Is It You

Adira POV 7

So yesterday was fun...Malachi and I had chatted the entire drive back and I got to know him a little better. I really couldn’t lie to myself, he was real big trouble. Coming from a good family, a strong family, leading a pack without the help of a Luna and being all-round very functional. Who wouldn’t fall for him? It’d only been three weeks and now I was staring at him with googly eyes already. s**t!

Now today was the induction ceremony, I’d be introduced and added to the pack. Wildon had promised me that the linking would be almost painless but they were wolves who barely felt a thing. So I’m pretty sure it would sting but I won’t complain. This is the most eventful thing I’ve done since...ever. I contemplated my outfit in the mirror one more time and subconsciously fiddled with my hair.

I had it curled past my ear for this formal occasion, not because I liked it this way. I usually preferred my hair not touching my neck as much as possible, but I’d manage for a few hours. I applied light makeup and put on some nude matte lipstick to finish. Beautiful eyes looked back at me and I imagined Adair for a brief moment in myself. Next, my dress. I had picked a red bodycon dress from my closet that had a sweetheart neckline and thin shoulders straps. It wrapped around me like a second skin and complimented the figure I had to kill so hard for.

“Ready in there?” Malachi knocked on my door.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m just putting my shoes on” I answered quickly.

He unlocked the door and came strolling in like a model right of the runway. No surprise there. He was wearing fitted black jeans, brown timberlands and a grey Chambray shirt underneath. He paired it with brown accents such as his jacket, his belt and his watch. He gave me a full blown smile and came toward me in slow steps.

“You look beautiful” He murmured.

I know he was trying his best not to make this more but it was just a friend complimenting a friend, right? I’d take it that way. I gave him a grateful smile and looked down in my closet for the black kitten heels I planned to wear.

“May I?” Malachi gestured to the shoes.

I handed them to him and he bent down to the floor, lifting my first leg and gently setting in my shoe. I steadied myself on his shoulder as he did the other one then rose to his full height.

“I’ve never gotten the chance to do that before,” He stated boldly. “Now, I’ve accomplished that.”

It was strange but he seemed so happy with himself that I didn’t question his logic. Now that I was fully ready, he walked me down the stairs and we met Wildon standing at the Jeep. He gave me a bright look and smiled at us both.

“It’s good to see you both getting along now,” He mused. “I came to make sure you weren’t late but I guess your growing up”

Malachi rolled his eyes at him and pushed him aside to open my door for me. I climbed in and they too followed suit, Wildon in the back seat. To say I was nervous was an understatement and I wanted nothing more than to crawl back to the house. But I didn’t want to embarrass Malachi. He’d built so much with his pact, I had to respect that. I’d shove my nervousness down and do this with pride.

We stopped in the pack villa. There was a small stage up at the front , decorated with flowers, a podium and the pack symbol on the front. No seats were in view, as per usual for pack events, with a multitude of persons already present. Malachi helped me out of the jeep and led me to the side of the stage. His grip on my hand tightened for a brief moment and I looked over at him. He gave me a small smile.

“If you’re nervous, just remember I’m here. You’re not doing this alone” He whispered.

His words touched me. I nodded in return and then steeled my confidence. We walked up the stage as Wildon did the greetings.

“Thank you all for being here today! Alpha Carson has a wonderful announcement for us all so receive him with care”

The crowd applauded along with Wildon and Malachi stepped forward. He pulled me along with him.

“Hello Everyone, lovely to see your support as always!” Malachi cheered. “Today, I’d like to introduce you to your first Luna and my beautiful mate”

He gave me a knee-racking kiss on the cheek and the pack roared. I’d never seen a pack this happy to have a Luna before and I hoped not to disappoint them. Malachi and Wildon said a few more words then I was personally introduced to his Gamma, Declan. The ceremony ended after that but a few members came up to me, mostly adults to give their blessings and support. I was thoroughly enjoying it for a moment until I realized he left out a major part. I was human.

He approached me after a short conversation with Declan and Wildon, putting his hand around my waist and drawing me close. I could smell the overpowering scent of his perfume and his wolfly scent mixed into one. It assaulted my senses and I found it hard not to react. I gripped his jacket with both hands and leaned in slightly.

“Overwhelmed?” He asked.

I shook my head. I was great actually. I felt him reach around my neck and brushed away any strands sticking to my neck. It was such a simple gesture but the fact he remembered made me all wanton and emotional.

“Ready to head home?”

Home. I liked that. I was starting to think of it as my home too.

“Yeah, these shoes are killing me,” I quipped.

He waved to Wildon and Declan to handle the rest and led me toward the Jeep. It was refreshing to have him lead instead of me, thinking back to the times I had to do this for Adair. We drove back to the house and he exited the car first and opened my door for me.

“Let me,” He said again and removed my shoes.

Moon Goddess, please let me not get used to this.

He then hoisted me in his arms bridal style and kicked the door shut. He carried me across the porch and up to my room.

Yeah, please let me not get used to this.

He set me in the bed and stood in front of me. I sensed he had something to say.

“I chose not to tell them you’re human for now. If you still plan on leaving, they don’t need to know. Also, I opted to do the linking in private. So....give me your palm”

He removed his jacket and pulled out a small knife. I gave him my hand and he skillfully cut a small wound in the center. He cut his as well and then joined our hands together. To anyone else it would seem foolish but it would link me to the pack. We held hands until I heard faint voices floating around in my head. I could hear Wildon, Declan and a few other people I didn’t know.

Can you hear me? Malachi’s voice floated to me.

Yeah, this is new. I wasn’t linked to the pack at home because I was human. Alpha Hendrix said it wouldn’t be necessary since I had no wolf to assist the pack.

Well, don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it soon.

He closed the connection and released my hand. The wound was healed from his Alpha blood.

“If you’re ever in danger, you can mind-link Wildon or me” He explained. “The range extends to the pack villa but outside of that it’s faint. Only mate bonds can stretch the distance”

Mate bonds. I knew what he had to do for that. We wouldn’t be doing that anytime soon. That was a line I wasn’t willing to cross.