Bren Foster as Alpha Darric Grey

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Two weeks! Two long ass weeks!! The days are just dragging from one to the next. My wolf is restless on minute and silent the next. Two mates and not one of them is here with me. My mood is like my wolf's, sometimes I'm the old Alpha and sometimes the new. Cole says I should work to find a middle ground. He's right but my unfulfilled need for my mates is slowing destroying me. The only place I find solace is my office. I look at my makeshift bed and wonder who folded the blankets, bedsheets et al. Gamma Minerva!

She's been my sounding board since I decided to get my mate back. Only to find Rafe is also my mate. I have never met him before our fight at Esme's. My father knows him based on the information I dragged out of him. They met several times over the years as leaders of their respective clans. A vampire as a mate. The goddess must be rolling on the floor having a ball at my expense.

"Come in. Morning Minerva."

"Good morning Alpha."

"And thank you."

"For what?" I nod with a smile at the folded blankets on my makeshift sofa bed.

She sits beside the folded beddings. "You're welcome. Have you heard from him?"

I shake my head no, she asks the same question every day. I thought I had changed but Minerva has done a total 180-degree change. After the revelation about their mother, something in her changed. The closeness with her father is eroding, which is heartbreaking. She said her father will not change his mind about Cal and she's no longer on his train of hatred and abuse.

She resigned as pack Gamma. She said a gamma has to have the well being of every pack member at heart and she failed with her brother. I assure her that her position is there whenever she wants it back. I don't know if she ever will, because she was a damn good Gamma.

"Come in," now who? Cole walks in. My best friend and resident sounding board and conscience.

"Morning Alpha, Minerva. I have a few messages that may lift you out of your daily dumps," he smiles.

"But before that, the school building is complete so is the hospital. We now need staff for both institutions. Alpha Salim sent some names for us to check out. Since the school is between pack land and the town, we can staff that one with both weres and humans. But the hospital is firmly inside pack land and must be staff by weres only."

"Sounds good to me. The problem is finding weres in our pack that are qualified. We will need to send out fillers to weres that are willing to relocate to our neck of the woods. Get the word out okay? I can't have an empty building sitting empty."

"And now the great news, I hope. Here!" Cole hands me an envelope. It looks like an invitation and the return address has Rafe's name on it. I tear it open and it is an invitation to a party at his home. There's a note in it.

I'm introducing you and Callum to the Clan as my mates tomorrow night at seven. Be prompt. R. P.S: We're looking forward to seeing you.

"My mate is throwing a party to introduce his mates to the Clan and my presence is required."

"Are you going?"

"Hell yes. A night with my mates? My mother didn't raise no fool. Cole, handle things till I get back?"

"Of course. Who are you taking with you?"

"Minerva?" I ask. I know she's in the same situation as me, looking to make amends with her brother.

"No, this is about the three of you. Cal and I will work out our issues some other time. Have fun and I'm glad for you, it's a good beginning."

"I'll take Ronan and Katreena. See you later."

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My mate's house is beautiful and grand. It's a contemporary house built with natural stones and the house is glowing this night. It is a three-story building horizontal in structure. The length from the front as we drove up looks about a quarter mile in length. I don't know how wide the house is, but we are soon to find out. The drive from the gate to the entrance of the house was about half a mile. We drove past beautiful greenery and arrived at the semicircular drop off area. There are vampires all around which is making my wolf antsy. The sooner we lay eyes on our mates the sooner he calms down.

I hand my keys to a valet and walk up the stairs to the entrance. Ronan and Katreena are close behind. I have on a black evening suit with a red necktie with black stripes. Ronan is also in an evening suit and Katreena has on a dark blue evening gown. I walk eagerly to the front door, I need to see my mates. I pat the small gift box in my suit pocket for reassurance.

"These vamps sure know how to live large," my brother sneers.

"Watch it. This is my mate's house and you will treat him and everything about him with respect."

"Of course."

"Personally, I love it. I will like to do something like this to our main pack house. Can I, Darric?" Katreena asks.

"We'll see, come on." I gently cup Katreena's arm and walk with her further into the house.

"Welcome, Alpha Grey," bows a vampire at the entrance of what looks like a grand ballroom.

"Thank you and how did you know my name?"

"My Lord familiarized us with his other mate, and he's expecting you in his office. Your guests will be escorted into the ballroom and I'll take you to my Lord's office, sir."

"Thank you, okay guys, I'll see you in a bit." I follow my escort. We walk down a hallway, down a few corners and I smell them, my mates. He walks up to a huge wooden door and knocks. He tilts his head and I recognize mind linking.

"You may go in Alpha. Have a good evening." He returns the way we came. I look at the door, they are both behind the door. I am petrified. Will they continue to deny our bond? What will I do if that continues? There's only one way to find out. I turn the door handle, take a deep breath and walk in.

The office is beautiful but that is not what is on my mind right now. Rafe is seating at the desk, and Cal is seating on the sofa by the wall.

"Hi," my hands are shaking that I put them in my pocket to control the shaking. I look first at Rafe, and he smiles at me. That's good, I turn to Cal and he smiles at me too. Better.

"Hello, Darric. It's good to see you." He walks over to me, looks me in the eye and hugs me. I hug him back hard. This hug feels a million times better than the hits from two weeks ago. My wolf is calm and happy.

"I apologize for the abrupt invitation, but I must introduce my mates to the Clan asap." He walks me over to Cal and Cal stands up and greets me too.

"May I?" I ask Cal for a hug. He nods and I hug him hard, too. Goddess, he hugs me back. Rafe motions for me to sit beside Cal, he pulls a chair and sits in front of us. I look at him, and he is impeccably dressed in a grey pinstripe suit, well-tailored to his body. His necktie is silver with a crest of some sort on it. His hair is combed back and falls on his shoulders. Cal has on a white suit, also tailored with a black tie. They both look stunning.

"I want to go over the ritual with you. It is a mandatory ritual for all Lords and Ladies, not our actual mating but an introduction into the Clan that I lead. The Originals and the Elders will be in attendance because you and I are heads of our people. First, my father will do the introduction, next, my mother will do the drinking of blood, last my..."

"Blood?" Cal yelps.

"Yes, my love, blood. We get a lick from the mixture of our combined blood," Rafe laughs.

"And my sister will do the tying of the souls together."

"Tying of souls?" I ask, a bit worried.

"Nothing crazy, all she does is tie our right hands together, says some ancient words and then once the Sun god accepts our mating, the inside of our right hands will be embedded with our family crest. A sign that our union is accepted by the Sun god."

"Isn't that a crest already on your tie?"

"Ah, you noticed? Yes, but this was my father's crest at his introduction ceremony, we get our own crest for our family today."

"So how have you been?" Cal asks me.

"Good, missing you two," I answer honestly. At this point, my pride is out the window and only honesty has flown in.

"I have a brilliant idea," Rafe says.

"What?"

"The main part of the ceremony is over in about thirty minutes. We three then do a 'walk around' for maybe another twenty minutes where I introduce you to the other Lords and Ladies. After that, why don't we all go out for a tri-date?"

"A tri-date?" I ask confused.

"Yes, where all three of us go somewhere to eat, relax, get to know one another."

"I'll like that, I answer." Rafe and I look at Cal, waiting for his answer.

"I'll like that too."

"The plan is to get out of here in the next hour without anyone being the wiser. To do that we will need the help of my sister."

"Georgiana, are you sure?" Cal asks.

"Why? Won't she help?"

"Oh, she will, but her mode of helping is sometimes a tad catastrophic. But as long as she gets to pull one over all the Lords and Ladies in attendance, she'll help."

"Isn't she a Lady herself?"

"She's a High Lady like no other, trust me," Cal says laughing.

"You'll meet her in a few minutes, she has to walk us to the ceremony. Listen, don't be nervous. This is a first for me too. I've witnessed many but this is mine, we're kinda in the same boat. Anyone want anything to drink?"

"Nothing for me," Cal answers. He's tapping his leg furiously, glad to see I'm not the only nervous one. He gets up and walks into another room.

"I'll take a shot of whiskey," I reply. I walk over to Rafe. "Where is he going?"

"Bathroom, third time, he's very nervous."

"Me too. Today's is his birthday you know."

"I know I waited for you so we can both wish him a happy birthday. He thinks I don't remember. You owe me one for all the 'looks' I have endured since this morning."

I laugh and side hug him, "thanks." It feels natural to touch him. I like it. "Get your gift, so we give him our presents together as soon as he gets back."

"Right here." He taps his suit pocket too. I hope we didn't get the same thing.

Cal walks in, looks at the both of us, "something wrong?"

Rafe and I look at each other and start to sing; "happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Cal/Callum, happy birthday to you." We both give him our presents.

He is teary-eyed, "I thought you forgot," he nods at Rafe "and I didn't know if you knew my birth date, Darric. Thank you, guys." He hugs us both. I hug him back. He puts the presents in his suit pockets.

"Aww, that is so sweet. I thought I was going to have to kick my 'I can't believe he forgot his mate's birthday" brother in the ass but you came through Rafe. Nice. You must be Alpha Toxic, I mean Darric?"

"Georgiana, behave. My sister Georgiana," Rafe introduces a truly stunning woman. The initial glance gives her an air of innocence, but as she walks towards us, goes and gives Cal a kiss, and sits down, you see an underlay of mischief. She has on a vibrant red gown, with an off one shoulder neckline. The shoulder is cut off at the right with a thigh-high slit on the left. The back is so low that I wouldn't let her out of the house if she was my mate.

"A pleasure to meet you," I reply.

"We'll see," she smiles.

"Why did you call me Alpha Toxic?"

"Because it matches your..."

"It's a nickname, she loves to give people nicknames," Rafe interrupts her. For some reason, I don't believe him.

Cal starts to laugh, covers his mouth, trying to stifle his laughter, "told you, not like any other Lady."

"So, are you ready to go? Everyone is gathered in the pavilion."

"Georgiana, you know you are not allowed to wear red and are supposed to be conservatively dressed for this ritual," my mate sounds exasperated. I think I'm starting to see why she's like no High Lady I ever met.

"Says who? There's no law that says red is out. Just because some old kooks think red will clash with the whole blood thing doesn't mean I can't wear red. And my dress covers all pertinent parts perfectly. I just want to give the hearts of those geezers a little kick. Come on Rafe, enjoy, relax, it's your mating ritual."

"Fine. I need your help."

"Name it."

"Well, we are going on a tri date right after the 'walk around'."

"Tri date, what's that?"

"A date with the three of us, so can you get us out of there and make the appropriate excuses while we're gone."

"Leave it to me."

"And Georgiana?"

"Yes?"

"No scandalous excuses, appropriate ones please."

"Moi," she points to her chest, "I would never," and she winks at me. Did anyone else see that? I think she's trouble. She reminds me of someone, I just can't place it yet.

"Jeffery, they're ready." A man dressed as a butler walks in carrying three long black gowns. He hands one to each of us. He looks blank, I mean how else can I describe someone just going about his business with no emotion at all.

"Put them on, from now until the end of the ritual and before the 'walk around' you are one. These gowns you wear signifies to the Silvern Clan and the other Clans that you three are one: in words, in thoughts, in actions, and soul. Follow me." The previous mischievous Lady is gone, she's all serious now.

Rafe follows, her, Jeffery motions for Cal, then I to follow, Jeffery rounds out the line. We go down a separate hallway, down some stairs and we enter a dark room. There's another door across the room. She walks to the door, stops and turns to us. She has the scariest look on her face with her fangs now elongated.

"High Lord Rafe Klyne, Omega Callum Yorke, and Alpha Darric Grey. You are about to enter the Silvern Family Pavilion. This Pavilion was built centuries ago for the mating ritual of High Lord and High Ladies of the Silvern Clan, blessed and sanctified by the Sun god. There is a lot of history and power in this building. If your heart truly desires not to mate with each other, your ritual will fail. Search your hearts before we proceed. Do all three want to proceed?"

"Yes, we do," we all reply.

"The pavilion has three levels only. You will be taken into the inner circle and surrounded by guests and well-wishers. The first level closest to you has the ruling council members. The second level has the High Lords, High Ladies, High Priestesses, High Priests, Alphas, Lunas, and Unris. The third has family and friends."

"The first level is the closest to you. This is to protect you from any attacks during the ritual. You will feel immense power through-out the ceremony. Please don't be alarmed. It is the ruling council protecting your union. Accept it, endure it all, don't fight it. Are you ready?"

"Yes," we reply solemnly. I think all three of us now feel the enormous weight of the moment.

"Please follow me."

She turns back to the door, opens it, walks ahead of us to a round two-step cement platform. On the platform is a thick bronze pole embedded in the middle. The pole is about nine inches in diameter, has intricate designs and curvatures on it. On top of the structure is a round wheel. She motions for us to stand around the pole.

"Please hold on to the wheel with your right hand and whatever happens don't let go. Anything we ask of you can be done with your left hand. Do not take your right hand of the wheel until I come back to tie your hands together." She leaves and goes to stand by the door we came from.

I am shitting bricks. This ritual is more involved than when I became Alpha. I thought the power infusion at my ceremony was soul-testing, the aura here feels like it will test you, body, mind, and soul. I will not let my mates down. I grip the wheel tighter, look at Cal, and nod to him with a smile, he smiles back. I look at Rafe and do the same.

A man who is an older version of my mate walks up to us. He looks at the first level and bows. He starts to speak in a language that I am not familiar with. It sounds ancient.

"Sun god, un kaakkavo avai kaak rulko kaaku High Lord Rapheal Klyne knurr koo droxol: Omega Callum Yorke knurr Alpha Darric. Kladdhol xouk dluko uni kour xalk knurr huxo. Halloweth be."

<" Sun god, I introduce to you tonight your son High Lord Raphael Klyne and his mates: Omega Callum Yorke and Alpha Darric. Please join them in eternal unity and peace. Halloweth be,"> Rafe interprets for us.

The man leaves, and a woman approaches us. She is an older version of Georgiana but unlike Georgiana, she has a serene look about her. She also looks at the first level and bows. She walks up to us with a knife and cup. Crap! She walks up to Rafe first and makes a cut on his left thumb, she gets some drops of blood into the cup. She walks over to me, then Cal and repeats the process. She mixes the blood in the cup with the knife and then raises the cup to the sky and says speaks in the archaic language.

"Duko kaxo kak dluko kayikx ,un nudhol kod kawo dudhol kak dluka odka puir xum. Halloweth be."

She brings the cup to each of us and ask us to dip one finger in the cup, take a swipe and lick the blood. I feel a buzz when I swallow the blood. She then pours the remaining blood on the ground, saying, "Halloweth be."

The woman leaves and Georgiana approaches us and pays her respect to the ruling council. She is holding a red cloth matching her gown. She walks up the steps and ties our hand together. She also starts to speak in that same language:

" Graimir un nuko kaaku hork imipum uni Kawo knurr yaapir, knurr puir akid kak xaxirr dhol kawo Sun god, kuu houl kasdo kaak brakk kod kaaku gyair loaona. Brakk kuav houl xouk kawo kruir gyair kak Klyne brakk kak kour droxol kruir imipum graimir. Halloweth be."

Rafe again interprets for us:

Immediately I feel a deep skin burn that I almost let go of the wheel.

"Don't let go of the wheel," Rafe screams at us. I see Cal struggling to hold on too. The pain is unbearable and just as it started, it stops. I look at my right hand and just under my skin is a glowing yellow symbol. I see the same on Rafe's and Cal's right hands.

An Original from the first level radiating so much power suddenly said in a loud voice, "Let all the sons and daughters of the Sun god say, Halloweth be."

"Halloweth be," responds the audience.

Georgiana unties the cloth and shouts in a loud voice, "I present to you, High Lord Raphael Klyne and his mates, Lord Callum Yorke and Alpha Darric Grey. The 'walk around' will commence, and family and friend will be led to the ballroom."

"Time to meet and greet the old kooks," Georgiana whispers to all.

Goddess help me, this woman is going to be the death of us all.

Author's Notes: Georgiana always spicing this up 😂

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