Chapter 12

Damien

The realization that she was the Alpha’s daughter, the woman I was here to marry washed over me like a tsunami. Never in my life had I thought that I would feel a connection to the woman I would marry for the alliance, and I certainly didn’t expect that she would be the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. How could she have this effect on me? The pull that I felt to her was intoxicating. I had to make her mine.

My mother’s deep ruby eyes sparkled as she looked deep into mine, and she smiled a knowing smile. She was always multiple steps ahead of me. “You feel it, the pull?” she questioned, “I feel it, too. She’s strong, but she doesn’t know it, yet.”

“This is something different than that. Something primal, deeper. Sargon feels it, too,” I told her.

“Thank Goddess!” my father said, “Have you finally found your fated mate?”

“How can that be if she is to remain here, and all I want is to be in her presence?”

“Fated mates,” my mother smiled, “always find a way.”

“I don’t even know if it is that, yet. I haven’t even spoken to her, but I know I want to make her mine.”

“Did you take my advice on learning about your betrothed before we arrived, or have your other… duties… kept your attention elsewhere?” my mother questioned.

How could my mother do that? In one moment she is talking to me about my potential fated mate and in the next she makes me feel like an ashamed pup who just got scolded. “I have been… busy…” I started and heard Rolf chuckle. This morning seemed like forever ago, a different lifetime.

“Luckily for you, I did,” my mother said, leading me to the trunk of her car. Inside were two matte black boxes tied with dark purple ribbons, our pack’s color. “Well…” she gestured, waiting for my thanks.

“Thank you, Mom. I can always count on you,” I hugged her.

“Well, are you going to look?” she asked.

I slid the cover off the top box, revealing purple roses and daisies. “Daisies,” I asked?

“Her favorite flower, symbolic of our joining together,” my mother answered. My mother was always so thoughtful about these things.

I gently placed the box aside and in the bottom box, a lavender gown sewn in delicate silk shimmered in the sun. As I admired it, I noticed it shifted from deep purple to white. “You have outdone yourself,” I thanked her. She handed me an envelope, inside was a blank purple card with a silver embossed S.

“This part is yours. Write from your heart,” my mother said, “And finally, this—“ She handed me a hinged black box. I opened it, and the purple diamond radiated, casting glittering rainbows. I gasped. I had never seen it sparkle like this, like it knew that she was close. “It is long past time that this be returned to its rightful owner.”

Our conversation was interrupted by the Iceclaw Luna coming over, craning her neck to see what we were looking at. I abruptly snapped the box closed, ending the radiant rainbows. “Welcome to Iceclaw,” her voice was smooth, like a warm blade through butter. “We are delighted to have you join us for the Ceremony this evening and for the alliance between our packs once more. The Alpha is expecting you,” she said and motioned for us to follow.

I couldn’t place the feeling, but Sargon called in my head, “Do not trust this Luna,” and with the looks that passed between her and those standing on the stairs, I couldn’t help but feeling that he was right. Something was off.