3. Ceremony

Callista.

Soon the evening arrives, and it’s time to get the newest era of my life started.

I dress in a pure white embroidered dress for the ceremony - the traditional clothing for the eighteen-year-old female attendees that symbolizes purity and rebirth. My face is void of makeup, and my newly washed and dried hair flows down my back, unadorned. It's been a while since I look at myself in the mirror this bare. I'd have enjoyed the experience more if my mother's words had stopped circulating in my head. She had purposefully messed up with my mind. She's wrong. Farris will be mate, I'm certain of it.

My family had already left for the ceremony. They were grumbling when they left, true to their character. At least they would be present there, even if it's tradition dictated. I try not to let that our me. After all, I'm used to that kind of treatment. 

I wait outside the house for a bus, not getting a lift from Farris because it’s bad luck for the Alpha to see the girls before we arrive at our coming-of-age event. As I wait under the trees near the bus stop, I receive a text from him.

Farris: After the ceremony, I’ll meet you outside your place, and then we can go out to dinner. I’ll have a few things to do after the presentations.

As the Alpha, Farris will have a lot of parents to greet as well as senior members of the pack to mingle with. So, it will be quite a busy night for him.

Me: Sure. Can’t wait to see you. 

Farris: Me too, darling. Are you feeling alright?

Me: A bit nervous. What if everything goes badly?

Farris: That's not going to happen, Cally. Everything will be okay. Don’t worry if you don’t find your wolf today. It happens sometimes.

Me: I hope I find out you're my mate. I don't know what I will do if that won't be the case.

Farris: I'm sure I will be your mate. We love each other, right? Mates always love each other first.

Me: Yeah. Love you.

Farris: I love you too. Just have a good night, you know you’re my only choice. I’ll see you later.

Farris: You’re going to be the prettiest girl there you know. I’m so lucky you’re mine.

Me: And I, you. I can’t wait. Love you so much <3.

Farris: <333.

I smile as I put my phone away, boarding the bus to reach the ceremonial circle near the pack house where the rituals are performed.

            The path that leads to the pack house is decorated with serene lanterns, and the house itself with fairy lights. As the sun slowly sets on the horizon, they glow beautifully in bright organic patterns between the wooden benches that have been laid out for the guests. Lilies are strewn over the seats and in the aisles - another ritual symbol for our ceremony. The scene before me seems ethereal and dreamy. I catch a glimpse of my family on the sidelines, along with all the other families, and for a moment, I let myself think that everything is perfect, that my family doesn't hate me, I will finally turn to my wolf and find my mate to be Farris and today will be the best day ever. 

I find Esther, and together we sit near the podium where the Alpha will speak and then give us each a drink from the ceremonial cup that has belonged to the pack for generations. But before that, the attendees will perform a traditional dance with white ribbons that we’ve been trained months for. The audience fills up as my excitement soars, and in no time I’m bouncing in my seat.

The musicians play a short melody to announce the beginning of the ceremony, and the crowd quietens. I look up to the podium where Farris is making a speech about new beginnings and talking about the accomplishments of the young adults in the pack. There are also guys in our group who are turning eighteen. They stand in their white linen clothing beside us, moving to take up their positions opposite to us when the music signals the dance to begin.

The dance begins, swanlike and graceful as everyone moves together as if we are bound by the same thread. We twist and twirl, swaying our hips with smiles on our faces, letting the music guide us. The otherworldly atmosphere is only disturbed by the wolves revealing themselves to the dancers, twirling them away from the group as a second voice in their consciousness. There is a tingling in my brain as well although faint. I feel eyes on me, and I know that is because I’m Farris’s lover. 

Quite possibly the future Luna. 

‘Come on, my wolf,’ I pray, “Show yourself to me, please.’

The dance ends, leaving me with slight disappointment regarding my wolf being no show. I bow to my partner Derek and return to the seats reserved for the ones turning eighteen. We wait for our turns to walk up to the podium and accept the cup from Farris. Some of the girls before me are dizzy from the first stirrings of the wolves inside them. I watch with curiosity as they receive praise from Farris now that they are conscious adults in the circle. When it’s my turn to walk up, insecurity floods me as I haven’t found my wolf during the dance.

I walk up the steps to meet Farris when I feel a piercing pain in my head. I drop to my knees as the world tilts on its edge. My entire being is blazing from a fire within me. Faintly, I hear Farris’s voice yelling at me, but the pain keeps me from deciphering what he’s saying. I feel someone wrap their arms around me, and Farris’s voice, frightened and caring, whispers in my ear, trying to soothe me. Tears flow down my face like molten lava.  Farris’s words make my head hurt more, and I finally cry out.

The most bizarre thing happens. Men from all around me spring to the dais, their predatory gazes latching onto me. I see them approaching through tear-blurred eyes, I hear Farris growl at them. Then I feel hands, on my ankles and knees and hair and dress, pulling at me as my lover furiously yells and pushes them away.

 “Mate. I’ve found her at last,” one of the men says.

“I have another mate…” says another.

 “She’s mine!” says the third.

 “Let me go!” I scream, trying to get away. What is happening?!

Farris is overwhelmed by the mass of men surrounding me, and panic seizes my brain as the revolting touches increase in frequency. I cannot move, I am trapped. Through the crowd, I catch the sight of my adoptive family.

“Help me, please!” I cry out to them, “Mother, Father, Ruelle! Help!”

As I drown in this filthy sea, they watch me with stone-cold eyes glistening with anger, stoic and unmoving. I try to reach them to no avail.

The men surrounding me grow violent, growling and snapping at each other, pushing them away, trying to claim me as their own. I’m shoved around like a rag doll. I scream at the top of my voice for help, and finally, it arrives.

Farris and our Beta, with a few other pack members, shove the men away to make a path towards me, surrounding me from them.

“We need to get out!” Farris says and grabs my hand.

We run, fleeing the stage.