After two hours, we finally reached the summit. Ten feet away from us was the palace. We walked towards it. The palace stood grand and majestic. Its spired roofs were royal blue, the walls were bright silver, and the sides of every tower had lustrous gold on it. Flanking on the left and right side of the entire palace were tall white columns. On the sides of the columns were bushes. Close to the bushes were flower beds and trees. On the center of the biggest tower, the name, "Valiant Lycans: School of Magic for Werewolves" were engraved in deep deluxe gold.
At 3:00 am, the sky was indigo and the fog was denser. It was colder up here. We were freezing.
We entered the palace. I was impressed earlier by its exterior, but the interior was more impressive! The door was wooden and had intricate golden designs. The floor was covered in soft and red carpet. On the ceilings were chandeliers. There were statues of werewolves and busts of important-looking people. On the walls were portrait paintings of who I assumed were the owners of this palace, and Ezra. He looked like a prince in the portrait, dressed in a red and black silk cloak.
"Who are those other people in the paintings?" I asked him.
"They're my family members and my relatives," he answered matter-of-factly. "They're all dead now. I'm the last in my bloodline."
"I'm so sorry," I apologized.
"Don't worry about it; I have moved on," he declared.
As we walked, I estimated that there were a thousand rooms in the palace. I could get lost in this place if I were not careful.
"Your palace is beautiful," I muttered to him.
"Thank you," he replied to me in his warm voice. "My domestic staff maintained the grandeur, beauty, and cleanliness of this palace. This palace has been here for over two centuries. Of course, all members of my staff are werewolves. Just like its other occupants."
We went to the banquet hall. There were many people, young, mature, and old, sitting by long tables made of expensive wood and covered in luxurious tablecloths and decorated by candelabras. These people were werewolves, as Ezra told me. Everyone here was a werewolf.
Sumptuous meals were served at the table. Here I was standing in front of these people with Ezra beside me craving for the foods before me.
"Teachers and students, may I present to you, Phoebe Moore," he introduced me to them gallantly. "She is a new werewolf. I was the one who turned her. Also, I would have you know that she is also my chosen mate." The last sentence was met by gasps of shock.
"How did you meet her?" A bald man with a Roman nose in his thirties asked Ezra.
"I met her in Gray Forest one hundred and twenty miles from here," he answered briefly.
"Tell us about her," a woman with long and straight black hair in her twenties urged Ezra.
"Is it okay to say it?" Ezra whispered to me, "Are you comfortable with it?"
I nodded. I was used to people's harsh judgment due to my line of work. Mortals outside this palace criticized and derided me. If ever these werewolves would judge me, I wouldn't be mad. They should be jealous of me because I was the chosen mate of this gorgeous and sexy Alpha!
"Phoebe used to be a sexy model online and a streetwalker," he informed the crowd respectfully. "But her life will change here soon."
"Why did you choose her as your mate?" A wrinkly old woman with long gray curly hair asked him, as if challenging their Alpha, their leader. What's the problem with you, hag? I was tempted to ask her that. But I maintained my silence.
"I just knew she was the one," Ezra answered and smiled warmly first at the crowd, then at me.
What? He really said I was "the one?" I couldn't believe my ears! I felt butterflies in my stomach. A sudden romantic thrill cocooned me. I couldn't believe that this gorgeous creature was so into me! Maybe my sexual appeal was so strong despite the fact that I was not entirely beautiful. Or maybe I did really become pretty because I dressed and did my makeup well. Or even better yet, maybe Ezra did love my unique unconventional beauty. The Alpha really knew how to appreciate beauty. I was tempted to stick my tongue out to this motormouthed and meddlesome ugly old hag. I despised the way she questioned the Alpha for choosing me as his mate.
Did she expect to choose her or her ugly daughter, if she had one? In my head, I laughed at that thought. To be honest, I had the upper hand in this situation because my rank was bigger than those in front of me. They were just a bunch of werewolves. They could die in envy for all I cared!
But even though I was above them in status, they were still stronger than me. So, I had to be careful around them, even though I was annoyed at them. Or else it would be me who would die and turn into ashes.
We were still gathered around the banquet. Ezra, our mighty and beloved Alpha, informed us about how and when I would be mated. The Alpha stated: "There would be a ceremony at night on the full moon of the sixth month this year. During that ceremony, we would chant the blessing between two united souls: the Alpha and the Mate. Altogether, we would offer a prayer to Celeste, the goddess of the moon. So that she would grace the good fortune of us, the couple, and our pack. With red and black candles, you would imprint blood of blessings and favors of sigils on the mystical onyx stone of the moon. The precious stone has the golden symbols of the moon and stars on it. It is called Blessed Black Moon Crystal. Then after the ceremony, there would be festivities of singing, dancing, and drinking of fine red wine."
The crowd applauded after this important announcement. One member announced, "Hail to the Alpha!" The crowd followed suit and replied with "Hail!"
They clinked their glasses of wine with each other and drank them. The Alpha and I also clinked our own goblets and drank the rich, smooth, and divine scarlet wine.