Almost a week passed since the mall trip that ended in an unexpected alliance with Seth, and he found his rank right in the stables. He was good with the horses. He was no longer made to muck stalls, but rather did so just because it needed doing and he found himself fastest at it.
There was one Philly in the stable that was his favorite. Her name was Starshine and she was a gorgeous white mare. She was a beauty and she knew it. She'd whicker softly and toss her mane and tail when she saw him coming. He'd slip her an apple and a few sugar cubes.
"You're going to fatten my horse if you keep feeding her sweets, Seth." Anna said entering the barn. She walked up to Star rubbing her nose as the horse laid her head on Anna's shoulder.
"Ah, so she's your horse then blondie?" Seth teased. "Figures, two blondes would stick together." He snickered
Anna bristled and decided to ignore his childish jabs. Honestly how old was he? He was 19, he should be past this nonsense. She grabbed her saddle and began to spread a saddle blanket along the back of Star. She was aching for a good fast ride. She needed to clear her head. Tomorrow was her and Vivian's birthday party and things were changing. This morning she felt so tired and then all of a sudden, so ALIVE. She had so much extra energy. Now that she'd worked it off in the gym then training, a ride seemed like a fine ending to the afternoon. Her mother and Jessa had shooed her out of the house to prep for the party tomorrow. Vivian should be along shortly. They were going to ride down to the meadow and back. It was Vivian's birthday yesterday but the girls had nearly always celebrated theirs together. Viv had been distant yesterday.
She smelled Viv before she got there. Viv got her wolf! Holy crow! No wonder!
"Viv!!!! Finally!!! You got her!!! You got your wolf! Amazing!" Anna practically jumped on her best friend.
But Vivian wasn't looking at her best friend. She locked eyes with Seth. Before she could say a word Seth let out a growling groan and wrapped her in his arms.
"Mate!" they said together.
Anna felt a small pang of jealousy as she looked at Vivian wrapped in Seth's arms. She longed for her chance. Someday. She immediately replaced it with overwhelming happiness for her best friend. Mates were the most precious bond. After years of worry she was wolfless and mateless Viv had both, it was amazing.
Vivian finally untangled herself from Seth's arms as Caleb entered the barn, he came to check up on Seth and was amused to find him with Viv. He perked an eyebrow at Anna.
"They're mates!!!" Anna announced excitedly. She pulled out her phone and texted her mother. 'Put together a lunch in your dining room, big exciting news! Bring Jessa, James, Drayven, Mel and grab Roz. She's going to want to be there.'
'Done and done. What's going on?'
'I'll show you when we get up there. Give me about 20.' She texted back.
It took a moment to get the two lovebirds separated again and another to get them to quit chattering. She dragged Viv to her room and got her into a pink sun dress and let her titan curls out of the braid she had them stuffed into. She then pulled her off to the vanity to paint her face up.
Caleb had the task of getting Seth dressed better. He pulled out a pair of jeans and a polo shirt. These wouldn't do. The man was smaller than him. He called on Alex to bring in something for him to wear.
"So, you and Viv huh? The dynamite stick and the horseman." Alex said with a teasing smile. He was thrilled for Viv. It was about time. She deserved someone good.
"Dynamite stick? Oh boy, is she a handful?" Seth asked.
"Only when you piss her off brother. She's got a wicked tongue and a quick right jab to go with it. Watch out for that jab." Alex said absentmindedly rubbing his arm remembering when she popped him in it for pulling her braid.
"Dually noted."
"Come on Romeo, if I know Jessa and Anna they've cooked something up. Time to meet the parents." Caleb said slapping him on the shoulder.
Seth let out something that sounded somewhere between a groan and a yelp all at once as Caleb marched him to Luna's suite.
Inside Roz was pacing the floor wondering what was going on. Her baby had just gotten her wolf last night and now there was more news. What on earth could it be? As Anna entered the room with Viv, Roz's gaze narrowed in. She could smell something on her daughter. A man. Omg. She found her mate!
Roz swept Vivian up in her arms twirling her baby girl in her arms her eyes welling with tears.
"Oh, oh my baby! My last baby. You've found your mate. Oh my heart. My sweet baby!" she blubbered.
That was the scene Seth entered to. Followed by a tall man with the same titan red hair as Viv. Must be her father he mused. Once everyone was there Anna stood up and directed everyone to get their wine glasses for a toast.
"As some may have guessed by now, and some are still clueless, Vivian gained her wolf yesterday. And now today, she's gained her mate. Viv, please, introduce us all."
"This is my Mate, Seth and his wolf Jet, he is the mate to myself and my wolf Leah. Mom, dad, I hope you will accept and bless my mate, as I have no intention of letting him go. And Seth, I hope you will see my parents as your own, my family as your own. Because I love you and I won't let you go easily." She said
"I have no intentions of going anywhere, so, Mr. and Mrs. Waters, I know I am an orphan with no family, no status and a horseman, but I love Vivian and I swear to protect her with everything I am. I will never allow her to suffer or come to harm. I intend to love her and cherish her until the end of time. I hope you can accept me as I accept you and your daughter."
Roz was the first to speak. "Of course we accept you. You were handpicked by the Moon Goddess herself for our Vivian. Who are we to question her divinity? Welcome to the family son." She said as she threw her arms around Seth hugging him tightly.
"Roz, you'll crush the boy." David said gruffly as he turned to Seth. "Son, I'll be watching you. If you make her cry or hurt her, I'll hurt you. That's my baby girl, she always has been and always will be her daddy's little princess, if you ever treat her as less than a princess, I'll have words with you." He said.
Seth looked pale for a second before Vivian slipped her arms around him and her father.
"He won't. I can tell. He's a good one dad, a very good man."
"Then you have my blessing, young man. Don't make me regret it. Alpha, Future Luna, Regent Luna, do you bless this union?" David asked.
All agreed and so it became that Vivan and Leah became mated to Seth and Jet. The marking would be left up to them as to when they decided to take that leap. Once marked they would be bound entirely. Unmarking a mate was not only cruel, but incredible painful and dangerous and could result in death even. That's also why you rarely heard of divorce in the were community.
Drayven pulled James to the side into the office to speak privately. He wasn't sure how the others would react so he sought to get his brother's opinion first. Not many in the were community trusted witches, and for good reason. In the past witches hunted them into the ground using them for slaves, and their blood for dark rituals.
Witches of today weren't like that. They'd changed for the better. Yes, there were still some bad ones, just as there were bad wolves, bad vampires and other species. It was all personal choice.
"I have in mind to bring my friend Moira here to see Jess." Drayven stated
"Moira? See Jess? For what?"
"She's a friend of mine. A white witch. Look, it's clear Jess possesses magicks. We don't know what kind or what she can do. Moira and her sister Ivy are gifted. They can suss out what other's can do. They can help her to understand and control her power. They've worked closely with the Royals. They're trustworthy. Truth is, I owe Moira my life. She saved me and almost lost her own a few years back. I was wandering through a rough territory that at the time was controlled by a large group of rogues that had banded together and made it a sort of tent city. I had chased one into it after seeing him snatch a lady's bag and before I knew I was surrounded. Suddenly there was Moira. She just appeared out of nowhere. She took on three rogues at once and just took them out. I don't know how to explain it, she just zapped them. Her hands glowed and she zapped them. Next thing I knew she grabbed me and winked me out of there and into her cottage. I had been stabbed in the thigh with a silver knife and I was dying quick, they worked on me for hours and eventually Chance was able to regain consciousness and begin healing along with them. I was down a week and in that week I learned about her and her coven and she is the real deal brother, she is trustworthy. Jess is going to need help learning to control it, no matter what it is or to what extent." He explained.
"Fine. Call her here. I think it would be a good idea to figure out what she's got going on, and for her to learn to control it. Especially since we're going to war with her old pack and she's hell bent on being there. It might be a good thing for her not to lose control and hurt someone or herself unintentionally. It is to my understanding that emotion can cause things to happen?"
"I believe so." with that Drayven pulled out his phone and placed the call to Moira. She would arrive in an hours time.