The Beast's Mate

You would think with a name like mine that I would represent it’s meaning. I surely do not in any sense of the word. Adira means strong, noble and powerful. I stand five feet four inches tall and can barely carry a ten-pound sack of potatoes more than one mile. With being a werewolf, that’s not very impressive.

I am the runt of the pack. The smallest in human form as well as in wolf form. Our pack by no means is a powerful one, we are only average. Average in size, wealth and agility versus other packs.

Being the smallest has its advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that I have the ability to hide easily as opposed to my fellow wolves that all tower over me by at least a foot if not more. But my biggest fear is my disadvantage, where it is a known fact that the smallest is picked off first in any fight. But I will put up one hell of a fight if that day should ever come.

“Hey Runt!” here’s another thing that sucks about being small in my world. The stupid wolves that get a kick out of being a bully towards me because of my size.

“Olive.” Olive is one of the pristine she-wolves in our pack. Her and her goon squad, which include Maria and Serenity. They enjoy making me feel inferior, I just don’t understand why. My only conclusion is that they feel threatened by my looks. It’s no secret that all the boy-wolves find me attractive. I found this out a couple of years ago when I started forming my womanly curves that seemed to catch the boy’s eyes.

“You may as well stay home this weekend. There’s no way you of all people will find a mate at the annual ball.” Olive and her pack of mutt’s giggle.

The annual ball is where all packs join on common ground in order to find their mate. You see, when you hit the age of 16 your body releases its scent for their mate to find. And if your mate is not within your pack than your best chance at finding them is at the annual ball. It is the only truce time and place for all packs, other than that there are usually wars between us for more land and power.

I along with Olive and her minions and a few others have turned sixteen in this pack and have yet to find our mate.

“We all know I’m destined to be with an Alpha!” Olive swoons “Oden Vice is most definitely will be my mate. We are beyond a perfect match.”

I snort at her imagination and she growls at me. Oden Vice is known as the Beast of werewolves. He is the Alpha of the Blood Moon pack, and they are the most vicious pack among the country. He is twenty and as far as we all know he has yet to find his mate. Alpha’s need to find their mate by the time they are twenty-one. They just need to be in contact with their mate or they begin to lose their strength which can end in them losing their Alpha status if challenged or attached by another pack.

They can always acquire a stand in Luna in order to maintain their status, as long the marking is completed before there twenty-first birthday. But they would not be as strong as they would be with their mate. Mates increase a male werewolf’s strength, ability and stamina by ten-fold once they have been marked.

Mates can consent in sexual acts with other werewolves, it means nothing without the mark. Only does it mean more with their mates. It is said that the sensitivity is more intense between mates and they will never crave another’s touch after they find each other.

“No need to be jealous Adira. I’m sure you’ll live your life in solitude.” She laughs

“That would be better than being mated to the likes of him.” I tell her, shaking my head

“Have you not seen him?” She asks shocked at my response. “He is the epitome of seduction without even trying. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has experience in the sack.” She flutters her lashes and breathes out a deep sigh. “The things I would let him do to me.”

I nearly choke on my spit at her words. “Well, gook luck on that” I tell her and walk off towards the pack house.

“Adira!” My best friend Auden shouts running towards me “What were those halfwits bothering you about?” He asks once he reaches me.

“Oh, you know, that I should just stay home tomorrow and not bother looking for my mate. Because apparently I’ll never find one.” I tell him shrugging my shoulders. He rolls his eyes and laughs. “Yeah. Well did you tell them to suck an egg.” And that makes me bust out laughing.

“Oh no. I actually wished her luck in mating with the Blood Moon packs Alpha” His eyes nearly bulge out of his head. “Why on earth would you do that?”

“Because she is delusional in thinking she is destined to be a Luna. And evidently she is compatible with Alpha Oden.” I tell him shaking my head and plopping down on the back steps to the pack house. Now it’s his turn to bust out laughing. “Luna Olive. Yeah I can definitely see that one.” He says sarcastically.

Auden sits down next to me and places his arm over my shoulders. I lean in to his large frame, he practically twice my size. We have a close relationship. We’ve been friends since we were pups. He feels the need to protect me since I’m the smallest of the pack.

He is the third largest wolf in our pack. The first two being our Alpha and Beta. He is basically third in command, He has dirty blonde hair that’s always a mess. And stands at six foot two inches, all werewolves are well built, and he is no exception. He’s seventeen and has yet to find his mate. He will be joining us for the Ball, and it gives me a sense of relief knowing that he will be there with me.

“Well, are you ready for tomorrow” Auden asks after we had sat there in silence watching the sun set behind the tree line. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” I breath out. The thing that sucks is that when you find your mate the females move into the male’s pack. And if I find my mate than I will never see my home again. I’ll never see my best friend again and it brings a pain to my heart just thinking about it.

“Hey now.” Auden squeezes me. “None of that, this is supposed to be happy times” He tells me while wiping my tears. “I know.” I sniffle “I’m just really gonna miss you if I find my mate” I wrap my arms around his waist and give him a good squeeze. “Will you stay with me tonight? For old times sake?” I ask him look up at his stubbly chin.

He gives me another squeeze “Of course.”

******

Today is the day that we may or may not find our soul mates. It’s exciting and nerve racking all at the same time. Just imagine finding the one that was created just for you in human and wolf form. The one you are linked to in body, mind and soul.

They say the bond is intense and is even more intense once marked and mated. You sniff out the smell of your mate and it is supposed to be the most intoxicating smell that you have ever come across. When you touch your mate, its as if there is a jolt of electricity and energy that courses through your veins. You immediately begin to crave their touch and that feeling that you can only get from your mate. For females it is worse as we are more emotionally inclined for affection than males. You’ll want to be molded to them from the very start and not want to be apart for any period of time. I’m told it gets easier over time, but the first year is the worst.

Once a male has marked a female the bond becomes more profound. You will only bare to be apart for so long before you feel as though you will go insane. Usually marking and mating go hand in hand, but occasionally mates do them separate, such as marking first then waiting to mate. But if you are marked first and don’t mate within a week after than the female experiences extreme pain and her arousal is so potent that unmarked males will try and mate with that female. The only way for the pain to end is to mate with your mate or the female could die.

Males are very territorial of their mates, boarder line possessive. Even though we both only crave the others touch and no one else’s will do. It all depends on how well the male is able to control their wolf and their emotions. Females are territorial as well but not as severe. Females seem to have more control over their anger emotions, but not so much over their happiness and sadness emotions.

“I just hope that I don’t get stuck with a lunatic.” I tell Auden while fixing my hair.

“Adira, it won’t matter who you’re mated with because your body will betray your moral high ground no matter how hard you fight it” He tells me while slipping on his dress shoes.

“Yeah. I guess you’re right. I’m still nervous though. I feel like my heart is going to pound out of my chest and we haven’t even hit the road to the damn Ball.”

“Don’t stress. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up coming home tomorrow.” He says giving me a kiss on the cheek and I smile at him in the mirror.

I put the finishing touches on my make up and take a look at myself in the full-length mirror on my door. Running my hands down my red silk dress that hangs low on my chest and has a high slit up my left leg, exposing my silver strapped heals. The back is open with multiple noodle straps that crisscross across my back. I have my dark brown hair up in a lose bun with strands of hair that are loosely curled.

“You look beautiful” Auden says standing be side me. He’s in a black and white tuxedo with his wild hair styled to perfection. “You clean-up pretty good yourself.” I tell him with a smile. “Ready to go?” He asks offering me his arm. I let out a shaky breath and nod “Yeah”

We all ride in a transport bus to the Ball. Nothing fancy but it holds enough seats for everyone who is heading out to try and find their mate. It’s an hour drive from our pack house and my nerves are getting the better of me the closer we get.

Auden places his hand over my shaking one. “Calm down, its going to be okay” He says giving me a warm smile. I nod but can’t answer him as my stomach is doing summer salts at the moment.

At this time I wish that my parents were around. I wish that I could have heard their words of encouragement. Reminding me of their story from when they found each other. My parents were killed during an attack years back when I was ten. They were out on patrol when a pack of rogues that were attempting to break into our pack house. They were slaughtered right outside the front door. Before the rest of the pack was able to come to their aide and fight them off.

Rogues are rare. Rogues are werewolves that have not been born into a pack. No rogues are ever accepted into an existing pack because they are wild and unpredictable. They just can’t be trusted. It’s a shame because they had originally been human but had been transformed by either a bite or a scratch from a werewolf. Either by a rogue wolf or a pure wolf, doesn’t matter.

When we arrive, I am in awe of the building. It’s enormous, even bigger than our pack house. Which is saying a lot as all werewolves stay in the same house. If our pack grows than our house grows. But this building is at least five times the size of our pack house. I don’t know how we are supposed to find our mate in the vast area.

The windows to the building are all glowing from the lights shinning from the inside. There is a beautiful fountain in front of the entrance and a stairway on either side leading to the entrance. The front door is made of Iron and beautifully designed with the moon and wolves that are intertwined in the rot iron posts.

As we enter, I find that it is entirely open, and the ceiling is nearly three stories high. Ginormous chandlers hang down and create an amazing glow throughout the open space. There are round tables that are situated along the outskirts of the open area and at the far ends there are tables set up with food and drinks. There is music softly playing from the speakers hidden throughout the building and there is another doorway across from the main entrance.

“What’s out that way?” I ask as I see people entering and exiting that door as well. Auden leans into my ear “There’s a garden out there. You’ll have to check it out later.”

Auden leads me over to a table and we take a seat. “So, what do we do now?” I ask as I continue to look around. “Well, now we just see if we can find our mate. You should be able to smell them no matter where you are in the building or even if they have been here but may have left to go outside. You just follow their scent.” I nod and try to see if I can smell anything.

I frown when all I can pick up is the smells of the food that is being served at the buffet tables, woman’s perfumes and men’s colognes. “Do you smell anything?” I ask looking over at Auden. I see him inhale deeply through his nose with his eyes closed, but he frowns as well. “No”

“I think I need a drink if I’m going to survive tonight” I tell him standing up as we have sat at the table for nearly an hour with no luck. Only watching others finding their mates and staking their claims.

It’s almost funny when a male finds their female mate and yells mine. As if there is anyone else here seeking their same mate. But it’s only natural for them to react that way. It’s their wolf’s desire to call out what it theirs so others know, along with the mark they dem necessary to place on our necks for all to see. Another thing I noticed is that mates have subconsciously matched the colors of their outfits, which is pretty cute.

Auden and I walk over to the food area and I begin making a plate for each of us while Auden grabs us something strong to drink. Werewolves have high metabolisms and we can burn off the alcohol and calories faster than a human can. So, we are able to eat as much as we want and not gain weight. It’s a blessing really. The only bad part is that it is hard for us to get buzzed with alcohol and stay buzzed.

After collecting enough, we walk back over to our table that we have staked claim to and begin observing again. “Have you smelled anything yet?” I ask him picking up a ham and pickle wrap and placing it in my mouth. He shakes his head while swallowing his drink “No, nothing yet.” I let out a huff of frustration.

“This really sucks” I tell him, and he laughs “Yeah, this was me last year. At least I have you to spend our lonely time together.” He says and I smile. “Must have sucked being alone and watching this happen” He nods “It did”

“Well, look at this sad display over here.” Olive’s screechy voice causes me to close my eyes. I do not want to listen to her at the moment. “What’s the matter Adira? Haven’t found your true love yet?” She asks giving a pout.

“What’s the matter Olive. Was Alpha Oden not your soul mate?” Auden responds with a similar pouty face and I nearly spit out my drink. She growls in response “He hasn’t arrived yet. But trust me, I’ll be nice and introduce you both to him when we find each other.” She says smugly.

“Mine!” A tall dark brown-haired man said from behind Olive. She sniffs the air and her eyes light up. “Here he is now” She says with a sly smile. It takes everything in me not to laugh because this man is definitely not an Alpha.

You can always tell an Alpha by their presence in the way they hold themselves. They give off power and dominance. Where this man is merely a werewolf.

Olive turns around and I wish I was able to see her face when she notices it’s not him. But I’ll do with her reaction when she greats him. “Hi” I hear her weakly great the man and he takes her by the hand. I hear her gasp and I know instantly that it no longer matters that he is not Oden.

She turns around and gives us a weak smile. I know she’s eating her words, but she is content with her mate. He leads her away, like the rest do. “Where do they go?” I ask Auden who is shocked at what he just witnessed. He shakes his head out of his trance and looks back to me with a smile. “They go find a quiet place to get to know each other.” He says “They show all the males different rooms or areas they can take their mates for private time before it’s time to leave.”

I nod and watch Olive and her mate make their way out the back door. “That’s nice” I lean my head on his shoulder and let out a long breath. He responds by leaning his head against mine. “This is going to be a long night”