ENGAGEMENT CEREMONY

ENGAGEMENT CEREMONY

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NARRATORS POV

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“I have been meaning to tell you something for a while now.” balthazar smiled his eyes glowing.

“What is it my friend,” Demetris replied. His eyes and nose crinkled, obviously, Balthazar still found him important. 

“I am in love.”

“Hmmm, how long have you known her .”

“Almost a month now.”

Turning sharply  his friend “and you are just telling me, now.” his eyes narrowed

‘I had to be sure, and now I'm convinced she is the one ``Balthazar's pupils turned to bright gold.” This happened whenever he was emotional.

“When did you meet her.”

“Remember the sales attendant at the workshop, in the neighboring pack.”

Demetrius remembered no wonder he had thought her to be familiar when he saw her with balthazar under the oak tree. “Yes, I remember.”

“I want to start making arrangements for our unification, immediately.”

“Their pack is so small, wouldn’t it be better if we made allegiance with a bigger pack, it would benefit us more.”

“Demetrius, you speak as though we can choose whom to love. Aside from that, you of all people should know our high sense of smell leads us directly to our mates, you should be happy for me,  especially now that I am going to give our pack a luna.”

‘Im happy for you Balthazar, you know im more logical than emotional.’

“That you are my friend.”

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THE NEXT DAY

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BEFORE THE COUNCIL

“It’s a good thing that you have found your mate, as the alpha of the pack this is very good news.” the eldest of the pack said

“Thank you. I intend to marry her right away.”

“Even better, we would all be going to see her parents tomorrow then, it is in  their right to accept or reject our offer.”

“She is an orphan.”

“Thats going to be a problem.” the elder said

“Why?”

“The luna of a pack as big as ours is supposed to be from a strong family lineage, we need alliances especially through marriage,” Demetrius replied, sometimes he wondered how their pack ended with someone as soft as balthazar. A pack needs someone ruthless and domineering to ensure there is discipline and order.

“Phoebe is my mate and I'm convinced about this. I don’t care about alliances, our pack is the strongest in this territory, after my father ruled, I have continued with his legacy.”

‘We all know this, but .”

“No, but, spread the word, my engagement begins in earnest. And bathes an order.” Balthazar stormed out of the room, with Demetrius in tow.

‘The elders meant well for you.”

Balthazar suddenly stopped and turned to face his friend “are you for me or against me.”

“You are my friend. Of course, I'm for you.”

“Then support me, have faith in my decision.”

Looking sober Demetrius placed his hands on his friend’s shoulder. “You have my full support.”

The enemy lurked behind the shadows, as the plot thickened the perfect plan was hatched, the wolfsbane was ready, just a drop would do the magic. Too small to kill but enough to cause damage. Indeed he was the genius if only his human was as devious as him.

The engagement of Phoebe and Balthazar was attended by the alphas and high-ranking officials of the neighboring packs; all the members of the mountain pride pack were in attendance. Phoebe also invited members of her pack to her engagement, the alpha of her pack Lakeview pack declared a holiday to honor her because it was a great alliance for their pack to have an alpha of the mountain pride pack marry their own.

The gathering was filled with people of all ages, there was much to eat and the atmosphere was pure bliss, the drinks flowed freely, the table was phoebe and balthazar sat detached some few feet away from the other guest.

The time came for the couples to share their first meal. Unknown to them the steak had been laced with a tiny drop of wolfbane, not suspecting a thing they ate up as the crowd cheered them on. The deed was done and their fate sealed.