Chapter Three

Mazelina

It’s been a long time since I was here at The Moon King Pack, and it hasn’t changed much. Each pack has thousands of wolves, except for Lonecrest, NightStar and, of course, Ironmaw, who have under a thousand wolves in each pack. To say that it was a shock to hear The Kings have a female shortage is an understatement, considering the pack contains over 5000 men, women, and children. Funny how they send the halfers to the back of the lands instead of the front entrance. It’s a long trek to get to this ridiculously over-the-top tent. They still don’t want us sullying their territory and yet they want our women. I roll my eyes.

Maybe Gran really was clairvoyant, maybe the Gods and Goddess are punishing the Moon King’s.

“If you continue rolling your eyes, you’re going to make us dizzy,” Sam chuckles.    

I take a piece of fruit from the largest fruit platter I’ve ever seen in my life, more like a fruit friggin’ table.

“Do these people take notes from television series or what? I mean, look at this table of fruit! It looks as if they’re pulled it right off a scene of GOT. A table fit for Daenerys,” I say to Sam.

“Remember when the Dragon shifters almost started a riot?”

“They really love the shit out of that show, but not when they killed the Dragons.”

“At least they get realistic-looking Dragons. There’s only one show that comes to mind that has actual wolves that aren’t riddled with teenage angst or ludicrous graphics.”

“Please don’t say’ Teen wolf’” I cringe internally.

“Goddess, no! And don’t even think of ‘Twilight’, ‘Vampire diaries’ or the ‘Originals’. No, I’m talking about ‘The Bitten’.” She sighs longingly.

“Even that show got some shit wrong about us. No one becomes a wolf because they’ve bitten. Goddess, we aren’t vampires.”  

“Goddess knows I love to bite,” she snickers. “They had some hot as fuck men on that show. Do you think we could get a mate like Clayton Danvers?”

“Only in TV land.”

Sam sighs thoughtfully and goes silent on me.

Which allows me to take in the rest of the room. “Whoa,” I whisper softly.

Whoever set this event up wanted to make a statement and we little people hear it loud and clear. They are the top wolves, and we are essentially nothing but breeding machines.

Still, I have to hand it to them. They did an impeccable job. I mean Sentinel has hosted many mating ceremonies, but never as extravagant as this.

The event is outside only. No one may enter the ‘Packhouse’, which isn’t really a house. More like between a castle and a McMansion, cause damn if it’s not outrageously over the top like those McMansions and yet as big as a damn Castle. If they wanted the lower packs to be jealous, they’ve gone completely overboard. Opulence is lovely, we all know it, but this is way out there. Reminds me of the homes of the rich and famous. Who was that guy… the one with the golden toilets?

“Trump,” Sam interrupts my thoughts, she shivers, “You know, the one that used to be President.”  

“Ha! You’re right…. this all smells like Trump. Maybe Alpha Gaius likes his style.”

“Birds of a feather stick together.” She hums.

This tent itself boasts money. I would hate to see the inside of their ‘Packhouse’.

Practically everything is pristine white in this tent with thin flowing white satin draped around the walls, they also artfully draped the same material from the ceiling, along with hanging twinkling lights. The tables, chairs, and all the linens are white, except for fresh greenery and jasmine hanging here and there. They twisted wisteria around some pillars and the centrepiece on each table is almost as tall as me sitting down. The soft scent of jasmine wafts gently through the air. It’s all so sweet and magical. Ugh, I’m completely getting suckered into this place.  

For the first hour, I walked around mingling at Dad’s insistence. Of course, once the men discovered I was indeed the she-wolf who cannot shift, they made sure to spread the word, so they avoided me like the plague. No one wants their son or daughter to be the mate of the girl with no wolf.

“Daria would have loved to put some of these girls in their place,” Sam startles me. She’s been quiet for a long time.

“Gee, I thought you went to sleep or something. Where were you when that asshole was trying to take me out to the gardens?”

“I was here”.

“So much for you.” I retort, she could have said something to help me.

I walk around, watching the girls and guys fawn all over each other. Some of these wolves have found their mates already.

“Are you seriously jealous of these girls?”

“No… well, a little, but mostly it’s because they don’t have to go into that god-forsaken forest in their gowns.”

“Keep telling yourself that, girlfriend. We share the same mind, you know.”

Ignoring her, I take a seat next to my little brother. He looks up at me and gives me his lopsided smile that I love. “No luck.”

“Nope.” I shake my head, pressing my lips together, “Maybe I’m supposed to be alone; you know?”

He takes my hand. “Don’t say that Mazy, you will find your mate.”

“Easy for you to say. You have Alice.” 

He shakes his head. “Mazy, your destiny is in the stars. They created you for greater things, far greater than any of us truly know.”

I blush lightly, “You have always had great insight Blaze, which will make you a great Beta, but we both know I’m not destined for greater things. How can I do greater things when all I can do is hide who I really am?”

He shrugs, “I just see what Dad and Aries don’t see and if they got out of their own way, they would see what they have here right under their ugly snouts. They would never make you hide and do shit like this.” he waves his hand at our surroundings.

Tears sting the back of my eyes. Blaze has always been my protector. Aries has always been more indifferent to the whole white wolf, white witch stories. Blaze has always taken the stories seriously. He believed every word Gran uttered about my wolf and my powers. He one hundred per cent believes the story of The Legend of the White Wolf. I smile at him adoringly; he will always be my little brother and protector.   

Suddenly the Moon King Pack all stand at once, looking directly at Beta Trent of the Moon King Pack, who is standing proudly on the Dais. His chest puffed out like he was ready to spread his peacock feathers and prance around on the stage. This is such a joke.

They ushered the Moon King Alpha and his family to the large dais; a long, beautifully elaborately decorated dining table stands on top of the dais. That is where they will stay for the duration of the festivities.

In an obnoxiously, loud nasally voice, Trent announces their Alpha, “May I present the Alpha family of The Moon Pack, Alpha Gaius, Luna Jora and their sons, future Alpha Rush, Marric and Daughter Kali.”

The Kings all clap and cheer, while the rest of us are slower on the uptake. Goddess, if only they removed their snouts from their own asses, they might actually see how absurd this all is. The people on the dais all take their seats at the table. As soon as the Alpha takes his seat, the rest of us can sit. Fucking archaic, it’s disgusting.

“Are you ready for the ritual?” Blaze asks as we sit, waiting for our food to arrive.

The ritual is quite simple, all the mateless males will enter the forest, and they will go in deep into the middle of the forest, to wait patiently and quietly for the mateless females. Unlike the males. The Females are escorted to different areas of the forest line. Once they ring the bell, they release the women like dogs, and we have to scent our mate. Completely Barbaric if you ask me. I mean, seriously, are we dogs or wolves?

I lean into Blaze so as not to be overheard, “I think I’m just going to sit this one out.”

“Are you sure?” Blaze asks, glancing over at Dad worriedly.

“I think so. If I couldn’t find him in the last couple of hours, then he isn’t here. Right?”

“It doesn’t hurt to try Sis”.

“Maybe.” I take a bite of the delicious steak placed in front of me, I wait until I swallow before I ask again, “Can’t you just do me this one favour please?” I blink up at him, giving him my best puppy wolf eyes.

“Fine,” he growls.