Kai and some of the more dominant wolveslooked at the Shaman with suspicion but didn’t confront him. Something told methey knew that wouldn’t be a good idea. If he could stop time, who knew whatelse he was capable of?
I zoned out as the music played and peoplebegan walking the aisle. The balance. Werewolves were here to protect humans?It seemed right. The thought of the human race or the werewolf race goingextinct sent chills down my spine. A world run by vampire and human bloodslaves was a horrible thought. Vampire children was an even more horriblethought. So I was sent here to restore the balance between the differentspecies? I looked at Kai. Life just got way more complicated.
The music changed and I turned my head. Sadiehad begun her walk down the aisle and looked breathtaking. Her hair was pulledback to show her strong face. She had light make up on to showcase her naturalbeauty. A thin white silk dress clung to her muscular body. She held Kai’s gazefor a few seconds as she walked by and my heart spiked with jealousy. Kaipulled my hand on top of his and stroked my palm with his thumb. I took a deepbreath. ‘You’re Mine,’Kai told me, ‘And I am yours.’
I relaxed into the chair. Sadie met Brett atthe end of the altar. Nahuel began fanning smoke around the pair as they heldhands facing each other. Nahuel then tied a blue silk ribbon to Sadie’s leftwrist. “This represents your human half.” He did the same on Brett’s wrist.Then he tied a white silk ribbon to both of their right wrists. “Thisrepresents your wolf.” Just then, both of their eyes shown yellow.
“Werewolves are courageous,strong, loyal, and successful at hunting. Werewolves are in fact so loyal thatthey mate for life. If lucky enough to find their mate, it will be the only onethey ever have.” Nahuel projected his voice to the crowd.
Kai laced his fingers throughmine.
“You come to me as two parts inone body, human and wolf. You come as two souls with one purpose. To be matedfor life. To start a family if you choose.”
Nahuel’s face took on a relaxedexpression as his eyes clouded over turning white. “This pairing is blessed bySpirit.” As Sadie and Brett held hands, Nahuel began to braid the four stringstogether. “I join your souls as one. May you have no secrets from one another.I join your souls as one. May you protect one another until death. I join yoursouls as one. May you respect each other as equals, regardless of pack rank. Ijoin your souls as one. May fertility be bestowed upon your family. I join yoursouls as one. May you love each other for the rest of your long, long lives. Itis done, so be it.” The braid was complete and the entire altar was coated infine mist. Sadie and Brett stared into each other’s eyes and silent tears beganto fall on their cheeks.
It was a beautiful moment towitness.
Kai leaned in to whisper in myear. “They say during the mating ceremony that Spirit shows you everythingabout your mate, so there are no secrets. Your past, your faults, yourstrengths. It is said to bring the couple even closer together and is whatbonds them for life. It’s ten times what you felt when you first looked at meas a wolf.”
A tear sprung up in my eye. Itwas beautiful. I remembered what I was shown when I first realized Kai was mymate. To see more, I couldn’t imagine. What Nahuel had said and the tearsfalling down Sadie’s cheeks. It was all so beautiful. I turned and looked into Kai’seyes. ‘I love you.’ Something else passed between us in that look and hesmiled so big that all of his teeth showed.
The entire ride home consisted ofKai and me arguing in my head. I think his mother knew what was going onbecause I could see her staring at us in the rear view mirror.
Kai was pestering me to tell himmore about why he smelled magic on me and suspected the Shaman of something. Ikept telling him we would talk about it when we got home and I didn’t want togive him details in front of his family.
‘Did he put magic on me? Did hethreaten you? If so, then I don’t want to drive home without having a talk withhim,’Kairoared.
I sighed.
“Fine! He stopped time and toldme that Spirit had crazy plans for me because a war with the vampires iscoming! He was warning me, okay? Happy?” I screamed in the car, making Diyajump.
Kai’s knuckles went white whilehis mother leaned forward. “Tell us what he said about the vampires, dear,” shecoaxed me.
Kai shook his head.‘No.’
“I’m sorry, mother, but you arenot pack. I need to protect my pack and my mate. I will learn of what was saidand decide if I want to share it with other packs.” There was a finality in hisvoice. The Alpha had spoken. His mother sat back and lowered her head in asubmissive gesture. I chewed on my lip, feeling bad.
‘See? I told you!’I shouted into Kai’smind. ‘Why did you push me?’
‘When we get home, I want you toreplay every single word that the Shaman spoke to you.’
I sighed. It was already pastmidnight. This was going to be a long night.
***
I woke up groggy and unrested. Kaiand I had been up until dawn arguing about what the Shaman had told me. Hewanted to take the apache tear from me thinking it was spelled and he didn’twant me having it. I kept it anyway. He was unsettled with what had been said.He didn’t want me coming out to the werewolves; he didn’t like the idea of mebeing downloaded with hundreds of mate pairings. He said for the first time inhis life he felt helpless to protect someone.
I rolled over, his half of my bedwas empty. I sighed. After showering and getting dressed, I made my way intothe kitchen. A bunch of the pack members had come over to say goodbye to Diya,Jai, and Maya.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” I askedKai.
He kissed the top of my head. “Iwas just about to. I figured you needed the rest. Pack barbeque before myfamily leaves. It will be the first barbeque with the entire pack. Everyone iscoming in from Portland.”
I smiled and turned aroundquickly when I felt a small tug on my finger. It was Violet. We had all becomeenamored with Isabelle’s children.
“Is it true you are aveterinarian? I want to be a veterinarian, too!” she shouted. I smiled pickingher up and placing her on my hip.
“I’m a veg-e-tarian but I’m sureyou will make a wonderful vet-er-i-narian.” I said the two different wordsslowly.
