"Uff... That was the longest ride I have ever taken," Charlie commented when they reached the venue of mating rituals happening. It was a vast land with setups done for the mating ritual particularly and also some fun activities for entertainment.
Esme got out of the car and stared at the entrance and closed her eyes and said a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess, Selene.
"Please don't let me find my mate yet. I am not ready to face the reality. Just in case if I do find my mate, please let him be someone nice and kind and not some ruthless man."
"I hope he's sexy too " Esme heard her wolf, Poppy, say inside her mind.
"Oh gosh..shut up Poppy," Esme grunted and opened her eyes.
"Ah..." Esme screamed and almost fell backward on her butts before Charlie held her hand and pulled her towards him.
"What the hell were you doing in front of me staring like that?" Esme shouted at Charlie. When she opened her eyes, she found him staring right at her face in a close up. When she screamed everyone in their surroundings looked their way. She did not want to be embarrassed at the beginning only.
"Like how?" Charlie smirked, pulling Esme to walk with him and enter the place. He totally ignored the looks that they were getting.
"Like a creep," Esme said softly, pouting.
Charlie left out a manly chuckle with his deep voice, "Come one, Esme. I have been seeing you since we were born. You did not find me creepy back then but why now?"
"It is different,"
"How different?"
"Back then we were only kids but now we are grown ups and.."
"And what?" he leaned towards her face again while she leaned backward.
Esme pulled her hand out of Charlie's hand and began walking ahead of him.
"Esme, darling, wait for me," She heard Charlie's voice. She shook her head and walked faster. But to no avail, Charlie caught up with her pretty quickly. It sucks to be a weak werewolf. She feels bad for herself sometimes.
They reached the counter where they were giving out badges. There was a machine that would scan werewolves. There was an old man at the counter and he is known as an expert. So, he was the one who could read werewolves and give out badges according to their strengths.
Charlie went first confidently while Esme waited for him outside patiently. It did not take him much time to come out. Esme noticed that he had a badge of orange colour. She knew the meaning of it because she had spent half of the previous night reading about the mating ritual. Charlie might not be the strongest werewolf but he could definitely win a fight. That was what the orange colour badge meant.
To say Esme was nervous would be an understatement. At this moment, her nervousness had no limit. It was almost driving her insane. Charlie signalled her to go inside soon. She swallowed the saliva in the throat and nodded at him.
Esme slowly walked inside and she could sense the old man's gaze on her. He continued to eye at her all the while. She took slow steps towards him. She was biting her lips while she waited for him to give her the badge.
And here it came. A big badge with colour light pink and Esme's very little self esteem went down the drain. That colour represented low physical strength and low self esteem. And Esme mostly agrees with that in the back of her head but was not ready to acknowledge it openly.
"Don't worry, Sweetheart. You will find your match who will balance your weaknesses and you will balance his weaknesses. Just make sure to never waver and consider another man. You must be the one for him or else he will be ruined for life," the old man said, making Esme look at him warily. She had no idea what the old man's words meant. Was it some kind of advice for the troubles in her future? She thought in her mind but did not dare to speak out. The old man gave her a warm smile and handed her the badge. She took it and exited the counter.
Charlie noticed Esme's badge but did not comment anything on it. He knew that she was weak but never once did he talk about it with her or anybody for that matter. He totally respects her privacy and also her feelings.
"Why don't we go separate ways and find our mates?" Esme asked him, walking towards him.
"If I did not know you better, I would think that you are trying to get rid of me," he teased me trying to ease my fear of entering the actual ritual.
"No no. I just hope at least one of us would find a mate so uncle and aunty won't be disappointed," Esme hoped that her reason would convince him to let her go her way and he was on his way.
"Oh...my.. my..... Look at here there seems to be a pair already done here," They both heard someone say. They immediately looked in the direction of the voice. There stood a man who looked fairly handsome and fit but nothing compared to the other man who sat on the bunker of the car behind him. He looked absolutely like an Alpha, a very strong and powerful Alpha. His strong aura spread through the surroundings and his Red badge shone in the sunlight. Esme did not know him but she could say that he might be the most gorgeous man on this earth. He had blue eyes, tanned skin, and a ripped body. The deadly combination for a hunk.
Suddenly, the world around Esme went silent and she could not grasp what was happening to her. She was lost in his eyes. He too stared back at her.