FIVE

Val's pov

It only took me a second to look through the crowd of others before I spotted Ozzie to the side by the drink stand and made my way over to him. I could see him standing beside his Beta, Kai, but once he sensed me his head shot up and he caught my gaze. I had the urge to run into his arms, but stopped myself from doing so.

I couldn't sense the Alpha anywhere close by, but his scent was lingering around, meaning he was just here.

Once I got close enough, Ozzie let out a barrage of questions, his hand reaching out to grab me before he stopped himself and his hand dropped by his side. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Did he mark you?" He asked me, his eyes raking over my body to check for any bruises or marks. As much as I wanted to let him hold me, I knew that was a bad idea at the moment. I could tell he was struggling to keep his hands off of me, clenched at his side.

"I'm fine Ozzie. Are you okay? I didn't know what was happening- what is happening." I murmured to him, feeling my voice go soft for him. I'd only known him a week and he made me feel soft for him.

"What are you talking about?" Kai said in his normal angry tone, and he looked between us skeptically.

I opened my mouth to reply, but I couldn't. Did I know what was happening? Did the Alpha imprint on me as well? How was that even possible?

Ozzie replied through clenched teeth, "Sebastian imprinted on Val."

Kai let out a choked cough, and it was the first time I didn't see a scowl on his face. "There can't be... there's never been multiple imprints before." After a moment of him looking deep in thought, his scowl returned to his face and he looked at me. "Did you imprint on the Alpha as well? Or was it the same as it was with Ozzie?"

I opened my mouth to reply, but stopped myself. Unlike Ozzie, I felt the immediate attraction with the Alpha. I felt the imprint bond with both of them, but it did take time for the one with Ozzie to form. "I felt the bond instantly this time..." I didn't want to look at Ozzie, but I had to.

He looked devastated at the realization and kept his eyes on me. This time I took a step closer and reached out for his hand; he didn't hesitate to clasp my hand in his tightly. "Maybe I'm the mistake..."

It hurt my wolf and I heard him say that and my wolf reached out to him. I could feel his reach out and it calmed me to feel so connected to him. "Nothing's wrong with you, Ozzie. I feel the bond for you too. I just don't know what to..." I trailed off, not sure how to finish my statement.

I could feel the Alpha enter the room and Ozzie and I pulled our hands away from each other, both throwing our heads towards him. He was walking in form the farthest wall and his eyes had immediately caught mine. My heart swooned at the sight of him, in a suit that fit him perfectly, his black hair pushed back, asking for me to run my fingers through it. His ice blue eyes watched me and I found myself feeling like a prey again.

He brought a force with him, causing the room to quiet down a considerable amount and everyone else bowed towards. As he walked up to me, he stood above me, maybe a little taller than Ozzie, and he pulled me to his chest. His scent enveloped me and it almost made my knees weak and my wolf was eager to be out in our wolf forms again.

I brought my hands up quickly to stop myself from going face first into his chest. "Woah there, maybe try asking nicely first-"

He cut me off in a growl and his glare became more prominent on his face. I furrowed my eyebrows at him, not expecting it. He wasn't anything like Ozzie. Ozzie would respect my boundaries and when I told him to stop he would. This Alpha Sebastian seemed like the complete opposite of my sweet Ozzie. "If you don't like me touching you, you can move away from me yourself."

He had bent his head over and whispered in my ear, and although the words seemed innocent, there was an obvious hidden meaning behind his words. 'I dare you to stop me,' he was warning me to see what happens if I disobey him.

Despite the bond between us, I didn't like the Alpha. I didn't know how I was going to hold my tongue around him if this was how we were going to interact with each other.

My eyes narrowed on him and I clenched my hands on his chest, but didn't try to move away. I wouldn't make a scene at this banquet, but he would hear my mouth if he tried anything after the fact. I wished this hadn't happened, and I could be with Ozzie. He would actually listen and he was sweet and caring.

This Alpha Sebastian seemed to be exactly what the rumors warned about. A cold and ruthless ruler. He was going to treat me the same way, I already knew it.

'Please stay strong, my mate,' I could hear Ozzie's quiet voice in the back of my mind and it made me untense as I thought about him. I didn't plan to tell Alpha Sebastian about Ozzie, and I'm sure neither Ozzie or Kai would bring it to light either. I'm sure they knew just how Alpha Sebastian would react.

After a moment of me not pulling away from Alpha Sebastian, he held me tighter before speaking again, "I am Sebastian Thorne, Alpha of the Aconite Pack. What is your name and title?"

I hesitated to answer, not wanting to say it. Somehow, him knowing my name would make it too real. "Valerie Days, pack warrior from the Lupin Pack." I said after a moment.

He looked me over before glancing at Ozzie and Kai before his eyes landed on me once again. He rested his hand on the small of my back, marking his territory with me. His other hand fell at his side, and he still had his body pushed into my side. I had to keep tense, because I hated that Ozzie could see this.

"Did you meet them while they were visiting your pack?" He grumbled to me, his eyes narrowing on me that made me shift on my other leg, creating just a tiny bit of space between us.

I glanced at Ozzie before looking back at Sebastian. "Yes, I was part of Alpha's Roman Guard to meet them at the border." I murmured, my mind flashed back to when I met Ozzie. I can't believe that had been a week ago, and I had spent most of the time since then with Ozzie. My heart dropped at the thought that I wouldn't be able to be around Ozzie as much.

Sebastian nodded before turning to Ozzie and Kai. "What did you want to discuss about the Lupin Pack?"

"Um," Ozzie looked like a deer caught in headlights as he looked at Sebastian. I could tell he was jealous, but he was holding it back surprisingly well. "Well, it was about that thing, the um-"

"Dear Goddess," Kai grumbled and I could see him rolling his eyes before he scowled, making sure he glanced once at me. "They were having some issues with rogues, and he offered to stay there to help out."

"Why couldn't you have just told me-" Sebastian was about to say but Ozzie spoke up enthusiastically.

"Oh, I'm so hungry," he said before he made his way past us to go towards the buffet table. I closed my eyes as he passed and took in a good whiff of his scent. It calmed my angry nerves, even if just a tiny bit.

Sebastian let out a small growl and I opened my eyes in time to feel him pulling me towards the buffet table as well. I wasn't really hungry, after such an emotionally draining night. I didn't know how to feel about it all.

As we came upon the food, Sebastian grabbed two plates and handed me one. I hesitated, half-expecting him to make the plate for me. When someone was mated, it was normally customary for the male to make the plate for the female first.

"You can make your own plate," Sebastian grumbled with a look in his eyes, pushing the plate more towards me. His attitude was such a mood killer, and even though I wasn't hungry, the way he was acting was getting me mad.

"I'm not-" I started to tell him that I wasn't hungry, but suddenly Ozzie spoke up.

"I can make you a plate," Ozzie said almost too urgently, which received a glare from Sebastian, Kai, and myself. Yes, my wolf and I found it sweet he offered, but he can't do that when Sebastian is right here.

Sebastian let out a low growl and took a step closer to me. "Why do you want to make her plate? She's my-"

"She's going to be Luna, isn't it our duty to take care of her?" Ozzie offered, although he seemed more like a deflated balloon now. Sebastian grumbled at his answer, but didn't seem to get any angrier at that before turning to me again and this time placing the plate in my hand.

"Her hands aren't broken, she can do it," Sebastian said, giving me a glare then glaring at Ozzie and Kai. Just through the bond, I could feel how angry this was making Ozzie, and it was making me angry as well.

"I'm-" I forcefully put the plate back on the table before crossing my arms over my chest, "-not hungry."

I had been trying to say that since we arrived over here, but he wouldn't let me get a word out. My wolf came forward due to my anger, and she was angry too at the disrespect of Sebastian. Not to just me, but also Ozzie. Sebastian looked angry, his wolf flashing in his eyes and he looked at me with gritted teeth.

It was like his anger fueled me, and I felt just so angry. I silently dared him to try me, something was awakening in me. Right now I could only see him, and I'm blaming him for how terrible this night has gone. I would have been happy with just Ozzie.

"You-" he started to say with demand, but he was cut off.

"Look what you're doing," Kai said suddenly with a growl and I blinked, breaking out of the angry bubble that had surrounded Sebastian and I. I now heard the shouting that was surrounding us and I looked around to see the room and broke out with a brawl with just about everyone.

Some people were simply yelling at one another while others were full on attacking others.

My anger died down as I watched whatever happened happen. "What's going on-" I started to say, but slowly everyone came out of their sudden rage and looked just as confused as I was. "What happened?"

"It's because of the bond. Your powers have awakened," Sebastian said as if it were obvious and he put his plate down before finding his arm around my waist and pulling towards some double doors. "We need to get you to the room- Oz, make a plate of food for Valerie." I shivered at the way he said my name and followed him slowly.

Powers? Oh, yeah. I forgot, your powers only emerge after you've found your imprint. I was the reason the room broke out? I guess I just let my emotions go and it poisoned everyone else? It got brutal very quick.