As we go down the stairs, Cam leading the charge to find the Elders, Eli appears, grabbing my arm, “Can we talk for a minute?’ he begs, when my mates growl possessively looking at his arm touching me.
I sigh, “Sure. I’ll just be a minute,” I tell them forcefully when Jason goes to say something.
Eli walks us into the sitting room at the back of the house and starts pacing frustrated. After a minute he finally faces me, a mix of anger and sadness in his eyes, “Dani, please think about what you’re about to do. If you mate with them now before you are cleansed, it will change the fate of all of us. You should come with me to my pack first and cleanse your soul of the anger and pain you’re holding on to.”
Seriously?! “They are my mates. I love them. I want to be with them. There’s nothing you can say to make me change my mind.”
He groans dropping to his knees in front of me as my wolf becomes more agitated. He looks up at me, tears in his eyes, “I feel your pain. It’s my gift. Your pain is being turned to anger and anger turning to more pain to create a never-ending cycle which will make you turn into Luke. Please, for the sake of all of our packs, don’t let that happen.”
“Well, what did everyone expect would happen? My life has been agony since being among these packs and the only good thing that has come from that is my mates. Now you’re telling me to hold off on being tied to them so I can be spiritually cleansed? Why would I abandon my mates for some procedure that may not even work? How do you know that tying to my mates isn’t exactly what I need?”
“Because, I’m also your mate and my wolf is telling me, you need all of us or none of us,” he responds with a conviction in his voice showing how much he believes every word he’s saying. “What would James say if he was here?”
James would want me to be happy. But is a mating without Eli going to make me happy?
***
“Are you sure about this Dani? Once the ceremony is complete, it can’t be undone.” Lance watches me, waiting for me to understand how serious this situation is, as if he understands my internal dilemma.
I may have only known my mates for a short while but my wolf and I feel so connected to each of them. They’ve burst into my life in the most unexpected ways, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Sure, there are things that have happened that I wish hadn’t have but I believe it was necessary to get me to where I am today, standing with my mates and their families as we prepare to tie ourselves together for the rest of our lives.
Eli is off to the side, and the look on his face is breaking my resolve. Every word he said earlier is running through my mind on repeat, making me doubt my choice. He pissed me off by asking what James would say because he’d want me to be happy, wouldn’t he?
I look away, meeting Lance’s eyes, “I know what I want. My mates and I to be one. There’s nothing you can say that will make me change my mind,” I tell him, my voice strong.
He smiles proudly, “Very well. As you are aware, we will speak the ritual words, then you will shift and mark each of your mates, in a spot of your choosing. Then once you have shifted back your mates will do the same. You will be forever tied in blood, bound to feel each other’s pain while also feeling the love you have for each other. This bond is one of the most sacred things in this life you will share. Dishonor it and your wolves will make you feel the pain of a thousand deaths.”
Sammy and Jax are stone faced at his side, each dressed in soft cream robes which are part of the ceremony. I’m wearing a deep green, the colour of royalty among the pack while all my mates are spread out behind me, shirtless and awaiting my mark.
Goosebumps break out on my arms looking at how amazing they look, shoulder to shoulder. Never could I have dreamed to be so lucky to have six mates by my side. I always hoped I’d meet one that would be my everything but now, we have a bond so profound that I can’t imagine my life without them.
Sammy steps forward, his face blank. “Do you have a token of your love for each other?”
Huh? A token? Shit, I didn’t know we’d need a token. As I look around at my mates I see the panic on their faces. Mitchell steps away from them, coming towards me. “I actually have something for all of us. Figured we might need it,” he shrugs, pulling a silver chain from his pocket.
He stops in front of me, holding it out for me to see. It’s beautiful. A silver circle with ‘Protectors of your heart. Always & Forever’ engraved around it then in the middle is a beautiful heart with my name engraved in it.
“When did you do this?” I ask breathless. I can’t believe he did this.
He smiles softly, “Before we asked to be your mate. I knew I wanted you as my mate and we’d always be there to protect you so, it seemed fitting. Is it ok?” he asks nervously, a slight tinge of pink in his cheeks.
I wrap my arms around him, not even caring that it’s not part of the ceremony. “It’s perfect. Thank you,” I murmur in his ear. I couldn’t imagine something more beautiful. I pull away looking up into his eyes, “I can’t believe you got me this. It’s amazing!”
“Ahem,” Lance coughs, interrupting the moment. “If you would like to set your token aside, once the markings are complete, you will be free to give it to your mate,” he says stoically, though I see the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.
I bow my head, hiding my smile, this is supposed to be a serious matter after all. Once I’m sure I have myself under control, I lift my head meeting the Elders eyes. Mitchell has stepped back in line with the others, all of them standing tall, arms behind their backs.
Eli however, has taken a few more steps away, pain in his eyes. Even from here, I feel his sorrow. He may be new to my life but we have a bond as well, one that’s completely different to each of my mates. How can I be so conflicted? Shouldn’t I be happy I’m finally getting the mates I wanted?
Sammy takes a step toward me, ready to finish the ceremony, “Danielle Jackson, Heir to the Alpha Pair, you are here today because you wish to tie yourself to not only one, but all six of your potential mates. In all our history, this has never been done. It has always been one Alpha Queen and an Alpha King to equal her power and become the Alpha Pair. It is your choice to take each of these men as your own and become not the Alpha Pair but the Alpha Pack. Is this your wish?” he says, each word with a careful deliverance so as to not confuse the spectators. It makes me glad beyond relief it’s only a few of the higher ups that are watching this. Monique and Walter, because I need a blood relative to agree to the union and Tim and Laura, because I feel close to them and it feels like they should be a part of it. Lily is witnessing as well, though I doubt I could stop her if I wanted to. Gary came to witness the occasion and provide feedback on how Rosie is.
There a few others I recognize but not many that I know by name apart from Josh, standing proudly at Lily’s side.
I glance around at everyone. I should feel joy at seeing them here but I feel nothing but resentment, anger and pain. This isn’t right.
I look over at my mates, feeling guilty about what I’m about to do. “I’m sorry but I can’t do this.”
Wasting no time, I shift and run to Eli, not looking back when uproar is raised among everyone behind me. Eli shifts and we both take off running as fast as we can, hoping to get away before any of them get the chance to catch up with us.
We make it to the edge of the highway and there’s a green beat-up van sitting idle by the side of the road, the side door open. Vivienne is leaning up against the side, and gestures for us to get in before closing the door behind us.
She runs around to the driver’s side and gets in, speeding us off down the highway as howls echo among the trees on either side of the road.
I shift back to human form, grabbing the oversized t-shirt Vivienne hands me as Eli shifts back, “Thank you,” I tell her trying not to acknowledge her smug smile.
She nods, keeping her focus on the road, whilst driving almost double the speed limit. We reach the edge of the forest in no time and I hear one last mournful howl, ring through the air, piercing my heart.
I slump back in pain, Eli running his hand up and down my back soothingly. “Oh god, what have I done?”
To be continued…