Page 18 of Rejecting his Mate

This ceremony is a big deal in our world, and despite everything, I am excited to meet my wolf. She has been with me my entire life, sharing space in my head and helping me.

The reason for my fear is the ceremony itself. It is said to be brutal. I’ve heard stories from other members of the pack about their first moon ceremony, though Ihave never witnessed one because pups are not allowed to. I’ve been wondering all day if that is because it would make them scared to attend their own.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” I say, unable to hide a slight tremble in my voice. Despite trying to show strength, I falter. I am powerless and fragile.

Adeline pushes my hair off my face. It’s worn loose, as the ceremony calls for, and not in the usual knot I throw it in. “It’s a tough transition,” she says, not sugar-coating the truth. “Every bone in your body will break and change as your wolf comes to the surface. You’ll wish for death at first, but in time you’ll come to relish the pain.”

Sweat beads on the back of my neck and between my breasts. “I don’t want to do it.” I say the words as if she can fix this for me, as she has fixed so many things over the years I’ve been in her care.

But this is bigger than Adeline.

This is our way of life.

I was always destined to stand in this spot and go through this ceremony tonight. This moment was planned from my first breath.

“There’s no choice, sweetheart,” Adeline reiterates what I am thinking. “If you don’t force the change, you risk your wolf taking control when you least expect it, and that is too dangerous.”

I have heard of that happening. It is rare for a wolf within a pack not to go through the first moon ceremony. It is the safest way for our kind to transition without risk to the wolf and without risking human onlookers seeing it. Humans can never know we exist.

Adeline pulls my forehead to her lips, pressing a kiss there. “Whatever happens, know that I love you.”

The statement is odd. Whatever happens? Before I can question it, Klaus strides over to us, Dalton on his heels.

Klaus is enormous in his human form, built to destroy any enemy or competitor. His dark hair drips into his eyes, which are a deep amber color, and his broad shoulders block out the dark sky behind him. As he gets closer, his scent fills my nose, and I dip my head instinctively, as does Adeline, showing the respect and deference he is owed.

“Are you ready?” he says.

Dalton moves to me and leans in for a kiss. Before he can make contact with my mouth, I turn my head to the side, his lips landing on my cheek. I feel the irritation radiating from him, but he says nothing as he pulls back.

I force a smile. “I’m ready,” I tell him. My fear has nothing to do with the ceremony anymore. I glance at Adeline, wondering what has gotten into her.

“I’d like a moment with my mate before the ceremony starts,” Dalton says.

Adeline looks as if she wants to argue, but Klaus answers before she can. “Of course.”

Klaus moves away, and Adeline has no choice but to follow him. I give her a smile I hope assures her I’ll be okay.

When we’re alone, Dalton steps closer to me, his body almost pressing against mine. “We both know this mating was a mistake,” he says. It is the first thing wehave ever agreed on. “But we are tethered together now, for better or for worse. Your heat cycle could come at any time.”

I frown at him. Heat cycles can take over a year to happen after a mate bond occurs. With chosen mates, it can take even longer, especially if the mating is not going well.

He cups my face with one hand, sliding it down to rest on my throat. “I want us to have pups as soon as possible. It will solidify my position.”

His position.

I twist my face away from him. “Let’s just get through the ceremony first.”

His brows pull down, and I can tell he wants to hurt me, but he keeps a tight rein on his anger. “Your disdain for me is getting irritating,” he growls. “I am going to be an alpha one day. Do you think you could have found a better match? Show some loyalty.”

I raise my gaze to his. I want to say a thousand things to him. I want to wound him with my words in the same way he hurts me by treating me like his possession. “We both know I’m not a nobody who should be grateful for this match. I could have been with any alpha from any pack. I’m a Beauford.”

He bares his teeth before clamping his jaw together. “As soon as you give me pups, you can leave and go wherever you want.”

He’s crazy if he thinks I would leave any baby with him. I open my mouth to tell him to go to hell, but I hear Klaus calling me. “Screw you,” I hiss at him before stepping around him and walking over to the alpha.

I take his hand, and he leads me across the grass. My pack family sits around in a circle, ready to watch me take this step and finally become one of them. There is a buzz of excitement, an electric current in the air as I stand in front of them.

Peering up at the sky, I try to calm my breathing. The only light comes from the full moon, casting a silvery glow over everything it touches. It invigorates me. The power of the moon is something no wolf can deny. It gives us added strength and makes shifting easier than at other times in the lunar cycle.

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