Chapter 8 Harrison's Past

• Harrison's POV
• Peter's departure completely drained my energy for the night. The alcohol in whiskey was causing my vision to blur. Lost in thought, I sank heavily onto the couch, reclining and staring at the ceiling where the stars alternated between brilliance and obscurity, slowly immersing myself in my memories...
• On the journey to becoming an Alpha, I underwent more trials and suffering than most. This path was a harder one than anyone else's. Born into the famous The Dark Night Pack, my father was the Alpha. My future was meant to be radiant, yet the moon goddess seemed to delight in playing tricks.
• When I was 8 years old, my father met an untimely death. The loyal warriors under my father's command were slaughtered by rebels, and no one was willing to support a young me in ascending the throne. Unprotected, my mother and I roamed, enduring disdainful glances. Many who had benefited from my father's favor closed their doors to us; some even drove us away.
• Fortunately, the Elder Council was present within the pack. With their aid, the rebels were ousted from the pack. However, the Elder Council declared to everyone that the position of Alpha in The Dark Night Pack was vacant. All pack matters were to be managed by the Elder Council until I came of age and successfully completed the Alpha trial.
• Coming of age was just a matter of time, but passing the Alpha trial was far from easy. Finding my mate was a part of this trial and then I was allowed to go to the dark forest to demonstrate my power and complete the trial. Yet the moon goddess didn't cease her jokes on me. At 18, I successfully bonded with my wolf, but I discovered I couldn't catch a whiff of a she-wolf's scent, not even the faintest trace.
• I wasn't flawed. My wolf was strong, I was nearly impeccable, except for my inability to catch a she-wolf's scent.
• This is fatal to me. This meant I couldn't find my mate.
• This wasn't normal. I suspected someone had secretly poisoned me to strip me of my inheritance of the Alpha position.
• I didn't give in and an 18-year-old me gritted my teeth. I could do without a mate. It wasn't a big deal. I would become the greatest alpha. I would reclaim everything I had lost.
• So I completely gave up on the idea of finding a mate. I didn't like contact with women in the first place, and now I can give my full attention to more important things. To me, women are a kind of trouble. Love is a strong man's weakness. I don't need love, and I don't want to have a soft spot.
• More and more women are afraid to approach me because of my attitude. That's what I wanted, but then an 18-year-old girl named Kayla Reeves burst into my life.
• I remember it was an autumn afternoon. I was invited to give a speech at my high school as a valedictorian. Before the speech began, I sat in the lounge, eyes half closed, enjoying a rare moment of quiet.
• "Is anyone there? Oh, it's you!" A girl broke into the break room.
• I still remember how she looked that day. She was dressed in an adorable dress that resembled a Barbie doll, her cheeks a rosy hue and a hint of baby fat still present. She rushed over to me, exclaiming loudly, "I'm Kayla, and you're my mate."
• In the face of such a confession, I responded with a cold smirk, questioning what scent she had detected.
• This naive and foolish girl actually said, "The scent of daisies. I caught your scent. You're my mate! From today, I'm your girlfriend!"
• It was utterly preposterous!
• I turned her down immediately.
• "Miss, I think you're overlooking two things. First, I don't have a mate. Second, I don't need a mate. Do you understand?"
• Yet, Kayla paid no attention to my rejection. Her eyes continued to sparkle, and with excitement, she wrapped her arms around me, burying her head in my chest.
• "I don't care how you react, because you're my mate. We're meant to be together."
• It wasn't until a noise outside caught my attention that I realized the microphone in the lounge hadn't been turned off. Kayla's confession had been broadcast throughout the entire campus.
• But at that moment, what occupied my thoughts wasn't the growing chatter from outside, but the sensation of her bountiful breasts pressing against my body.
• It felt like an electric shock, simultaneously tingling and numbing. It's torture for me!
• I had no clue where Kayla summoned her courage from. I couldn't detect any scent of a she-wolf, making it impossible to confirm her words. Nevertheless, from that day onwards, Kayla boldly proclaimed to everyone that I was her boyfriend. She flitted around me like an enthusiastic butterfly. Even Peter couldn't help but remark that he had never encountered such an exuberant young she-wolf before.
• Describing my feelings accurately is a challenge. From the outset, I found her to be irritating. Yet, in her absence, I felt a void, as if a piece of me were missing, leaving me adrift.
• Ultimately, I acquiesced to the idea of Kayla and me being boyfriend and girlfriend.
• Given my inability to verify her words, why not entertain the possibility that they were true?
• If indeed she was my mate, many of my troubles could find resolution. I could marry swiftly, undergo the Alpha trial, and assume leadership of my pack.
• Everything progressed smoothly. I grew accustomed to her presence, and our emotions deepened. Just when I thought happiness was within reach, Kayla vanished overnight.
• I'll call her.
• I contacted her on all of her social media.
• I asked all her friends.
• I went to her pack to look for her.
• I've been everywhere she could be.
• She didn't leave a message. She just disappeared like a bubble.
• ……
• I had long forgotten the reckless lengths I had gone to in my quest to find her.
• I only remember a night with pouring rain, when my attempt to find Kayla once again ended in failure. Upon my return, I encountered many malicious glances. They told me that the Alpha trial had concluded and I hadn't succeeded in passing it. I didn't qualify to become an Alpha.
• What did I do at that moment?
• I stared at the crystal chandelier on the ceiling, trying to recall the scene from that stormy night.
• Oh, I remember now—
• With speed and strength akin to lightning, I killed the leader of the Elder Council.
• Afterward, holding that aged skull in my grasp, I stood in the pouring rain and delivered my first declaration.
• "From this moment onward, I am your Alpha. A true Alpha needs no validation from anyone."