Chapter 15 Hemming Family Phone Conference

Io

I watched Kiaria as she walked to her building and waited for her until she was safely inside. When she entered her building's doors, I immediately went inside my car and whipped out my phone. I had a wedding to plan. My wedding. My heart was racing from the excitement of it all. I have found my fated mate and she has agreed to marry me.

Of course, since a wedding is a human tradition, we would also have a mating ceremony to follow wolf tradition. I could not wait to place my mark on her, to make her mine, but first, to appease her human parents, we would get married.

Kiaria said tomorrow was her free day. Perfect. Instead of a date, we would get married instead. I pressed Marcus' number on my phone which was on speed dial.

"Marcus, I need you to get a marriage license for me and Kiaria at city hall. Use all our connections there. Then ask the Mayor if he can officiate our wedding. Scratch that. I'll ask the Mayor personally. I'll meet you at City Hall."

"Alpha, congratulations! This is good news. I will make the necessary arrangements. Do you have a venue in mind?"

"Yes, at the hotel. I will call the manager and get everything arranged. Including the tuxedoes as well as Kiaria's gown," I answered. "Just to make sure the gown is ready, I will call my sister and tell her to have someone under her employ tend to the details of the gown."

"And what about your parents, Alpha? Your mother will be disappointed if she does not attend the wedding," Marcus reminded me. He was right. I would not hear the end of it if she was not part of the wedding.

"I'll call her now so she and my father can fly in by tonight. Marcus, call for reinforcements," I ordered him. "I want our Gamma and Delta to fly in with my parents so there are more people for security. Kiaria needs people she can trust to protect her."

"Sure thing, Alpha. I'll call them now. I'll see you at City Hall," Marcus said and then he hung up.

I dialled the number of my mother and waited for her to answer. She immediately answered.

"Io, thank goodness you called. I was talking to your father about your birthday next month. How about if we all went out of the country to somewhere warm? Hmm...," my mother asked. She loved planning parties.

"About that, Mother, a month is still a long way ahead. We will have enough time to plan for that. Besides, my birthday isn't that important," I explained.

"How can you say such a thing, my darling boy? You always look forward to your birthday," my mother argued.

"Mother, please listen to me. My birthday isn't important. There is something more important that I have to tell you," I said.

My mother paused. She knew it wasn't like me to disregard my birthday celebration. "You are acting very strange. Well, out with it. What do you have to tell me?" She asked, her tone curious.

"Mother, I am getting married...tomorrow," I answered.

"YOU'RE WHAT?!" She exclaimed rather loudly. I had to move my phone away from my ear.

"I'm getting married, Mother. I have found her. My fated mate. Here in Whitefish, Montana. I can't believe it myself."

"CONNOR, YOUR SON HAS FOUND HIS FATED MATE AND IS GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW!" My mother screamed on the top of her lungs. "PREPARE THE PLANE! WE ARE GOING TO WHITEFISH, MONTANA AS SOON AS I'M DONE PACKING!"

"Mother, are you finish?" I asked her. My mother giggled.

"Yes, Io. You go to Montana to meet Winston Wright and end up finding your fated mate. A business deal and a wedding! How marvelous! So, tell me her name."

"She is Winston Wright's adopted daughter, Kiaria Wright. She is wolf!" I told her.

"I'm confused, son. A human couple adopted a wolf pup as their own? How can that be possible?" She asked.

"Because Mother, Kiaria is not just any other wolf. She is the daughter of High Priestess Celeste," I explained. I heard her gasp in astonishment.

"CONNOR, MAKE SURE IO'S MEN ARE WITH US. WE NEED SECURITY!" My mother yelled again at my father. This time, I heard my father's voice.

"Alexa, honey, I have gone deaf. Put the phone to speaker so I can speak to Io," my father gently said. "Io, son, why does your mother want us to bring your men with us?"

"Father, my fated mate is the lost daughter of High Priestess Celeste and Alpha Blake," I answered. I heard my father chuckle.

"Son, this isn't the time to joke," he replied.

"Father, I am not joking. Kiaria Wright, the adopted daughter of Winston and Sakura Wright, is the biological daughter of the High Priestess. The locket among her belongings when she was left in the care of the Wright's proves her birthright." I expected my father to say something right away, but there was a long pause.

"Your mother is right. We need the added security," my dad said before sighing. "When word gets out she is the missing daughter of High Priestess Celeste, the Rogue Alpha will stop at nothing to kill her. He has a vast empire that stretches across the United States and many Rogue wolves to do his bidding. For now, just for security purposes, let's keep her true identity a secret. When people ask who she is, we will tell them she is the daughter of Winston Wright, owner of Wright Savings Banks."

"Io, darling, the mating ceremony. Where do you want it to be held? Here in the territory among closest friends and family or there in Montana? You do know you need to bring your new Luna here or the pack will weaken," my mother reminded me.

"I think we should have the mating ceremony there. I don't know if Kiaria's parents will agree to her moving to Washington State. Most importantly, I don't know if it is possible to uproot Kiaria when she is in the middle of the semester at university here in Montana," I said.

"Well, for now, she can continue her year there and take the private jet to and from Montana and Washington State. You can stay there during the week and come home on the weekends. Your father and I can keep an eye on the pack while you are gone," my mother suggested.

"Sure, Mother. Whatever works. So will I be expecting you here tonight?" I asked.

"Maybe by this afternoon, the earliest," my father answered. "Son, no press. Let the entire world keep guessing. When the right time comes, you can shout to the world and tell every wolf who she is," my father said. "Just not now."

"Father, do you think I should speak to the High Elder regarding Kiaria? When we have our mating ceremony, the wolves in attendance will ask which pack she is from. I am not willing to tell them the truth." I could not trust the Council. The Council of Wolves had fallen from favor in the eyes of the wolves due to their alliance with the Rogue Alpha. The High Elder had tried many times to negotiate with the Rogue Alpha and keep him on a tight leash, however, the Rogue Alpha would not listen. It was also not a secret that a number of Council Elders had amassed a great fortune dealing with the Rogue Alpha. They became rich while numerous wolf packs suffered.

"I don't know, Io. He has turned a blind eye to the criminal dealings of the Rogue Alpha. If you are going to speak to him, don't tell him the whole story," my father replied.

"I agree with your father, Io. Who cares which wolf pack she's from? What's important is she is your fated mate. It is the utmost law of the wolves to respect the bond of the fated mate. Even if she or he is human," my mother explained. "And son, I am so happy for you. The Moon Goddess has blessed you."

"We'll be bringing your most trusted men. Make sure the hotel is prepared for our arrival. As for your sister, we need the pack doctor's approval. She IS heavy with child," my father said.

"Of course, Father. I don't want anything to happen to my nephew. Do ask Thebe if she can recommend someone to alter one of her gowns to fit my mate."

"Sure. We'll see you soon, Io." My parents hung up. All the excitement I had felt earlier had now changed to worry. I had to protect my mate at all costs especially from the Rogue Alpha and his minions.

Poor Kiaria. She will be thrusted into the world of wolves with a bullseye on her back.

"She is stronger than you think, Io. The wolves who want her dead will be getting a surprise. She's powerful, more powerful than you know," my wolf, Beast said. "When the day comes for her and the Rogue Alpha to meet, I'm making sure I get a front row seat to watch him suffer and die."

I smiled and turned the ignition of the car. Beast was right. If the prophecy rings true, there is one wolf who could stop the Rogue Alpha...

Andd she hasn't even started yet.