Chapter 1 - Birthday mate surprise

Mina POV

-

There was a swagger to Owen’s step as the main Hayre family finally entered the hall. Mina smiled with lips still swollen from his kiss last night. As per tradition, she hadn’t seen him since, and the sweet flutter of her heart made the hours apart worth it. Now her family and his would witness the moment their mate bond formed, and then they'd spend the night claiming each other. Heat stirred in her belly. The moment they'd been waiting for for so long was finally coming. Owen was her personal warrior. The Hayres had chosen him to protect her when they were both just pups, but, today, the Moon Goddess would choose him to be her mate. It was the best twenty fifth birthday gift she could wish for.  

Jitters fanned from her fingertips down to her toes, but her composure was well practised and held strong. She even managed to muffle her smile when her mother’s scrutiny fell upon her. The Luna stood to her left, her older brother on her right, the last of her family. Sam made up for their mother’s chill, his warm smile easing her nerves as she looked out over the warriors. The choosing ceremony was witnessed by the entire Hayre family, though only the main family were needed. However, it was tradition for all in the protector family to be given the opportunity to test themselves as the next Luna’s mate, though everyone knew who would win the honour. 

Each wolf threw knowing glances toward Owen, barely able to hide their smirks. They were a rowdy bunch, but the formality of the day kept them in check. They knew how to behave in front of their Luna and future Luna. They had perfected it to the point it was hard to imagine they had only held the position of the pack’s protectors since she was born. Before them, the Lynn family held the role for generations, until they failed to protect their Luna’s unit when Mina was still in her mother's belly.   

Everyone watched as Owen strode into the packhouse hall, Alastor and their parents behind him. Mina couldn’t help but watch their approach, her gaze fixed to her soon-to-be mate. Owen looked handsome in his formal shirt, and she drank in his presence as if they had been apart for weeks instead of hours. His shirt was similar to the one Alastor wore, a pale blue to match the many bracelets and necklaces her mother had laid out for her that morning. They were the packs colours, of course, looking far paler against her black hair than the typical brown locks of the pack. The elder Hayre sibling was slightly taller than his brother, broader, the shirt fitting snug to his body, lining the efforts of his years of training.   

“Welcome, to all the Hayre family, the protectors of our pack and leaders of our warriors.” The Luna’s voice carried through the hall with ease. “Today is a special day; the day my daughter reaches maturity. Soon she will take over as the Clear Blue Luna but, today, she will find her first mate. The wolf who will stand at her side, through thick and thin. Their love fated and forever.”   

Many eyes glanced to Owen as the Luna continued, the pink in his cheeks matching Mina's. It was a shy warmth but didn’t lack excitement. Finally, they could cement their relationship and begin their lives together.  

Her heartbeat fluttered as Sam wrapped a blindfold over her eyes. As a wolf, it did little to take away her spatial awareness, but it did take her sight. It was to remove any favouritism in her choice, but she knew her nose would guide her right. As soon as she scented Owen's pheromones, their bond would form, leading her to him. Nothing could get in the way of that. Nothing could defy their fate.   

Nerves wrapped her as the hall hushed, but she released her pheromones on cue, letting them flood the room. It was a unique scent that all wolves developed and learned to control through puberty, until they matured at twenty-five. Usually releasing one’s pheromones was a warning, but it was the opposite with a mate. Their scents perfectly matched, connecting them, bonding them.  

Mina stayed put as bodies shuffled.

Her mother had pre-warned her that others would step forward. Some would find her scent pleasing while some could be after her power. Of all the nation’s packs, Clear Blue was one of the original three to form. They were Goddess blessed packs, the bloodline of their leadership carrying the capability to manifest unique abilities. The trait was only passed to the women and presented when a mate bond was formed. Others wanted Mina because the Luna shared that ability with her mate. It made her uncomfortable to think there were wolves among the Hayre family that’d want to use her for her power.

   

At the second signal, the line of potential mates released their pheromones. Mina quickly realised why her mother had pre-warned her about the event. Not only would wolves who weren’t her mate step forward, but their proximity to one another mixed the scents. She had to be careful to choose the right wolf, to follow her instincts to her mate. Anxiety churned her stomach as the scents hit her; a cacophony of different wolves vying for her attention. Pressure settled heavy on her shoulders, the decision suddenly not seeming as easy as it did moments ago.   

  

Just before the urge overwhelmed her, every worry silenced. Her mind cleared; the fog of indecision brushed away with one scent. It lifted above the rest, light and fresh, perfect. She sniffed the air and gasped. A few chuckles rumbled in the room as her feet stumbled forward on their own, but Mina quickly righted herself. She had to be careful. She had to find Owen by his scent.    

   

Ignoring the drive to race forward, she forced herself to start at one end of the line and work methodically. It was easier than she expected to dismiss the wrong wolves, her mate’s scent coaxing her down the line. She barely paused at each wolf to sniff before moving on. The closer she got to him, the stronger it became. It wrapped her in an intoxicating perfume that had her eager to dismiss every other wolf in the hall and bury herself in his arms.   

  

Mina wasn’t in control anymore. Her nose tipped into the air, her feet gliding over the floor like their path was already mapped out. She moved so fast that it jarred her when she jerked to a stop.    

   

He was there. He was right in front of her.   

  

The unease returned. 

Tentatively, she took a step forward. The heat of his body was close, but she didn’t touch him, leaving a breath of space that paused her choice. The proximity tingled at her fingertips as she hovered a hand between them. Her breaths shallowed, the small puffs all she could hear against the rushing heartbeat in her ears. Her mother’s words made her hesitate to close the gap. To make that final decision. She was almost sure the delicious scent was radiating from the wolf, but she wanted to be certain.   

   

She released her pheromones again. The deep, heady groan that responded in kind was all she needed to launch herself forward, trusting him to catch her. She wasn’t even sure if she moved first, but in the next breath, strong arms wrapped around her, lifting her feet from the floor. She gasped as a hungry nose buried into her neck, inhaling her scent like a man starved of oxygen. Her hands spread wide over his broad chest, sliding over sculpted muscles that had her body shivering with the anticipation of exploring every single one.   

   

A rumble of approval sounded in the back of his throat, as she moved her touch to anchor around his neck. She followed his lead, letting her nose guide her to his pulse point. His pheromones were even stronger there. She nuzzled against it, her canines lengthening. They scratched against his skin. He was so close to being hers.    

   

“Steady on, Princess.” A deep chuckle rumbled against her ear.   

   

Mina stiffened.    

   

The voice washed over her like a bucket of cold water. That wasn’t Owen’s voice. The arms around her tightened, his pheromones releasing to soothe her sudden tension, but she resisted its easing lull.    

   

In one sharp move, she jerked back and whipped the blindfold off. Hazel eyes met hers. Hazel. Not the warm brown she expected. Her mouth bobbed open to speak, but no words came out. Her throat was tight, eyes wide, mind scrambling to understand why she was in Alastor Hayre’s arms. Worse, why did she want to nuzzle into him again?   

   

The blood drained from her face, as her mind finally pushed past the fog of his pheromones. He was her mate. Not Owen. Not her personal guard, but his older brother. Her stomach churned. Had that ever happened in the history of Clear Blue? 

   

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the hall. She caught sight of Owen just as he charged out of the room, and finally found her words again.    

   

“Put me down.” She whispered.   

   

Alastor lowered her to the floor and let her go as she pushed free of his arms. There was no hurt in his eyes. If anything, as the air cleared of their pheromones, he looked as uncertain as she felt. Heat pooled in Mina's cheeks, as the attention of the Hayre family fell to her. The entire hall was too stunned to break the silence. Even her mother and Sam were silent, one’s eyes wide, the other thoughtful. However, neither stepped forward to help, so Mina did what she did best. She straightened, squared her shoulders, and forced down the rising tide of emotions that wanted to swallow her whole.   

“Excuse me.” She clipped before striding from the hall.      

 Could her birthday get any worse?