ZEPHYRINE's POV.
It's been two months since mom was taken from me, yet I still cannot get through the pain. I shut myself from the pack just to avoid all the sorry smiles and whispered words of fake sympathy. I was drowning deep within my sorrow, and keeping myself hidden away from people had helped me keep my head afloat.
But this was out of the question, since the pack needed all the people who could work.
That's how I came to my current job of cleaning and washing families in the pack, since it required the least effort from me. The job was undignified, but I earned enough to survive.
Kneeling on the palace floors to scrub, my mind wandered to my mother's house, which the pack had seized. "For official business" was what they said, but I knew it was only a means of ridding me of the last reminder of my mother in my life.
This is after being compelled to go to the outskirts of the pack's territory and putting up a small, tiny hut that was hardly enough for a wolf. I must admit, it was below the decent home which my mother and I were used to, but this tiny hut was the only roof I had over my head. I had to make do with this.
As I worked, I couldn't help but think about how far I had fallen. From being a loved daughter and a priceless gem of her mother, to being a mere servant, scrubbing floors and washing clothes. It was a hard pill to swallow, but I knew I had to keep going, if only for my mother's sake.
The question was, where would I start?
I went back to scrubbing the floor, my mind numb to the chore. The ladies of the pack were gathered in the next room, their voices high and low in excitement. I couldn't avoid overhearing their conversation, and my heart sank when I realized what they were talking about.
".can't wait to find out who the lucky lady is," one of them said, her voice squealing with delight.
"I know, I heard it's going to be a surprise," replied the other woman, speaking with her voice full of anticipation.
I felt a pang of sadness as memories surfaced of the day I had found out I had a mate. Cormac. My heart still ached at the very thought of him, and the memories of our time together came flooding back. I had been so happy, so shocked, when I'd found out we were meant to be together.
I had gone back to cleaning, wanting to push the memories away, but tears welled up in my eyes. It was of no use, the pain was still there, still fresh, and it hurt knowing I no longer had a mate.
With each passing minute , I heard the sounds of a mating ceremony. I can hear the music, laughing, and cheering of a pack in celebration of one of its members' mergers. I completed the cleaning and got ready to head home, but it was while passing by their grounds that I heard Elwes call out the names of the males and their mates:.
My curiosity got the better of me, and I hesitated. I decided to stay back and listen, hiding behind a nearby tree so that I wouldn't be seen. The pack was gathered around the ceremonial grounds, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation.
As Elwes continued calling out the names, tensions mounted. Everyone was just dying to hear who Ryker's mate would be, and according to custom, his name would be last. My own curiosity piqued over whom the lucky lady could be.
I watched in silence as the pack held their breath, their eyes fixed on Elwes as he prepared to announce the final pairing. A pang of sorrow speared my heart as I knew I would never again feel the joy of being mated, but I was determined to see this through-to know who would be standing beside Ryker as his mate.
“Who do you think will be our Luna?" The girl beside me asked her friend.
"Maybe someone so pretty, maybe it's that daughter of the neighboring pack… I heard she went to the last ball with Ryker." Her friend replied.
It was finally time to know the truth. Elwes began by clearing his throat, looking over the crowd, as he started to declare the final pairing. Ryker stood tall, eyes fixed on Elwes with anticipation and interest.
Elwes' eyes stood fixed on the ancient texts in front of him. His fingers moved across the pages, tracing the outlines of the symbols inscribed within. He took another deep breath while his eyes scanned the text hopefully for the answer.
Suddenly, his eyes widened in a shocking realization. He whitened as if an oncoming force had just kicked him in the gut. The crowd murmured, broodingly understanding that something was not quite right.
"What in the.?" Elwes muttered to himself, his brow furrowed in confusion. "This can't be right."
The crowd began to grow restless, their whispers more audible.
Ryker took a step forward, narrowing his eyes.
"Elwes, what's going on?" he demanded.
Elwes looked up, his eyes darting to and fro about the crowd as if in search of an escape. "I just need a moment," he stammered.
But he didn't. He had to proclaim it, no matter how bad it sounded. Taking a deep breath, a slight quivering in his enunciated tone.
"The alpha's mate is." His voice trailed off as his gaze made its way across the sea of faces, apparently hoping for some inspiration there, too.
"This can't be correct," he muttered again, as if to himself. "Zephyrine Blackwood, but she's.she's."
The crowd was growing restless, their murmurs turning into outright whispers. Ryker's face was darkening, his eyes flashing with impatience.
"Elwes, just say it," he growled.
Elwes took another deep breath, his eyes locking onto the crowd. "The alpha's mate is. Zephyrine Blackwood."