Kissed By Moonlight

Chapter 4: My What?

Amara POV:

To say I was shocked would be an understatement. How is it even possible for me to have a mate yet? I'm not even eighteen!

"He is from a very strong bloodline. They can sense their mate once the mate gains their wolf" Isla said, answering my question.

"Can you feel anything?" I asked her as I continued to follow my family into the office downstairs.

"No, none can sense their mate before the first shift," She told me.

That meant we had to wait two more months before we could feel the mate pull.

With that thought, my mind started racing about what would come next.

While my thoughts were going a mile a minute, we finally made it to the office. It was smaller than the ones we have upstairs. This was because this office was rarely used for anything serious. Just if someone needed to get something done quickly and didn't feel like going upstairs to do it. Because of this, we all had to stand pretty close to one another. However, I felt like the Prince was standing closer than he needed to be. He was standing so close behind me that I could feel the heat coming off of his body.

"Well," My uncle started addressing everyone, "It looks as though we have more to celebrate tonight. My daughter and niece have both found their mates and we could not have asked the moon goddess for a better match....-"

I zoned out whatever he said next and looked over at Kylie and her new mate.

"Tyler is his human name and Tyson is his wolf", Isla informed me and I mentally thanked her. I probably should already have known what the future King's Beta's name was, but I never kept up with that stuff. I didn't even remember the Prince's name was Kai until Kylie brought it up earlier.

When I looked at them, they both looked extremely happy. Kylie was practically glowing with love and excitement. She looked as though today was the best day of her life. They both looked that way actually. I was truly happy for them both.

'That's what finding your mate should be like', I thought to myself. 'Not all of this confusion.'

I sighed mentally and tuned back into what my uncle was saying. Maybe he will give some answers.

"This is a unique situation," he said "Amara is still underage and will be for two more months."

Just then, I heard a low chuckle come from behind me "So that is why you look so confused, little wolf" The prince said into my ear, making a shiver go up my spine.

I didn't respond to that. Mostly because I didn't know what to say and also because I wasn't prepared for how his proximity affected me. If this is how I feel now, what will it feel like when I do feel the mate pull?

I glanced over at Carter to see how he felt about all of this and saw he had a solemn look on his face.

"Are you okay?" I asked him through the mind link. I'm sure he was upset that the night we were supposed to celebrate him was shown up by the fact his sister and cousin got mates.

"I'm fine, I'm happy for you two," he told me. "I'm just upset that you both are going to have to leave me."

"Kylie and I have to leave?" I asked out loud, interrupting whatever my uncle was saying.

My uncle turned to me, "Yes; since you are mated to high-ranking wolves of the Amethyst pack, you will need to go with them."

"Soon?" I squeaked out. I hadn't even finished school yet. I can't go now. "Shouldn't I stay until I turn eighteen?"

A loud growl behind me was my answer to that question "You will return to our pack with us." The prince said in a stern voice that held no room for argument. This was crazy.

As if my aunt could sense how uneasy I was, she cut in, "How about you all stay the night? That way, the girls have time to pack and take everything in. You can leave first thing in the morning."

Both Tyler and Kai growled at that. They clearly wanted to bring us back tonight. It had to be a possessive thing. Us going back with them is another way to claim us.

"That is a wonderful idea," the queen said, answering everyone. "We can discuss this more after the ceremony."

That ended the conversation for now. She was right though. Everyone will be waiting for us to enter with them now and the longer we wait the more people will get suspicious.

"Agreed," My uncle said. "Let's enjoy the celebration."

With that, everyone started to exit the office. I was walking pretty quickly to put distance between me and the Prince but I was pulled back by a hand around my waist. The prince pulled me flush against him. "Where do you think you're going so fast little wolf?" he asked me in a husky voice.

I swallowed, "To the ceremony"

He chuckled, "Let's go then," he said, and stepped to the side, letting the arm wrapped around me move to my lower back and his hand rest on my right hip. I was about to protest but then he started to walk and I had no choice but to follow as he led my body down the hall to where my family and his were waiting by the door behind the stage. Kylie and Tyler are already wrapped up in each other as if they couldn't get close enough.

I heard the music stop indicating it was time to make our entrance. I took a deep breath and followed everyone's lead as we made our way onto the stage. The applause just felt like background noise and I felt like I was in a haze. I didn't miss how everyone glanced at Kylie and Tyler and Kai and me. The whispers were already starting. I tried to step away from Kai to give us some space but his grip tightened and a low rumble came from inside his chest. He was basically saying 'Don't you dare move'.

The Alpha King stepped up to the microphone and I felt his alpha aura surround the room. It is customary that he does that before every ceremony. It was to show off his power and make it so his accepting the new Alpha cannot be challenged. Everyone's heads bowed a bit as they submitted to him. They didn't have a choice in this. No one can go against the King's aura. I bowed my head as well, but what was strange is, I felt like I had a choice. Like if I wanted to fight it, I could. I didn't know that was possible. Maybe everyone from an Alpha bloodline could potentially push back?

Before I could dwell more on it, I felt his aura retreat, allowing everyone to look up to him, "I would like to welcome all of us to this Crowning of the new Alpha ceremony. My family and I are happy to be here and support your new Alpha. Alpha Michael, will you and your son please come to stand by me?" he said, and I knew this was it. He was going to transfer the title to Carter, making Carter's aura stronger than his father's to show he was the Alpha now.

"Carter, do you accept the title Alpha of the Crimson Pack?" The King asked.

Carter nodded, "I do."

"Do you swear to always protect the Crimson Pack and make sure every decision you make is for the good of the pack?"

"I do"

"Do you promise to uphold the laws of our kind and respect them?"

"I do"

"Carter Rossi, I now pronounce you Alpha of the Crimson Pack" the king announced, touching both Carter and my uncle's shoulders.

The air shifted and you could feel Carter's aura getting stronger and my uncle getting weaker. Once it was complete, Carter stood proud and applause erupted throughout the room.

Carter thanked everyone and gave his speech. I tried to pay attention to it. I really did, but I was too preoccupied with the seemingly possessive Alpha Prince who is pressed against me again. I glanced around the crowd again and was happy to see the attention was now solely on Carter. Curiosity can't overpower respect for their Alpha.

I looked over close to the stage and my eyes found Ruby who was listening to Carter, but you could tell she was anxious to ask me what was going on. I couldn't blame her. If roles were reversed, I would want to know too.

"-Now everyone, please enjoy the rest of your evening!" Carter ended and there was applause once more before the music started playing again and everyone went to get food and sit down to eat. There were more than enough tables for everyone and even room for dancing and mingling. We had a table on the stage for us and the chefs were going to bring us our meals. After we have eaten, we are able to mingle with the rest of the pack and others who were visiting. However, I'm wondering if I'll get a chance to based on how the Prince hasn't let me get more than a foot away from him.

Carter sat in the center of the table with his dad to his right and the Alpha King to his left. Originally, it was supposed to be our family/beta's family to his right and the King's family/beta's family to his left, but now.....

I didn't move yet, trying to see what everyone else was going to do. I saw the King and my Uncle whisper to one another, then the King's eye glazed over, indicating he was mind-linking. I then heard a loud growl come from behind me and one next to Kylie as well. I wonder what he told them?

"You and Kylie will sit where we originally planned. We will announce you two finding your mates near the end". My uncle told us through the mind link. Relief immediately flooded through me. I will finally get a chance to breathe.

I felt the Prince's grip loosen and I took it as my opportunity to move quickly. I immediately sat in my seat, which was between Kylie and my uncle's beta, Charlie. After a moment, I felt Kylie take her seat next to mine and turned to her. Looking at her face she clearly wasn't relieved like I was that she couldn't sit next to her mate.

"Are you okay?" I asked her, taking her hand.

She sighed, "I guess so. It's just hard not having contact."

"Is it going to always be like this?" I asked, curious if that is what feeling the bond is like.

She shook her head, "No, It's worse in the beginning, but once we mark one another, it will start to get better."

I nodded, I guess that makes sense. But what does that mean for me and Kai? I may not know everything about our laws, but I do know marking someone before they are eighteen is a big no-no. That law was made so no one can lie about who their mate is and bind that person to them when they can't know if they are their mate or not. It's also, so teenagers in love can't make any stupid decisions as teenagers in love tend to do.

I wanted to ask her what she thought about my situation since she was the one that knew all about this stuff but I didn't get a chance to because the food was brought out.

I tried to eat, I really did, but my stomach was in knots. I ended up taking a few bites, then just moving my food around on my plate. I could feel eyes on me and knew they were coming from both the Prince and Ruby. I just kept my head down. I really needed a moment for myself.

After about thirty minutes, it was announced we could mingle with the crowd. A bunch of people came up on the stage to congratulate Carter and show their respect to the Royals. While the Prince was distracted, I took the opportunity to make a mad dash out of there.

My feet immediately took me to the balcony on the west side of the house that I had claimed as my spot. The cool evening air hit me and I felt like I could breathe again. Immediately, the sunset caught my eye. It was always so beautiful right here. There was a pond that it reflected on perfectly. I love seeing the different colors in the sky and the water.

I try to come out here every night if I can unless there is bad weather. For most of my life, I wasn't able to enjoy the sunset or nature. I was in a cage most of the time in darkness.

"Amara, get back here now. Your mate is about to plow people down to come to find you", Carter told me through the mind link and I could hear the stress he was feeling.

I sighed, "Coming."

I looked at the sunset for one more moment, then went back inside. I made sure to take my time though and not hurry back. I only said I was coming, not that I was going to rush.

"Amara!" I heard a frantic voice say as I was about to enter the ballroom. I turned and saw it was Ruby. "Oh my goddess! You have to tell me what is going on!"

I took a deep breath, "Kylie and I both found our mates. Or I guess our mates found us..."

"YOU FOUND YOUR MATE?" she yelled, shocked and in awe. "How? You are not even eighteen yet?"

"I know, apparently, wolves with strong bloodlines can sense their mate before they turn eighteen and the bloodline doesn't get more powerful than the royals," I explained the best I could.

She just shook her head still in shock at it all, "So your mate is the Prince?" I nodded "Who is Kylie's mate?"

"The Prince's future Beta, Tyler",

"Seriously??"

"Yep."

She let out a long breath "This is crazy."

I nodded, "You can say that again."

Then she looked up at me with wide eyes. "Wait. Does this mean you and Kylie have to leave?"

"They say we have to leave in the morning," I told her sadly. I didn't want to leave. I finally felt comfortable where I was and stable and now I have to leave. Not only that, but I need to leave my best friend. I could feel the tears well up in my eyes at the thought. When I looked at Ruby she had the same look I did and immediately gave me a big hug. I hugged her back tightly. This sucks.

"Amara, now!" my uncle said sternly through the mind link.

With a sigh, I separated from Ruby, "I have to go back in now. Carter said the Prince is looking for me"

She nodded and wiped her eyes a bit, "Lets go"

We both walked back into the ballroom and I saw that all eyes turned to me and Ruby. Awkwardly, I walked back to the stage and Ruby rejoined her family. I could see the Prince once I was halfway there and he was being held by his father and Tyler.

I gulped. This was not good.

"Congratulations, Amara", people started saying as I walked past them. I nodded at them and gave a small smile to be polite. I guess they told people. Probably to try to explain why the prince was currently being restrained and seemed to be furious.

With a deep breath, I walked back on stage and Kai immediately broke through his dad and Tyler to pull me into his embrace. He buried his nose in my neck and took deep breaths. Then I felt his canines nipping at my neck and I froze.

'What is he doing?' I thought. He cant mark me yet and definitely not like this!

"Apollo is reprimanding you for leaving without telling anyone." Isla told me "You made him really mad."

"Apollo? That is his wolf?" I asked her.

"Yes, and he and Kai are very strong and dominant and do not like disobedience" she explained.

"But we are also strong and dominant and love being disobedient," I said, confused about how this would work out.

She laughed "Exactly. But I can't come out to play with him for two more months. So you have to take on them both until then."

"Thanks," I told her dryly.

I felt Kai start to pull away. I guess he got what he needed. "Never. Do that again."

I wanted to argue and tell him that I should be able to still have my freedom, but I know here is not the place to have that conversation. Instead, I just nodded.

"As we said before, this day has many things to celebrate," I heard the alpha king say, addressing the crowd "Both my son and his future Beta have found their mates in the Crimson Pack."

The crowd applauded for what felt like the hundredth time tonight.

I cant wait for this night to be over but, unfortunately for me, I have a bad feeling it's going to be a long one.