key.

Fely came closer and touched Jayden's arm. "Good evening, Mr. Jayden, you look very handsome tonight," said Fely in the sweetest voice possible.

Jayden stopped walking and looked at Fely with a frown. He didn't recognize the woman in front of him, but he also couldn't get rid of her right away because they were in the middle of an event and mingled with humans.

Jayden looked ahead and searched for Lea's figure. He could still see her back away from him.

Fely followed Jayden's gaze and she also recognized Lea's back, walking with Nina. Fely was furious. Lea can't meet Jayden, because if that happens, Fely's chances of winning the handsome CEO's heart will be even narrower.

"Introducing my name is Fely Natasya Braiven, Mr. Jayden," said Fely, getting closer to Jayden. She tiptoed and whispered to Jayden. "I am the daughter of Dalton Braiven."

Black had been restless ever since he felt Nada drifting away. He kept whining and forcing Jayden to move. When Fely got closer and felt the woman's scent there it was very disturbing.

Jayden moved away from Fely when he felt Black getting angry. However, with an aggressive attitude Fely grabbed Jayden's hand.

Black got up and roared ferociously, losing his temper as he felt Nada's scent fading. Jayden waved his hand violently, and Ivy--the wolf inside Fely, whimpered in fear at Black's ferocity.

Fely fell to the floor. She winced in pain as her buttocks hit the floor hard. "Owh!"

"Don't touch me carelessly, Miss, whoever you are!" Jayden snapped sharply. He then walked straight without caring about Fely.

"Calm down Black, we're among the humans now. Don't make trouble," Jayden whispered in his mind.

Jayden had to calm down the angry Black, because if he didn't, the wolf might come out and attack Fely or someone else. They couldn't do that here in the midst of so many human. It would be a big problem and against the law if Black were to attack a human.

He can attack Ivy, if he is bothered by her presence or demeanor, but there are werewolfes' special rules when it comes to humans. They have to prevent incidents that could endanger humans in order to maintain peace and live side by side.

Jayden walked quickly towards the direction where Eva was going, but several people stopped him because they saw Fely who was in pain on the floor.

Jayden looked around him with intimidating eyes while still looking for Lea. His steps are hampered, but he must get out of this crowd to get to Lea and also prevent Black from going berserk and him transforming.

***