My mate

Twyla appears in my room with breakfast and a beautiful dress.

“Eat up dear then we will get you ready, this was your mother’s dress. I have made some alterations to your size. I thought you would want to wear it” she says to me.

“Thank you so much, I just wish it was a more happy occasion. I want to thank you for everything you have done for me, and please look out for Zander when I am gone” I ask her with tears in my eyes

“Oh my darling, I loved your mother, and I love the two of you like my own, I will take good care of him don’t you worry. You never know this could end up turning into a good thing. The moon goddess works in mysterious ways” she says hopefully 

“Well so far, she either hates me or is blind to me, but with all that has happened so far, I am sure I can cope. Zander said the contract stated 3 years, so if I can survive that long, I can be free. I have had plenty of practice surviving” I say sadly 

“I think she has given you trials to make you stronger as you are destined for something great” Twyla says confidently 

“I’m not so sure about that, I just want to be happy. I don’t need much. I don’t care about greatness or riches, just love and happiness” I say

“Thats why you deserve it and have to suffer first. It is not fair, but the best of us suffer while the worst sail through life. That’s why you keep going so the balance can be restored” she tells me, sounding like a wise woman 

“We will see, for now I will hang on and see where it takes me” I reply, not convinced 

I get ready doing my own hair and make up, then put on my mum’s dress. It looks beautiful on me, white with a corset style top and sleek flowing skirt down to my ankles matching it with ivory sandals. I have my hair half up in flowing waves and soft barely there make-up.

I am sitting there feeling really nervous. I really do not want to go through with this at all, I am still locked in my room, so I have no chance to escape. The door opens, and my father walks in.

“Good you are ready, now don’t do anything stupid or it will be your brother who pays the price for it. I will strip his chance to become Alpha and put him in the dungeon” he warns. 

He is such a bas.tard

“Yes Alpha” I say without emotion 

“Right let’s get going then” he states, so I follow him to the garden. As we near the crowd, he warns me to take his arm. 

I get to the alter, and Athena starts acting up, “mate, mate is here it’s him. Alpha Lucian is mate” she says excitedly in my head

“Keep it together. we don’t want them knowing about you remember, and also, you know his reputation. Don’t get excited about him just yet. He is an evil manwh.ore” I warn her

“But it’s mate, he will love us” she whimpers

“Don’t be too sure, I don’t want you to be hurt” I say sadly to her. 

We get to the end of the aisle, and my father places my hand in his, causing an eruption of tingles. Before I can think of it, I see my father go to kiss my head. I step out of the way. No way does he get to play pretend the loving father. 

I quickly pull my hand away from Lucian, seeing him scowl more if that is even possible. He looks as thrilled as me to be here, then turn to the elder. The vows pass in a blur I speak when I have to, and so does Lucian, both of us without emotion.

When the elder states he may kiss the bride, I go to walk away before I am pulled by Lucian towards him, and he pecks me on the lips. 

I’m so angry at him right now. How dare he kiss me without my permission he looks at me stunned, and I realise that my eyes must have flashed with their purple through them briefly. 

He shakes his head as if he thinks he is seeing things, which is good. I can’t let him know just yet.

My bags are already at the car waiting for me lovely they can’t wait to get rid of me, as Lucian is dragging me along Zander stops him and asks if he can have a private word with me before I leave.

“Be quick then, I will be in the car” he grunts

“Are you ok Aurora” Zander says, hugging me

“I’m fine and I will be fine don’t worry about me, just watch out for dad” I warn him

“I will try and visit you soon” he says

“I will look forward to it, I better go. At least I don’t have to put up with the people here anymore” I say, giving him a final hug. 

I give a hug to Twyla and the gamma before getting into the car. I don’t bother with anyone else. There is no one else I care about or who cares about me.

I get in the car with Mr Happy, and three other people who seem much more friendly they all introduce themselves to me, it’s nice they are not all a.ssholes. 

“just so you know, I didn’t want this marriage, and I didn’t want you. There will be rules when we get back to the pack. We won’t be sleeping in the same room, you have no say in my life or my pack, and you stay out of my life” he growls 

“My my aren’t you charming and such a catch” I taunt, causing a couple of choked laughs 

“for starters I didn’t want this either I wasn’t given a choice, I am happy to stay away from you we can reject each other you can sleep with whoever you want and so can I” I sneer at him

“How dare you, who do you think you are a worthless wolfless girl thinking you are better than me” he roars. I sit and laugh at him

“if that’s what you want to think, fine by me, I was just trying to sort the best solution for both of us according to your charming rules” I say condescendingly 

“I will decide if there is to be any rejection, not you. I make the rules, and you follow, do I make myself clear” he shouts 

“Oh crystal clear Alpha, anything else sir” I sneer

“Just fu.cking sit there quietly. I can’t be bothered with you for now” he growls

We spend the rest of the journey in silence. Athena is sad and whimpering in my head about her mate being horrible and wanting to let him know she is there. 

“no we can’t tell him, he doesn’t want us if we have a wolf or not it won’t make a difference he’s an a.sshole” I warn her

“what will we do Aurora” she asks

“survive and not put up with anyone’s sh.it” I say firmly 

“we are much stronger than they realise we won’t let them drag us down” I add

We pull up to the packhouse, and an older lady is waiting at the doors she looks slightly familiar. As I get out, she runs towards me and pulls me into a hug 

“oh Aurora you look so much like Ashley, even more beautiful than her though” she says with tears in her eyes

“Auntie Nadia” I say, unsure

“you remember me” she says happily 

“I have some memories of you and mum together. I thought you looked familiar when we pulled up” I say with happiness 

“I’m so happy you are here, I miss Ashley so much she was a wonderful woman. We were best friends from the same pack until we were both mated to Alpha’s. We always stayed in touch you, your brother and the boys used to play together when you were pups. You know Lucian wouldn’t even let his brother play with you when you were little he wanted you all to himself” she laughs 

“I don’t think that’s a problem now. He wants to play with everyone else except me” I say, taking her arm and walking into the packhouse, leaving them behind.