34. Chapter 34 #2
I’m looking at my mates as the van comes to a stop, so when I look out the window, the view takes my breath away.
It's my meadow. The one I met my wolf in, the one that I saw my mates playing in, the one I saw yesterday. Just like yesterday, there are groups of people standing around talking to one another. I’m assuming they are the Shifter Omegas, and my heart cracks a bit when I realize just how few there are here.
Thirty, at most, packs stand around chatting together.
Erik practically plows through August and the door of the van in his rush as he gets out and sprints to a beautiful woman wearing leather.
She has the same light blonde hair as my mate and the two men beside her could be Erik’s twins.
There is one man that pulls Erik into a hug that doesn’t match the rest of them with his dark coloring, but judging by the smile on everyone's face, he is one of Erik’s dads, just not his biological father.
The rest of my mates follow me to where Erik is, smiles on their faces as well.
As soon as we get close, the men snatch up my mates, hugging them with a brutal force that has me wincing on their behalf.
Mandy and her mates stand with me as we watch the boys greet Erik’s family.
The joy on all of their faces has me lighting up.
I’m so happy they are happy that I don’t even feel nervous.
Erik’s mom is beautiful, everything I imagine a Viking Queen would look like.
Her hair is braided and done in an elaborate updo that I’m envious of.
I would never be able to get my hair to do that.
Erik finally lets his mom go and turns to me with a wide smile on his lips. “Mamma, this is my mate, Becca. Red, this is my Mamma, Ylva.”
Ylva pulls me into her arms, whispering a bunch of Norwegian words that I don’t understand.
The tone of voice and the fact that tears are rolling down her cheeks and a smile is plastered on her face as she cups my cheeks in her hands and stares at me, all tell me that she is beyond happy to meet me.
Erik’s dads come over, circling me and Ylva, when they hear Erik introduce me as his mate.
Ylva is speaking in quick Norwegian words, gesturing to me, my mates, and her mates.
His dads are responding in the same language, touching my hair and arms, not in a creepy way, but as if they are complimenting my features.
I don’t understand a thing coming out of their mouths, but Erik has fallen on the ground laughing.
Hutch is right beside him and Skylar is shaking his head, but there is a smile on his lips as well.
Cj is standing beside Mandy, chuckling as he whispers to his parents.
All of them are laughing, but I don’t get to ask them what is so funny because the sound of a deep voice with an accent brings my attention back to Erik’s parents.
“Min Elskede, if you want her to like you so much, maybe try speaking in a language she can understand.” It is her dark toned mate that finally says something I can understand.
“Hello, Becca. We are so happy to meet you. I’m Alf, this is Bjorn and Birger.
We are Erik’s dads. You must forgive us.
We have prayed for many moons that our son will find his other half and now that you are here, we are happy to see that the Gods answered our prayers with such a strong and beautiful wolf. ”
A warm blush creeps up my neck and onto my cheeks at his compliment.
A warm feeling ellipses my chest and I smile softly at him before looking over my shoulder at my mates.
They are all smiling back at me so I turn my attention back to the parents.
Ylva is still just staring at me, but the other dads are sharing a look over my head, matching smiles on their faces.
“It’s so nice to meet you all as well. Erik and the guys have told me so much about you.” My voice is soft and my words are kind, but Ylva bursts into tears.
I panic, turning and running to Erik, burying my face in his chest as I fight off tears of my own.
Erik is chuckling as his arms wrap around me, and I can hear his dads trying to get their mate to stop crying.
Mandy is outright laughing now and that seems to bring Ylva out of whatever I did to make her cry.
“Shut it, Mandy! I know you were no better when you met her!” Ylva has such a sweet voice, one that doesn’t match the tone of voice she is using now.
“Yes, Va. I was a wreck, but it is intriguing to see it from someone else. Our Becca is amazing, and maybe now that she is here, we can finally convince you to move here with us.”
Ylva tilts her head, eyes still narrowed at Mandy. Then she flicks her gaze over to me and a soft smile lifts on her lips. “Hmm, maybe.”
She turns, heading deeper into the clearing without saying anything else.
Erik squeezes me so tightly it's a little painful. I don’t say a thing, just let him hold me.
I get it. Erik misses his parents and it's really hard for him to be here with me yet have his family so far away.
I kiss his chest, providing what comfort I can, before moving to follow Ylva and Mandy into the clearing.
As we step into the lavender flowers, a bright purple light flares on the other side of the wide field.
More cars come down the lane at the same time as a beautiful woman steps out of the purple light.
My attention splits, I want to keep staring at the woman that literally just appeared out of nowhere, but Charlotte is greeting another woman who is getting out of a car.
The three of them smile at each other, Charlotte wrapping her arms around the tall woman with snow white hair as the woman who stepped out of the light flies, actually fucking flies, over our heads to meet them.
A deep ringing goes through my body as the three of them embrace.
I have this weird desire to rush over there and join them.
I want to hug them, to share smiles and whisper conversations between them.
The impulse is so strong that I even lift my foot and take half a step towards them before Mandy and Ylva both grab one of my arms. They share a look, then shake their heads at me.
Before anyone can say anything about the weird shit that is happening right now, the council steps up to the trio. I can see them all saying something, but not hear the words. Then Charlotte steps forward and addresses all the Omegas looking in on the scene.
“Good Morning Omegas, Thank you so much for coming. This process should be fast. I need all the Omegas to step forward, without your mates. I will walk down the line of you once, then I will go to the Omega that is selected to speak for the Shifters.”
Mandy and Ylva keep a hold on my hands as the three of us walk forward with the other Omegas.
All the Alphas in the clearing are fidgeting, not liking their mates being so far away.
Still, none of them try to walk forward with us.
I can feel the comforting warmth my mates are sending my way and let my shoulders relax.
They are there if I need them, plus I know and trust Charlotte.
Charlotte walks down the line of Omega. She doesn’t rush, walking slowly and taking the time to really look at all the Omegas.
She doesn’t pause on any one Omega for long though, not even me.
She sends me a smile, but moves down the line.
When she gets to the end of the thirty Omegas, she walks back over to the other two women who watched the process with focused attention.
The three of them share a few words, then Charlotte walks to the Alpha Council.
They whisper again and I can see the smile on all of their faces.
Shandra steps forward to speak, and her words shock not just me, but everyone on the clearing.