Eliana placed a plate of warm food in front of them, her hands steady despite the nerves she had undoubtedly been feeling. She sat down beside Gregory, sharing a knowing look with him as he continued.
"The bond of mates is the foundation of who we are as wolves," Gregory said, his voice low, filled with conviction.
"When you meet your mate, it's more than just a connection. It's a bond that transcends anything you've ever experienced before. It's not something you can force or make happen. It's something that comes when you're ready."
He turned his gaze to Sarah, his eyes searching hers as if seeing through to the depths of her thoughts. "But that doesn't mean it's easy.
Finding your mate is the most powerful, beautiful thing in the world, but it can also be the most painful.
Sometimes, the bond doesn't come right away. And sometimes you might not find your mate at all."
Sarah's breath caught in her throat. The thought of never finding her mate sent a wave of panic through her chest, but she didn't let it show. She kept her gaze fixed on her father, trying to absorb his words.
Gregory continued, his voice tinged with the wisdom of experience.
"There's a loneliness that comes with not having your mate. A part of you feels incomplete. The wolf inside you craves that connection, and when it doesn't come, you're left with a hollow feeling. A longing that never seems to go away."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming more serious. "It's not just the bond you seek; it's the other half of your soul.
It's the person who will understand you without words, the one who will stand by you through everything, no matter what.
And that's why it's so painful when it doesn't happen. Because, as wolves, we are meant to find that connection."
Sarah glanced at her siblings. Ethan's eyes were wide with curiosity, but there was no sign of worry on his face. He had found his mate years ago, and the bond between them was unshakable.
Anna, on the other hand, was quiet, her eyes thoughtful as she absorbed the weight of her father's words.
"But Dad," Ethan piped up, his voice laced with the enthusiasm of youth, "you said we can't force it. How do we know when we've found them?"
Gregory smiled at his youngest son, his expression softening. "You'll know," he replied simply.
"It's not something you can explain easily. It's a feeling, a pull deep inside. Your heart will race when you're near them. Your wolf will know. And when the bond forms, you'll feel like you've come home."
Sarah felt a pang in her chest at his words. What if she didn't feel that pull? What if, like her father had said, the bond never came?
Gregory seemed to sense her thoughts. "Sarah," he said gently, "I know it's hard to imagine, but don't rush it. The bond is precious, and while it may come with joy, it also comes with great responsibility.
Mates are meant to help you grow, to push you when you need it, and to comfort you when you're broken. They will be your strength, but they'll also challenge you in ways you never expected."
He paused, his expression turning somber. "And that's why, when the bond is absent, when you don't find your mate, the loneliness is unbearable.
You see your packmates with their bonds, and you can't help but feel left behind. It's not a feeling you can just shake off.
It becomes a part of you, something you have to learn to live with, even if it never fully goes away."
Gregory's voice softened again, as though reading her thoughts. "But remember, Sarah.
Even without the bond, you are not incomplete. Your family, your pack, we are all here for you. And your wolf will always be by your side, even when you don't feel the pull of your mate.
You'll have the love and strength of your pack, and sometimes, that is enough."
"Don't make her more nervous than she already is," Eliana chided gently, setting a glass of orange juice on the table. "This is a day of celebration, not pressure."
Sarah smiled, her heart warmed by their exchange. Her parents' bond was a beacon of what she hoped to find in her mate, love, respect, and an unbreakable connection.
After breakfast, Gregory handed Sarah a small, intricately wrapped box. "A gift," he said, his voice softer now. "From all of us."
Curious, Sarah unwrapped the box to find a silver necklace with a crystal pendant that sparkled like the moon itself. She gasped, tears welling up in her eyes.
"It's beautiful," she whispered. "Thank you."
"Ethan picked it out," Anna said with a grin, nudging her brother.
"Well," Ethan said, feigning modesty, "I do have an eye for these things."
Sarah hugged each of them in turn, her gratitude overflowing. "I love it. I'll wear it tonight."
Sarah's siblings chatted excitedly about who her mate might be, their enthusiasm infectious. But as Sarah stood at the edge of the clearing, a flicker of unease dampened her joy. What if her mate wasn't here? What if she didn't feel the bond tonight?
Pushing the thoughts aside, she decided to take a moment for herself.
Walking around their cottage, she let the cool evening air calm her racing heart.
The thought of leaving her family to start a new life with her mate was daunting.
Before she could delve too deeply into her worries, a sudden, intense sensation coursed through her.
Her bones ached, her muscles trembled, and her senses sharpened. The transformation had begun.
The pain was excruciating, her body contorting as it shifted into its wolf form. She screamed, the sound tearing through the night air, but it was over as quickly as it began.
When she opened her eyes, she saw the world anew. Her wolf was magnificent a creature of grace and power, coated in thick gray fur with piercing brown eyes.
Her family, hearing her cries, rushed to find her behind the cottage. They stopped short, their eyes widening with awe.
"Sarah," Gregory said, his voice choked with emotion. "You've done it."
Eliana knelt, tears streaming down her face. "You're beautiful, my child."
Sarah shifted back, her human form trembling with exhaustion but radiant with joy. She embraced her family, their warmth grounding her in the moment.
"What will you name your wolf?" Anna asked, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Sarah thought for a moment before smiling. "Akira. I like the name Akira."
The moon climbed higher, its light casting long shadows through the trees. Its glow illuminated the clearing where Sarah stood with her family, feeling a connection stronger than she ever had before.
As the ceremony loomed closer, she found herself filled with a new determination whatever came tonight, she would face it with courage and an open heart.