The ceremony started with a big feast. It wasn't a regular dinner; not even my parent's evening parties with their stuck-up friends can't compare to it. I've seen tables fuller than this one, but never have I seen so many people gathered together and chattering like a real family. It was magical, unbelievable how everyone was relaxed, laughing at having such a good time. Words were being thrown over the table, people from opposite sides engaged in active talks on which, other people weren't ashamed to tag along. There were no cliques gossiping, not even a hateful stare shot from behind the flower ornaments... I had to stand back and watch in awe.
Asher was sitting next to me, and if he was remotely grateful because I chose to join the dinner, he surely didn't let it show. He was talking to his cousin and Kaleb, ignoring me purposely. I tried to do it too, but it was hard considering that on my left side was Phoebe, holding her mate's hand and talking to Haven, Sharyn and the blonde I learned is named Sabine. Phoebe came into my room after Asher left, aiding me with my make-up and making sure I am coming to dinner. I was going to anyway, but one of her comments ignited something into my bones.
Apparently, hunter-hater Sabine is Asher's girlfriend, or ex-girlfriend, for whom he was a constant visitor of Boulder Creek. Well, of course, I was expecting this, but I never thought I'd feel so much hatred towards the blonde that was casually talking to the other girls right next to me. They were discussing their shopping spree, planning their next one and I was barely stopping myself from rolling my eyes at their girl-talk. Out of nowhere, Tiara asks them to help her master her defensive and just like that, the discussion about shoes and dresses turned into one about battling strategies and correct postures while fighting, a topic Alpha Taylor jumped right into.
"Aline'd make the best tutor," comments Phoebe just as I was taking a sip of wine. I nearly choked and hardly abstained myself from giving the girl a death stare. I was very happy observing their discussion, I didn't want to be a part of it.
"I'm not that good at teaching," I quickly say, trying to shut off the topic before it escalates.
"But you are good at fighting," points out Phoebe, annoyingly oblivious to my lack of interest in having a conversation. "And don't try to be modest, we heard about your rendezvous with those vampires."
"It was just a den," I say, shrugging. "Besides, Asher helped me. If he wouldn't have arrived in time, I'd have been an empty blood bag now."
"He said that you killed a handful before he arrived. That is some pretty big deal." Haven adds and Phoebe, Tiara and Sharyn quickly agree with her. Taylor and Sabine idly took in the information, both appearing a little more guarded now.
"It's not," I continue. "It was just my survival instinct kicking in at a time of need. I had to fight them, in order to stay alive. It's always like this so I don't consider it worth mentioning. Anyone would've reacted the same."
I stuff my mouth with the salad after I finish talking, diverting my whole attention to the food and waiting for the girls to drift off to another conversation. One that, hopefully, won't include me. And not a few seconds pass by, that they were talking about Phoebe's mating party and where should it be hosted: at Phoebe's parents' mansion in Australia, or in the pack. Unlike Asher and Hayder, Phoebe and her brother are not Lycan-royalty: never a member of their family was crowned king so far. But they are still considered nobility amongst shifters, which translates to fancy villas, clearance to pretty much any important event in the supernatural world and the means to live the life Lycans are famous for: carefree and spirited.
I have to admit, it'd be nice to have a life where your only worry is where your mating ceremony should be hosted. But it is not the life most of us get to live; we are stuck into the mud, while they relax on golden beaches, never knowing that dirty means more than sand stuck between your toes. It's no one's fault that life isn't fair, but I can't help from hating everyone who was born under a lucky star. I was born under a bloody asteroid, waiting impatiently to finally crash my life and destroy my world. At least I have something to look forward to, just like the dinosaurs had.
"Who's ready for dessert?" Shouts Kale, obviously proud of the way everyone enjoys the food he made. And I have to admit it was really good, considering he had to deal with it alone. I learned that he normally should have been aided by the Beta and Gamma Consort, as well as the Delta Females, but the pack is not very complete at the moment. Their Beta, Adam, is mated to a Lycan and will likely leave the pack after the mating ceremony. The Gamma, Sabine, also has better things to do than cooking, as this holiday is an exhausting time for the leaders of the pack. Don't ask me why they didn't tell me. And the only Delta is Tiara, the Alpha's little sister, who was supposed to help Kale but for some reason, he let her skip on her pack duties.
"Sour cherry pie or chocolate tart, Aline?" Asks me Hayder, as he was filling his plate with a few slices from each.
"Pie, please," I say, and he agrees, filling my plate with an enormous slice of cherry pie. I'm not a fan of sweets, especially very sugary, American ones. The only dessert I can eat without making me sick is Zoey's homemade Revani cakes. She often cooked them on Sundays, and she told me that her grandmother used to make this dessert for her, as a reward for attending the early-morning church service every week.
"Cousin?"
"Same," responds Asher and Hayder only complaints that we are eating the whole pie and he won't get a single slice. I've stopped myself from pointing to his full plate because my glance caught Asher's and I was lost for a second. My brain just malfunctioned for a moment, making me stop and gaze back to his emerald green eyes, just like he was staring back at mine. I don't why my breath stopped, the air stuck into my lungs and my heart racing like it wanted to escape my chest and run a marathon for me. Or for the person who rocked my world with a single look.
Wait, what?
I shake my head, waking up to reality and pretending like I was studying the slice of pie before me. I may have thrust my fork a little too hard into the dessert because I nearly projected a halved sour cherry into Chase's eye. It just jumped from my plate, directly on top of his slice of chocolate tart. "Damn it, Adeline. I'm allergic to cherries!" Complaints Chase, pushing aside his dessert, just as everyone bursts into laughter. I can't help but also laugh my arse off, as I dodge a halved cherry that Chase threw at me. I immediately fight back, picking another cherry from my plate and aiming at him. Hayder joins the food fight, sticking a halved cherry onto Chase's white shirt, just as he was dodging another fruit I've thrown at him. "You're going to pay for this, Silveira."
"No, you're all going to pay for this!" Yells Kale at the three of us, and everyone shuts. I'm too hazy, trying to understand his apparent annoyance, to be able to dodge when he starts aiming at Hayder, Chase and I with strawberries from the bowl in front of him. I already imagined how my light pink blouse is going to look, after being attacked by those ripe strawberries. I just hope they won't also destroy the white-washed jeans I'm wearing because I like them. It's the only piece of clothing I'm wearing that is my style.
Luckily, two arms enveloped around me, protecting me from the oncoming strawberry bombs. I open my eyes, looking at how messy both Hayder and Chase are, and how clean I am, then gazing back to Asher. He was having a smirk on his face and I couldn't stop myself from giggling as Hayder and Chase were trying to fight back Kale, who seemed to have got re-enforcements. "We better get going, before they're out of fruits and start throwing bigger things."
"Or sharper," I say, watching Hayder analysing the fork before him. Asher continues to shield me, taking the fork from Hayder's hand before he could aim it at Kale. Asher throws it away and puts his hands on my hips, guiding me away from the warzone the dinner turned into.
"You had to start a food fight with the wolves," he says when we stop on the porch of the mansion, watching from aside as everyone at the table joined the battle and were getting more and more creative. Chase left the fruits and started throwing the empty plates at Kale, who was dodging all of them. Hayder seemed to have diverted his attention to Jaceson, and they were having a duel with the chairs they sat on moments ago. Everyone was heartfully laughing, both those who were battling, as well as the little group who chose to step aside and enjoy the free show.
"Admit it, the dinner was so dull before it," I proudly state and Asher just giggles. I turn back to face him and only now I realise that his hands are still locked to my sides. My head tells me to brush them off me, but I choose not to. After all, when do I listen to my brain?
"I'm glad you chose to stay," he says, his thumbs drawing circles on my hips and I put my guard up, so I won't get lost in the feelings building up inside of me.
"It didn't look like you were so happy about it when I appeared at the dinner. I almost believed you were annoyed, because Alpha Taylor ordered Sabine to move away, so I can sit next to you."
"What? Where did this impression come from? I was merely talking to Sabine about some training schedules." He defends himself, but I just cross my arms across my chest. "Maybe I was a little annoyed by the stupid arrangements she made, but it has nothing to do with... wait for a second, are you jealous?"
"Should I be?" I answer and he quickly denies. Maybe a little too fast for it to be true. "Phoebe told me about your girlfriend. I understand if you want to be with her, but please stop pushing this mate thing. I won't be a mistress."
"I would never consider you..."
"Neither I like to share," I firmly state, interrupting his excuses. "I'm selfish like that, so keep that in mind next time you try to make me the third wheel."
"Oh, Goddess, can you please stop this nonsense?" He says, exasperated. Well, that should've been my line. "Yes, I've dated Sabine, but that ended years ago. I've even had another relationship in the meantime so we're ancient history."
"You had? You don't have anymore?" I keep asking questions, and I can see how Asher is so browned off of this conversation.
"Of course I don't," he explains to me like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Any relationship I had ended the moment I met you. There's no other girl I want anymore, besides you, Aline."
"So there's another girl," I ignore his last words, pushing further this relationship topic. I don't know why I'm so interested in it, but I have this inner urge to find out everything about his supposed girlfriend. Know thy enemy, I guess.
"Not anymore," he further argues. "Thalia found her mate nearly a year ago so our relationship had ended a while now. Even if we were still together, I'd have called Thalia the morning after we met and she would've understood the situation. A Lycan knows how strong and sacred a mate bond is."
"Such a good girl this Thalia," I say, my words sweet but my voice sharp as the knives I'd cut this Thalia with if she'd be in front of me right now. I hate her more than I should, considering that she is the namesake of my mother. And because her name alone reminds me of my biggest enemy, I will trust the signs and add another Thalia to my enemy list.
"I'd want to say that you're adorable when you're jealous, but you're pretty terrifying," jokes Asher and I stick my tongue out at him.
"I'm not jealous! I just hate girls named Thalia, they remind me of my mother," I quickly defend myself, but he laughs at how fast as I was to respond. Like his earlier, my words didn't come out as truthfully as I intended them to be.
"Let's say I believe you, so we can move past this subject," he says, hugging me tightly and closing the distance between us. I was bewildered by how natural being in his arms felt, considering how opposed to his embrace I used to be just this morning. If his words are indeed true and I'm slowly starting to feel our bond, then I'm going to get in real trouble soon. You know, heart trouble.
"We should go back to the dinner, I'm sure they are out of ammo by now." I try to step back, but his hand are keeping me tightly, his arms caging me into his embrace. I need to get out of this situation before I drift into dreamland again.
"Let's just stay like this for a while," he pleads, holding me even tighter. "I'm going to miss you for the rest of the night, anyway."
"I thought you said that I'm going to attend the ceremony in the woods," I say while trying my best to stay connected to the reality.
"You are, but that will only last half an hour. The rest of the night, the whole pack will roam the woods, listening to the night sounds and hoping to be this year's Moon Whisperer."
"Moon Whisperer?"
"The one chosen by the Ancestors to hear them, be given advice and have their most burning questions receiving an answer."
I pound for a moment at his response, then ask, "Are they answering to anyone? Or just to pack members?"
"Well, they are the ancestors of the wolves from this pack, but there's no rule in who they are choosing," he explains and my eyes must've glowed with interest because he becomes curious immediately. "Do you have any burning questions, love?"
"Several," I admit, not caring how mundane it sounds. Same old problems all people have: unanswered, life-long questions that seem to feed on their life energy like damned moroi. Of course, I also have many questions I'd want an answer to, but I don't tend to think about them often. After all, most won't ever get a question. Still, my basic-human hope tends to grow whenever I hear of a method to get some information I've so long desired.
"Any I can offer you an answer to?" He asks coyly and I laugh at his intention of a flirt. I mean, it worked like a charm on my shallow heart, but fortunately, I never rely on it.
"I'm prone to believe that you can't, but you may try," I answer and I already see his confidence reaching the skies, because he thinks I'm going to ask something related to our mate-bond-situation. Oh well, he is going to be shocked.
"Hit me with the best one you have," he says proudly and I pounder a moment before deciding if it's truly worth it. If I leave this vulnerable part of me out, will it be worth it?
"Can you tell me why my mother hates me?" I ask in a laugh, trying to make it sound less serious than it is. I always make fun of my rotten relationship with my mother; I mean, I've seen 'Freaky Friday' a few dozen times in my pre-teen years and I can safely say that Lindsay Lohan knows nothing about actual mother-daughter broken bonds. If my mother and I were to change bodies, she would probably jump off a cliff and have a witch switch us back in our bodies, right before my body shatters on the rocks. I'm sure she did think about it at some point and is only her aversion to witchcraft that I have to thank for being still alive.
"You are kidding me, aren't you?" He says in a chuckle, stepping a foot away from me so his eyes can search into mine for any trace of truth my words could've carried.
"Of course, I was only distracting you."
"From what?"
I don't answer him, but turn on my toes and start walking back to the dinner. I hug my body with my arms because it was suddenly freezing outside, the wind blowing the soft fabric of my blouse, the sun's warm paling as the night was setting in. The people calmed down at the dinner, talking and laughing like they were doing before the fight. I take the back of a fallen chair and lift it so I can sit back on my place. Fortunately, no one batted an eye when I appeared back at the table, after disappearing mid-battle.
"Coward," mimics Hayder on his lips when our eyes briefly meet. Of course, no one but he observed that Asher and I left the warzone after starting the whole thing. His cousin comes to sit next to me and I ignore the way his eyes glued to me like a magnet on William's mother's fridge. That woman has a passion for collecting magnets from all the places she visited, and God, she does travel a lot.
"Wolves," speaks Alpha Taylor and everyone becomes silent. "It's time for the ceremony." As she proudly announces, a cheer escapes the crowd sitting at the table. I get up after everyone abandons their seats and start walking toward the woods.