"Mom, given how excited you are, someone would think you are one of the attendees for the ceremony." Beth said flatly, giving her mom a side eye, as she trotted beside her as they made their way into the arena.
"God forbid a mother should be excited that she'd be witnessing her daughter find her mate." Jen said, seemingly annoyed.
"Mom." Beth dragged. "It was a joke. I'm just nervous." She said, looking down at her feet.
"Oh, honey." Jen cooed. "There is absolutely nothing to be nervous about. You are an outstanding young lady, and so will your mate. The Goddess is all-knowing and kind. She wouldn't give you an idiot for a mate."
"But.." Beth said, wanting to complain further, but was cut off by Jen, who stopped them at the intersection where they would be separated.
"Relax, baby. Fear and uncertainty breed bad luck. Have faith." She said, running her fingers through her fine locks. "I know you prayed, and my guts tell me your mate would be outstanding."
"In a good way, I hope." Beth muttered slowly, looking sideways.
"No bad energy, honey. Don't forget. See you later." Jen whispered, pecking her cheek. She walked to her side of the arena, hoping everything would be alright.
And Man, it wasn't.
**********
Bethany sat through the ceremony, her wolf antsy and her heart beating twice as hard in her chest as she watched everyone around her gasp and run into the arms of their mates.
Some excited, some astonished, some weirded out, and some...well. Not too far from her, she witnessed a guy reject his fated mate bluntly, leaving the poor girl writhing in the pain of rejection
She couldn't help shudder in her seat, imagining herself in that position and subconsciously dreading what Athena could have possibly prepared for her poor heart.
She stood up from her seat as the bell that signalled the end of the ceremony was rung, hurrying to flee from whatever after effects there were.
She turned to where Audrey Gates sat, realizing that many men sat around her, hoping she'd pick one of them as her mate since the mating ceremony was over and neither she nor they had found theirs.
My mate could be one of them, she thought. But remembered she was and would always be a wallflower.
But she knew Audrey had eyes for the Alpha's sons and the Alpha's sons only. She couldn't exactly say which of the sons was it because the bitch couldn't pick! She was always fawning over all of them.
Pathetic, if you asked her.
Ah, well, she wouldn't be surprised if she got mated to any, be it fated or not. Besides, rumor says the current Luna and Alpha in power love her, so only Athena stood between her choices now.
Sighing, she turned to leave, but her wolf wasn't having it.
'Maria, we have to leave now.' She tried to reason.
'Just wait a little longer. He might be coming, I can feel it.'
'Nope. I'm not doing that today. This isn't a cookie jar incident. I could be harassed or laughed at.' Beth said, looking around, feeling more uncomfortable the longer she stood alone on their part of the arena.
She was tempted to search the other side of the arena for her mum but thought against it when she realized she wouldn't be able to bear the look of disappointment she could bet was sitting on her mother's fragile face.
'Trust me on this, Beth. The feeling is so strong. Stronger than it's supposed to.' Her wolf said, pacing around in her head.
'Sit, Maria.' Beth scolded, feeling a headache creeping in due to Maria's continuous movements.
'Wherever he is, we'd meet in the coming days. I can't stay here, absorbing all of this embarrassment.' Beth said, already heading towards the entrance of the arena.
'He's here!!' Maria screamed, becoming even more antsy. More than eager to meet their fated mate.
'Stop this shit, Maria.' Beth scolded, her hand on her temple as her fingers pressed down on it to ease the tension Maria was causing.
'I can't! He's here!' Maria said again, not heeding Beth's plea.
"What do you mean he's here?" Beth asked out loud in frustration. "I can't even..what's that smell?" She asked, looking around eagerly, trying to decipher where the strong, mind-numbing scent of dark roses with a hint of fresh pine was coming from.
"It's him! Look left!" Maria said, her excitement lacing her tone heavily.
Turning quickly to the left, her eyes searched the crowds for the person who was responsible for the headache that was creeping into her skull, the person who had been making her heart beat heavily against her rib cage since the day started...
The person she had prayed for..
And when her green eyes locked onto his, she could instantly feel invisible vines crawl up her ankles, going up to her knees.
Instinctually, she tried to move, but the vines were stronger than she thought.
"Fuck!" She cursed, tearing her eyes from his heavy gaze, she looked down at her legs, moving them hard, trying to tear the vines.
Luckily she was able to snap a few, then pulled her legs away, looking up to glare at the asshole that had her trapped.
Looking closely, she was able to recognize him, and she could swear her heart stopped instantly.
"No. No! It can't be..! " Beth screamed in her head when she realized where the mind-numbing scent that had consumed her senses was coming from.
"Why.. why?!" She questioned incredulously, her feet surprisingly rooted to the ground, unwilling to move even though everything in her head screamed that she would disappear from there immediately.
Well, all except her wolf.
She tried to move, but Maria bluntly refused to let her. Gathering every morsel of strength within her, she dashed away from the crowd, heading to the tiny bungalow she shared with her parents, causing the people around to turn in confusion.
She could only imagine what bizarre thoughts were going through their minds.
What could she be running from?
Does this one not like her mate?
Was she rejected?
Could her mate be a beast?
Well, they all were about to find out.