Chasing His Scentless Mate-Chapter 338 The Mysterious Man

Chapter 338: Chapter 338 The Mysterious Man
Ava’s POV
The ceremony itself was surprisingly moving. In the grand ballroom, decorated with flowers and candles, Draven stood tall and proud as he officially welcomed Caroline into his pack. Their bond was evident in the way they looked at each other, pure adoration and respect.
"Caroline Bennett," Draven’s deep voice carried through the room, "do you freely choose to join Storm Valley Pack, to honor our ways, protect our members, and uphold our values?"
"I do," Caroline replied, her voice clear and strong.
"Then I, Alpha Draven Thorne, accept you as a member of Storm Valley Pack. May you find strength in our unity and freedom in our protection."
He placed his hands on her shoulders, and a subtle glow seemed to emanate from where they touched. Caroline gasped softly, and I knew she was feeling the pack bonds forming.
The room erupted in applause and cheers. I clapped along with everyone else, genuinely happy for my friend while ignoring the pang of longing in my chest.
After the ceremony came the traditional Pack Run. As the full moon rose high in the night sky, wolves began stripping down behind changing barriers before shifting into their wolf forms.
I stood on the massive terrace, watching as Eleanor transformed into an impressive gray wolf, Ruby into a beautiful auburn one, and even Nina into a black wolf. Caroline, now officially pack, joined them in her wolf form.
They all bounded down the steps and into the expansive grounds, joining dozens of other wolves running free under the moonlight. The sight was both beautiful and painful to witness.
I leaned against the stone railing, suddenly feeling very alone despite the crowd of non-shifted guests still mingling on the terrace.
I wanted to join them, to become part of this, but I couldn’t.
As my mood darkened, I felt that familiar warmth stirring inside me again—that strange heat that had been growing stronger lately, especially under the full moon.
I felt a bit lightheaded, not sure if it was from the wine. Maybe I should go inside and rest for a while.
Just as I was about to leave, I felt it, that distinct sensation of being watched. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I turned slowly.
A tall, powerfully built man was making his way toward me. He appeared to be in his early fifties, with salt-and-pepper hair and striking blue eyes that somehow seemed familiar. He carried himself with the unmistakable authority of an Alpha, but there was something else in his gaze as it locked onto mine.
My heart began to race as he approached, though I couldn’t understand why. I’d never met this man before, yet something about him made my chest tighten with an emotion I couldn’t name.
"Hello," he said, his deep voice carrying easily despite the noise around us. "You look unwell, miss. Do you need any help?"
"No, thank you," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Just feeling a bit lightheaded."
He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I see. Well, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Kenneth Flynn," he said. "And you are?"
Flynn? Did he just say Flynn?
My heart seemed to skip several beats as I stared at the distinguished man before me. Kenneth Flynn. We shared the same last name, but that had to be a coincidence, right? Harbor Bay was a big city, and Flynn wasn’t exactly an uncommon surname.
Yet something about his striking blue eyes felt hauntingly familiar.
"Miss," Kenneth said. "Are you feeling alright? You’ve gone quite pale."
Before I could respond, a familiar voice cut in.
"Alpha Kenneth, she’s with me. If she’s not feeling well, I’ll take care of her."
Joseph appeared beside me, trying to look polite but clearly tense.Without asking permission, he slipped his arm around my waist in a clearly possessive gesture.
"She’s my mate," he added with unmistakable emphasis.
I nearly choked. Mate? MATE? After everything that had happened between us, he had the audacity to call me his mate in front of another Alpha?
Kenneth raised an eyebrow, his gaze moving between us with interest. "I see. Sorry about that. She looked sick and was by herself, so I just wanted to make sure she was okay."
"That’s very kind of you, Alpha Kenneth," Joseph replied, his grip on my waist tightening slightly. "But Ava has everything she needs right here."
I found my voice at last. "I’m perfectly capable of speaking for myself, Joseph."
Kenneth chuckled. "Indeed you are. It’s been a pleasure meeting you both." He inclined his head slightly. "I wish you a pleasant evening."
As Kenneth turned to walk away, Joseph immediately steered me toward the doors leading back inside. "Come on, let’s get you somewhere you can sit down."
I twisted in his grasp to look back at Kenneth, who was watching us with an unreadable expression.
"Joseph, stop manhandling me," I hissed once we were inside the mansion. "And what was that about? Calling me your mate? We’re not even together!"
"He was looking at you strangely," Joseph muttered, guiding me to a quiet corner of the ballroom. "I didn’t like it."
"So you decided to mark your territory? I’m not your property!"
Joseph ran a hand through his hair, messing up its perfect style. "That’s not what I meant, and you know it. Do you know who he is? Have you met him before?"
"No," I said, my mind still racing. "But his name is Flynn. Like mine."
Joseph’s expression shifted. "What do you mean? You think he might be related to you?"
"I don’t know. Maybe? My family background is... complicated." I shook my head. "It’s probably nothing."
Before Joseph could press further, a hush fell over the ballroom. Draven and Caroline had returned from the Pack Run and were standing in the center of the room, hands clasped together. Caroline was glowing with happiness, and Draven looked more relaxed than I’d ever seen him.
"Friends and honored guests," Draven’s voice commanded attention without effort. "Thank you all for witnessing Caroline’s acceptance into Storm Valley Pack tonight. But I have one more announcement to make."
He gazed down at Caroline with tenderness.
"Caroline Bennett isn’t just joining our pack tonight. She has also accepted my proposal to become my mate and Luna of Storm Valley Pack."
The room erupted into a mixture of gasps, cheers, and excited murmurs.
I clapped until my hands hurt, overwhelmed with joy for my friend. Caroline had confided in me about her insecurities—how she feared no Alpha would ever want a mate without a scent. Yet here was Draven, one of the most powerful Alphas in the region, proudly claiming her in front of everyone.
"Oh my goddess," I whispered, feeling tears prick at my eyes. "She didn’t tell us he was going to do this."
As I watched Caroline accept congratulations, I couldn’t help but notice not everyone shared our enthusiasm. A small group of elegantly dressed women nearby were whispering behind their hands, their expressions disapproving.
"An Alpha choosing a scentless wolf as Luna? That’s unheard of."
"She must have tricked him somehow. Maybe she’s pregnant already."
"Storm Valley’s reputation will be ruined. No proper pack will want alliances with them now."
Something inside me snapped. Before I could think better of it, I turned toward them, fury boiling in my veins.
"Excuse me, but Caroline is one of the kindest, most courageous women I’ve ever met," I said firmly. "She’ll make an excellent Luna. AND she deserves respect, especially on her special night. If you can’t manage that, perhaps you should leave."
The women stared at me, clearly shocked that someone would dare confront them.
"And who exactly are you?" one of them asked, looking me up and down with disdain. "I don’t recognize your scent. Are you even from a registered pack?"
I lifted my chin. "My name is Ava, and I’m Caroline’s friend. That’s all that matters.
"A friend with no wolf," another woman sneered, obviously picking up on my Omega status. "How fitting that the scentless wolf surrounds herself with defective ones."
I felt my face flush with anger and embarrassment. Just as I was about to respond, a deep voice cut through the tension.