Ch 1: Life Moves On
Lucien, Burning Shot Bar & Grill, Shifter Colony- 9:17 PM
The air in the bar is different tonight. Normally, it smells like cigarettes, savory foods, liquor, and a hint of loneliness. Tonight, it's cologne, flowers, fruity cocktails, and an overwhelming scent of desperation with desire.
It dawns on me: today was Mate Selection! How could I forget such a momentous occasion for young Shifters?
My inner wolf, Ronan, growls at me. "You know why."
Sighing heavily, I carry another tray of drinks to a lively group of 18-year-olds. For one night only, they get to sample alcohol. A treat of sorts for those who completed the ceremony without incident or rejection. The others were shunned for 24 hours as punishment for defying fate.
Damn, I remember mine like it was yesterday.
Stomach in knots from nerves. And my hands trembled as I presented myself to the Elders. They handed me a ceramic pot, just like everyone else, and told me to inhale. Once the scent was confirmed, I was instructed to find a female that matched it. She would be my Mate.
I had trouble confirming it at first, then suddenly, it overwhelmed me—the crisp, intense fragrance of lilacs and fresh linen. Only a few females turned 18 this year, so I didn't have to search for long. My Mate, the one I was eternally bound to, was my childhood best friend and neighbor, Anna.
Her cheeks flushed when I tracked the scent to her, then a wide smile spread across her lips. Clearly, she was just as pleased as I was with this arrangement. After all, we weren't strangers. Our preexisting relationship would strengthen the bond.
We consummated our connection in a private hut, at midnight, where the Elder Christopher would be outside nearby to confirm the activity. It's weird and old, but a tradition that our kind held onto.
Lying in a fuzzy cloud of lust, drunk in the afterglow of our lovemaking, she whispered to me, "I wolf you."
I almost died laughing until I realized what she meant.
Feeling invincible, I replied, "I wolf you too."
After our bond was 'confirmed', we went home. Anna explained her choice of words.
"Everyone says 'I love you', Lucien, but we're not everyone. We have this special relationship that most people never have. Even with their Mate. So, I wanted us to have our own special words."
"Then we'll keep using it," I said, embracing my Mate. "For now, and forever."
My throat clogs as I return to my present state of mind. To distract myself, I clear tables, stack glasses, and mix drinks. Some of these aren't my responsibility, but if I don't keep busy, those memories tend to resurface. Reminding me of a time when I was truly happy, when sunshine looked like providence and coffee tasted like gold.
I used to welcome them, then after a while, I grew to dislike them. Because things aren't the same anymore. I'm not 18 with a heart full of hope and love, only the shallow husk left behind in the aftermath.
"Hey Lucien!" A young Shifter called me over to his table.
Walking over, I sense something's wrong. He's pale and shaking like a leaf. Damn, he must be terrified of his consummation later. "Hey kid, you OK?"
He shakes his head rapidly. "N-No, I-I'm scared." His voice squeaks as he pulls a chair out for me. "I n-need your advice..."
Oh boy, here we go again. Many of the younger Shifters see me as an expert in these matters, as I went through an unprecedented event with my Mate. It forced us apart, our bond forever damaged. Evidently, it was the first time it had happened in our clan's history, according to the Elders.
That didn't make me feel better, but it made me a guru of relationships for teenagers.
Clearing my throat, I ask, "What's your name, kid?"
"Nick." He mumbles, fidgeting with his hands.
"Alright, Nick, how may I help you?" I inquire. Although I don't mind helping someone, my 'expertise' is limited.
"I just found my mate. Her name is Naomi, and she's meeting me here to get to know each other before..." He says, cheeks flushed. "You know. How do I know if she's really right for me? We're strangers!"
Nodding, I force myself not to chuckle. Many Shifter teens are paired up with those they barely know or acquaintances. Anna and I...were lucky.
"I haven't done so many things, and now I'm locked into a bond that's supposed to be permanent. What do I do?" Nick asks, a deep frown on his face.
"First off, calm down," I say calmly. He takes a few cleansing breaths. "Second, the point of all this is to find someone to have a future with. A home, and eventually, puppies." He gasps when I mention them. "Learn as much as you can about her, for all you know, she might be just as nervous. Once it's time, you two have all night, literally, to consummate. Elder Christopher will be pissed off, but it will help ease both of you into the act. Take your time and trust your instincts."
Nick smiles. "I feel a little better now." He runs his hands through his hair. "So, what if we don't want to continue our bond? Is it really unbreakable?"
Ronan barks at me, "Tell him the truth. He doesn't need even to consider breaking the bond."
You're right, as always.
"A Mate bond can be broken...in a way." I begin, choosing my words carefully. "If two agree mutually to break it, they go in front of the council of Elders, and they forcibly remove it with a spell." Nick nods, curiosity lacing his features. "The process is excruciating. Like your whole body is on fire while being dragged through razor blades dipped in acid. And after all of that, it is officially severed. However, you will not be allowed to select another."
"What!?" Nick shouts. Everyone in the bar looks at him with suspicion. He covers his mouth. "Why?"
Ronan urges me, "Go on, finish it."
Swallowing harshly, I tell Nick the truth. "Because our hearts and souls were meant for only one person. If we reject them, then we're going against fate itself. Permanent isolation is the cost of such a decision."
Nick nods solemnly, looking to be in deep thought.
At this moment, a young woman with long, soft brown hair and wide blue eyes approaches the table. She smiles kindly at us and says, "Hi, Nick."
Getting up, I lean forward and tell Nick, "Just talk to her, trust your instincts, and relax."
Then I leave the young lovers alone.
Seeing those two talking reminds me of my past with Anna. We communicated well for a very long time until it all went wrong. I wonder, if I had fought back harder, would it have changed anything? Would we still be together? What if I had hunted her down when she ran away? Would we have reconciled?
There are a million questions that flew through my mind over the years, yet none of them mattered. Because they weren't realistic, not anymore, sometimes choices can be taken back, reshaping entire destinies in an instant, while others fester like mold that slowly overruns a surface.
One thing is for certain: life has a funny way of moving on, whether you're ready for it or not.
