Fated for Two

The dress was cinched tighter by my mother. I looked at myself in the mirror, dreading the long night in heels surrounded by unmated males looking for their mates. The ceremony needed to be updated for the times of today.

“You look stunning,” my mother said, tearing up. The ball was the second mating ball I had attended, and I was freshly able to participate as I matured. The dress was a beautiful royal blue with sequins, a plunging neckline, and a tight fit accentuating her curvy form. The blue made her eyes stand out, bringing out the light gray in them. I turned to my mom, Kelly, smiling, “Thanks, mama; if we do not hurry, I will be late.” I dreaded this night and felt it stupid for a female to find a mate at such a young age. We had longer lives than humans and plenty of time to find our love.

“Yes, yes, let’s get you to the car.” My mother led us to the black sedan. I planted myself in the passenger seat and held my clutch to my body as Mama drove us to the event center where they had the event. My family was recognized among our small pack. My father, Oscar, was a middle-ranking delta and was in charge of training the little ones. My mother was a medic and had skills in healing and helping others.

Within fifteen minutes, we arrived. While our pack was small, we held a vast territory in the upper parts of Montana. Our ancestors claimed the land, and with the future now here, we no longer fought over menial things like more territory. We were diplomats now and settled our disputes with the law and order we created for ourselves.

I kissed my mother’s cheek before heading inside. Should I find my Mate, I would be given thirty days to grab my things before leaving with them. The scent of sweat, expensive perfume, and food wafted my way as the event workers opened the doors. The room was open. It had white tile floors. There were sparse tables spread out along the room. They had black tablecloths covering the dark mahogany wood, protecting it from damage. The people were more beautiful than the decorations. Males and females gathered around each other, talking. They were dressed their best in ball gowns, sequins, glitter, tuxedos, suits, you name it, and it adorned the people. The room was warm from body heat and bad air conditioning. There was a space near the stage for dancing. The floor had changed from tile to wood paneling. The inside looked as beautiful as the outside. The gardens had plenty of native plants with pretty flowers, trees, and bushes. It made the place feel almost romantic. At the entrance, there were amazingly decorated pillars. They had black, red, and gold fabrics wrapped around them.

The Alpha sanctioned the ball, and he and his court paid for everything. I scanned the room and found my way over to grab a seat, it was an empty table I could set my things down on. I sat in the chair and crossed one leg over the other, examining the patrons that crowded the dance floor and food tables and standing around each other, chatting.

The event had barely started. I heard through the chitter chatter that influential people were coming from the court—the son of the Alpha and his future Beta, Luka Snider, and Wyatt Jameson. I had not been graced by their appearances before, and I knew nothing of them other than their status in the pack and the rumors that had been spread around about them, most being about their alleged sexual preferences.

Later that evening, I was standing at the punch, ladling some into my glass. Other men had tried to talk to me, but I quickly became uninterested when they spoke about their families’ ranking and to whom they were related. I felt no connection to them. The doors opened, and the people stopped to stare at who had just entered. The air was sucked out of the room as they entered, and I couldn’t see who it was. It had gotten everyone’s attention. I could only see the tops of their heads over the crowd, which was parting the sea of people for them to be able to pass by. I quickly realized who they must be, Luka and Wyatt. I went back to ladling punch into my glass before grabbing a small cookie and making my way back to my table.

I could feel the tension in the air as people had bated breaths. I just continued on my way, not worried. They are just a little older than some of us at this party. Just because they held high rank did not mean we shouldn’t treat them as one of us. I brought my punch to my lips, sipping a bit as I excused myself through the people. I could almost feel their eyes dull holes into the back of my skull. I turned my head to meet their eyes. It snapped. I felt the small silver glittering bonds appear from my soul to theirs—two individual strands connecting themselves to my soul. My breath left my body. Being mated was one of the last things I wanted.

It was very rare in our world for one wolf to have two fated mates. Polygamy was something many practiced and was not shunned. We let people live as they wished, and I was the last person to whom this was supposed to happen. Let alone it is the high-ranking males of my pack. Standing before them, I felt I was being stripped bare. They had not moved or said a word to me. I quickly walked to my things, grabbed my cell phone from my clutch, and clicked my mother’s contact.

“I am ready to come home, mom,” I stated hurriedly, “No, everything is fine, mam, just come and get me.” The phone was taken out of my hand, and I whipped my head around to see none other than Wyatt. “She will not be needing a ride home, ma’am.” Without another word to my mother, he hung up the phone. “That was incredibly rude,” I huffed angrily, “I am going home. You will take me, or I will call my mother back. Your choice.”

Luka just chuckled, “What is your name, Mate?” I stared at them with wide but frustrated eyes. “None of your concerns; let me go home.” Wyatt looked at his Alpha before returning to her, “You are our Mate. We will not let you leave us.” I looked behind them to see the entire pack staring back at us. My face flushed with embarrassment. “Please, just let me return home. By law, I have thirty days to pack my things.” Luka nodded, “What is your name?” He spoke in a commanding tone. My wolf cowered, “H-Harlowe Drakes,” I said; my submission was instinct.

The smirk that came upon their faces terrified me. “Now I answered your question; let me go.” Wyatt seemed the easier to convince of the two. Born Alpha, Luka was more dominant and less likely to bend to my will. “What a beautiful name, Harlowe,” Luka admired. Wyatt smiled. It was charming, “Beautiful indeed.” I looked between the two of them. I couldn’t deny the deep-rooted attraction I felt for them. Luke was tall, taller than Wyatt, with deep brown eyes and dark hair. His skin has been kissed by the sun. Wyatt looked different but equally as handsome as the former. He had dark brunette hair and green eyes at just a few inches shorter, and his skin was a few shades lighter than Luka’s. I was pushed by the attraction and focused on my feelings. “How will this work? This is the first in millennia,” I asked, curiosity taking over.

“We are not sure. We have already spoken through mind link with my father to get a witch down here to explain this,” Luka explained to her, “for now, you will return home tonight and begin packing your things; in the 30 days, we will get to know our beautiful mate and her family.” I simply nodded. This was the law, and we all followed the law. “Now, may I return home?” I asked, my voice a little shaky as my mind raced with my future. They nodded in unison, “we will see you tomorrow, mate,” Wyatt said as they left the event center. I grabbed my things and called my mother. “Take me home.”