Mates...

Mates...


Thalia's POV

The days flew by in a blink of an eye, and today was the day we all had been waiting for.

My room was scattered, Milo sat at the edge playing a video game while Rhys helped me look for what to wear.

Well, Jax and Blaze had something important to do, which was helping Father and Celine in making preparations for the ritual.

“Try this,” Rhys said, passing a floral long silky gown to me. I looked at the color, and without bothering to cover up, I removed the shirt I had on, leaving me in nothing but my undies.

I put on the dress, turning around. “Do you think it suited me?” I said with a pout, and I was sure Rhys was tired of me by now.

He had given me different clothes to try, and I had rejected them all.

“Let’s just go clothes shopping,” Milo offered without averting his gaze from the phone in his hand.

I threw one of the dresses on the bed at him. “Shut up, you were not even helping me, don’t even dare complain!” I said, glaring at him.

I saw him standing as he walked to where I was. “How was I not helping, Thalia? I told you to let me take you shopping, but you turned it down, saying you had what to wear, and now…” He paused as he glanced at Rhys.

“Rhys literally offered you the whole wardrobe, but you still didn’t want any,” he said with a sigh. “Sometimes I didn’t understand women,” he said, rubbing his head.

My eyes widened and I felt like strangling Milo. I had to look nice, but now he wants to criticize me. Was it bad not to know what someone wanted?

I pouted as I picked one of the gowns. “I would go with this one,” I said, picking up the red dress Rhys had picked in the beginning.

I really would just go with this. Staring at Rhys, who was sweating, I was sure he was tired of me too but too nice to say it.

“Finally,” Milo said as he tossed his phone on the bed.

“You see, it was not that hard to pick something to wear. You just liked being difficult,” he said as he tried to pinch my cheeks, but I slapped his hand away.

“Arrange the clothes,” I said, pointing to the clothes Rhys was arranging back.

Milo frowned as he scratched his head. “I would help you pick a shoe,” he said as he disappeared to my shoe rack.

Staring at Rhys, who was busy arranging, I felt sorry for him, so I went to join him.

We both folded the clothes into the closet. In the process, I rejected Milo’s shoe suggestions. Well, I was petty, and I knew it.

Eventually, we finished arranging and picking clothes and shoes. I threw the two of them out of my room.

Before going to the shower, the day was already getting dark. After the shower, I wore my clothes, applied lip gloss, and wore some jewellery to complement my look.

If I said I was not nervous, then I lied, moreover, who wouldn’t be? This was my first time. I felt like a superhero going to save the day.

Suddenly, I heard a knock, breaking my train of thought. I quickly straightened my dress before going out.

“Wow, you looked gorgeous,” Rhys blurted while ogling at me. Then he placed my hand on his and led me downstairs.

I saw the other three dressed the same way Rhys was dressed. They all wore black suits and red bows that matched my red floral dress. They all looked so cute, my heart did a little summersaults. I placed my other hand on my chest.

I think I just fell for them all over again. I saw my mother and Mr Richard on the other side of the room.

Well, I had decided to let bygones be bygones. Even though it would be difficult to forget what my mother did, I had chosen to forgive her.

Making my way to the boys, Blaze was the first to step forward. He placed my hand on his lips, placing a gentle kiss on it.

“You’re breathtaking,” he whispered, locking gaze with me.

My face went red instantly. “And you looked dashing as well,” I said with a small smile.

Then the rest did the same, until Father cleared his throat, breaking our beautiful moment.

“We were running late, people,” Mr Richard said as he smirked and walked out alongside my mother.

I smiled before I and the boys all walked outside together, climbing the car. I sat beside Milo on my left and Jax on my right.

I was sure I was red as tomato with the way Milo wouldn’t stop complimenting me, and Jax just stared at me throughout the ride.

When we finally got to the venue, I exhaled, stepping out of the car. I clamped my hands together.

“Are you nervous?” Jax asked as he stood beside me. I looked up at his face while biting my lower lip.

“Maybe a little,” I whispered, averting my gaze as we walked forward.

He rested his hand on my shoulder, massaging it softly. “You didn’t have to,” he whispered as he glanced at me with a smile.

I also gave him a small smile back. We walked until we reached deep inside the woods.

Everywhere was dark, no electricity light, just the half moonlight. People sat in a circle on a large mat barefooted. At the center, I saw Celine and the Alpha seated on smaller mats probably meant for three people.

In front of them was ash, a bowl of wolf blood, and the forbidden book opened beside it. My breath hitched.

“Why didn’t we do it inside?” I asked as I held Jax’s hand tightly.

“This is a tradition we follow. We need to connect with the universe which is earth so our ritual will be accepted,” he explained gently, then turned towards me.

“You would be fine, okay,” he assured, staring deep into my eyes. I nodded as my eyes darted to the rest of the boys, they all gave me a reassuring gaze.

I sighed as I walked gently to the center, standing in front of Celine.

“Sit,” she said, pointing across from her.

I took in a shaky breath before sitting, my gaze darting around, and I caught sight of the boys, my mother, and Mr Richard on the same mats in front of the ceremony.

Then suddenly everyone howled, making my eyes widen.

“Stretch forth your hand, Thalia,” Celine said before the Alpha presented the ash and bowl of wolf blood in my hand.

“No matter what, don’t let it fall off your hand,” she said. Then she stood with another bowl of ash and blood of her own.

In front of me was the Alpha seated calmly, with the forbidden book opened in the middle of us.

She started chanting foreign words while circling me and the Alpha.

The longer she walked, the more my hand shook. I felt so dizzy, as though something was about to come out of my body.

My body trembled, but I managed to hold the bowl tightly. The Alpha stared at me. Though I felt dizzy, I could still sense his nervousness.

Suddenly, my throat itched so badly, with my hand trembling. If she didn’t stop, I might collapse. Yet, I heard Celine’s voice becoming louder.

“ARGHHHHHH!!!!!” I yelled as my fingernails stretched out, even my fangs pointed out.

I heard a faint whisper, “It was happening. The moon is getting fuller.” I heard the Alpha’s voice followed by the sound of people howling.

“Hang in there, Thalia, you are almost done.” I heard a faint voice inside my head. However, all I felt in that moment was intense heat and pain.

I felt like my bone was about to come out of my flesh. My eyes slammed shut. My body, my strength, everything was failing me.

Suddenly, I heard another faint voice, “IT’S THE FULL MOON, IT’S GLOWING, OMG IT’S SILVER, WE ARE SAVED, ALL HAIL THE MOON GODDESS...” I heard so many voices, yet I couldn’t see who was talking.

I felt the bowl taken away from my hands, making my body feel light.

I collapsed on the floor, and a few seconds later my eyes fluttered open slowly. And immediately they landed on the boys, a voice screamed in my head.

“MATE!”

My heart skipped, the voice kept screaming mate, and I'm damn sure I was not the only person feeling this way.