Chapter 12: Mating Ceremony Eve
Chapter 12: Mating Ceremony Eve
(Aria’s POV)
The day before my formal mating ceremony with Alexander arrived with surprising speed. Despite having been mated to him for three years already, my stomach twisted with nerves. I stood by the window of our den, watching pack members bustle about with decorations and preparations.
“Look at you, all jittery like a new mate!” a familiar voice called from the doorway.
I spun around, my heart leaping with joy. “Olivia!”
My best friend stood there, her shoulder–length black hair now sporting vibrant purple highlights. Her dark eyes sparkled with mischief as she opened her arms.
I rushed into her embrace, inhaling her familiar scent. “I thought your business trip would keep you away until
tomorrow!”
“And miss helping my best friend prepare for her formal mating? Not a chance!” Olivia squeezed me tightly before pulling back to examine my face. “Though you look terrible. Spill everything.”
I led her to the sitting area, grateful that Alexander was occupied with ceremony preparations elsewhere. As we settled onto the plush cushions, I recounted everything–Claire’s reappearance, her suicide attempt,
Alexander’s behavior, and my pregnancy.
Olivia’s expression darkened with each word. By the time I finished, she was practically growling.
“That manipulative witch! I always knew she was trouble,” she snarled, her wolf’s anger visible in her flashing eyes. “Please tell me I have permission to claw her face off.”
I couldn’t help but laugh despite everything. “Alexander has cut ties with her. He blocked her number and hasn’t seen her since her… incident.”
Olivia rolled her eyes dramatically. “And you believe that? Men like Alexander don’t just walk away from their
obsessions.”
“He’s not obsessed with her,” I protested weakly.
“Could have fooled me.” She leaned closer, her voice softening. “Why are you still with him, Aria? You could leave. Dominic Blackwood would help you in a heartbeat.”
My cheeks warmed. “Dominic is just being kind.”
Olivia snorted. “Kind? The most feared Alpha in the Northern Territory doesn’t offer to help severe mate bonds out of kindness. He’s had feelings for you for years.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I dismissed, though my wolf stirred curiously within me. “Besides, I’m pregnant with Alexander’s pup.”
Her expression softened immediately. “Then that’s all the more reason to be careful. After the ceremony tomorrow, you should see Dr. Mills at Silvercrest immediately. Make sure the stress isn’t affecting the
pregnancy.”
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Chapter 12 Mating Cerem
“I will,” I promised, placing a protective hand over my stomach.
“And what about your mother? How is she?” Olivia asked, her tone gentler.
I swallowed hard. “Stable, for now. She’s excited about the ceremony. It means everything to her.”
“Then we’ll make sure it’s perfect,” Olivia declared, squeezing my hand.
The door opened, and Alexander stepped in. His amber eyes registered surprise at seeing Olivia.
“I didn’t realize you had company,” he said; his tone carefully neutral. He and Olivia had never been particularly close.
Woints
Olivia rose, smoothing her fashionable dress. “Just returned from my trip to find my best friend in need of moral support.”
Alexander’s jaw tightened slightly before he forced a smile. “Would you both join me for dinner in the pack. dining hall? The ceremonial cooks want us to taste some of tomorrow’s dishes.”
“Sounds lovely,” I said, grateful for the distraction.
As we walked to the dining hall, Alexander’s phone chimed. He glanced at it, frowned, and silenced it without
answering.
“Nuisance call,” he explained, catching my questioning look.
Olivia raised an eyebrow but said nothing, though her expression spoke volumes.
Dinner was a lavish preview of tomorrow’s feast. The ceremonial cooks had outdone themselves with traditional delicacies symbolizing fertility and prosperity. Despite my morning sickness, the specially prepared foods tempted even my sensitive stomach.
“The silver moon cakes are divine,” Olivia commented, licking frosting from her fingers. “Though not as good
as the ones at Shadow Pack ceremonies.”
Alexander stiffened slightly. “You’ve attended ceremonies at the Shadow Pack?”
“My job takes me to all territories,” Olivia replied smoothly. “Their Alpha King certainly knows how to host an
event.”
I shot her a warning look. The mention of Dominic was deliberate, and I didn’t want to provoke Alexander.
Throughout the meal, I noticed Alexander checking his phone repeatedly, his brow furrowing with each
glance.
“Is everything alright?” I asked quietly when Olivia was distracted by a server bringing more desserts.
“Just some minor pack issues,” he assured me. “Lucas is handling it.”
After dinner, Olivia announced she needed to return to her quarters to prepare her ceremonial garments for
tomorrow.
“I’ll see you bright and early,” she told me, embracing me tightly. In my ear, she whispered, “Be careful, Aria. Something feels off.”
As she pulled away, her eyes briefly flashed amber–her wolf’s protective instincts clearly on display.
Once she had gone, Alexander led me to the ceremonial gardens. Lanterns were being strung through the trees, casting a magical glow. over the space where we would reaffirm our mating bond tomorrow.
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Chapter 12 Mating Cerem
“Beautiful, Isn’t it?” Alexander murmured, his arm around my waist.
“Perfect,” I agreed, trying to focus on the moment rather than my lingering doubts.
His phone chimed again, and he tensed. “Excuse me a moment.”
I watched as he stepped away, answering with a terse, “What now, Lucas?”
From where I stood, I could see the strain in his shoulders, the way his free hand clenched into a fist. His wolf’s energy seemed unsettled, making the air around him shimmer slightly..
My heart sank as a terrible thought occurred to me. Was Claire somehow Involved in whatever was happening? Had Alexander only pretended to cut ties with her?
I debated approaching him, catching the words “handled discreetly” and “after the ceremony” before he ended. the call.
By the time he returned to my side, his expression had smoothed into careful neutrality.
“Everything’s resolved,” he said, taking my hand. “Nothing to worry about.”
I wished I could believe him.
The morning of our ceremony arrived with a flurry of activity. I was barely awake when ceremonial attendants swept into our den, ushering Alexander out and surrounding me with ritual preparations.
“The Alpha must not see his Luna until the formal bonding,” one explained, her tone reverent as she laid out my ceremonial attire.
The preparations were exhausting. Between the elaborate hair styling, the intricate application of ceremonial markings on my skin, and the complex layers of my ritual garments, I found myself dozing off several times.
“Careful!” Olivia’s voice jolted me awake as I nearly toppled sideways during the final adjustments to my headdress. “We can’t have the Luna face–planting before her big moment.”
She popped a moon berry between my lips. The rare delicacy burst with sweet–tart flavor, instantly
revitalizing me.
“These are precious,” I protested, knowing their cost and rarity.
“And you need them more than anyone,” Olivia insisted, feeding me another. “Pregnant wolves need extra
energy.”
She kept a steady supply of berries coming as the attendants continued their work. The ceremonial dress, adjusted for my slightly changed figure, was breathtaking–silver–white silk embroidered with both the Storm Pack’s lightning symbols and my family’s healing herb patterns.
“Has anyone seen the Alpha this morning?” I asked casually, trying to ignore the knot of anxiety in my
stomach.
“It’s customary for mates not to see each other before the formal bonding,” an attendant replied, carefully attaching my ceremonial veil.
Olivia glanced toward the doorway. “I could check on him as your ceremony companion. Make sure he’s not
getting cold feet.”
“Don’t you dare,” I warned, though a flutter of unease rippled through me. “Everything is fine.”
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Of course it is, Olivia agreed too readily. “But I’ll just peek. For tradition’s sake”
Before I could protest further, she slipped out the door, her ceremonial purple dress swishing behind her.
I sat in tense silence as the attendants made final adjustments to my appearance. The minutes stretched painfully.
When Olivia finally returned, her face was pale, lips pressed into a tight line.
“What is it?” I asked, my heart lurching. “What’s wrong?”
“Aria…” Her voice held a tremor I’d never heard before. “Alexander is gone. No one can find him anywhere.
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