The Choosing Ritual #2
I hesitated, my eyes flicking to Sunny. Her smile faltered for a second before she composed herself.
“I’m afraid you don’t understand. Shade isn’t a candidate. She’s nothing more than a servant, an omega,” Sunny said brightly. “We’ld never wish to offend the alpha by offering someone of her rank as a candidate.”
“Shade what?” the lady pushed.
“Uh, just Shade,” I said softly. “No last name.”
She made a note, writing in my name and pack beneath Sunny’s.
“Each of you will be assigned a room for the duration of your stay. Niral will show you to your accommodations once you’re inside,” she said in a bored tone.
“There’ll be a group tour of the pack lands in an hour.
Guests are encouraged to dress accordingly as you’ll be expected to shift for the outing. ”
She said goodbye and hurried off to the next car.
“I can’t believe this,” Sunny snapped. “Get my bags. You can come back for the rest later. I need to speak to whoever’s in charge immediately before this turns into a complete disaster.”
I nodded, my stomach doing a somersault as I turned to open the trunk. Does this mean I’m a candidate in the choosing? Please, Goddess. Let this be a mistake.
The Scent Question
SHADE
Try as Sunny might, she was unable to convince the stern housekeeper that a mistake had been made. I stood quietly to the side as they argued, admiring the pack house and cataloging every possible exit just in case.
Natural light poured in from the numerous floor-to-ceiling windows.
The decor was minimal, but tastefully done.
The walls were a crisp white, the occasional painting gracing their bare surfaces.
The floor was a rich, dark hardwood. A large staircase rose up to the second floor, a lush red carpet flowing down its steps.
We were handed off to a maid who led us up the stairs. She showed Sunny to her suite first, and I set her bags just inside the doorway. My sister rushed in, her lip curling at her small room before she slammed the door shut.
The maid snorted, shaking her head as she started down the hallway. I followed, worrying that Sunny may not have made the best first impression as the young she-wolf opened the next door and ushered me inside.
I froze as I stepped into the room.
Everything was pristine and white. An enormous canopy bed sat to my right. Two open doors rested on either side, one leading to a luxurious en suite bathroom and the other a large walk-in closet.
To my left was a brick fireplace framed by a pair of built-in bookshelves. Each held several books, their spines the only pops of color in the room. Two plush chairs sat in front of the fireplace, and a large vanity framed by enormous bay windows was placed on the adjoining wall.
“There must be some mistake,” I remarked. “I’m Miss Mallory’s servant.
Shouldn’t I be in something a little less…opulent?”
“There’s no mistake, miss,” the maid assured. “Alpha Caelan assigned each of the rooms personally.”
“But I’m an omega. I wasn’t even supposed to be part of the choosing ritual.”
The maid frowned and leaned in, taking a big sniff of my arm.
I stiffened. It was rare that anyone willingly came so close to me, especially not in a friendly manner. I didn’t know how to interpret her sudden proximity, and my body braced for an attack.
“You don’t smell like an omega,” she said with a shrug. I stared at her in confusion. What does she mean? If I don’t scent as an omega, then what do I smell like?
“Anyway, omega or whatever you are,” the maid continued. “This is the room the alpha assigned you. Now if you want, I could tell him it’s unsuitable—”
“No!” I said quickly, not wanting to offend. “It’s fine. The alpha is very gracious.”
“You’ll want to change,” she said, nudging me farther into the room. “If the alpha attends the tour, you’ll want to make sure you catch his eye.”
She winked as she shut the door. I sighed. As if someone like me could ever catch his eye.
But she was right about one thing. I needed to change if I didn’t want to offend with my appearance, so I rushed back down to the car for my bag.
A she-wolf with bright honey-colored eyes and long, curly black hair watched me with amused interest as I came back up the stairs.
“So…you here for the choosing ritual?” she asked as I passed.
“Yes,” I replied, knowing it’d be rude to ignore a higher-ranking wolf.
“You don’t sound excited,” she said as she followed me down the hall. “Don’t think you have a shot with Alpha Caelan?”
“Of course not,” I scoffed.
“Why not?” she asked. “I think you have as good of a chance as anyone else. Maybe even better.”
“I highly doubt that,” I said, turning to face her as we neared my suite. “I’m an omega.”
“You don’t smell like an omega,” she chirped. Again with this?
“Well, I am,” I said, looking anxiously down the hall. “Besides, my mistress would be a much more suitable mate. I’m really just here to ensure her safety. I wasn’t even supposed to be a candidate.”
“But you are,” she said with a smile. “And what does your alpha think is gonna happen? Our pack is more than capable of protecting our guests.”
I bared my neck, hoping she wouldn’t take my words as an offense. “Yes. Of course. I didn’t mean to imply… It’s my responsibility, that’s all.”
“No worries,” she replied. “The name’s Taffy, by the way.”
“Shade.”
“Shade… That’s cute,” she chirped. “See you soon, Shade!”
I stared after her as she bounded down the hall, unsure of what just happened. I shook my head and hurried to change.
***
“Remember, don’t speak unless spoken to,” Sunny hissed as we approached the group gathered in front of the pack house. “And for Goddess’s sake, don’t shift. I don’t need anyone seeing that hideous wolf of yours.”
I nodded, stepping away from Sunny as she joined the crowd. I assessed the situation clinically, determining that as long as she didn’t mouth off to the wrong she-wolf, my sister was probably safe.
My hand twitched, and I covered it with the other, taking a deep breath and blowing it out slowly. I wasn’t a fan of crowds, and while this gathering was relatively small, I couldn’t help but feel a little out of my element.
“So,” a male voice said to my left. “Are you excited about the choosing?”
I glanced over my shoulder, barely taking my eyes off Sunny as I spotted the strikingly handsome wolf with a slightly crooked smile and dirty-blond hair beside me.
“No. Not really,” I admitted as I shifted my attention back.
“Why’s that?” he pressed.
I shrugged. “I don’t expect to make it very far.”
“Why not?” he asked. “You seem perfectly stunning to me.”
I gave him a surprised look, fighting the blush that threatened to spread across my cheeks. No one ever complimented me.
A heartwarming smile graced his lips. “I’m Dillon.”
“Shade,” I replied.
“It’s nice to meet you, Shade,” he said as he held out his hand.
I fought the urge to flinch, my mind automatically dropping into defense mode as I braced myself for a slap or a reprimand. But neither came.
I hesitated, finally reaching out and shaking it.
“Oh…uh…nice to meet you too,” I replied with a touch of uncertainty.
“I think you’ve got better chances than you think,” he offered, leaning in as he spoke. “I know Alpha Caelan quite well, and you’re exactly his type.”
“I doubt that,” I said softly as he winked at me and headed toward the front of the group.
My sister and father made sure I understood my place a long time ago. I was no one’s type.
“All right, everyone!” Dillon shouted. “I’m sure you’re all eager to see the pack lands. If everyone could shift, we’ll get going.”
Sunny shot me a pointed look as they started for the tree line, mind-linking me and telling me to get lost as she peeled off her clothes and shifted into her golden-blonde wolf.
I glanced around, noting the pack warriors that were accompanying the tour.
Harvest Moon was well known for its fighters, so Sunny would be perfectly safe as long as she stayed with the group, and since Alpha Caelan would be joining, I doubted she’d stray far from his side.
I slipped into the gardens, backtracking toward the pack house as they took off through the trees.
***
“Shade, there you are!” Taffy shouted as she cut her way through the welcome party crowd that evening.
I turned, ducking my head as she approached so I wouldn’t look her directly in the eyes. Doing so would be a sign of disrespect, while I wasn’t sure of her rank, I knew she was much higher in the pack than I was.
“Taffy, are you participating in the choosing ritual too?” I asked as I admired her purple sundress.
“Definitely not,” Taffy laughed. “Being with Caelan would be like dating my brother. Plus, I’m already spoken for.” She moved her hair, pointing at the crescent-shaped bite mark where her collarbone met her neck.
“Oh, I see.”
“Come on! I want you to meet him.” She pulled me toward a sharply dressed male with dirty-blond hair. I recognized him immediately.
“Dillon! This is her! The girl I was telling you about,” she said as we neared. “Shade, I want you to meet my mate, Beta Dillon. Dillon, this is my new friend, Shade.”
BETA Dillon?! That makes Taffy the beta female. Oh Goddess. I quickly unhooked my arm from hers and dropped my gaze to the floor, baring my neck in submission.
“It’s nice to see you again, Shade,” Dillon offered, trying to ease the tension. “I was disappointed you didn’t join us for the tour.”
“My apologies, Beta Dillon. I wasn’t feeling up to it.”
“There’s no need for any of that,” Taffy tsked as she encouraged me to raise my head. “We’re not that formal here.”
Despite her insistence, I kept my line of sight carefully trained on the floor.
“All participating she-wolves please assemble for the scenting,” a loud voice called out.
“Shade, you should join the others. You’re an eligible female after all,” Dillon suggested.
I nodded, hurrying off toward the end of the line. I passed Sunny, who shot me a warning glare before turning her attention back toward the drop-dead gorgeous man at the front.