Chapter 4--Split Chapter

(Morrigan’s P.O.V)

            Thaddeaus comes to my room, after Jolene and Catherine leave, to escort me to my father, who is waiting by the double doors that lead to the ballroom. When he turned around to face me, I could tell he was NOT a fan of the dress mother chose. I had to giggle to myself, mother will be the death of him.

“I want to preface this statement by letting you know that you look beautiful, sweet pea, but I am going to KILL your mother for picking out this dress. That woman WILL BE the death of me.” He finishes, muttering to himself.

            See? As I said, she’ll be the death of him.

“Of course, daddy. Now, it’s time for us to go in so get a move on old man before it’s your bedtime.” I tease.

            He huffs out a sigh and shakes his head. He knocks on the double doors for The Herald to announce us. As the doors open, and my father walks me to the top of the staircase, I can truly see how many people are here.

Holy shit, Goddess Danu PLEASE make sure I don’t trip and fall on my face.

            We walk down the stairs, and I’m thanking the Goddess above that I DID NOT trip and fall walking down the stairs. I breathe a sigh of relief as my father makes his little speech and begins the party. I become crowded by noblemen and other high-ranking officials asking for a dance. It’s becoming overwhelming, and I feel like I’m going to scream and tell them to fuck off when I take a deep breath and I can smell something delicious. I can’t pinpoint where this intoxicating scent is coming from, so I just chalk it up to someone’s cologne and I accept a dance with a noble from the vampire kingdom of Alynthi. As we dance in silence, super awkward silence, by the way, the scent gets stronger, and I can finally pinpoint what exactly the smell is. It’s like cedarwood and cinnamon. Mmm, delicious. I’m broken out of my little trance by Supreme Alpha Rian scaring the shit out of the noble vampire, wanting to cut in. I take his hand as he asks to go somewhere private to talk, and that’s when I feel it. Sparks. Tingles. They shoot up my arm and I know what this means. He's my mate. Ugh, I’ve had the biggest crush on Rian since I was little and now, I’m his mate. I’m not sure whether to be giddy with happiness or puke because I’m so nervous.

            We stop on the terrace that is outside the ballroom. My parents put together warming fires so guests can enjoy the snow while staying warm for the party. I finally look at the man who is my Goddess-given mate and he’s changed so much over the years but is still the sexiest man alive if I do say so myself. He’s huge, at least 6’8” and over 200 pounds of pure muscle…..and sex. Goddess, he’s delicious. His brown hair is pulled back into a man-bun, the sides of his head shaved, so I can see the tattoo on the side of his head—the Dara knot. His full beard is neatly trimmed and groomed. I finally notice his tattoos on his hands, mmmm I wonder if he’s tattooed all over, I suppose I’ll just have to find out. I’m pulled out of my lusty thoughts by a deep chuckle. I blush, thinking Rian can read my thoughts.

“Lost in thought, Princess?” Rian asks.

I can’t help but blush deeper and chuckle out, “Just a tad. Now, what did you wish to discuss with me?” I already know what he wants to discuss, I just need for him to say it.

“Well, I’m sure you felt something while holding my hand but in case you missed it, you’re my mate.” He says, with a bit of a possessive growl, making my body shiver in a VERY good way.

“I may have felt something and smelled something. So when would you like to take me back to Máni?” I ask.

“I’ve already let my Beta, Killian, know that we will be staying here for the week so you can make sure you say thorough goodbyes, spend more time with your family, get to know me since it has been a while since we last saw each other, and your parents will probably want to through yet another party for us.” He chuckles.

“Well then, I suppose we’ve got that sorted then. Now, can we go back inside I’m…….” I trail off.

            I start to feel funny, my body feels hot, and my head begins to pound like someone is taking a jackhammer to my brain. I cry out in pain as I crumple to the ground in pain, and soon the full moon is out from behind the clouds, and I feel like there is an explosion inside of me as I scream.

(Rian’s P.O.V)

            She’s lying on the ground, hot and in pain, I mind link Killian to tell him to get Morrigan’s family out here and to have a servant bring out a cloak for her, knowing she was going to need it. I knew what was happening the moment the moon showed itself and she went into her trance. She’s shifting? What the hell? We normally shift for the first time on the first full moon after our 18^th birthday. Why is she just now shifting? It takes less than a minute for Killian, her family, and a maid to arrive.

“What’s going on Rian?” Aunt Raya asks, her tone laced with worry.

“Morrigan is shifting. I know that when you found her you didn’t know what she was, that’s because our wolves don’t come to us until our 18^th birthday.” I replied.

            Morrigan is screaming in pain and her temperature is through the roof. I carry her off the terrace and into the grounds below to set her in the snow to help cool her off and make her more comfortable. After what seems like hours, I hear her beginning her shift, the popping of her bones coming out of place. She screams louder with each bone being broken until suddenly, her screams turn into a howl. There she stands, my beautiful mate, standing as tall as an Alpha wolf. Her coloring is a gorgeous white with a tinge of rose gold on the tips of her fur, making it look iridescent in the moonlight. Her wolf’s golden eyes shift to me, wait gold? Umm, her eyes are supposed to be green even in wolf form. That’s when I sense something else coming from her. Magic, I think? Wait, she’s a hybrid?

“Oh, my Goddess Danu, she’s part spell caster….and part elf!? How is this possible? How did we never notice this?” Aunt Raya asks.

“I don’t understand either. Wolves shift when they turn 18 and magic users get their powers between the ages of 16 and 18.” Uncle Leonard states, confusedly.

            So, she’s part wolf, spell caster, and elf. Wait, she’s not a hybrid, she’s a tribrid. Is that even a thing? How could she be equal parts of three different species? I mean there have been plenty of wolves mated to witches over the years as well as some being mated to elves. The only one who was mated to a hybrid witch/elf would be Alpha King Conri, but everyone knows that his mate and their unborn child died with him after he was killed. Suddenly there is a wet snout pushing into the palm of my hand, I look down at Morrigan’s wolf who is tired of being ignored and wants to know what is going on.

“Morrigan, mo grá, I need you to shift back, there's something I need to discuss with you and your family.”

            She whines not wanting to go through the painful process of shifting again.

“I know baby, but you need to do it. I promise it won’t be as bad as shifting into your wolf, okay? Just picture yourself in your human form and let your human half take control.”

            Her wolf closes her eyes and soon enough the snapping of bones is heard along with pained little whimpers. I grabbed the cloak from the maid and hurriedly stood in front of her to make sure that once she was human again, she would be covered up instead of standing naked. Once her shift is complete, I wrap her up in the cloak.

“What’s your wolf’s name mo grá?” I ask, Stark and I both wanted to know.

“Her name is Winter.” She says weakly, I can tell that the shift has taken a lot out of her which is perfectly normal.

“Okay sweet pea, let’s get you inside so you can change into a new dress, and we can enjoy the rest of the party.” Uncle Leonard states, hugging Morrigan.

“Okay, daddy. Rian, will you escort me please?” She asks.

“Of course, mo grá, just lead the way,” I say as I hold out my hand for her to take.

            We walk through the ballroom, where we receive plenty of stares since Morrigan is now in nothing but a cloak. I can’t help the possessive growl that builds within me, which makes everyone avert their eyes from us. We walk through the palace and up to her room with the maid following us with Morrigan’s new dress.

“I’ll be just a minute, Rian. You can go back down to the party if you’d like.” She states.

Yeah right, like I would even think to let you leave her when there are this many males around.  

            Stark huffs in my head.

I agree bud, I’m not leaving her to walk back to her party alone.

“No, I’ll wait for you here and escort you down. I’m sure your father is announcing you as my mate as we speak.”

            Morrigan nods her head, and the maid follows her into her room to help her get dressed again. Suddenly, images of Morrigan, naked begin dancing through my head making me wish that I was in that room with her. My pants became unbearably tight, and my cock was straining to be buried deep in her pussy. Trying to think of the most disgusting things to get my hard-on to go away, Morrigan comes out looking like the most delectable snack I have ever seen.

Well so much for getting rid of this raging hard-on. I huff to myself.

“Ready to get back to the party Princess?” I ask

“Not particularly, I would much rather skip the rest and stay in with you, but I suppose that we should finish out the party.” She sighs.

            I offer her my arm, and she wraps her arm around mine holding onto my forearm.

“So, what were you and my parents talking about after I shifted?” She asks.

            Well shit, I didn’t think she had heard us or was paying any attention.

“That’s a conversation we will have tomorrow, I promise mo grá,” I say, bending to kiss her cheek.

            She sighs and nods her head as we make our way back to the ballroom and through the double doors.