SIERRA

"Why do I look so ugly?" Tatiana whines twirling her ash blond hair making me roll my eyes. What would I have given to get those ash blond curls and clear green eyes? She is probably an inch taller than me but has good assets in the form of an hourglass figure.

"You are definitely not ugly. Come on sit in that chair and I'll style your hair for you." I say pointing at the chair by the mirror.

"You are a lifesaver kiddo." She ruffles my hair and sits in the chair. I quickly set to style her hair and get engrossed in my task successfully keeping my mind off Fenris.

His adoptive parents and the Alphas came yesterday after my parents arrived. But the eldest son of the Alpha and Fenris didn't arrive with them. So far, I don't know how is the claiming ceremony going to begin without the oldest Elder. I tried asking Elder Raoul about his travel reasons but the wolf is as stubborn as a rock. He was just ready one day with a bag in hand and a list of my duties as his apprentice to help prepare for the ceremony.

"Why are you not dressed yet? What are you going to wear?" Tatiana asks and I focus back on her hair. All of the she-wolves were allowed to go in the nearby human village for a short period of time to buy new clothes as we didn't pack for a ceremony. I couldn't find anything good enough as I was too busy thinking about Fenris and his motive behind disappearing all of a sudden.

I tie her hair up in a sophisticated bun with a few loose tendrils that frame her face and highlight the green of her eyes. Her purple coloured scoop neck embroidered floor length dress highlights her eyes further giving her a "look but don't touch" type of a feeling. She is after all the maid of honour for Caliana. We don't have a human wedding but it is necessary for the closest friend of the she-wolf to be mated, to stand beside her during the ceremony.

I admire my work and squeeze her shoulder then move to my wardrobe to search for a dress. I had sneaked a few dresses when I came here. I haven't yet decided what to do but I don't want to be too bold in my dress selection. A simple light brown sleeveless A-line floor length dress catches my eye and I decide to wear this for the ceremony. I hope my bare shoulder will attract Fenris's attention to it and catalyse his thoughts towards marking me. Thinking of the marking sends a shiver of thrill down my spine and a terrible ache starts in my body. Shaking my head to stop the direction of my thoughts, I take the dress out of the wardrobe and set it on the bed.

"It is a nice one. Fenris won't be able to take his eyes off you."

"If he comes to the ceremony."

"He will definitely come, darling. It is his friend's mating ceremony. He won't miss it even if the Alpha orders him to stay in his pack," says Tatiana rolling her eyes.

"Come on. Let's get you ready. By the time you are done dressing up, Fenris will surely have arrived." She says when I stay mute. I nod and move towards the bathroom to clean up.

"You look hot, babe," says Tatiana as I leave the bathroom all dressed and ready. I needed a little alone time to gather enough courage to get ready instead of hide in my room, away from the ceremony. It will break my heart if Fenris doesn't show up.

I have tied my hair in a braided half-updo with curls flowing down till my waist. This will cover my tattoo like mark if at all it becomes visible. I twirl around to show off my dress to Tatiana and she whistles making me chuckle. We move out of the living area, hand in hand, in search of Connor and hopefully, Fenris.

The ceremony will take place in the clearing behind the school buildings and then the mated couple will shift in their wolves to take their first run as a mated wolf.

"Should we directly go to the clearing or first in the meeting hall for a drink and snacks?" I ask Tatiana letting her decide. For the occasion today, the dining tables are shifted to the meeting hall as it is the only space that can accommodate so many wolves and Alphas at one time.

"Let's go to the meeting hall. I can use a drink to calm my nerves. I don't know I feel jittery." I look at the always confident Tatiana straightening her already straight dress and smack her hand lightly to stop that nervous movement.

"It might be due to the fact that you are going to be seen tonight, you know, standing in front of the crowd beside Caliana," I say trying to calm her.

We move towards the meeting hall, me dragging Tatiana as she is busy looking around herself for what I don't know. Wow! The elders have gone all out to welcome the guests for the first post-war celebration. The meeting hall has been decorated like a wedding hall with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling effectively adding in to the lightning effect. There are big family tables set up for each pack Alphas and their respective betas. Two huge dinner tables have been set side by side in the centre probably for the mated couples and their respective families. I look around to see how the food will be served and breathe a sigh of relief that it is not a buffet dinner. I wouldn't want to leave my seat to get more food. We spot the bar and I start walking towards it to calm mine as well as my roomie's nerves.

"What would you like to drink?" Kaden asks. He volunteered along with a few older wolves to serve the drinks. I look at Tatiana to ask her.

"Anything, mild alcoholic is fine. I am a lightweight, girlie."

"Hey Kaden, can I have a Strawberry Rosé Punch and a Fresca Sangria, please?" I say looking at the menu.

We take the drinks and I take a sip of the cool, fruity liquid and see Tatiana gulping half of her drink in one go.

"Go slow, babe. You don't want to get drunk, do you?" I chuckle when she just shrugs. I look around myself searching for Fenris while taking small sips of my drink but instead spot Alexandria dressed in a frilly skirt which stops just below her ass. How indecent!

Not wanting to create a scene, I gulp down the rest of my cocktail drink and wait for Tatiana to finish hers then start walking away from the bar.

Thankfully, I spot Connor but he is talking to an unknown wolf. I haven't seen him here that means he must be a guest. The wolf has dark blond hair and is huge, both, in his height as well as in his shoulders. Tatiana stops beside me making me stop and look at her questioningly. She stands shock-still looking at the stranger with a look of surprise, happiness, lust and nervousness.

Looks like this stranger is my roomie's mate. I clap my hands happily and hug Tatiana hard, congratulating her, effectively breaking her thoughts.

"I don't know if he will accept me," she says nervously.

"Oh, come on. Nobody would be dumb enough to reject their mate. Hah! Apart from me, surely." I say and drag her towards Connor and the stranger.

As we walk closer to them, the stranger stops and takes a deep breath and then focuses on Tatiana who has a death grip on my hand and is slightly trembling.

"MATE." He growls loud enough to turn heads and starts marching towards us. He doesn't even look at me as he pushes me aside, without hurting me and stands too close to Tatiana and looks down at her with a gentle look. He must be a few inches taller than her but his muscled body completely dwarfs Tatiana's body. Goddess! Why is she so scared? He won't eat her at least not here in front of everyone. I laugh mentally at her reaction towards her new found mate.

"Will you allow me to take you out in the clearing so that we can talk, privately?" He asks in a voice, equally gentle and I melt at his gesture. Turning his head, he narrows his eyes at me and I realise that my gasp of surprise was quite loud. I mutter an apology and go and stand beside Connor who has his mouth hanging open looking at his sister and her mate. I close his mouth with a push at his chin and he gets a hold of his surprise.

"So, tell me more about Tatiana's mate." I order to distract him from his over protective thoughts regarding his sister's safety.

"I need to warn him. He is a womanising bastard," growls Connor and I move fast to block his path.

"Connor. Isn't he your friend? If he was whoring around, remember that it was before he found his mate. Look at the way he is behaving with her. He is so gentle and understanding towards her, trying to ease her nerves. He will not hurt her." I say pointing towards where Tatiana's mate has held out his hand for Tatiana to make the decision. Even Fenris didn't show this much patience with me. Tatiana puts her hand in his and he gently pulls her in the direction of the clearing away from the prying eyes and ears.

"That's Zion. Future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack, Fenris's pack", mutters Connor sullenly making me laugh at his expression and then stop. If the Alpha's son is here, it means that Fenris might also be here.

"Did you meet Fenris then? Is he here?" I ask Connor shaking his shoulder to wake him from his rage filled dream.

"Stop it, kiddo. I am listening to you. You will dislocate my shoulder," growls Connor moving out of my grasp.

"I didn't see Fenris, yet but you will not meet him unless you want to accept his claim. Are we clear?" He asks me with that fierce protective look on his face and I feel like an outsider suddenly.

"Crystal."

I don't like that he still doubts my intentions regarding Fenris so I walk away from Connor for another drink.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yay!! Tatiana meets her mate and guess what it's Zion!!

I hope everyone is taking proper precautions amidst the Corona virus Pandemic. Take Care and stay safe at home. Hope my updates are helping you all pass the time. I might update a little more in the next few days.

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