+++

"Are you sure you want to do this? We could postpone it, y'know? Like, it can happen later, like, later later, maybe a year later and then —"

"Shh," Seneca locks me in place with her intense gaze, as she places a finger on my lips.

I fall silent instinctively.

"I'm sure we have to do it. 'Cause the ALMC starts in an hour. The Alphas and Betas and their Mates from across the country have already arrived." Seneca shoots me a look, asking me with her eyes to understand. I try to prepare myself for it.

I take a deep breath, feeling my Wolf raise his head proudly, telling us that we can do it.

I nod tightly at my Alpha, or more accurately soon-to-be Alpha.

She smiles, satisfied.

We're currently in our room, and Seneca is about to join me in her Pack. Our Pack.

"You know the pledge, right?"

Yeah, I do. I've read the paper Beta Ezra shoved into my hands yesterday enough times, to know it by heart.

"Good." She smiles and looks into my eyes, clearing her throat.

"I, Alpha Seneca Roxanne Mordecai, am willing to accept you, Micajah Theodore Rye, as a member of my Pack. Do you pledge your loyalty to me?"

I gulp. Her middle name is Roxanne?! That is so badass! A small part of my wonders.

I push away all the unnecessary thoughts and look straight into my Mate's gray eyes, nodding.

"Yes. I, Micajah Theodore Rye, hereby solemnly pledge my loyalty and my life to The Mordecai Pack, and its Alpha." At this, her eyes darken an imperceptible amount, but I notice it, "This Pack will be my Pack till my last breath leaves me, and all the members of this Pack will be my brothers and sisters. I vow that every single fiber of my being will struggle for the betterment of this Pack. I shall always try to be worthy of it."

Seneca nods and poises the blade above her palm when I add in a soft whisper, "And I shall always try to be worthy of you."

Her eyes flit up to me sharply, and I can tell that she wants to tell me something, but is holding it back until the procedure is over.

She forces her eyes down, and the grip on the hilt of the dagger tightens into a white-knuckled one. I control my snigger at the way she's struggling to control herself — you know, from jumping me — and watch as she digs the blade into the soft looking skin of her palm in one quick motion, making blood bubble out of the cut and trickle down her hand.

Immediately, a sharp, tangy smell invades my nostrils, and for some morbid reason, it's getting me all riled up.

In that way.

I force my dirty mind to calm the frick down and receive the blade from her outreached hand. Without hesitation, I drag it across my open palm in one quick motion.

Ouch. It hurts like a bitch.

I place it on the bedside table and take her hand in mine, letting our blood mingle.

And then I feel a sharp zap of electricity race up my fingers through my arm, to my chest, and then a tearing pain invades my brain.

"Oh, Goddess!" I clutch my hands to my head, forced to pull away from the one that was in her grip due to the sudden myriad of sensations swirling through me.

Confusion, pain, happiness, sorrow, pain, aroused, happiness, and PAIN.

Pain, above everything else!

"Ugh!" I curse under my breath and fall to my knees, unable comprehend what's going on.

"Cage, Cage, Cage," I can feel Seneca's hands on my wrists, trying to pry my hands off my head, "You need to relax, okay? Try to overcome the pain and breathe, you'll be able to sort out through the voices in your head."

I try to do as she says, but it doesn't work. I'm not able to concentrate on anything except the pain that feels like it's splitting my brain in two.

Goddess, Goddess, Goddess!

"Micajah!" Seneca calls sharply, tugging my hands off from my head. The power radiating from her tone forces my eyes to look up, and meet her dark eyes. She cups my cheeks firmly and looks into my eyes, her gaze hard.

My blue eyes fuse into her graphite ones, and my breath comes out in short, hard pants.

"Breathe. Concentrate." She orders, taking a deep breath to prompt me.

I follow her lead.

Breathe in, breathe out. Concentrate. Breathe in, breathe out. Concentrate. Breathe in, breathe out. Concentrate.

I can feel the pain subsiding slowly,

And the confusing emotions in my head die down...

Thank Goddess.

I breathe out slowly and look up once again to meet her eyes.

And realize that she's only a mere inch away from me.

Arousal tightens my insides, and I feel such an almost uncontrollable hunger for my Mate, I just have to do something about it.

But we're running late already.

My fists ball as I clench my jaw, trying to calm myself down.

Don't do it, Micajah. Don't kiss her now. You don't have time, so she'll probably push you away—

Seneca pushes me back with a firm shove, and I plop on the floor on my butt, my back hitting the side of the bed. Startled, I look up at her with wide eyes, and she smirks down at me, crawling to me in her hands and knees.

Oh maaan, that is the single most, sexiest thing I've ever seen...

I can feel my Adam's apple bob up and down, as I try to back up, but fail when I feel the frame of the cot digging into my spine.

"You're hot for your Alpha, aren't you?" Seneca whispers hoarsely, as she backs me up against the bed frame, placing both hands on either side of my head.

"S-Seneca, w-we're running late..." I mumble, trying to look away from her hot, raking gaze.

"I'm not letting you go anywhere, Cage. Not when I can feel your arousal for me, for your Alpha." Seneca mumbles against my neck, and when I open my mouth to protest, she latches onto the skin there, her hot tongue darting out and licking me, as she bites and nibbles.

So instead of words, all that escapes my lips is a sound that's a cross between a pained groan and wanton moan.

Crap, I sound like a dying goat.

She straddles me fully, one hand on my neck, and the other wandering down my chest, and across my abs. The muscles in my stomach clench in anticipation.

"I-I..." I start, but words fail me because this is the farthest we've ever gone.

"You what?" Seneca whispers in-between her biting, and when she bites hard, surely leaving a mark, my hands automatically go up, clutching her hips, getting lost in the feelings.

"Mm." She groans and bites her way up my neck, and showers little kisses all across my jaw. Her hand gets tangled in my hair, and slowly, but surely, the other one ventures up the hem of my t-shirt, traveling across my bare skin, raising goosebumps and leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

My fingers have a mind of their own.

Because they're moving beneath the hem of her shirt as well, caressing the soft skin on her lower back.

"You want your Alpha to kiss you, hm? To end this torture?" She asks, as her eyelashes flutter up, revealing cobalt eyes.

I gasp because her Wolf is in control. And she might do things, things I'm not sure the two of us are ready for. Yet.

But all that worry dissolves when she leans forward and nips at my earlobe, placing a soft kiss on the skin beneath it.

And all I can do at that moment is, breathe out a soft, "Yes, Alpha."

I can tell that she likes the way I addressed her, that it drives her crazy, because the next moment, she's almost mauling me, hands and lips and tongue.

And it's not like I'm complaining.

Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm the luckiest guy on the planet. Hell, probably the whole universe.

+++

"Welcome, fellow Alphas, Lunas, Alephs, Betas, Beta Females and my Pack members." Seneca addresses the powerful crowd confidently, locking her hands behind her back as she looks at everyone, her spine erect and posture rigid.

But something about the way she's so in control and looks almost too icy to be human, reminds me that she was very human a few minutes ago when her tongue was down my throat.

Okay, okay, I'll not overwhelm you with the details. Just letting you know that her Wolf didn't end up marking me or anything. She regained control and we...let's just say we did a lot of fun stuff.

Sexy stuff.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Micajah. I chide myself and concentrate back on the speech.

"I take pride in introducing my Mate to you all, Micajah Rye." She says, and makes a sweeping gesture with her hand, indicating to me, who's sitting on one of the grand chairs on the raised platform like thing, they call the stage.

Whoa! She called me so soon! I thought she was gonna talk a long time!

My heart gallops in my chest when all eyes turn to me, and I stand up, rubbing my sweaty palms on my dress slacks. I walk forward and join Seneca, wrapping a slightly shivering arm around her waist.

"A-A pleasure to meet you all." I start, wincing slightly when my voice cracks. My heartbeat leaps out of control, and I feel like I might faint any moment now. For real. "I'm honored to have been introduced..." I start, trying not to look at anyone's eyes, "In...the midst of the most powerful circle in the c-country." My fingers tremble, as my eyes float across the first line and finally land on one familiar face.

Beta Ezra.

He's grinning at me, trying to make me feel comfortable.

Bless him, and his kindness.

"Though I'm n-new to it all, I sure hope to gain the trust of my Pack, and I w-will always stand by my Mate's side, helping her through everything. And I ask everyone one of you to feel free to approach me if you have any trouble with anything. Once again, I thank you all for this opportunity." I finish with an exhale, and soft applause breaks from the small, elite group of the richest and most powerful people of the Werewolf world.

"Here's to a wonderful year of love and happiness for everyone who finds their other half in this auspicious occasion." Seneca raises a flute of champagne that I didn't notice she had, and everyone simultaneously raise their flutes back, "Let the party begin!" She announces and the four guys, two on either side, open the two doors on the left and right side of the hall.

Unmated Males from almost all Packs pour out from the one door and Unmated Females pour out from the other. Everyone looks anxious but neatly prepped and primped, cause that's what they were doing in the hall for the past hour, from the moment they arrived.

Because they all want to look good when they meet their Soulmate.

Only Goddess know how bad I would've looked, bleeding and hurt, the moment Seneca found me.

I don't even want to think about it.

The room erupts into a chatter as the soft music that was already playing increases in volume, and I can see everyone sniffing, hoping that they'd meet the love of their life here.

I'm lucky to have found her already.

I turn to said love of my life when she intertwines her fingers with mine, giving my hand a firm squeeze. "You did great." She smiles at me, and I grin back.

"You think? I faltered at a few places." I point out, and she shrugs. "You did, but it was barely noticeable, so I don't think anyone was paying enough attention to notice. Besides, your voice came out strong and firm in the end. I loved that."

I flush slightly. "Really?" I ask, my voice still unsure.

"It's as real as your moan when I kiss you." She says in a playful whisper, pecking my cheek.

I turn beet red. "Y-you—"

"Ha ha ha." Seneca bursts out laughing, and taps my burning cheeks, pulling away. "I have to meet someone. Catch you in a few." She blows me a kiss and is off before I can realize what just happened.

You have to turn up your dirty talk a notch, Micajah. The Alpha is getting harder and harder to control these days...

I shake my head and hop down the single stair at the side of the stage, scanning the crowd to see Seneca talking with a broad smile to an old man, with graying salt and pepper hair, and a blonde woman beside him, who could be none other than his Mate.

Mhm, she looks sexy in that little black number. And the way it clings to her butt—

Wait, Micajah. Assess the situation before admiring, or more exactly ogling your Mate.

This particular situation is completely weird because Seneca never smiles at anyone except me or her Beta.

I walk over to Beta Ezra, who's sitting on a table by himself, looking at the chatting trio intently, as if he wishes he could read lips.

"Who's that fella' over there Seneca is schmoozing with?" I ask as I grab the untouched flute of champagne beside him, taking a small sip, trying it out in my mouth.

Hm, it burns slightly and tastes sharp, but nothing I can't handle. Besides, it would take a lot to get my Wolf drunk.

"That 'fella'' over there," Beta Ezra starts, turning in the seat to face me fully with a grin, "Would be my Father."

I choke on my second sip of wine.

Why does he always have to deliver some stupid news when I'm drinking something?!

Goddess, It burns!

I place the flute down quickly and remove my glasses, trying to calm my coughing fit.

"Y-Your Fa-father?" I ask in-between coughs, rubbing at my watering eyes.

He laughs at my reaction. "Yes."

"Then, why are you here? Shouldn't you be over there? Talking to them?" I ask, feeling the burn in my eyes slowly subside, thanks to our Werewolf healing.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." He rolls his eyes and turns to them. He then shakes his head and I turn to see why he's shaking his head.

Seneca is waving him over.

'Bring him over, please.' Seneca's voice echoes in my head, and for a second I startle, before I compose myself.

She used the Tele-link, you idiot.

"She's calling you. Go." I say, jerking my head in their direction.

"Shit." He curses under his breath, standing up reluctantly.

'You too. Beta Xavier wants to meet you,' Seneca links, and I nod, wiping my glasses before I put them back on. I run a hand through my gelled hair nervously and walk over, trying to appear as confident as possible.

Just as I near them, Beta Xavier pulls his son into an awkward side-hug and pats his back. Beta Ezra wipes the back of his neck and pulls away, standing beside Seneca, as he avoids his father's eyes.

Seems like a complicated relationship between the two...

Beta Xavier turns to meet my eyes, and then they light up with something like joy when he scans me up and down. I stop in front of him, not knowing what to do with my hands as his eyes do another once-over, but this time with a small frown of confusion creasing his brows.

I awkwardly shove my hands into the pockets of my charcoal pants that match my suit jacket.

"Pleasure to meet you, Beta Xavier," I say by way of greeting, thankfully not stuttering in the slightest. I extend one hand for a hand-shake, but he seems too deep in thought to even consider shaking it.

And then his blue eyes widen, and he looks up at me.

"You...you're her son." He says, shaking his head as if he can't believe his own eyes.

Seneca stiffens and I can feel weariness emanating off her through the new-formed link we have.

"'Her'?" I ask, confused.

He swallows in reply. "You're Victoria's son."

He knows my 'Mother's' name?

He looks up to meet my eyes, but this time, his once friendly blue orbs are filled with malice and anger,

"The boy that ruined my life. My life with my Mate."

+++

Hey guys, guess what?