CHAPTER EIGHTY FOUR - ROSALIE

CHAPTER EIGHTY FOUR - ROSALIE
We’re having a picnic. A family get together of sorts. Aeron and Cain have let me do it all and I’ll admit, I’m both excited and nervous, because I want to impress them. I want to give them something. 

Savannah and Layla are sat drinking champagne. Dylan is talking to Cain and for the first time, I’m realising that he’s not just my guard. That he’s my family too. That everyone here is now my family.

I glance at Layla. She’s deep in conversation with her mum. I wonder what she and Dylan fight about and for a moment I think back to what Savannah said, about us, about me and Aeron and Cain and that us working through our issues has helped them. I hope it has. 

“What are you thinking, Pet?” Aeron murmurs. He’s beside me. So close I can feel his breath on my skin. It’s strange to be here, in such an informal setting with him lounging like he’s the kind of man that just lounges.

“Are you not reading my thoughts?” I reply.

He shakes his head. “I try not to. Not anymore.”

“Really?” I say surprised. The man seemed to be perpetually in my head. 

“I think that was part of our misunderstanding one another. It’s better to not always know what you’re thinking.”

My eyebrows raise at that. At Aeron sounding like he might be relinquishing a little control.

He laughs, his hand grazing my cheek. “Rosalie.” He murmurs and it takes all my control not to flush with arousal, right here, right in front of his entire family. His lips curl like he can see it in my face, and I wonder if this is also a tease.

“….Rosalie, this cake is incredible.” Savannah says and we both turn quickly. 

I made a three-tiered red velvet and mascarpone cake especially for today. It’s not my favourite but everyone else seems to love it and I know Savannah has a seriously sweet tooth.

Layla steals a mouthful from her plate and moans. “It’s delicious.”

“What cake will you make for your ceremony?” Savannah asks.

“What ceremony?” I reply. 

“Our mating ceremony.” Aeron says carefully as if he expects me to react, as if he expects the same fear I used to have.

“Oh.” I murmur.

“We don’t need to rush it.” Cain says quickly.

“It’s okay. I just, I hadn’t thought of it if I’m honest.” I admit. 

“Let me plan it. Please.” Layla says. “I promise I won’t go too over the top.”

“I…” I begin but in truth, I don’t really know what to say. I don’t think I fully understand what a mating ceremony is, how it’s meant to be. The one I endured with Silas was afterhours, with no one but the Pack’s Beta there because Silas wouldn’t risk anyone else seeing me. 

“Layla.” Dylan growls.

“It’s fine.” I say. I don’t want to cause an argument between them. “I’d love your help. I just don’t really know anything about them. About what’s expected.”

“Well as Luna we’ll have to invite the whole Pack…” Layla says and I’ll admit my stomach knots at that, at the idea of being in front of everyone. I know I’ve done it already, but to be the sole focus, my heart starts picking up.

Aeron puts his hand on my thigh and I know he can sense it. “We will be there with you the entire time.”

“And we don’t have to invite the entire Pack.” Cain states, though I can tell he’s saying this to placate me. That in truth it’s what’s expected.

I nod. Feeling like I want to go over it in private. To discuss it with Aeron and Cain in private.

“We’re out of champagne.” I say noticing the empty bottle.

“I’ll get some.” Dylan says.

“No. It’s okay.” I say getting up. “I’ll get some. We’ve got some more pastries back at the car anyway.” I give my best fake smile hoping no one questions me and turn as quickly as I can towards the path.

The SUVs are parked only a few minutes away. Though we could have done this in the Packhouse gardens we all wanted to be somewhere a little more private, a little less observed. And the view from this hill is breath-taking. I can literally see for miles, and it helps that the weather is near perfect. Not too hot, not too cold. The perfect summer day with a soft breeze.

As I make it back to the cars, I see the guards lazing around a few metres away. We packed enough food and drink to be here for hours and clearly, they’re enjoying having a bit of downtime.

I pop the boot grabbing a few bottles from the cooler and the tray of pastries.

“You okay?” Cain says behind me, and I turn half jumping.

“Yeah.”

He gives me that knowing grin when he can tell I’m lying. “Layla didn’t mean to pressure you.”

“I know.” I say. “I just wanted a moment to think.”

“About the mating ceremony?”

I nod. “I don’t know what to expect.”

He lets out a low breath. “We’ve already marked you. This is just a formality. A show for our Pack’s benefit.”

I narrow my eyes. He’s making it sound like a tick box thing. 

“It’s not that. It’s important to us. To Wolves but I don’t want you to overthink it. I want you to be comfortable.”

I lean into him and his arms wrap around me. “If you and Aeron are there, then I will be.” I say.

He hooks a finger under my chin lifting my head up and kisses me. His tongue wrapping around mine as I moan feeling my body already melting into his.

“You’re so perfect, Rosalie.” He says against my lips and I kiss him again, deepening it as his hands start to run up my sides. For a fleeting moment I wonder if we might get away with a little alone time but the others will know, Aeron will feel it, and everyone else will almost certainly smell it. 

A low growl interrupts us. At first I don’t think either of us registers it but then it’s like my senses hone in on it, my adrenaline is suddenly pumping and Cain is turning around, realising before I do, what’s going on. 

I see them. Five Wolves stepping nearer. None of them have transformed but that doesn’t concern me. What does is the blades in their hands.

They’re not our guards I realise. They belong to another Pack. And I think I already know exactly which one.

“Cain.” I whisper.

Cain growls. Going into full Alpha mode as one lunges. But there’s five of them. Five against one. Even as Cain rips out the throat of the first the rest are on him, stabbing, hacking, cutting. 

I can see more wolves attacking our guards. There’s so many of them. We don’t stand a chance. 

I scream. I scream so loud. I call for Aeron in my head, but I’m still just stood here watching as they butcher my mate.

A different Wolf appears, and this one doesn’t bother with the fight. He’s focused on me. As he steps up, I smack him, but all that does is hurt me. 

He smacks me back, hard across my face as my head sees stars, he’s already scooping me up, tossing me over his shoulder and carrying me away.

I scream again. I scream over and over, watching as the others still attack Cain. He’s lying in a pool of blood. He’s barely moving now. I can feel it, the mate-bond flexing, the pain radiating through it. It feels like my soul is twisting in agony. 

I’m tossed into the back of a van. There’s already two Wolves in here waiting. The one who carried me calls for the others still attacking my mate and they drop their blades sprinting to us. 

I try to fight again. I kick out. I punch. I don’t give a shit how much it hurts me, but I do everything I can to get free. Only it’s no good. I’m not strong enough. Not compared to them and as they hold me down, I’m tied up, gagged and thrown at their feet as the vehicle speeds away.