Chapter 24

When the screams had calmed down, my mother started chanting and then the voices of all my ancestors followed. I could hear my father’s voice bellowing over the mass of voices. To me and all my blood relations we could hear exactly what they were saying and in as much as they were blessing our union not all of them were happy about it. To the rest of the pack, all they could hear were roars, murmurs and strikes of thunder.

Kiara and I sat up straight when our fathers stepped down onto the land. Tears ran down our faces when we caught sight of them. Their presence on the land caused whimpers from my pack members as they could sense their strong essence but couldn’t see them. My mother sniffled as my father wrapped this essence around her whiles Kiara’s father went straight to his daughter and her mate.

After dropping a soft kiss on her forehead and wiping the tears trailing down her face, he turned to look at Matthews. He muttered a few spells and it wasn’t long before Matthews let out a gasp of surprise as he saw what we were seeing. He whimpered when his eyes met the black ones of his mate’s father.

“Welcome to the family son. Take care of my daughter or else…” Kiara’s father said threateningly before running a finger over Matthew’s left shoulder. Instantly, our family crest started etching itself on his body. I wasn’t surprised when I heard him crying out with pain. It showed his approval of Kiara’s mate and the approval of our entire family.

My mate would have gotten one if he had been any better but that is just wishful thinking. He just missed out on his only chance. I knew the pain wasn’t really necessary but this is my family we are talking about and sadistic is our middle name. We just can’t help it. Before he left, he turned in my direction and after sending me a sad smile, he dropped a kiss on my forehead before disappearing.I turned to my dad and found him already in front of me with a sad smile on his face. I flashed him one back and would have hugged him if I wouldn’t risk breaking the bond that was still forming.

Fresh tears rushed down my face as I watched his eyes water. He rarely cried. Maybe I was a daddy’s girl or maybe I was just his favorite.

“Papa” I said brokenly

“My jewel… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I couldn’t help stop the agony you experienced before and the ones you are about to experience”

“Don’t apologize dad. It’s not your fault.”

“I know but I wish there is something I can do. You don’t deserve this”

“I know papa but this is my fate and there is nothing either you or I can do about it”

“And that is what hurts the most… Be strong my heart and know that am only one call away”

“I know… I love you papa”

“I love you too my little Khione”

“I’m not little anymore daddy”

“Sadly, I know that but you will always be my little girl… It’s time to go… I will see you soon”

“Take care papa”

“You too Khione and be strong. Remember who you really are.”

And with that my father was gone once again and the next step of the ritual continued. The moon shone brighter than before and you could feel its light seeping through the pores of our skins and the act in its self was relaxing and pleasurable. I could hear the sighs of relief and the moans of pleasure. This continued till my mother felt we had had enough and started bringing the ritual to an end.

I felt the exact moment when the ritual tattoo started forming on my wrist. I watched with my eyes and my heart broke with what I saw. The two wolves that were supposed to be entwined with each other to the extent that you couldn’t tell where one started and the other ended, stood next to each other with their backs facing the other.

My family crest laid on top of one wolf and the packs emblem laid on the wolf that I think belongs to my mate and there was blazing fire in the middle of the two wolves and a streak of thunder on top.

This is disaster!! Nothing was supposed to be separated because we were supposed to be one. Together.

But no! My genius mate had to screw it all up.

I heard the excited murmurs and awe of my pack members and could only chuckle bitterly. They didn’t even know the abomination they bear on their wrists. All thanks to their alpha. But I guess it is better this way. No one knows the meaning of the tattoo we now bear on our wrists except my family and I and it’s going to stay that way for a while.

For now, I’m just going to let them enjoy their first pain-free tattoo of their lifetime. I felt Kiara squeezing my hand and all I could do was squeeze hers back because now the deal had been sealed. And till death do us apart. I sat in silence tuning my mate out as he made a fuss about the tattoo he now had and listened numbly as my mother brought the ceremony to an end.

No sooner had her last words escaped her lips, I rushed to my feet and moved straight to her side. Not wanting to be anywhere near my mate.

I might just kill him. Kiara joined us shortly afterwards and after showing my mother the tattoo to which my mother said nothing, she wrapped her arms around me and whispered soothing words to me in our native tongue as silent tears trailed down my face.

I felt a part of me dying inside and no matter how hard I tried to hold on, I couldn’t. I felt extremely cold all of a sudden and then it was followed by emptiness. I called out to my wolf and she was still there. I checked on my other side and she was also there so then why do I feel so empty?

So, I tried a different approach, I thought of my family and though I felt the love I had for them, it wasn’t as overwhelming as it always was. It was still there but toned down. I took the risk and thought of my mate and I was shocked when I felt nothing. The bond was still there. Alive and kicking but I felt nothing. No emotion came up.

Not even anger and then the pieces started to fall in place but I just can’t accept it. Going down that road again is dangerous for everyone around me and even myself.

But there was nothing I could do. I focused my thoughts on my pack members through the bond we now shared and though I could feel their respect and love, it did nothing to and for me.

There was no sense of pride or satisfaction. Nothing. And all I felt towards them was just a sense of responsibility and nothing else. My knees buckled under me as I realize what was happening… before my body could touch the ground, my mother caught me and lifted me into her arms. I heard my mate talking but it felt like gibberish. I couldn’t hear or understand anything he or anyone was saying.

Things happened so fast. Next thing I know I was being settled on a soft object that I deduced to be a bed. I stop struggling with myself and let the darkness pull me under as I gave in to fatigue.