ORAL

n as the moon toppled over the reddish-orange h

was nervous and I was a

vited every member of the pack. The celebration is c

x Hendrix, is retired and my eldest brother, Ra

to discover my other h

ma

ant event and it was

mates, even after taking over the leadership position from father. It's been sixteen years since turning eighteen and it

uldn't do anything about it; especially with Raegan

ader is challenged but only by a mated beta or deltas-when the pack's leader is unable to find his mate after a year of enthronement. It w

eputation from his battles had earned him the fear and respect accorded to him both by the council themselve

wondered what she was like but I couldn't tell who she was because I could never really track his movements so I'd given up after a while. Since we were a

gh begrudgingly but was it the same for Damian and Rune as well? They were triplets, though non-identical and no one kn

seat to look up at her from the dresser where I'm sat. The golden lights from the hanging chandelier bulb in my bedr

on of the skirt flowed down and brushed the floor in a light spin as mother twirled me gently in her arms. Then her smooth, firm pa

love?" Mother asked, a fai

d and ne

s reassuringly and I nod, returning her smile. "It's a

as she starts towards the door of

her disappearing fig

comes up beside me and I smile, n

gnize us walking through-the room is decorated in white and gold draping and designs. We maneuver around round tables fill

f the show-being under the spotlight was excruciatingly exhausting but for some reason, the opposite was the case for my three brothers-actually, it

if they weren't current leaders of the pack. I wouldn't be in this spotlight if I wasn't customary. Everyone was watc

e so full, I couldn't see my path or handle my dress sweeping

the man that blocked our path. The man was just as tall as father,

her in. Then he side-steps the man in front of him and reaches her in two quick strides before pulls her, twi

l apart as they realized themselves. Father clears his throat, standing tal

unbridled smile when he sees me. And like some of the

sed for the occasion, one would thing he was the celebrant. His long black kaftan bore gold embroide

ghter's special birthday, I h

slightly fast but danceable tune, indicating the time for the first

ou grant your father this hour of a first dance with his beautiful daughter."

cou

space with all eyes are painfully etched upon

nods, smiling and take

dance with them. And once again, for the umpth time tod

o one just up and disappear, do they? I felt a panic start to rise up my chest after endl

your brothers would be here soon, definitely." His eyes held assured absolut

anger and disappointment wafting off him but he was holding him

etly stops. The dance was over but the moon was almost at its highest. It was almost midnight; when the moon would get brighter and complete

my life. I knew it. My parents knew it. The entire pack new it. Because the second da

wai

e to my soul mate. Like my mother told me about when she felt her wolf being

most enticing smell

n instantly addicting yet somewhat familiar scen

ooty and citrus fragrance. A combination of wood and earth with a

t alluring of the previous, potent scents. Cinnamon and a

ents and they all felt nostalgic and dis

ight and the splay of moonlight flowing in behind them. Three g

ough we were the only creatures in the room, devouring the sight of each other in dea

round me as that dread transformed into something more malevolent. It twisted m

t and through the clo

..can