Chapter 3 - Birthday surprise

Mina POV

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Jitters fanned out from her fingertips to her toes. It took everything in Mina to keep herself still as the Hayre family piled into the packhouse hall, forming an orderly group at its centre. Owen would be among them; the thought stirring her stomach with a bubbling excitement that threatened to release the biggest smile she had ever worn. That feeling had been there since the moment she woke up. Something special had awakened inside her, a light giddy feeling that made her want to rush to Owen and feel the mate bond take root within them.  

Of course, the Luna had stopped her. This time, even Sam was on their mother’s side, instructing the guards to turn away any wolf until after the choosing event had taken place. They were sticklers for traditions, and there was no greater tradition than the next Luna finding her first mate among the protector family. Though the entire pack already knew who her mate would be, it was an act of honour to officially recognise the mate bond in front of witnesses. However, none of her mother’s chiding words, or her brother’s teasing, could stop her from wolfing down her breakfast and racing to get ready.  

The hall was a buzz of excitement. The extended Hayre family was large, and all had to be there for the choosing event. They were a rowdy bunch, but the formality of the day kept them in check. They seemed so at home there, before their Luna and future Luna, each giving her a nod or smile as they entered the hall.. It was hard to imagine they had only held the position of the pack’s protectors since she was born. Before them, the Lynn family held the role for generations, until they failed to protect their Luna’s unit when Mina was still in her mother's belly.

She searched the group of wolves, disgruntled until the head of the family walked in last. Owen, Alastor, and their parents. They made their way to the front, many knowing looks cast their way from the small crowd. Mina couldn’t help but watch Owen as he approached. Her eyes fixed to him, drinking in his presence, looking handsome in his formal shirt. It matched the one Alastor wore, a pale blue to match the myriad of bracelets and necklaces her mother had laid out for her. The elder Hayre sibling was slightly taller than his brother, broader, the shirt fitting snug to his body.  

It wasn’t until they stopped at the front of the group, that Mina realised she had lost herself in thought. She snapped out of it, meeting Owen’s gaze with a demure smile. She was so close to finding her first mate and stepping into the Luna role, she didn’t want to give her mother any reason to delay it. 

“Welcome, to all the Hayre family, the protectors of our pack and leaders of our warriors.” The Luna’s voice carried through the hall with ease, silencing the wolves. “Today is a special day, the day my daughter comes of age. Soon she will take over as Luna of the Clear Blue pack but, today, she will find her first mate. The wolf who will stand at her side, through thick and thin. Their love fated and forever.” 

Many eyes glanced to Owen as the Luna continued, the pink in his cheeks matching Mina's. It was a shy warmth, timid as her relationship with him would finally be official. Finally, she could cement the beginnings of her own family and build a happy life together.  

Her heartbeat fluttered as Sam wrapped a blindfold over her eyes. As a wolf, it did little to take away her spatial awareness, but it did take her sight. It was another part of the tradition, started generations ago when a wolf claimed favouritism, certain he was the Luna’s mate despite her choosing her personal guard. Mina didn’t care. She was certain she’d be able to pick Owen out. They’d connect as soon as they scented each other’s pheromones. Nothing could get in the way of that, in the way of their fate. 

When darkness filled her vision, she took a breath, ignoring the prickles of eyes on her. At her mother’s signal, she released her pheromones, letting them spread through the room. It was a unique scent that all wolves developed through puberty, a scent they had to learn to control. Except in the presence of one’s mate, releasing pheromones was a warning. It was an aggressive move to make another wolf to back down, lest a fight ensue. Until the age of twenty-five the scent continued to mature to fit each individual, perfectly matching them to their mates when they came of age. Mina had tested them that morning. She couldn't recognise anything different about her scent, but something had changed.  

The rustle of shuffling bodies began and wolves, who suspected they were her mate, stepped forward. Her mother had prewarned her that many would step forward, whether they felt the mate pull or not. Some just found her scent pleasing, whilst others would step forward in the hopes of being claimed by her. The mate bond of a Legacy Luna was far more powerful than any other mate bond. The power within her manifested abilities, abilities shared with her mates. Mina’s throat thickened. It made her uncomfortable to think there were wolves among the Hayre family that’d want to use her for her power, just as wolves like Alpha Castriel would.  

On her mother’s second signal, the line of potential mates released their pheromones. In that moment, Mina realised why her mother had seen fit to pre-warn her about the event. Not only would wolves who weren’t her mate step forward, but their proximity to one another mixed the scents. She had to be careful to choose the right wolf, to follow her instincts to her mate. Anxiety churned her stomach as the scents hit her; an overwhelming cacophony of different wolves vying for her attention. Pressure settled heavy on her shoulders, the decision suddenly not seeming as easy as it did moments ago.

Just before the urge overwhelmed her, everything within her silenced. Her mind cleared; the fog of indecision being brushed away as she locked onto one scent. It lifted above the rest, light and fresh. She sniffed the air, a gasp on her lips. A few chuckles rumbled in the room as her feet stumbled forward on their own, but Mina quickly righted herself. She had to be careful. She had to find the right wolf the scent belonged to.  

Ignoring the drive within her to race forward, she forced herself to start at one end of the line and work methodically. It was easier than she expected to dismiss the wolves that were not her mate. When she stood before them, their pheromones plumed around her, drowning out all others except her mate’s. Its scent coaxed her down the line, barely allowing her to hesitate before each wolf to sniff them. The closer she got, the stronger it became, wrapping her in an intoxicating perfume that had her eager to dismiss every other wolf and bury herself in his arms.

Mina wasn’t in control anymore. Her nose tipped into the air, her feet gliding over the floor like their path was already mapped out. She moved so fast that it jarred her when she jerked to a stop.  

He was there. He was right in front of her.

The unease returned again. Tentatively, she took a step forward. The heat of his body was close, but she didn’t touch him, leaving a breath between them. The proximity tingled at her fingertips as she raised a hand, hovering it between them. Her breaths shallowed, their small puffs all she could hear against the rushing heartbeat in her ears. Her mother’s words made her hesitate to close the gap. To make that final decision. She was certain the delicious scent was radiating from the wolf before her, but she wanted to be careful. 

Mina released her pheromones again. The deep, heady groan that responded in kind was all she needed to launch herself forward, trusting him to catch her. She wasn’t even sure if she moved first, but in the next breath, strong arms wrapped around her, lifting her feet from the floor. She gasped as a hungry nose buried into her neck, inhaling her scent like a man starved of oxygen. Her hands spread wide over his broad chest, sliding over sculpted muscles that had her body shivering with the anticipation of exploring every single one. 

A rumble of approval sounded in the back of her throat, as she moved her touch to anchor around his neck. She followed his lead, letting her nose guide her to his pulse point. His pheromones were even stronger there. She nuzzled against it, her canines lengthening in response. They scratched against his skin, so close to being hers.  

“Steady on, Princess.” A deep chuckle rumbled against her ear. 

Mina stiffened.  

The voice washed over her like a bucket of cold water. That wasn’t Owen’s voice. The arms around her tightened, his pheromones releasing to soothe her sudden uncertainty, but she pushed against its easing lull.  

In one sharp move, she jerked back and whipped the blindfold off. Hazel eyes met hers. Hazel. Not the warm brown she expected. Her mouth bobbed open to speak, but no words came out. Her throat was tight, eyes wide, mind scrambling to understand why she was in Alastor Hayre’s arms. Worse, why did she want to nuzzle into him again? 

The blood drained from her face, as her mind finally pushed past the fog of his pheromones, the basic instinct and desires that urged her to claim him there and then. He was her mate. Not Owen, not her personal guard, but his older brother. Her stomach churned.  

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the hall. She caught sight of Owen just as he charged out of the room, and finally found her words again.  

“Put me down.” She whispered. 

Alastor lowered her to the floor and let her go as she pushed free of his arms. There was no hurt in his eyes. If anything, as the air cleared of their pheromones, he looked as uncertain as she felt. Heat pooled in Mina's cheeks, as the attention of the entire Hayre family fell to her. The entire hall was too stunned to break the silence. Had any Clear Blue Luna in the history of her lineage ever not mated with her personal guard? She didn’t think so.  

Both the Luna and Sam stood behind her, one’s eyes wide, the other thoughtful. Neither stepped forward to help, so Mina did what she did best. She straightened, she squared her shoulders, she forced down the rising tide of emotions that wanted to swallow her whole. 

“Excuse me.” She clipped. 

Then, she walked out of the hall.