Chapter 14 | Mine
"When she looked at him a hundred thoughts ran through her head,
but the only thing she could manage to do was smile."
-Emma Blake
I walk out of the building completely flustered. That went pretty well for my fortune.
The lady dressed in a dark blue office suit took her seat all prim and formal across me. The man next to her was Elder North. Both Jake and Rick are present. A vacant seat next to Jake notifies Chris' absence.
We all wait for about ten never ending minutes for Chris, I guess.
Rick asks Kathy, the other woman to begin the phase. She nods and begins to talk- "Oops guys, I'm here. Miss me?"
Chris stands by the door grinning nervously.
Rick fixed him with a pointed glare to which Chris remained unaffected.
"Sorry men I missed the bus." He says with a shrug. "You have your car, Chris," mumbled Jake.
"Oh yeah, right... My bathroom broke," he tries again. Both Rick and Jake turn to glare at him. "Alright alright people, I've officially run out of excuses. I'm sorry," he says surrendering with both his hands in a flourishing shrug.
Now not only Jake and Rick but also the Kathy and elder North glare at him while I try to mask my snort by a cough. Elder North sighs in frustration and says, "Mr. Davis, please take your seat, we're running out of time."
Chris shrugs once again and seats himself down.
Clearing her throat, Kathy begins to speak. "Ms. Archer, are you ready for this? Please be aware that this session is being recorded for future references and to compile your personal file. But also remember this will be completely confidential unless of utter importance to be revealed."
I nod back confidently with a, "Yes, ma'am." Beaming at me, she asks, "You're full name, Ms. Archer?"
"Blythe Reyna Archer."
"Your age in lunar years?" "Twenty."
Then Elder North asks the most awaited question, I guess, "Your previous pack, Ms. Archer?"
"The Silverette Pack" I hear a very feminine gasp and am met with several widened eyes. "What was your ranking in your previous pack, Miss?"
With my chin up, I say, "Kin of Alpha."
Once again I'm met with raised eyebrows and widened eyes.
"Your parents or guardians? And what pack do/did they belong to?
" "My parents are not alive, my guardians are Mr. Theodore Norwell and Mrs. Vanessa Norwell, while the latter is mundane and the other bears a dormant wolf.
Theodore belonged to the Silverette pack but later moved into the mortal world as a decision regarding his personal reasons. "
"Your wolf colour, Ms. Archer? Please be specific of any spots, specks or markings."
"White. Pure ivory white with a crescent shaped, onyx mark on my forepaw."
Kathy blinks twice to herself and a shiver runs through her as she comprehends the information. Elder North takes over again. "Ms. Archer, we believe your criminal record is clean apart from a physical attack at Ms. Mia Allard. Do you have anything to say regarding it?"
"I take responsibility for my fault. It was my mistake to not control my wolf. I'm truly sorry for it."
"Pardoned. Last but not least let me ask you the reason for you to join this Royal pack amongst the others." I spare a glance at Rick, to see him award me a reassuring smile.
"I met my mate and figured out I couldn't leave him, so decided to stay."
Once again frowning in confusions Kathy asks, "Your mate's good name and ranking in the pack, Miss?"
"Maverick. Alpha King Maverick Devraux."
Only Kathy gasps at my revelation. She blinks in disbelief, at my revelation. Looking back and forth between me and Rick.
While Elder North clears his throat, "Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Archer.
Your acceptation trials have been successfully completed.
I assume the ceremony is to be held this evening, Mr. Ronan?
" Jake nods his head and replies with a yes, while Elder North nods back and closes the file before him tying it up and rises from his seat.
"That's it for the day, folks. Good day to you all!" He walks out of the door as Kathy shuts her laptop and gets ready to leave. She halts to converse with Rick.
I accept Jake's offer and climb into his Mercedes for a ride home.
"I thought because Rick mentioned an important meeting, you also needed to be present..." I trail off.
Chuckling he replies, "Nah... Meeting's regarding patrolling and et cetera. Chris has to be there not me. Usually, one of us, Chris or me we manage to stay back when Rick leaves... The other attends to the pack stuff for the day."
I nod back understandingly and we resolve into a comfortable silence.
He halts under the front porch as I get out of his car. Walking over, I motion him to roll down his window. "Would you like to come in breakfast?" I politely address him. Shaking his head, he answers, "As much as I'll love it, I really have to be at work. It's all for you ceremony, you know?"
"I hope it's nothing too grand. Keep it simple, huh?"
"Are you kidding me? We got to impress the whole werewolf world. Besides, we've done most of the work. Just final touches. Trust me, you're going to love it. By the way, be ready around five thirty p.m., ceremony begins at six."
"Yeah sure."
He waits to see me go in and then takes off.
As I mentioned before, this place is huge. Many of the maids, pave way while smiling at me friendlily. Some bow down acknowledging me as their Luna. Word spreads like rapid fire. I ask one of them to show me how to get to breakfast, to which she gladly implies.
Walking in to the dining area, I hear a few giggles and high pitched squeals. All belonging to a young woman, I guess. But who?
At the table two girls of around my age, sit dining and chatting.
A short, straight hair'd brunette and a wavy blonde.
The brunette has green eyes while the other has blue.
She stops talking all of a sudden, the brunette, because of some intrusion.
It takes a few seconds to realize that I'm the intrusion.
Suddenly her green eyes twinkle with mischief, as she stands up and prances to me with a cheery smile. "Hi, you must be Blythe, right?" She questions.
I nod back with a slightly nervous smile.
"Oh, I'm Kaylee, you can call me Kay, and this is Kendra," she says pointing to the blonde," We're Rick's younger sisters. Um, and twins. No- I mean we are twins, me and Kendra..."
Sisters. He had sisters! And twins! Not identical of course. Why did I not know? Probably because I wasn't around that long... But how does she know my name and everything?
"Ah, hi, nice to meet you," I say back trying to ease the tension. She warmly smiles at me and leads me to the chair next to her. "Rick, told us you'd join us for breakfast, please take your seat..."
That idiot hadn't thought of warning me forehand then? All the formal manners and phrases. I guess being a royal, does influence your habits.
Then do I notice the blonde, Kendra, I guess, glaring at me. What the-
I'm disturbed by a gentle tap on my shoulder. Kay seems to have stuffed her mouth with pancakes. So much for formality. I shake my head amused as she raises her eyebrows and motions me to help myself.
I pile my plate with pancakes and bacon.
As I begin to chew on my pancake, I hear a chair scraping out.
Kendra gets up, leaving her untouched pancakes alone with a smug look on her pretty face.
Well she is pretty. Apart from her, scrutinizing and judging exterior, she is pretty.
Not to mention her sharp blue eyes and luscious wavy blond hair.
But all of that impression vanishes as she announces something unexpected.
"I'd rather have my breakfast in my room, than in here, with her," she spit out the last word and marches out of the room.
What was her problem? I met her for like two minutes and she already hated me.
For what? I think she had issues to be sorted out.
Well, I'd rather eat yummy pancakes than fuss over her attitude.
Swallowing her food, Kay mumbles shrugging, "I'm sorry, I don't know what got into her. Sometimes she's like that but she'll come around. Don't let her bother you. Please do eat up."
Frowning in return, I manage to finish up my food.
Kay and I, we make a light conversation, and soon become friends. She's so fun, cheery, and sarcastic. I love her. She tells me all about her family.
Four children in total and so it seems because they also have an eighteen year old little sister Mae.
I find out; that both she and Kendra are my age, that her mother had passed away when she was eighteen, that she is the cool one out of the twins (I rolled my eyes at that, but some part of me is sure, that she's right), that she herself loved books, and that Kendra is a fashion freak.
She tells me that she hadn't found her mate yet and she always wanted too.
After a while, I ask her the way to the pack hospital. She tentatively raises her eyebrows as I shrug in response. She crosses her arms and I sigh in defeat. "I want check on Mia..." I trail. Her eyes soften.
"Oh... Poor Mia, she was so sweet, you know. She's Mae's friend, by the way. I checked on her yesterday. Her wolf had stopped responding..." She shakes her head in disapproval but lightens up again. "I'll come with you, we can check on her and I'll show you around the pack, eh?"
I consider it for a moment. I don't want to spoil her cheeriness, after she has been so nice to me. I nod my head, pulling my lips into a smile.
Kay knocks on the white hospital door gently and opens it. A woman clad in loose Capri pants and a blouse, sits on an ivory white couch holding hands with a middle aged man with pepper-and-salt hair, while a nurse adjusts some equipment. All of their attention turns to the entrance.
Walking towards the woman, Kay straightens herself with a very soft, "Mrs. Allard," and hugs her warmly.
As the man's eyes recognize me, they harden and his jaws clench.
I look down in shame. I no longer find the courage to look into those eyes filled with paternal care and maternal longing, and apologize or say that it'll be okay.
To my greatest dismay, when I look up again, he bows his head down in respect acknowledging my rank in the pack, even though it's not yet official.
I feel....filthy. My hands tainted with this sin may never be clean again.
I realize this is not only my wolf's fault but mine as well. If I only had not lost control.
To be truthful, yes I have killed before, but not innocent, vulnerable beings but cruel, masochistic ones.
I drag my feet towards them and bow my down in guilt.
"I'm sorry. I know that this word may never give you what I have taken away from you all.
It will never help you find solace but I'm truly sorry," I utter as I twiddle my fingers, knotting them.
The woman keeps a hand on my shoulder, making me look up at her.
"Don't pressure yourself, dear. Mistakes do happen all the time.
People do lose their control. You're right your apologies will never help us but you feeling guilty is not going to help either.
We've hardened our hearts for the consequences, whatever it might be.
We have to accept the truth..." She trails.
I stare at her in disbelief and awe. How can anyone be so selfless?
"She was our angel," she says softly, "our sunshine, and the center of our world. She was only child. The best ever gift from the Goddess. But now..." I see a tear escape from her eyes and her lips quiver.
Shaking my head I resolve myself. "Mr. and Mrs. Allard do you mind if..." I glance at Mia too small and fragile for her surroundings. Mr. Allard looks at me in vulnerability and motions me to go ahead.
The nurse moves back as I approach making way for me.
I look at Mia. Her eyelids shut close as hazel wavy tendrils move at the soft breeze.
The pale blue hospital scrubs too loose on her sickly thin frame.
I briefly glance at the devastated parents and place my hands, one on her forehead, and the other on her stomach, channeling the Goddess through my wolf.
My body warms up, as I close my eyes, heat spreading from my head to toe. I sense energy seep from my fingertips in to her body. The beep-beep sound of the heart monitor penetrating through the silence of the room suddenly stops.
The energy flow through my body too stops. Opening my eyes, I see the same lifeless body in front of me.
All of a sudden blood rushes to her cheeks and hands, coloring them. A strong lub-dup alerts us. I look at the couple, who look at their daughter earnestly while both Kay and the nurse stare at me with widened eyes.
All attention turns to her, as little Mia opens her eyes with a cough and sits up on the bed groggily yawning.
I sit on the bed deeply engrossed in a book, I got from the library.
After Mia had woken up, the nurses had rushed about, and the doctor on duty had announced that she was perfectly fine without even a slight injury. The Allards had thanked me over and over again as I blushed profusely and said that it was all I could do.
Kay had pulled me aside and told, "Not bad, huh? But not better than me of course," with a shit-eating grin on her face.
She had showed me around the pack, soon after which, both of us lunched together.
She left to meet some of her friends while I had raided the library.
I hear soft taps on my door and earth back.
Pressing the button near the headboard to open the doors, I place my book on the bed, beside me, bookmarking it with a ripped piece of a newspaper.
The door opens to reveal two middle aged women dressed in slacks and silk shirts. They introduce themselves as their Majesty had sent them to help me get ready. Inwardly rolling my eyes, and after some time of argument, I succumb to their request.
After a very refreshing bath filled with bubbles and rose petals, I feel new.
The bath jets in the Jacuzzi are... oh my god.
My feet and toes scrubbed, every inch of my body waxed, my eyebrows threaded, I feel odd.
Standing in my fluffy white bathrobe, I rummage my walk-in closet for the suitable attire.
Suddenly, I hear arguments beyond the closet. Walking out, I see Adele, arguing with the two women.
"You've done your work, I'll take it from here. I told Rick also..." She says.
"But ma'am, his majesty-" they begin to retort as I cut them off.
"She said she'll take it. Y'all can take leave," I say confidently. As they open their mouths in protest I raise my brows, they surrender and leave.
"Queen, eh? Do you want me to courtesy for you, my majesty?" Adele asks grinning. "Ugh, come on....."I reply rolling my eyes.
"I thought I'd help you get dressed for today, since we became friends yesterday, so..." She trails. I smile at her saying, "I could really do with a friend right now, help me pick a dress, chum. I can't figure out. What am I even supposed to wear? Hoodie and chucks?"
"Nope, you're going to be introduced as the Luna. Got to have some chic in it. A simple dress will do, I guess. Let me check..." She says frowning.
I sit down on the bed exhausted, pulling a hand through my already messy wet hair.
"Aha, I found the perfect one," she yells. As I roll my eyes at her statement, she comes out with a dress in a cover. Zipping it out, she lays it on the bed. "What do you think?" She asks wiggling her eyebrows.
How can I describe it? It's not extravagant, not too simple. Not conservative nor provocative. It's kind of wow. Ivory white with a jeweled silver bodice, held by spaghetti straps. Plain, short, floral lace skirt that ends mid-thigh. It's seems to look nice.
"Come on it's perfect," she whines. Biting my lower lip, I nod at her. She squeals like a kid and drags me to the vanity. "First makeup, then hair, dress, shoes, accessories..." She goes on listing.
"Whoa, whoa, hold on... No makeup, okay? And-" I reason with her. "Hey, what do you mean, no makeup? Of course, you're wearing makeup. No worries, I'll keep it simple. Sit down, now!" She orders. "But-" "No buts, honey, sit down."
I sit down defeated with a sigh and close my eyes. As she rubs substances in my poor face, my mind reels and I wanted to ask the question, nagging at the back of my mind.
"Adele..." I call. She hums back. "Who are you to Rick?"
Her hands freeze and peek open my eyes. "What did you think?" She asks shaking her head. My eyes widen I begin to stutter.
She laughs at my reaction and says, "We're friends, Blythe. Best friends. And regarding your suspicions we're just friends. We were always just friends..." I nod at her awkwardly. "Well," she continues, "But no, of course not, I seriously have a better taste." She winks at me and I roll my eyes.
"No, I'm just kidding. But for your information, I'm not romantically or sexually interested in your man," she says grinning amiably. I smile back at her.
"Knock, knock. May I come in?" A soft voice intrudes us. I turn to see, Kay in a crop shirt and denim shorts leaning against the threshold. "Kay!" Adele exclaims and runs off to hug her. "I got your message, thought I'll help with the hair," she says to Adele. "Hold on, what message?" I ask.
Adele raises her hand, "Guilty, I texted her when I was coming here to come..." My eyes narrow at both of them but then roll them and mumble a whatever.
"There you go. You look perfect," Kay says and I open my eyes to see the result of them playing Barbie on me.
The black eyeliner highlights my eyes while the nude matte lipstick makes my lips look sultry.
A dash of silver eye shadow on my lids complete the look.
My hair had been pulled back into messy, braided low bun with loose tendrils escaping.
I slip on the dress and Adele zips it up for me.
Kay walks out of the closet holding a pair of silver lace up heels.
I slip them on, tying them up. A pair of crystal dangle earrings adorn my ears.
I walk to the floor length mirror, to check myself out.
Not bad, I looked nice, I looked somewhat original. My nude lips bloom into a smile.
"Told you she would like it!" Exclaims Adele.
Kay too beams up and says, "What's there not to like?
Rick is going to go whoops..." I check the time.
It's around five fifteen. Both of them leave to get ready themselves as I sit myself down on the couch, crossing my legs.
As I unlock my phone, I hear knocking and footsteps.
Rick saunters towards me in a white linen, button-up, dress shirt with rolled up sleeves and dark chinos.
My mouth goes dry at the sight and I run my tongue over my lips.
We stand below the floral archway as he addressed the people. He motions me to take over. I release my lower lip from my teeth and take a deep breath.
"Hi, I'm Blythe Archer as he told. I assure you all that I would be a Luna, to my best and support the pack at all times. I also promise to remain loyal to you, your pack and your Alpha. I'm sure I can do it and I will," I say with a somewhat confident smile.
All the pack members warmly smile at me as Jake leads us to the fire lit furnace.
A young girl dressed in a plain off-white full sleeved frock, brings forward a platter with a silver knife.
As Rick picks up the knife in his hand, the crowd falls silent.
The thudding of hearts of the people is highly audible.
Rick slits his right wrist with ease, and hold out his hand for mine. I offer him my right hand with a reassuring smile. His lips graze my knuckles with feather light kisses. I hear someone hoot whistle. Before I stop swooning, I notice his jaws clench and body tense as slits my wrist.
Holding my hand in his, he raises it above the fire as our blood drips on the fire making the coals sizzle. The fire rises up above our heads in a swift motion as the cool evening breeze pushes hair tendrils onto my face. I hear many gasps as the fire residues back in a calm manner.
Rick pulls my palm to his chest as it vibrates to his heartbeat. I interlace my fingers into his gently. Raising our entwined fingers above he commands in his Alpha tone.
"I present to you, Blythe Archer, Luna and Queen of all!"
The crowd applauds energetically, some bow in respect, some even shift into their wolves in surrender.
I see Mia too in the second pew clapping her hands excitedly.
As I was too busy observing the audience, Rick pulls me to his chest, kisses my forehead, and whispers for only is to hear, "My Luna and My Queen.
Mine." Words got stuck in my throat at his sweet gesture.
I couldn't have done anything but smile.
And that was exactly what I did.
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