Chapter Ten Xeraphina

XERAPHINA

I have never experienced such exhilaration in my entire life as when Xariah and I dashed through the woods. Even the excitement of cattle roping in rodeos pales in comparison. For four long years, I have eagerly awaited this moment. The shock and disappointment of discovering that Cassius was my mate, as revealed by Charity, no longer burdens my thoughts. I am finally free! Xariah, my incredible wolf counterpart, exceeds all my expectations and is everything I have ever wished and prayed for from the moon goddess.

Xariah stops for a moment, sniffing the air, panting to cool off. Her ears perk up at the sound of a nearby stream and lick her chops. ‘The first shift always takes a lot out of the wolf and human. I need a drink before going any further.’

‘That would be nice. We could see what we look like in full form, Xariah. The stream isn’t too far away. Let’s go,’ I say through our shared consciousness, smiling.

Xariah’s tail wags furiously as she yips with glee, her joyful howl echoing through the crisp mountain air. With boundless energy, she dashes towards the stream, her paws pounding against the earth. As she reaches the water’s edge, she lowers her snout, feeling the cool mist from the rushing stream tickle her nose. The scent of fresh mountain water fills her nostrils, enticing her even more. Eagerly, she dips her tongue into the sparkling water, savoring the refreshing taste with every gulp.

‘We have several streams that come down from the mountains here. Our pack lands are vast, going thirty miles out in all directions. So there're tons of space to run and hunt. You’ll love it here, Xariah. I hope we never have to leave.’

As Xariah quenches her thirst in the crystal-clear stream, she breathes heavily, her eyes scanning the dense forest that surrounds her. The stream’s tranquil waters reflect the vibrant blue of the sky, still rippling from her drinking. I glimpse our reflection, and Xariah gracefully turns from side to side, allowing me to appreciate her breathtaking beauty. Her sleek, obsidian fur glistens under the dappled sunlight, accented by rich chestnut highlights that run throughout her long, thick coat. Even her paws bear the same deep chestnut hue. Standing at an impressive height of almost six feet, Xariah towers above most female wolf shifters, an awe-inspiring sight to behold. It is a true testament to the boundless blessings given upon us by the moon goddess.

‘You are beautiful, Xariah!’

‘Thank you Xeraphina. The black in our fur is from the alpha blood. All alpha’s whether male or female, are black, regardless of their hair color. The dark chestnut color of our fur is from your natural hair color. Most alpha blooded wolves are pure black, but the moon goddess made an exception for us, since Talon is beta and also has dark chestnut fur.’

‘Yes, I was a little confused why my fur was a mixture of colors. But now I understand. Thank you for enlightening me. If we reject Cassius, will our fur turn completely black?’

Xariah whimpered and lay down by the stream, her gaze wandering into the depths of the woods. ‘Surviving rejection is a slim possibility for us. Even if you survive, I will most likely perish and return to the embrace of the moon goddess. Losing a mate is fatal for wolf shifters, especially through rejection. You are aware of this. However, the realm where the moon goddess lives is truly majestic and breathtaking. We simply await the rebirth of our counterparts in new bodies. You and I have shared many lifetimes together, taking on roles as beta and omega, just like in this current life where you are the alpha.’

‘I’m sorry, Xariah.’

‘Don’t be sorry, Xeraphina. Rejection is painful, but it doesn’t last long. The realm filled with shifters has abundant healing powers coming from the moon goddess. We make it through regardless. This isn’t the first time you have rejected Talon. I could say much more, but I’m not allowed to disclose more than I already have. I shouldn’t have told you what I just did. But we’ve been down this road before twice. Few, though. There have been many lifetimes where we lived in harmony with our mate.’

‘You can’t be serious!’

‘Xeraphina, human souls can be barbaric. It has been a tradition for one’s mate to hunt food for us, but that won’t be happening. Ever since I had that discussion with Talon, he understands the need for some space. I believe we should seek the alpha and luna and go hunting ourselves. I require fresh meat to regain my strength.’

In no time, Xariah followed her keen sense of smell and discovered the exact spot where mom and dad were. She discovered them amidst the lush scenery, a mile away from the babbling stream, joyfully frolicking and showering affection upon each other. A wave of guilt washed over me for interrupting their rare moment of togetherness. Pack responsibilities consumed their lives, tending to the ranch and lodge, leaving little room for leisure.

Xariah sought refuge in a thicket of dense bushes, her heart pounding in her chest. She closed her eyes, seeking solace in the silence. Time seemed to slip away unnoticed until the gentle nudge of Sahara’s snout shattered the tranquility against theirs. A soft whimper escaped Sahara’s lips, my mother’s wolf piercing the stillness of the surroundings. Startled, Xariah’s senses sharpened, and she sprang to her feet, her small frame trembling with excitement and anticipation.

Sahara rounds us, then nudges us to go towards dad’s wolf Jericho, who is patiently waiting for us in the thicket. Once we’ve approached, he takes off sprinting into the woods and Xariah and Sahara follow him.

After our wolves had finished a fulfilling breakfast of rabbits, they guided us towards the outskirts of the forest. To my astonishment, the Sahara stumbled upon my clothes hanging from a branch. With her mouth, she picked them up and carried them to me, dropping them on the ground. Then, using her snout, she directed me to the exact location where I could transform and put on my clothes once again.

It’s a shame that we can’t communicate through mind link yet. However, everything is about to change tonight, after my coming of age blood ritual, before my party begins. If I can avoid Cassius until then, everything will be perfect. My mate’s discovery spoiled the surprise of finding my mate at my party, but now I have Xariah, which is something I’ve always dreamed of. Tonight is going to be extraordinary. I will party and show off like nobody’s business. Perhaps I’ll even teach Cassius a lesson by letting him see me with another guy who isn’t him. Give him a taste of his own medicine. Whether he knew I was his mate already was beside the point. With him being married, he never should have been with other women. In front of me, no less. Tonight, he will learn what it feels like.

As I step into the pack house, I head straight for the kitchen. Xariah has already finished her breakfast of rabbit, but I’m famished. Just as I’m about to reach my destination, a delightful blend of ocean breeze, refreshing watermelon, and tempting chocolate wafts through the door, showing that Cassius is inside. Should I resist my hunger and starve? Or should I simply enter and ignore him? Oh, Goddess, I’m so hungry. After a moment of contemplation, I conclude that ignoring him is the wiser choice. With that decision in mind, I push open the door, keeping my gaze fixed on the floor, reminding myself not to look up under any circumstance. Determined to satisfy my hunger, I make my way towards the refrigerator.

“Xeraphina, can we please talk?”

‘Seriously dammit! Ignoring him,’ I kept repeating to myself as I opened the refrigerator and searched for any breakfast leftovers that might still be there.

“I made some homemade waffles and an omelet for you. Your favorite. I have them staying warm in the oven. I’ll get them for you.”

Oh, for goodness’ sake! My stomach is growling, and I squeeze my eyes shut. The thought of having an omelet and waffles is absolutely delightful. But should I really give him the satisfaction of eating what he prepared for me? Chances are, he didn’t even make the meal himself; that’s the omega’s responsibility. He probably had them prepare it for me. Either way, he had the meal arranged for me. I open my eyes, scowl at the refrigerator, and continue searching through its contents. Maybe he’ll catch on and leave me alone.

“Xeraphina? Please? I’m so sorry. You don’t know how sorry I am. I didn’t mean for everything to unfold like it has. Never in my wildest dreams did I think anyone knew you and I were mates. I’ve never told a soul.”

He’s not taking the hint and I can’t stand to be near him any longer. It’s time to get this shit over with and reject him. I clench my hands into fist, slam the door to the refrigerator, and spin around, piercing him with a menacing glare. He flinches and I don’t feel bad seeing the glistening tears collecting in his eyes. Without further delay, I scream in his face, “I, Xeraphina Maliah Crestmont, Alpha Female of the Silver Crescent Moon Pack, reject you, Cassius Juriah Hansley Beta male of the Silver Crescent Moon Pack.”