Chapter Two

Channary’s world began to blur and spin violently as she tried to keep her eyes open and right herself. Channary immediately knew something was wrong with the Unity Cup like she had suspected; when Channary asked her parents about the process, they never mentioned the dizziness she felt now, she felt the normal effects of the drink but there was a fog clouding her mind and eyes.

            Channary tried to calm the normal effects of the Unity Cup and tried to calm them and her racing heart and panicking mind. The feeling only seemed to worsen the more Channary opened and closed her eyes. Just as she tried to pick her head up again her stomach heaved, and bile rose in her throat which she immediately swallowed back. Wanting the taste of the medicinal ick left over from the juice and her own bile out of her mouth, Channary decided that she needed something to drink and hoped that it would help her feel better and clear her mind. Barely crawling and stumbling forward, she tried to find the nearest form of water.

“This isn’t right,” Channary groaned aloud.

“What’s not right,” a deep voice asked from behind her.

            Frightened, Channary shrieked and crawling on her hands and knees, tried to, as quickly as she could, get away from the male. In her disoriented state, Channary didn’t think it was wise of her to stay; mate or no Channary wanted a clear mind for what they were supposed to do and right now she didn’t have one, especially with the right symptoms of the Unity Cup working too well. Channary could smell her own pheromones and she knew the male could too. Channary needed to find the closest way back to where she came from.

“Hey, whoa wait.” the male said with his hands raised trying to show Channary that she could trust him. “I’m not trying to hurt you. I was letting my wolf lead and we smelled you…”

            The male inhaled deeply and groaned. “Oh Goddess, you smell heavenly.”

            Curious, Channary peeked around only to find a blurry male figure, but she could feel his lust burning a hole into her body. Though she couldn’t clearly see him, Channary felt a rush of safety surge through her calming her mind and body, but she still didn’t think she was in the right mind to be in The Grove.

“You smell so good,” the male groaned out seeming to try and stop himself from doing it aloud.

“My name is Channary…” at that moment Channary’s stomach heaved again.

            Channary bent over, putting her head between her knees trying to calm her body and breathing at the same time. Before she could stand, Channary felt the male behind her; his strong hands pulling her upright and rubbing her body at the simultaneously. Without knowing it, that was just what Channary needed to take her mind from the headache and nauseous, her scent filling the air around them pair. Channary closed her eyes, enjoying what she felt.

“You can’t bend over like that,” the male warned. “My wolf wants you… and so do I but I can only control him for so long. I can try for morning if you aren’t ready.”

            The male spoke the last of his sentence as if it pained him to say it and left a bad taste in his mouth. Even with her eyes closed, Channary knew his face was handsome and scrunched in disgust. All the while, his hands never stopped their roaming much to Channary’s pleasure.

“My head,” she groaned sexily. “I feel dizzy.”

            Even through Channary’s slurred words the male knew what she was saying. “It’s the Unity Cup it's an aphrodisiac mix…”

            Channary thought about her male’s words, and it made sense, especially with the small orgy she’d seen stepping into The Grove; the mixture was just too strong for her. It explained why she was so excited and why her scent had become so potent.

“Goddess, how do you smell like sweet moonlight,” her male asked his own words slurred.

“Please tell me what you want to do,” her male begged. “I won’t be able to stop soon.”

            His fingertips brushed against her nipples; she moaned, and her scent let them both know everything they needed to know.

            Channary’s mate laid her down; Channary tried to open her eyes again but the moment she did the room spun and her eyes crossed as she tried to, and failed, to focus her vision on her mate.

“Keep your eyes closed if it feels like the world is spinning… it will help,” her mate instructed.

“Okay.” Closing her eyes helped but her world still spun but only slightly.

            Within seconds, Channary felt herself falling asleep, but she could still feel her mate’s hands and caresses. Even sleep Channary still moaned from his touch.

#

It was morning before Channary opened her eyes again; the bright sunlight felt like daggers in her eyes. Her body and her center ached horribly but there was no pain or discomfort; Channary also didn’t feel a mark either… sitting up too fast Channary realized not only did her body ache but she was naked and alone. Channary’s heart dropped as she scanned the small little thicket she had built her pallet in and saw her mate was nowhere to be seen.

“I wouldn’t even be able to recognize him even if I did see him,” Channary cried softly.

I don’t even remember his scent,” she thought to herself miserably.

            Channary had to figure out what she was going to tell her parents; Channary’s scent was undeniably changed, and they’d notice that instantly. Her mood immediately darkened, and her face sunk further into a frown, Channary knew there was nothing she could say or do other than tell the truth. Fear shook her as she thought of Alpha Williams’ response, with his image on the line he was less likely to be her father and more likely to be the Alpha.

            Not wasting a minute to even find her clothes, Channary shifted into her ash-gray colored wolf; the wolf scented the area whining sadly when she realized she was truly alone. The wolf began to quietly sprint and dart her way through the thickness and cover of the trees; keeping her head on the ground, neither wolf nor human wanted to see any of the other mated pairs… the happily mated pairs.

            Channary didn’t will her wolf into sprinting; she knew her parents were going to be disappointed in her the moment she told them what happened and there was nothing she could do to stop it from coming, but what really terrified her the closer she came to her home was that she had no idea what her father would do… she had surely seen him angry before, but it was never directed at her. Channary was always lectured and scolded through his annoyance of her antics.

            The Sun had almost fully risen before Channary made it home, thankful that she could hear her parents still asleep. As quiet as the house, Channary’s wolf crawled through the wolf-sized doggy door her father installed so she never had to be naked outside… it was something installed only for Channary, the Alpha-daughter.

            Once inside, Channary shifted into her human form careful not to disturb anything accidentally quietly creeping through the house; up the stairs and into her own room holding the twisted knob until she had pressed the door firmly closed. Back against her bedroom door, Channary could finally breathe though her worry still left a hollowness in her chest, but she was safe in her room…

            Thinking of the surge of safety that had rushed through her body last night, Channary’s body crumbled to the floor where she finally allowed the tears and sobs that she had been holding back to overwhelm her. Channary had never even liked a boy and she couldn’t believe the first time she had… it ended like last night.

            Her male had mated and then left her leaving no mark, no name, no trace of him ever existing other than the fact that her scent was no longer her own. There was nothing she could give her father to help him find her male… what was she going to do?

            Channary laid in that spot for what felt like hours, and she didn’t stop crying, even as she felt her voice grow hoarse from it, once it was gone, she just allowed the tears to silently run down her face. Her heart had been broken and she felt betrayed by the one thing that was consistent in her life, the Moon; that feeling was worse than being rejected… at least she would’ve been acknowledged, and her dignity left intact.  

            She had been told that the Blood-Moon would be a magical night for her, one that she would never forget, meeting their partner, finding their soulmate? It was supposed to be the happiest moment of a young wolf’s life. It was supposed to be a blessing so why didn’t her mate want her?

            Nagging feelings of inadequacies plagued Channary’s mind until she heard her parents beginning to wake up for the morning. Quickly, Channary got up and locked her door, slowly as to not alert them. Still naked, Channary climbed in her bed, not caring about the layers of dirt and sweat that covered her body and curled up underneath the blanket and continued to silently sob. She knew her life was ruined but she just wasn’t sure of how much, and that’s what scared her… the uncertainty. It was what made her mind run wild with different scenarios.

            Channary could hear her parents talking together downstairs, talking about her, wondering when she’d be home and when they would get to meet her mate. Hearing how excited her father sounded for her broke her and a new wave of hot tears silently spilled onto her face. How was she going to explain this to him?

            A pathetic whimper broke past Channary’s lips, regretting the sound, knowing that at least one of her parents had heard the sound.

“Channary are you up there,” her mother’s soft voice called from the living room.

            Channary covered her mouth with her hands, determined to not be heard again not even a breath. When her mother didn’t get an answer, she remained quiet, listening for a minute or two before going back to whatever had her attention. Channary sighed in relief and decided to just lay there until it was no longer possible to lay there anymore. She wanted her male and if it wasn’t him Channary didn’t want to talk to anyone. But she didn’t even know him and there was no telling if she would ever know him.

            Time ticked away and the sky changed its color for the second time that day, but Channary refused to move from that spot on her bed; she was dreading the thought of having to explain the situation to her father… but how long could she stay in her bed leaving her parents in the dark? How long would they allow her to wallow in her depression?

            The truth was Channary already knew the answers to the questions plaguing her mind, she was in denial; he was her father, but the Alpha position was more important, and she knew she had another day if he was feeling generous. All the other mated pairs have more than likely already been announced and now they waited on Alpha William’s Moon-Kissed daughter, and she was in her room sulking… hiding from the fact that she had been mated and left. When the questions grew too hard for him to answer he’d come bursting into her room demanding answers and action, neither of which Channary could give him.

Maybe it would be better for me if I just told them right now myself… maybe he would care if he didn’t have to force an answer from me, Channary said trying to convince herself.

            Channary realized that telling them herself could’ve made a difference, but it wouldn’t change her father’s mind; Alpha Williams didn’t allow his pack members to embarrass him, and no indiscretion was too small to entice his wrath. The truth would send Alpha Williams into a fit of rage and with no male on Channary to blame it on she knew that she was the prime target.

No, she said firmly in her mind. She was going to hold off for as long as she possibly could and maybe, hopefully, something would come to her.

            Nothing and no one would be able to hurt her in the solace and safety of her own room. She’d stay there and collect herself before forcing herself to go through anymore unnecessary heartache. She didn’t know what her father was going to specifically do but she knew that whatever he decided would change her life even more than the Blood-Moon already had.