Chapter 3

Kieran moved protectively in front of me, his body tensing and his hand gripping mine more tightly. Once peaceful, his eyes now burned with a strong will.

The mood of the room changed; the joyful environment gave way to clear anxiety.

 “You will not touch her." Kieran said, his voice a low growl echoing down the hall.

Emerging from the crowd , my father, Alpha of our pack, commanded instant respect before the intruders could react. He stood next to Kieran, his eyes locked squarely on the head of the intruders.

 "This is my daughter," he said, his voice icy and commanding. “You have no right here."

 The commander of the intruders, a tall man with a scar along his left cheek, met my father's stare unflinchingly.

"The prophecy speaks of her," he countered. She is an abomination, a curse . We will not depart without her.”

 The assembled guests felt a ripple of murmuring as the knowledge sank over them. I had a wave of anxiety and uncertainty.

 A prophecy , A curse? I had known none of this prior.

"Prophecy or not", my father said, his voice calm, "she is under my protection. You will not have her.”

 The scarred leader's gaze sharpened. “You give us no choice then.”

 He waved to his followers quickly. Lunging forward, the intruders' shapes blurred as they started to morph mid-air, becoming giant wolves with fur as dark as midnight.

Kieran and my father responded immediately. Kieran's body twisted into a sleek, jet-black wolf with piercing blue eyes, bones warping as he took on his powerful form. My father followed suit, his wolf bigger, with a coat of deep russet and eyes that reflected mine. The great hall went into disarray.

 In their rush, guests overturned tables and chairs and fled to safety. The formerly melodious song was replaced by the snarls and growls of battling wolves. I stood motionless, my heart racing inside my chest. The scene before me was surreal, a nightmare come to reality. A violent conflict followed. Kieran fought the scarred leader, their great bodies crashing with a power that rocked the very underpinnings of the hall. As they fought for control, teeth gnashed, claws stabbed, and fur flew.

 Engaging two of the invaders at once, my father snapped at one with his strong jaws and used his enormous paws to fight off the other. Against the odds, he remained steadfast, proof of his strength and knowledge. Amid the turmoil, I felt a hand clutch my arm.

  I turned to find Skyla, her eyes wild with terror. "We have to leave this place!" she said, dragging me towards the exit. But a huge wolf with terrible intent in its eyes stopped us as we advanced. It growled, slowly moving forward, relishing our horror.

Desperation gnawed at me. I looked about for any way to flee or defend myself. I saw a decorative sword on the wall close by. Drawing on all my bravery, I went for the weapon and broke away from Skyla's hold. As I waved the chilly metal in front of me, it felt comforting in my hands. The wolf hesitated, its eyes darting between the sword and my resolute stare.

 “Stay back!” I yelled, My voice quaking but determined.

For a brief period, time appeared to stand still. Then, with one last snarl, the wolf withdrew into the shadows. Breathing fast, I looked to discover Kieran and my father standing triumphantly over the fallen attackers.

 Lying still, the scarred leader's body gradually returning to that of a man, his chest rising and falling with laboured breaths.

 Kieran came to me, his body returning to human, worry clear on his face. "Are you hurt?" he enquired softly.

Still feeling the thrill, I shook my head. "I'm good."

Now back in his human shape, my father put a comforting hand on my shoulder.

 "It's over," he gently stated. Looking around at the destruction, the fallen intruders, and the anxious guest faces, however, I could not help but sense that this was only the beginning.

The prophecy they mentioned, the mark on my wrist—it all pointed to a fate I was just starting to understand.

And as the night drew on, one question burned in my mind: What part was I meant to play in the events to follow?

 My father, Alpha of our pack, stood tall as the sounds of the conflict faded, his presence dominating the chamber. Steady and commanding, his voice echoed around the space.

His eyes roving over the assembled visitors, he declared, "Everyone, please remain calm." The danger has been removed. The location will be made safe, and the ceremony will go on as intended.”

The audience let out a group sigh of relief. Pack members rushed quickly to clear the fallen invaders and restore order, so the tension that had gripped the area began to fade.

  Pale but resolute, Skyla faced me. "Elara," she continued gently: "I believe I just found my mate, I can scent him, he’s so close."

 I blinked in disbelief. "So soon already?" She nodded, a slight flush tinting her cheeks.

"I can feel the link," she said. I grinned, pleased for her.

 “Skyla, that's great.” Her eyes alight with excitement, she squeezed my hand and turned to follow the fragrance of her mate.

 Watching her leave made me feel a twinge of desire. The bond Skyla described was one I had not yet felt. I had not felt the pull of a mate, nor had I caught the fragrance that would indicate our link.

Looking around the room, I noted the couples who had already located one another. Their bodies pulled closer by an unseen force, their eyes met in familiarity. Their smiles, their laughs, and the way they moved in unison all showed the connection.

But for me, there was just nothing.

Why had I not experienced the connection? Why had I not felt the intense feelings Skyla mentioned? My musings were interrupted by a voice.

 “Elara” I looked to see Kieran coming; his face was hard to decipher.

"Are you okay?" he said, clearly concerned.

I smiled, albeit with difficulty. "I'm okay," I said, my tone lacking conviction.

His look was focused as he watched me for a moment. "If you need to talk,” he started, but I interrupted him.

"Thank you, Kieran," I murmured, my voice steady. He stepped back, nodded, and hesitated.

Walking away made me feel a loss. A leader in his own right, Kieran was a strong Alpha male. His demeanour confident, his presence strong. Still, despite our shared history and the kinship we had, I did not experience the link others mentioned.

 Uncertainty's pressure on me made me sigh. The night was meant to be a rite of passage, a celebration of sorts. But for me, it was a reminder of my shortcomings. I remained on the sidelines during the ceremony, watching others discover their partners, their bonds growing before my eyes.

 I couldn't help but wonder whether I would ever feel that relationship, that strong tug everyone else seemed to have.

 The night went on with the music softly playing in the background and the guest laughter and chatter a distant murmur. I stood alone in the middle of everything, hoping for a link still to arrive.

Faintly, the mark on my wrist burned and I hissed in frustration, what does the mark even mean?

All I felt was void. The night carried on, and I couldn't help but feel that something was lacking, something I was supposed to discover.

But where was it located?

 Would I ever find it?