Still a Blessing When I Start Over

“Kate, do you think Ben will be at Samantha and Corey’s wedding tonight?” I asked, sliding the clothes on the rack beside my best friend.

            “Why?” She raised her brown eyebrow in my direction. “Do you like him?”

            “I don’t know,” I shrugged my shoulders before focusing back on a red fitted dress in front of me. “I mean he’s new, cute, and funny.”

            “Well, he doesn’t have a mate, I mean he did at least that’s what people are saying.” She replied turning around to face a similar rack behind us. “You should get that one, it’s cute.” 

           “Okay,” I grabbed the dress and walked to the fitting room.

           “I still don’t get you, here we are shopping for dresses on your cousin’s wedding day, we should be with her.” She retorted stepping into my dressing room while taking off her tight blue jeans and purple blouse before reaching for the skin-tight pink dress, that I knew would hug her skinny frame.

        “Yeah well, you know that none of my family likes me, I only got the invite, out of spite I’m sure.” I retaliated pulling up the red dress over my thick thighs.

        “Yeah, how could I forget she was marrying an Alpha.” Kate scoffed and rolled her eyes, turning her back to me so I could zip up her dress.

        “Exactly, and the fact that I’m not mated at thirty, doesn’t sit well with them, or it could be the fact I’m wolf-less, amongst other things.” I finished zipping her up as I turned my back so that she could do the same for me.

        “Don’t let them get to you babe, you look hot. Let’s go have some fun tonight.” She hip-bumped me before pushing her long auburn hair off her shoulders while giggling. 

        “Nah, Sweets, I’m used to it, I’m glad you’re my plus one.” I looked in the mirror before turning to the side. “Tell Darrell I’ll be getting him a gift for letting you come out with me.”

        “He’s going to be there, Thyri, but he knows he only gets one dance with me, then I’m all yours.” She giggled slapping both her hands on my butt. “Is it me or does this ass of yours keep getting bigger?” 

        “It’s the dress, which I don’t know about, I think I look fat.” I pointed to the zipper to get her to bring it down so I could change.

        “Are you crazy? No, Thyri you look hot, I mean it. You aren’t changing.” Kate opened the curtain to the changing room and walked out.

        “Kate, I look fat, I’ll just go in jeans, come on. I can’t reach the zipper.” I yelled coming out, bringing my arm up, and trying to reach the zipper in the back.

        “No, Thyri, I’m going pay for everything, I already snatched the price tag, grab our things!” She shouted as she looked back raising the tag in her hand. 

        “I can’t believe you did that!” I whisper shouted as I walked up to her putting our clothes, in the bag, she held out in her hands.

        “Yes, now shoes, then hair and make-up on Darrell of course.” She laughed holding up her husband’s card. “Perks of a Beta’s Wife,” As we spent most of the day buying shoes and getting our hair and make-up done we made our way into the nail salon to finish off our look.

        “Thyri, Darrell just texted, he said that the Alpha King was coming.” Kate looked at me as her hazel eyes widened.

        “That old man, why would he come to a wedding?” I questioned glancing at the woman painting my long nails, bright red.

        “No, Thyri don’t you remember his grandson taking over six months ago?” Kate asked putting her phone down, her eyes never leaving mine.

        “Oh, guess it slipped my mind, why is he coming anyway?” I shrugged.

        “Alpha Corey Sinclair is his cousin.” She relayed as she continued looking at me.

        “Cool,” I said slowly unsure why she was still looking at me wide-eyed.

        “You are clueless sometimes, he still has yet to pick his commanders, he’s been away on council and other business. You know Darrell is an Alpha, well he was supposed to be if it wasn’t for those constant rogue attacks on the Blue Moon Pack.” Kate uttered as the woman finished painting her nails a bright pink color.

        “Right, I’m sorry Kate. I should have remembered.” I got up and walked over to hug her back as she paid.

        “Come on, let’s forget it and go have fun,” She pulled me as we headed out of the mall and toward her car, before making our way to the reception hall. As we made our way in and took our seats next to her husband Beta Darrell Puttnam in the second row. We watched the ceremony and then were ushered into the hall, watching the bedding ceremony, as I was family and Darrell was a Beta we could stay. It was a very old tradition that members of the family had to watch the new couple consummate the marriage. After we were moved into another huge hall, so everyone could celebrate the new couple.

        “Hey, Thyri,” A voice called out, I turned and watched as Ben came running up to me and Kate. 

        “Hey, Ben,” I answered as I watched his short brunette hair bounce atop his head with every step he took.

        “I didn’t know you’d be here,” He scrunched his brows as he got to my side and nodded at Kate.

        “Yeah, Sam is my cousin,” I shrugged as I watched the couple finish their dance making their way to the crowd being greeted by guests. “Excuse me, I have to go congratulate the happy couple.” I took Kate’s hand as we made our way through the mass of bodies toward my cousin. “Sam!” I called out with a smile on my face. “Congrats cousin,” I kissed both her cheeks as I turned to her new husband to extend my hand.

        “Who are you?” Corey’s voice boomed as my brown eyes widened at his tone.

        “I… I’m Sam’s cousin, Thyri Daniels,” I stuttered as his dark blue eyes glared holes into me.

        “You will address my wife as Luna Samatha Sinclair,” He raised his hand and smacked my face as I fell to the ground.

        “Alpha Corey, she didn’t mean any disrespect, Luna Samantha is her cousin. She is my subject.” Another booming voice was heard with matching footsteps. Tears began to well up as I was helped up by Alpha Mathias Dogwood.

        “Keep hold of your subjects, Alpha Mathias,” Alpha Corey glared at me before the double doors were pushed open. We bowed unable to control our movements and were brought upright as the new Alpha King made his way fully inside. I wiggled out of Mathais' embrace, muttered my thanks, and quickly made my way back to the bathroom. As I came out, my arm was snatched and I was dragged into the hallway.

         “Thyri, you missed it, when the Alpha King came to congratulate the couple he stopped dead in his tracks, he started saying mate, and then rushed searching every girl.” Kate released my wrist and grabbed me by the shoulders.

         “Great he found his mate, after what happened I just want to get a drink and go home.” I retorted, slumping my shoulders.

         “You have to get out there Alpha King’s orders,” Kate replied. 

         “Psshh, I have no mate, Katie Bear that is my other curse, I’m grabbing a drink then going home.” I shoved her arms down as Ben started to approach us followed closely by Darrell.

         “Kate!” Darrell shouted as he held out his hand.

         “Benjamin, get her out there,” She whispered passing him down the hall. I turned the corner and went into the kitchen to grab a bottle of red wine before rounding the corner again sitting in the long corridor.

        “Hello Ben,” I said taking a sip of wine and slipping off my heels.

        “Thyri, what are you doing?” He questioned, standing above me.

        “Drinking, I know you saw what happened with my cousin's new husband, Alpha Corey, everyone did.” I rolled my brown eyes as I took another sip. “Two peas in a pod, they are a perfect match.”

       “Yes, I did,” He took his hand in mine, sliding down the wall. “He shouldn’t have done that,”

       “It’s nothing I’m not used to,” I shrugged my shoulders taking a big gulp. 

       “I see the way people treat you, you shouldn’t have to deal with that.” He looked at me his light brown eyes saddened as he kissed the knuckles on my hand.

       “I’ve been through worse, Ben, this is nothing new.” I shrugged again as I took a bigger sip.

       “If you were mine, I would protect you from it all,” He caught me off guard as he grabbed my face kissing it. 

        “Mate,” Came a soft voice, as the door to the corridor flew open before it echoed an angry booming voice that shook the hall. “Mine,” before I could register what was happening Ben was snatched up and thrown down the hall. I was then facing the most gorgeous man I have ever seen. “Mine” I heard him growl before I was hoisted over his shoulder and drug out into the reception hall. “Mine” He growled loudly as we were now amongst the guests from earlier. I looked around the room searching for anyone to help, when I noticed Kate and Darrell looking happy, was she crying while smiling, and why was Darrell holding up his thumbs? I questioned myself. “Corey, sorry I can not stay for your reception, I have a mate to deal with,” He whipped my ass with his large hand and I could feel my cheeks light up, still not fully aware of what was going on. 

        “Put me down you brute!” I yelled, wiggling around, which only made him raise me and adjust me on his shoulder more before whipping my ass again.

        “Is that Thyri?” Samantha questioned, which made the man turn sideways. 

        “Ugh, is that the one I slapped for her insolence?” Corey questioned before his eyes grew wide hearing his mistake.

        “You what?!” The large man yelled as the ground shook and the windows broke. He turned back to face Corey.

        “She disrespected my wife, my Luna,” Corey said confidently as he pulled down his black tux.

        “My mate, mine,” The large brute yelled again, he then raised his hand and smacked Corey across the face making him fly down the reception hall. He then stared at Sam and let out a warning growl before she bowed her head. I must have passed out because I don’t remember anything after that until I woke up. “Why were you kissing another man?” Came a voice I didn’t know. My eyes fluttered open to the broad back of a man staring out of the window.

       “What?” I murmured as I sat up in the strange bed looking around the room I knew wasn’t mine.

       “Are you deaf?” He turned around yelling at me. “Why were you kissing him? Is he the one you were with? It’s faint but I can smell you were with a man!” He growled getting closer to me.

       “What? Where am I? Who are you?” I screamed as I backed away bringing my legs up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them.

       “I’m your fucking Mate, and I want to punish you for letting another male take what is mine.” He leaned down his dark brown eyes flickering back and forth to black. 

I let out a scream before I yelled again, “I don’t have a mate, where am I? Someone help me!” 

        “You don’t have a mate?” He growled getting closer, I could feel his hot breath closing in as I shut my eyes tight. I felt my hair being brushed aside and then a shock hit my cheek, and I flinched from it. “Fine then, we will see,” He scoffed as he came closer his full dark pink lips captured my small light pink ones and I felt sparks as a rush of emotions erupted through me. He groaned which caused my eyes to open and I quickly pushed him off of me before retreating into the corner. Tears came streaming down my face, as I put my head down on my knees begging to go home. “What the fuck?” He screeched falling to the floor with a loud thud. He got up balling his fists and headed to the door slamming it as he left.