The Choosing Ceremony was basically a free-for-all, real-life dating show. The only change was that the women usually didn't have a choice and would be stuck with whoever chose them for the rest of their life or until he killed them, whichever came first.

So it was common for people to be extra flirty with strangers. Now, what I didn't understand was why a total cutie like him was flirting with someone like me? Don't get me wrong, I knew I was passable. But I literally smelled like poop, which should make people run the other way. What was wrong with him?

"So, are you going to tell me why you smell like this?"

"Um, makeover gone wrong. The awful scent will be gone in about half an hour, though," I lied smoothly. I didn't know why, but he looked so innocent, and I didn't feel like going on about my brilliant plan for escaping the pack.

"Oh, you poor thing! You look quite young. Is this your first time?"

I nodded. His eyes immediately filled with pity.

"Don't worry, you'll find someone," he said, patting my head awkwardly as if to reassure me. I snorted.

"Yeah right. Like anyone would come within a three-mile radius of me." He tilted his head. Oh, yeah, he did.

"So, why are there so many females here? I can see that more than half of them are not from my pack," I asked, trying to change the subject. He raised both eyebrows.

"You don't know?"

"Why the hell would I ask if I knew?" He grinned sheepishly.

"The rumors are that two Alpha Superiors and three Alpha Heirs are participating this year. I thought you might have known since your future Alpha is one of the most sought after." I mentally facepalmed.

Of course. That guy was an ass, but he had the trifecta: money, power, and looks. So of course girls went crazy over him. Honestly, I couldn't see the appeal though.

He said 'your future Alpha,' so he was obviously not from my pack then. I belonged to the Wolf's Bane pack. As the name suggested, they had a higher tolerance for wolfsbane, a deadly poison for lupines and lycans alike.

Each pack had a unique scent. I couldn't identify which one he was from because I literally couldn't smell anything.

"Which pack are you from?" He scrunched his face.

"Can't you tell from my scent?"

"Nah, man, I drank a potion to numb my sense of smell." He nodded.

"Understandable."

"You still haven't answered my question," I pointed out. He looked uncomfortable for a second. Well, who cared? If he didn't want to answer, he didn't have to.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to." He relaxed slightly at that.

"Are you here to find yourself a mate?"

"Nope, I came here with my brother. It's a must for our Alpha to attend this year's Ceremony, and my brother made me tag along. I don't really want a mate right now. I want to be able to take care of and provide for her when I get a mate, and I'm not exactly at that stage yet," he confessed. I literally cooed.

"Aww, that's so cute! Your future mate is such a lucky girl. You'd totally be my type of guy if you didn't look like my best friend."

"Thank you, my lady," he said, grinning.

"Wait, why did your brother have to come with the Alpha?" I questioned, frowning.

"My brother is the Gamma," he said, tensing a bit. My eyes widened in surprise.

'His brother? Is he related to a Gamma? Seriously?'

"You don't really look like it," I pointed out without thinking.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Oh, it is." He raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not really fond of big, intimidating, and scary people who could snap my neck in a second," I explained. He laughed.

"You're funny. I'm definitely introducing you to my brother today." He paused. "Probably after you get rid of that smell."

"No way. As I said, I can't take it off for another half an hour." Otherwise, the efficiency of scent masking wouldn't be as full.

"You don't really sound like someone who just got their first ever Choosing Ceremony ruined. It's almost like you planned this whole thing," he said, sounding suspicious. I gave him a mischievous grin.

"Nope. It's just a makeover gone wrong."

It didn't seem like the cutie had the patience to wait until the potion wore off, as he was currently leading me to his brother. I stopped in my tracks as something hit me.

"Wait a minute, I just realized I don't even know your name!" I exclaimed. His eyes widened in surprise.

"I don't know your name too!"

I felt like I was dumb, and he was dumber.

"Let me guess, my beauty blinded you and you forgot to ask?" I asked with a smirk. He smirked too.

"That goes for you too, you know. You didn't ask me either." I rolled my eyes.

"I'm Ash."

"Daniel Bryce. Is Ash short for Ashley or something?"

"Or something," I said teasingly. He got it right on the first try.

"I told you mine. You have to tell me yours."

"No, I don't." He just pouted.

"Wait, I feel like your name is familiar," I said. The name Bryce sounded very familiar, but I couldn't pinpoint where I'd heard it.

"Maybe you've heard my brother's name," he said.

"Is your brother famous or something?" A mischievous smile appeared on his face.

"Or something." Now I was the one pouting.

"It's not fair! You're taking me to meet him. I have the right to know who he is!"

"I am taking you to my brother, and I don't even know who you are," he retorted. I closed my mouth at that. That was a valid argument.

So I just stayed silent and let him lead me to his brother, who I hoped was just as cheery as he is. We didn't have any trouble finding our way through the crowd as people literally ran away as soon as they caught my scent.

4| Just a Makeover Gone Wrong

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