Part 1
As long as anyone can remember, we’ve been here. Perhaps since the corruption of the world started we’ve existed. Even in our corruption, we’ve always strived to make things right…to always do the right thing. Has it worked? According to my father, it has.
I am Ryleann, daughter of the Alpha of a Werewolf pack. For ages our pack has grown and triumphed and…sometimes, have suffered greatly. According to my wise father who knows all, we’ve always done what is right even in our suffering. It’s what keeps us pure despite our corruption.
In such a large pack, we have ceremonies almost monthly. The children of the pack grow into adults and take part in the ancient ceremonies. With the help of the wise sage wolf, each new adult must enter the depths of the earth. Upon burial, we find our true selves, our reason for existing…our sacred fated mate is revealed to us and, suddenly, everything makes sense! At least, that is what I was told.
Today, it is MY turn to experience adulthood. I’m excited because, as long as I have lived, I have been confused, lost…almost outcast. My father has come to my rescue time and time again as I am his only heir. Mother met her end when I was very small, so I was raised by a different Werewolf.
Hopefully my fate is not as grizzly as her’s was. I won’t know until I enter the depths. Well, I guess it is time to grow up! All of my friends have already been granted a mate.
In most packs, only the Alphas and maybe the Betas are permitted to reproduce… In MY pack, however, EVERYONE is invited to take part in the sacred reproduction rituals. Of course, though, children of the Alphas are STILL the most important. The future of the pack lies solely on our shoulders. My shoulders. I must take the weight of the entire pack…
“Ryleann,” a voice calls out, breaking me out of my intense focus.
It’s the sage wolf. Our Lambda. She has come to escort me into the bowels of the earth! Oooooh! Am I nervous or excited? I can no longer tell the difference.
“Are you ready for the ceremony?” the sage asks.
“Yes! I’ve BEEN ready!” I exclaim.
“Then let us begin. It is my great honor to prepare you, oh great heir of our pack, for the biggest moment of your life…” the sage says, licking my face with her herb scented tongue.
First things first, I transform into a wolf. Next, I am lead to the lake not far from our camp. There’s a little trail through the woods where all the wolves before me have traveled, and all the wolves after me will, one day, walk here as well. The Lambda chuckles as I gaze around like a young child…except I am an adult now…
“At the cleansing lake, you will be purified. We’ve done this ritual for many generations and it has kept us pure thus far,” the Lambda reminds me. “Once you are purified, we can continue the ceremony.”
“Okay!” I say, a little too enthusiastically.
Carefully, I wade into the lake. The crisp cool water laps at my paws. I let out a gasp in shock, but keep moving deeper into the water. The Lambda climbs in after me, guiding me to the center.
“Here we are… Now, I have to dunk you under briefly. You do trust me, don’t you?” the Lambda asks.
“Yes, I do,” I say.
“Hold your breath,” she commands.
I take a deep breath right before she plunges me under the water. I feel the cold biting at me, trying to pull me down deeper. All of a sudden, I’m thrusted upwards back out of the water. I gasp for air, shaking in fear.
“Very good! See? Not so bad! I remember when I had to purify your mother… She struggled quite a bit!” the Lambda says. “You, you’re brave like your daddy. I know you’ll make for a wonderful Alpha one day.”
“Is it okay that I don’t quite feel ready yet…?” I ask.
“Of course. Now, if we’re lucky, your father will live a thousand years,” the Lambda replies. “Come, now. Let’s get you to shore!”
The Lambda helps push me back to shore. I shake instinctively, splattering water everywhere. Now, I must be dressed in the ceremonial laurels. We march back through camp, watched by all my peers.
“Ryleann!” a young man calls to me.
That would be my childhood best friend, Tyzzio. He’s going to be having a ceremony of his own soon! He’s 17 years old, currently, so still a little too young. The Lambda quickly cuts him off, not letting him approach.
“Don’t touch her. She needs to remain ceremonially clean,” the Lambda warns.
“Oh, sorry…” Tyzzio says.
The Lamda adorns me with laurel crowns. I lift my head high, hoping my ancestors can see me now. They would be proud, I believe. Tyzzio whines.
“I reeeeally hope I’m your fated mate…” Tyzzio whines at me. “I’ve loved you since forever ago!”
“I know you have, but you know the rules. We have to follow the ceremony. If the reflecting pool doesn’t show you, well, I guess we can’t be together,” I say.
“Man… I really wish that wasn’t the rules… Unless it shows you me, then sure, I’m all for it,” Tyzzio says.
“Of course you would say that. I’m half hoping it’s you as well,” I say. “If it were anyone else, you’d think they would have told me by now, right?”
“Unless it showed up blank to them because you weren’t of age yet,” the Lambda says.
“That’s something that can happen? Then how useful is this ceremony if you’re the only one doing the ceremony? Wouldn’t everyone else either be too young or would have already known it was you? Or like-”
“Sometimes, the fated mate is a human,” the Lambda says. “We’ve had some pack-members leave before in order to unite with their human mates.”
“Oh…” I say.
“You wouldn’t have to go far to find me,” Tyzzio murmurs.
“Okay! Enough! We have to get Ryleann down to the reflecting pool now. The ceremony cannot continue otherwise!” the Lambda prompts.
“Bye, Ryleann! Maybe if you think about me hard enough, I’ll appear!” Tyzzio says.
“You will always be at the front of my mind, Tyzzio,” I say, blowing him a kiss.
“Ryleann,” my father calls, startling me.
“Dad! You came just in time!” I cry out.
“Today is your big day. I had to come see you,” my dad says, staring at me with what I believe is a mixture of pride and sadness.
“It’s all thanks to you, dad… I never would have gotten this far without you,” I say, lowering my head. “I’ve lost track of how many times you have saved me.”
“Regardless, I’m proud to be your father. You will be the greatest Alpha ever one day,” my dad says, leaning close to me before the Lambda slaps him away.
“Please do not touch! She needs to be ceremonially clean! Only I can touch her!” the Lambda warns.
“Sorry,” my dad says.
Imagine being the Alpha and having to be told no by a Lambda. My dad looks embarrassed. Well, I guess it’s time to go to the reflecting pool. Hopefully there will be no more disruptions!
I nod to my father and head into the cave with the Lambda. The ground has many ridges in it like someone took a large drill and dug this place out, only to give up and leave. It’s really warm, comforting. It reminds me of when I was a pup and snuggled in close with my adoptive mother.
“Watch your step, it’s a bit steep right here,” the Lambda warns.
Despite the warning, I still almost trip. I gasp, regaining my balance. We take a turn and the ground remains level for awhile. One more turn and we’re heading deeper into the bowels of the earth.
“Down here, you can feel it… The pull of destiny… It gives me the chills every time and I’ve been down here thousands of times if not a million times,” the Lambda whispers. “Every single ceremony is a make or break moment. I’ve seen happy marriages and unhappy marriages… I’ve seen promises never kept… I’ve seen it all.”
I step down the final incline to a vast silvery pond. The outside of the pond is lined with smooth round cobblestones. I take a deep breath and step up to the edge of the water. The Lambda, transforming back into a human, scoops a big cup of the water up.
“And now for the final portion of the ceremony! Drink this water… Allow it to look deep within you…” the Lambda says.
She holds my head up with one hand. With the other hand, she pours the entire cup of water down my throat. It’s FRIGID! And I thought the lake water was cold! I feel the cold spreading through me rapidly.
“Allow it to spread, dear… Let the waters penetrate deep into your soul…” the Lambda says, gently touching my fluffy belly.
“I’m so cold…” I whisper.
“Now, then, gaze into the pool with me. The water will now reflect back whomever your fated mate is!” the Lambda says.
I shiver a bit more. I step a little closer to the edge of the water, nearly touching it. DWOOP! A drop of water falls from the ceiling and lands in the pool, making the standing water ripple. A face begins to be revealed in the water; a face I have never seen before. My fated mate, the one whom I’ll be bound to for eternity!
“NO!” the Lambda exclaims suddenly, shoving me away from the water.
