Chapter 23

Freya Rose After our huge fight, I'd walked back to the pool house and cried myself to sleep. I woke up today and rolled over in bed. When I gradually opened my eyes, I wasn't surprised to see the large empty space beside me. Tristan hadn’t come home last night, but I didn't blame particularly him. All night, I played what we'd both said over and over again in my head, and every time I came out looking like a complete jerk. I'd basically demasculated the poor guy.

I didn't really believe he was weak, well not as such. I knew he couldn't help that I was now stronger than him, but that was just because I was a hunter. I was naturally made to be stronger and faster than he was. I couldn’t believe that I’d said all of that to him, I wouldn't blame him if he never wanted to see me again. I reached for my phone and called Tyler.

“Hey Ty, did Tristan sleep at yours last night?”

“Yes, he's here!” He snapped at me.

“He told you, didn't he?” I asked, but already knew the answer.

“Yes, he told me every nasty little thing you said l, Freya. How the fuck could you say those things? After all he's done for you. I think it's best if you just give him some space, for now. He's got a busy day today. It's his birthday and the Alpha ceremony. I suggest you steer clear and stay in the pool house. See ya, Freya,” he shouted at me and then hung up without even letting me answer him or explain myself.

Oh my god, I can't believe I forgot his birthday. I should have been over there to celebrate it and to prepare for the ceremony tonight. I realized that there was going to be crap tons of unmated she-wolves, from different packs there tonight. What if he really thinks that I don't want to be with him anymore and finds his other mate? Freya what have you done?

I hid under the duvet and crying myself back to sleep.

***

Tristan Cole “Hey, Ty. Was that, Freya on the phone?” I asked him as I walked into his room.

“Yeah, she rang up to ask if you'd slept here last night,” he replied abruptly, not even bothering to turn around to look at me.

“What did she say? Is she coming to the ceremony later?”

I know what she'd said had hurt me really bad, but I'd also said some horrible things too. Going for that run in the woods really gave me time to calm down. I had mind linked Tyler while in the woods and he'd been a star. He really helped pull me through it all. He talked me into coming back here to give Freya some space to cool off.

“No, she said it would be best if she stays away today, she thinks you two just need a little space. She said she's sorry and that you should enjoy yourself tonight. She'll see you in the morning,” he said still avoiding eye contact with me.

Hmm, maybe he's just a little freaked out seeing his big brother cry for the first-time last night? I felt sad that Freya couldn't come to the ceremony, but I also understood. The last party she went to, her mother was killed. Like she said, I should give her some space and we could sort it all out tomorrow. We didn't usually fight, so having a massive one like that, really freaked me out. We had both changed and been through so much the last few months, so it was bound to come out at some point.

I'd already forgiven her and wanted to let her know that she didn't need to worry about me being weak anymore. I would be able to protect her and our pups. I hadn't got around to telling her all of the, ins and outs of the ceremony yet.

When my dad passes down the Alpha position, with it, comes hundreds of generations worth of strength, power and knowledge. My dad didn't seem like it now, but he used to be such a powerful man. His power gradually began to dwindle as soon as I had my first shift at sixteen. After passing down the Alpha position tonight, he will be left with the normal strength of any other werewolf and I will be supercharged. Oh well, it will be a nice surprise for her tomorrow.

“Freya, I love you. I'll see you tomorrow,” I said into our link.

She didn't reply, maybe she's asleep or something? I'll try her again later.

***

Freya Rose I opened my eyes and reached over to the bedside table and checked the time on my phone. It was six in the evening Sweet I have plenty of time to get ready.

I'd woken up with a new sense of determination. I also no longer cared to obey Tyler’s orders. I was going to that damn ceremony to support Tristan, whether he liked it or not. I was hopeful that if I just got to see Tristan, then he would hear me out and maybe even take me back. I got out of bed and walked into the bathroom, showered, then headed over to the closet to pick out an outfit to wear. It needed to be perfect. I wanted to blow his mind and show him what he'd be missing if he let me walk out of his life. I pulled dresses along the rail.

“Nope… Ummm, nope. Urgh, what was I thinking with this one?” I talked out loud to myself while rejecting each one. “What the?” I said when my hand landed on a dress bag.

I took it out of the closet and saw that it had a post-it note stuck to it. Written in Tristan's handwriting was, Freya, please wear me.

A beautiful dress, for a beautiful woman.

I love you always, forever be mine.

My heart skipped a beat when I read the note. I couldn't believe how sweet he was. I unzipped the bag and pulled out a stunning baby pink dress. It had darker pink embossed flowers on it. Not usually something I would go for, but it was cute, and I could tell it was going to be skintight too. I dried myself off and put on a baby pink lacy thong and a matching bra. I put the dress over my head and slid it down my body. I was right, it was hugging my curves perfectly. I glanced into the full-length mirror, then turned to the side, checking myself out.

The boy had done well. It was a sweet dress with just the right amount of sexy, without being slutty. I styled my hair in loose waves and wore very natural make up, finishing off the look with some white heels and a white faux fur jacket.

I made my way downstairs and grabbed my car keys off of the key rack by the front door. I opened the door and exhaled.

“You've got this, Freya. Let’s go and get your man back!”

***

Tristan Cole I'd been at the ceremony for around twenty minutes. My duty, for now, was to stand front and center being greeted by all the guests. A line was formed and each person was formally introduced to me. They had the opportunity to wish me well, or to congratulate me on my, soon to be Alpha position. It was a very outdated and time-consuming tradition. There were hundreds of wolves in the hall already and even more were arriving. 

“This is going to take forever!” I mind linked Tyler who was standing right next to me.

He chuckled out loud and was immediately snarled at by some old bat that was bent over in front of me trying to kiss my hand. She was so creepy. After snarling at Tyler, she turned her attention back to my hand. I could feel her prickly moustache brushing against my skin when her wrinkly old lips pressed down on the top of my hand. It took every ounce of strength I had not to slap the old bat silly.

She looked up at me with lust in her eyes and it made a shiver of pure revulsion creep down my spine. When she pulled her mouth away from my hand, a string of her saliva left her lips, connecting my hand to her mouth. It snapped and fell back down, splashing onto my hand. I heaved, which instantly encouraged a little bit of vomit to crawl up into my mouth. Tyler was cracking up in our mind link while I was screaming, “Ew, ew, ew, ew.”

The woman stood back up and smiled at me. I heaved again when I saw that she was missing half of her teeth, the ones she did have left, were yellow and black. They were crumbling and rotting away with every passing minute. The thought of it made me heave yet again, making me cover my mouth so that I didn't throw up all over the old hag. She waddled off while Tyler was doubled up, laughing.

I reached my hand over to him and wiped the disgusting spit, right across his face. He immediately began loudly heaving. It was so funny and I burst out laughing, people instantly began staring at us. Some looked at us like we were crazy, others just tutted and walked off shaking their heads. 

“Pull yourselves together!” My father growled over the mind link.

I choked back a few laughs, before calming myself back down.

“Tristan wiped some dried-up old hags spit, all over my face!” Tyler replied over the link.

I snorted and then tried to control myself again. 

“Go and wash your face, compose yourself, then come back here and behave yourself!”

Tyler skulked off while my dad looked at me out of the corner of his eye. I expected a scowl, but he pulled the side of his mouth up and into a slight grin. I giggled to myself then resumed my duties. The greetings took ages and we were finally starting to see the end of the line. Lots of people kept shoving their daughters in my face.

I guess they knew that I wasn't fully bonded yet, so they couldn't pass up the opportunity to introduce me to their unmated daughters to me. I guess in the hope that one of them could be my mate. Luckily none of them was and to be honest, I wasn't interested in anyone but Freya. Although, I did know that if anyone else was my mate, it would be extremely difficult for me to reject them.

Of course, I hadn't told Freya that. As far as she knew, if somebody else was my mate, I would reject them on the spot. I made sure that she was convinced of that fact, because I didn't want her leaving me if she thought there was a chance I would choose someone else. It was extremely selfish of me, I know, but I didn't want to lose her.

We'd finally been greeted by the last of the guests and I sighed with relief. There was a hell of a lot of unmated she-wolves there, but luckily for me, none of them was my mate. That fact only convinced me more, that Freya was definitely my mate. My dad took me by my shoulders and guided me into the middle of the room. Everyone circled around us when we knelt down on the floor and faced each other. 

“My son, I hereby hand you my position of Alpha of the Jasper pack. May you be a strong and fair Alpha and may you keep this pack safe and prosperous.”

He picked up the ceremonial blade that laid between us on the floor, before sliding it across his palm. Once he'd finished, he handed me the blade and I sliced my own skin open. We held our hands up and placed our bloodied palms together.

“Selene, our magnificent moon Goddess. Please, grant, Tristan my full power and all the power every single Cole Alpha who ruled before us,” he boomed.

He tilted his head back and I followed suit. We both howled loudly into the air. A bright ice-blue light beamed down, surrounding both of our hands. I felt an almighty surge of power pulse through my hand and travel up my arm, before spreading around my entire body. The crowd howled and clapped as the light gradually faded, ending the passing of power.

My father and I both fell forwards, onto the floor. We stayed there on all fours for a moment catching our breath. I pulled myself to my feet and hurried to help my father onto his feet. He put his arm around me and pulled me in for a hug.

“You will make an amazing Alpha. I am so proud of you son.”

“Thank you. I hope I can be as good an Alpha as you have been, dad.”

He smiled at me and patted my chest. My mom and Beta Dylan rushed over and each took one of my dad's arms, then helped him over to a seat. He'll be fine, I reminded myself. He had warned me that he would feel a little weak after the transfer of power. I watched my mom kiss his cheek and Beta Dylan squeeze his shoulder. People gradually surrounded me, bowing their heads to me as they congratulated me. They were now formally addressing me as an Alpha.

A delightful scent distracted me. Taking over all of my senses, it was all that I could concentrate on. I peered over towards where the scent was coming from and there she was. Standing by the front door, she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. She was more beautiful than the moon itself. I couldn't hold it in any longer, my wolf was going insane and howling inside my head. I had to let it out. Everyone froze and silence consumed the room when I howled into the air, “Mate!”

***

Freya Rose I drove to the venue that I'd helped Clara pick out for Tristan’s ceremony. It was a huge mansion, built out of large light-gray stones. It had been decorated outside with a red carpet and twinkling lights in the trees. I pulled up to a valet and the guy took my keys when I got out of my car. He drove off while I proceeded to walk towards the red carpet. I heard a few gasps and whispers as I approached the building.

“What is a hunter doing here?” I heard one girl ask the guy standing next to her.

“She's a wolf too, can't you smell it?” The older guy with her whispered back.

“No. All I can smell is, Alpha Tristan all over the skank!” She said even louder, so that everyone could hear her.

“Kylie, shhh! That's his future mate and Luna of his pack,” he snapped at her while yanking on her arm.

I shot her a scowl and illuminated my eyes as a warning. They both bowed their heads in fear. I huffed and held my head high as I walked off in the direction of the ceremony. I spotted one of the Alpha's that had been at the pool house a few weeks back. He proceeded down the stairs and strolled towards me with his arms stretched out ready to hug me.

“Hello, little hunter. It's such an honor to see you again. I see you've made it safely through the transition and so quickly too! You really are magnificent my dear Luna.” He embraced me and kissed my cheek.

“Thank you, Alpha... Um...” I stumbled over my words as I tried to remember his name.

He saved me from my utter embarrassment when he stepped in, “Alpha Jeremy Quinn, at your service. I would be honored if you would let me escort you into the ceremony, my little hunter.”

He bowed to me while offering me his arm. I placed my arm through his and replied, “The honor would be all mine, Alpha Quinn.”

He tipped his head slightly, then gently escorted me up the stairs and in through the doors.

“Here is where I leave you my little hunter. Have a fantastic night and I'll see you again soon,” he said with a smile, then walked off into the crowd.

I stood there in awe at how beautiful the place looked. It had white silk fabric panels attached to the ceiling that draped elegantly from the giant crystal chandelier in the middle of the room. They finished at the walls, then flowed down the corners of the room like a waterfall. There were lots of round tables all covered in the same silk fabric, but they were pink in color, the exact same pink as my dress, in fact.

I looked around the room and spotted Tristan. He had a crowd of people around him and they were all shaking his hand and bowing to him. He looked so happy, but there was something different about him. He seemed stronger and more confident somehow. He had a new-found power, like his whole presence commanded respect. I'd never loved, or wanted him more. I couldn't believe I had almost let him go. He was my entire world. I let out a contented sigh.

“What the hell is she doing here? I thought Tyler told her to stay away!” I heard Amber snarl from behind me.

I ignored her though, I wasn't going to let that bitch ruin my night. Tonight, was about Tristan and me. Hopefully getting back together and finally starting our future together. I carried on watching Tristan, but he froze and began to sniff the air. A huge smile grew across his face and he began pushing people aside, before gazing over to me. His smile grew even wider, making me blush. The crowd fell silent when he howled into the air, “Mate!”

My heart almost hopped right out of my chest. I didn't understand though, I hadn't had my first shift yet, so I shouldn't have been able to find my mate yet.

Maybe Selene had something to do with it? Or maybe because he's now an Alpha he's strong enough to know who his mate is instantly?

I didn't know the reason why he was able to know that I was his mate. I didn't care about the reasons behind it, because I couldn't deny what was right in front of my eyes. The crowd parted when he ran straight towards me. I closed my eyes and held my arms out wide, ready to receive him.

“Ow, what the..?” I yelled when he ran right into my outstretched arm.

The force of it sent me flying backwards while he continued to run right past me. I watched in horror when he ran straight into the arms of another woman. She giggled and cried with happiness. He lifted her high up into the air and spun her around lovingly. I stumbled further backwards feeling like my heart had just been run over by a steamroller. It was like all the air had been punched out of me and I couldn’t catch my breath. My whole world crumbled the moment I heard her reply, “Mate!”