Chapter 1 Marked By My Crippled Mate

• Ariel’s POV
• It was finally the mating ceremony, where each mate had to mark their partners and claim them. Everyone was excited about this day as they were marked, but I was different.
• With my fingers placed on my lap, I couldn't help but panic at the sight of the crowd that was before me.
• My eyes occasionally glanced toward the entrance of the ceremonial chamber, waiting for the man I was supposed to be marked by, but to no avail. He wasn't coming, and in no time, the mating ceremony would end, which would make me wait for the next full moon before I got marked.
• Biting down on my lower lip, I couldn't help but take my phone out of my purse, ready to dial his contact to understand what had happened, but to my utmost shock, he called me instantly.
• I picked up, placing my phone to my ear to speak to him in a calm way, but his voice came out in a harsh roar.
• “You vile, weak Omega!” he spat out without thinking twice, his tone snapping me into confusion. “You think I won't find out, right? No wonder you tried tricking me into marking you after three days of meeting you. What disgusting behavior.”
• Before I could speak up, he cut in sharply again.
• “If it weren't for my ex-girlfriend who returned and explained every evil you committed back then in university, how would I have known that you are this wicked? An Omega wanting to get marked by a Gamma? You've got so much nerve!”
• Immediately, he ended the call without letting me say a single word to him. I couldn't explain, and even worse, everyone that sat close to me heard his words.
• Their gazes were placed on me. I wasn't just embarrassed, I felt humiliated and emotionally drained. I was from the Blue Stone Pack, but because of my ailing mother, I had to move into the New Stone Pack to save her life, and to do that, I needed funds.
• The only way to get funds was to be marked by a member of the New Stone Pack so as to get the health insurance. There were none in the Blue Stone Pack.
• I had asked this man to arrive on time, but I guess fate had other things in store for me. Trembling in fear and disappointment, I stood up from where I sat and walked toward the exit of the ceremonial chamber.
• I just wanted to get out of it and get some air, then find out what next to do, but just as I was about to leave, a sudden strong grip around my wrist pulled me back into the hall from behind, startling me as I missed a step and fell right onto the lap of a crippled man.
• My eyes bulged in shock as I lifted my eyes to meet a set of icy blue eyes staring deeply into mine. His looks were stern and authoritative, and for a moment, I was certain that I had seen him before but wasn't sure how or where.
• His presence alone spoke more volumes than I could have ever imagined. He carried so much domineering aura within him, but I couldn't place my fingers on it.
• Before I could gather my thoughts, his deep raspy voice echoed through my ears.
• “Please, be my mate.”
• I swiftly stopped in my tracks, my brows creasing in shock at his sudden statement.
• “What?” I hurriedly stood up from his body, confusion coursing through my veins as I stared at him.
• “You are in need of a mate to mark you, from what I can tell, and so am I. We are in the same boat, so why don't we just help each other? Besides, what's the worst that can happen?” he emitted so casually that one would think we were making a business plan.
• He clearly didn't see the mate bond as anything from how he spoke. It wasn't important to him, but why would a crippled man want the mate bond? Even when I was merely a stranger?
• My thoughts reeled toward every possibility, but none made sense.
• “I'm waiting for your response, Miss. Or will you say no to me because I am a crippled man?”
• Immediately, I shook my head incessantly, not wanting him to feel bad. “No, that's not the…”
• Just as I was about to finish my statement, I noticed a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He was only teasing me.
• I tsked as I bit my lower lip, staring at him. He was crippled, but that didn't mean he wasn't handsome. Besides, I was just a lowly Omega in the New Stone Pack; only he had regard for me at this point.
• I have to get my mother that health insurance too, I said to myself, knowing it was the reason for all of this.
• I took a shaky step closer to him, my voice trembling as I asked, “Are you really a New Stone blood?”
• He gave a slow nod, silent but certain. My heart dropped. So it was true—I was about to be marked by a man who the world saw as broken. A crippled man.
• Without thinking much, I sat back down on his lap, my movements stiff and unsure. My arms slowly reached around his neck, not out of confidence, but because I didn’t know what else to do. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to quiet the storm inside me.
• “Fine… let’s be mates,” I whispered, barely loud enough for him to hear. As soon as the words left my mouth, his arms pulled me close, wrapping around my waist. His touch sent a wave of shivers down my spine. I wasn’t sure if it was fear or something deeper—something warmer.
• He leaned in, his lips just inches from my skin. His breath, warm and soft, brushed against my neck, making my body tense. Every nerve lit up.
• “It’s going to hurt a little,” he murmured, his voice deep but gentle. “But I’ll be careful.”
• Then, his fangs sank into my skin. A jolt of pain shot through me, sharp and burning. I gasped, clinging to him tightly, my fingers digging into his shirt as the sting spread through my veins.
• “Ahhh!” I cried out, my body trembling. And then—my eyes burst into a glowing blue light.