F a r a h ◕ N e a l

    I LOOKED AT the the invitation in my hands skeptically, my eyes running across the cursive ink. The prime Regiment pack's Masquerade Ball was to occur tomorrow evening. I bit my lip before glancing back down at the invite. Was it right for me to attend with all that had occurred yesterday? Would this pack want me to engage in such after the stunt I pulled?

"It's tradition..." A soft voice spoke from behind me.

   I turned my head and my eyes met deep dark brown ones. A girl with warm brown skin and sleek brown hair tied neatly in a ponytail gazed at me intriguingly.

"Oh my god, you're that girl from yesterday—the one who pulled a Mulan!" The girl shrieks causing my eyes to widen.

    I smile sheepishly before looking away from her eyes. I watch as the busy halls of the pack continued to roll with more members whom seemed to give me daunting looks as they passed by me. "Y-yeah, that's me..." I muttered almost to myself.

"Tell me, is it true you almost got mauled by a group of red breeds?" She questions, further intrigued.

My nervous grin falls flat, and I found myself wanting to end this conversation rather abruptly. I look at the invitation in my hands before I sighed.

"This was on my door when I awoke." I start changing the subject of matter. "I'm not sure I want to go."

The girl begins to open her mouth before Rebecca's tall figure reveals itself from the hall across from us. "Sorry Kiy, I have to borrow Farah for a moment."

The girl sticks out her bottom lip almost like a child. Her eyes graze my face once more before her pinkish lips curve into a smile. "I have to get to the next Alumni meeting anyways....it was nice talking to you, Farah." She says before turning her back and walking away.

She stops in her tracks turning back to look at me. "Like I said, its tradition. We'd love to see members of the newly integrated back attend."

Her smile was infectious and I couldn't help but curl my lips mimicking hers. "Thanks..."

"You're welcome!" She almost shrieks before walking away the other direction.

I turn to Becca with furrowed brows and she lets out a chuckle at my confusion.

"Alumni?" I question in surprised.

"Yeah," Becca answers. "With her overbearing and almost childlike jolly nature, you'd think she was an agriculturalist—no offense."

I sighed. "None taken."

"Her father is the current advisor of the pack and from my knowledge she's to be his successor very soon." Becca says before looking at the invite in my hand. "Oh don't tell me you're actually considering going?"

I bit my lip before looking around at the subtle stares pack members walking by gave me.

"In their eyes I'm problematic, huh?" I questioned Becca looking into her now serious eyes.

"Listen," She says before lowering her voice. "I don't think you should go. It's not because of that reckless yet bad ass sh*t you pulled the other day."

"Then...what is it?"

She sighed, her jade eyes narrowing at me. "You really think I don't know, do you?"

I stared at her firmly looking into her green eyes for any clear indication for what she may of been referring to.

"Alpha Adonis!" I could hear people exclaim in allegiance from behind me before I turned myself around.

Coming from the other side of the hall was Adonis' tall physique walking with many loyal pack members following him with praise. Next to him was a girl with deep jet black hair and deep pigmented blue eyes clinging to his arm. When Alpha Adonis' eyes finally fixated on me, his body stiffened and his eyes softened.

Our eyes locked with one another as he walked past me before they were pulled apart due to distance. My breathing quickened and my body began to grow hot.

With the subtle rise of her left brow and her now lopsided lips, Becca let out a cough bringing my attention back to her.

"That's why..." Becca tells before

I watch in utter shock as she walks off.

Rebecca Knew.

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My mind raced as I played with my fingers while sitting on the bed in Hanna, Lina, and I's room. I felt uneasy with everything; flashbacks of what had occurred between Xavier and Adonis flood my brain and I grew sick to my stomach.

The look on Adonis' eyes as he threw that punch; his wild eyes dark and bold as he attacked Xavier was like a primal instinct to protect....

To protect what he saw was his.

Me.

As days go by from the time Adonis told me we were predestined mates, more of my mind and soul begins to believe him.

And if it were true as he says, I had to tell Xavier everything that's occurring between Alpha Adonis and I...not only to salvage his heart but his safety.

Adonis is smart; everyday he knows more of Xaviers intentions with me.

I had to tell Xavier-

"Farah?

Speaking of the devil...

"Oh my god, Xavier..." I muttered out before getting off the bed and walking towards him.

His brown eyes watch me closely and tiny grin tugs on his lips. He had a purple bruise on his bottom lip and his jaw seemed a bit swollen.

I give him a hug wrapping my arms around him. He hesitantly folds his arms around me gently.

"I'm so so sorry..." I whispered against his chest. "You warned me and I didn't listen...and for that you had to pay the price..."

Xavier sighs before pushing me off him slightly. I look at him with confused eyes.

"X-Xavier, you were right. I know that now...I shouldn't have done what I did. Pretending to be you just to join the warriors was wrong..."

"Farah," he lets out a breath. His dark eyes not daring to look at mine. "you and I both know that Alpha Adonis did not attack me solely because of that."

"W-What are you talking about?"

"Maybe you think I'm oblivious...you tend to do that a lot. But I see it quite clear and with open eyes that the Alpha of this pack has his eyes set on you."

My heart dropped.

"And you...I see the way you look at him. "

My stomach turned.

"Even just yesterday outside, when everything was going down...You didn't stop him because you were worried for me—you know I can handle myself—you stopped him because you hate to see him that way...because a part of you likes him too."

"Xavier—"

"Listen Farah, Im gonna be at the ball tomorrow night. I was gonna ask you if you wanted to accompany me...but I'm starting to think it's best if I give you time to figure out what you want."

He begins to walk away but I grab his hand pulling him back.

"You're contriving conclusions based on assumptions..." I tell him.

No Farah...tell him. Tell him the truth. Tell him that a future with you and him is no longer possible because Adonis claimed you and is coincidentally your mate...your predestined mate.

"Is there anything going on between you and Alpha Adonis? " Xavier questions, his eyes pouring into mine. "Anything at all, Farah? I don't want to have to compete for you."

Nows your chance.

"There is nothing...nothing at all. I feel nothing for him."

Pain sprawled all over my chest because the inner part of me knew I was lying...the inner part of me knew that each and every day I was falling for the golden eyed Alpha.

Xavier smiles before pulling me to his chest and kissing the top of my head.

"You smell like plant..." he teases causing me to let out a dry chuckle.

"I mean, I am an agriculturalist." I said before pointing an accusing finger at him. "Not by choice."

"If it makes you feel better I'm temporarily expended from my warrior duties. Get some sleep..." he says before looking at the empty bed beside us. "

"Hanna and Lina?" He questions with concern.

"Hanna has duties in the kitchen to finish up, and she took Lina with her." I answered.

He nods before turning away from me and walking out the door.

Tears began to well up in my eyes, and I clenched my fists in anger at myself. Why did I lie? That was my opportunity to tell him everything.

Maybe the harsh truth was that I was scared; I lied in fear of losing Xavier for good if I told him the truth.

But that was selfish of me.

I froze in place as a small card captured my attention on the desk a couple feet away from me.

My mouth parts as I snapped my head towards the bed. I hesitantly walk over before lifting one of the pillows revealing a black mask.

It was beautiful with jewels that decorated its edges in a extravagant pattern.

And instantly I was grateful for this mask...

Because the mask would not only play the role of concealing my identity, but also my lies and my growing affection...

for the Alpha with those golden rays.

To be continued...

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Hey, lovelies! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I am so sorry for the long awaited update for this book. Senior year has been incredibly stressful, but I have now graduated with honors and have been accepted into two of my dream schools!

I just wanted to let you guys know that, updates will now be weekly for The Golden Alpha and LEGEND due to me now having a lot more time on my hands.

I hope you all are staying safe. <3

Xoxo - V

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