4 IMPRINT

L. S. Corporations.

"Sir Luke, I want to remind you about your speech at Stronghold Academy for this afternoon and after that you have a business meeting with the shareholders". A woman in a secretarial suit is professionally reciting the schedule of her CEO.

The man in a suit stopped his hand from writing and lifted his head to look at her secretary. He sighed deeply.

"Thank you for reminding me Syl".

"It's my job sir and may I add that your Beta is still outside".

Luke looked at the woman in front of him and he clearly saw how she blushed when she mentioned his Beta. "Let him in".

A man with a dark brown hair and a very good built of body who looks like a model came in. As he walk by he gave Luke's secretary a very sweet smile and simply inhaled her scent.

Luke just shook his head. "What brings you here?". He took his pen again and went back to work. Checking and signing papers.

"I heard what happened".

Luke's pen hang in the air then he looked at his Beta. "Drew, I'm already 26 years old and been waiting for my mate my whole life what do you expect me to do?". A sudden anger registered to his handsome face.

"A mate is created for each and everyone of us you cannot just pick up some random person and imprint yourself on her because you are tired of waiting.... And what if her mate comes and look for her will you challenge him?". Drew put some emphasis on his last word. There's a law in there Pack about having two mates at the same time, the one must challenge the other. But in Luke's case the woman he is seeing is not his mate but just a girlfriend.

"Amanda and I grew up together and we are at the same age and until now she also have no mate. What do you expect us to do.... Why can't it be her?..... Everybody likes her. She's a great warrior and they see her as their future Luna. ". Luke's voice almost trembled. He is starting to hate the idea of mating. Sometimes he questioned their Goddess why do they need a specific mate when there are better people around.

"I know and I understand your frustration but things are created with reason". Drew calmly said. He knows his Alpha is a hot headed person that's why he needs to be gentle when dealing with him.

"No you don't understand. You already have a mate before you reach your twentieth birthday and she is sitting outside my office!". He even pointed his finger towards the door.

"Luke, listen to me. I am not just your Beta but I'm also your friend. And I want to remind you as a friend that trying to imprint yourself to a mate less wolf who is not your true mate, it will only end up like a dog fight. Just like what happened to you and Amanda. Good thing that she wasn't that injured". Drew paused for a while he let Luke process what he is trying to poin out. "You know how strong you are, if you keep trying to imprint yourself to Amanda your wolf will going to kill her for good".

Luke took out a big sigh and notice that the pen in his hands was now crumpled like a paper. He can't deny Drew's words are all true. He did try to mark Amanda but he failed and their wolves almost crush each other.

"I think I need a new pen". Luke tried to change the topic. He hates it when his Beta becomes honest with him though he is thankful that he is. He understands what Drew wants to say. It is very dangerous to force an imprint to a person who is not exactly your mate because his inner wolf won't really allow it and at the end it will only kill that person.

"I will buy you a new one after your speech on the Academy". Drew blew a sigh of relief. His Alpha seems to understand his point of view.

"We've been doing this for almost five years now, what if my mate is still in her diapers". Luke wants to laugh with the idea. He is already twenty six years old and if he finds out that his mate is still a baby he'll probably just strangle his self.

"Then you will be lucky you can watch her grow and you can make sure she will only know you".

Both men laugh.

*****

Stronghold Academy.

Lunch time and Selena is waiting in line just like every regular students. She is looking forward to a good meal. She read in the billboard forum that the food in their Academy is really tasty and delicious. She's almost at the counter when she smell something very familiar to her. Her nose can never be wrong when she smelled something sinfully sweet and to be specific it's the aroma of a sweet strawberry. She can smell a strawberry custard from the counter. Her eyes glint with happiness. She can't believe someone from this canteen will make a strawberry custard cake. It's one of her favorite.

"Please.... Please.... Please..... don't disappear". She counted the other students in line and found out that she could get a slice even if the other students in front of her buy a slice of strawberry cake. But she's still praying hard even for a slice. One slice is enough to satisfy her cravings.

Selena didn't notice she is in between a group of men who can actually hear her pray and each of them was looking at each other. They were smiling naughtily. The two guys in front of her bought the remaining strawberry custard cake and they were laughing while walking to their table.

Selena can't believe what she just saw. The two boys in front of her bought the remaining slices of strawberry cake and they were laughing while looking at her as if they were teasing her. They didn't leave a single slice. "Are this bastards really do eat strawberry cakes?". She mumbled to herself. It's very rare for boys to like strawberry flavored food they are more on chocolates. Her tears wants to fall in disappointment but she hold them in.

The group of four just put the strawberry cake in the middle of their table and started laughing. They keep on looking at Selena's direction then they will burst out laughing again.

Selena can sense a mischievous intention of the four boys on the other table. She knows them as the one who bought the remaining strawberry cake and left her with none. "I've been bullied before but no one use my greatest weakness against me, this is very infuriating". Selena wants to cry so bad, she can't believed something like this will happen to her. "I swear I'll take my revenge someday". She is now sure that scene earlier was made to insult her. Her only question is.... 'How did they know it was my weakness?'.

After lunch all the students went straight to the auditorium as instructed and waited for their guests to arrive.

Selena felt depressed. She saw the four guys throw away the cake without even tasting it and the worst part is they were looking at her when they do it. Her heart sunk, she was praying so hard just for a slice but this bastrads just bought it all just to throw it away. She walk to the left over bin and looked at the strawberry cake as if she was looking inside a coffin. Her tears wants to fall. She heard them laughing again while leaving the canteen area. She can smell the poor cake and she thought it was crying and asking her to save them but it was too late.

While the other students hurriedly goes to the auditorium Selena went to the ladies room and sits inside one of the cubicle. She decided to spend her time there. Then she heard some female students came in.

"Oh my god I can't believed Mr. Luke Stronghold will visit here".

"Good thing I went to the salon yesterday to do my hair".

"Like he will notice you".

"Hell yeah, he is the nicest man in this town he won't just ignore someone who calls for him".

"Unless Quin is out of sight, always remember she is the goddess here".

Selena heard different voices of women but their topic is pertaining to one man only and it made her very curious. 'Who the hell is he?'.

Out of curiosity Selena went to the auditorium, late of course. She wants to see this man who they were talking about. She opened the door and starts to walk inside. She can hear a deep soothing voice echoing inside the auditorium and her curiosity gets deeper. She wants to see the face behind the gorgeous voice.

Minutes before.

Up in the stage Luke Stronghold looked at all the students who gathered inside the auditorium. He was informed that all the students are in there even the new transferees. He inhaled deep and then sigh. All the women scents are ordinary. His mate is still out there, somewhere.

"Maybe she really is still in her diapers". Drew joke around. He understands him, he is upset.

Luke didn't say a word to him he started his speech just like what they do every year. This is one of the platform they use to find her mate. The other ones are social gatherings and business meetings. But to their dismay no result at all.

Minutes later his speech slows down and he almost stopped in the middle of it. He saw the door of the auditorium opened and a small woman was walking in. She have a very sweet scent on her and he can almost taste it..... strawberry. He gulped down and his throat becomes more dry. His heart is racing and becomes eratic. The corner of his lips curved upward and a word appeared in his head.

"MATE!".

*****

Though Selena is trying to see the man up in the stage she is still thinking about the strawberry cake in the trash bin. She was really upset by that scene. Her hands went to her pocket and took out a strawberry lollipop. Unwrapped it and put it in her mouth. She sighed deeply while sucking her favorite candy. Anything with strawberry could satisfy her, she loves that flavor so much as if she is very addicted to it. She continued walking when she heard a sudden laughters. Her gazed went to the group of boys and recognized them.

"Bastards!".

Selena's curiosity was replaced with anger when she remembered those boys who murdered her strawberry custard cake. She left in a hurry.