Torn By Fate

Chapter 2

"Okay, you're clean enough. Get out of the shower!" Nicole shouted, banging on the other side of the door.

"I'm coming don't get your panties in a bunch!" I shouted back, putting on my comfy maroon robe and quickly blow-drying my hair before stepping out of the bathroom.

"Finally, I have a lot of work to do." She groaned, leading me to sit at the vanity and tending to my hair with a curling wand, "So, how was it running into your lover?" She asked right away with a stupid smirk on her face.

"Bryson isn't my lover, and it was awkward as f**k," I rolled my eyes at the memory, "We hardly spoke to each other, and I can't even look at him for two seconds without remembering how I left him with blue balls," I told her. She threw her head back and laughed hysterically. It took her some moments to contain herself before responding.

"It's okay. I'm sure after your ceremony, he will be glad to give you a second chance if you ask for it." She wiggled her eyebrows in a teasing manner. I let out a low growl and picked up the closest object to throw at her.

"Hey, don't throw my brushes I need those!" She squealed, picking up the brush off the floor, "All I'm saying is your allowed to have a little fun!" she held up her hands in defense.

"I promised myself, Nicole. You know just as much as I do that s*x isn't as great if it isn't with your mate, or at least that's what I've heard," The mated she-wolves in my pack always bragged about the s****l experience being better once they met their mate. I could only hope for the same feeling.

"Well, my mate is taking too damn long to find me, and my lady bits are impatient," It was now my turn to throw my head back and laugh at her excuse, she pointed her finger at me, "Don't judge me." She tried to sound firm.

"I just hope he finds me soon wherever he is out there." I gestured my hands to the open balcony. I was so confident about finding my mate as soon as I became of age, but unfortunately, it never happened.

Some nights I would cry myself to sleep feeling so lonely without a mate craving the bond and sparks everyone talked about. I was jealous of seeing all the newly mated couples in our pack. Loneliness was not in my forte.

Nicole leaned over my shoulder and looked at my reflection in the mirror, "Don't you know how this works, love? He'll come crashing into your life when you least expect it." She winked at me.

"Mmhmm. I'm sure." I muttered. She shook her head and clicked her tongue at me, "You, my friend are very impatient good things come-"

"To those who wait, yeah yeah, I know," I interrupted her small lecture.

Once my hair is finished, Nicole takes about an hour to complete my makeup, and we began to get dressed for the night.

I chose a white long sleeve dress that falls to my mid-calf, its v neck ends just a few inches from my belly button. My father most likely would not approve.

"Okay, honest opinion?" I asked, spinning around in a circle for her.

"Astrid, you look beautiful as always." She gave me a reassuring smile while slipping on her long black off the shoulder dress with a side slit.

"She's right, you look absolutely stunning." A familiar voice spoke softly from behind me. I turned to see my cousin entering my bedroom. Her tan skin was glowing, and her blonde has grown beautifully down her back.

"Erica!" I chirped as she pulled me into a hug.

"I've missed you so much, Astrid." She spoke into my hair as she held me tightly while I tried desperately not to push up against her very swollen belly.

"I miss you to its been ages since I've last seen you. How is the pup?" I asked, rubbing circles on her belly. Her stomach looked as if she was carrying more than one pup.

"William and I are more than ready for him to make an appearance. Pack doctor said it should be in a few weeks from now." She breathed while standing with her hands on her hips.

"You look ready to pop," Nicole told her with wide eyes. Erica giggled and looked down at her belly with the same wide-eyed expression, "Yes, I believe he will be a big pup."

"Are you here with the whole family?" I asked.

"Of course, Gold Heart wouldn't dare miss your ceremony."

"I can't wait to see everyone." I chirped, excitingly clapping my hands together. Gold Heart is the pack my mother Grace originated from. Her brother Gabriel was alpha, who is also Erica's father.

"Yes, they are overly excited, especially Cameron. My brother looks forward to seeing you become the first female leader." She told me, grinning from ear to ear. Cameron is the current alpha of the Gold Heart pack.

Hard footsteps suddenly creaked in the hallway, "Sorry to interrupt ladies, but if I don't steal my mate from you, she will make us all late." William spoke, standing at the doorway.

Erica raised an eyebrow at him, "I suppose your right, Hunny," She told him before looking back to me and holding my hands, " I just wanted to come see you before the ceremony. You will do amazing, Astrid." She gave me one last hug before exiting the bedroom with William.

While Nicole and I finished our last-minute touches, we heard Derek's voice come through the link.

"Girls, I do not mean to be pushy, but if I don't have you both there on time, Grace will claw my throat out."

"Don't be such a scared little pup, we are finished," I responded as we made our way downstairs.

When we step outside, Derek waited impatiently in an Escalade. I climbed into the passenger seat and noticed he was wearing an all-black tuxedo with a bow tie; it made his curly blonde hair stand out.

"About time you guys show up, it's only the most important night of our lives." He complained as he put the vehicle in drive.

"It takes time to look this good, would you have us rather shown up looking like we just rolled out of bed," Nicole grumbled from the back seat.

"You look like that every day, so I wouldn't mind." He smirked at her in the rear-view mirror. She growled, flashing her canines at him, "Just because you're about to become Beta doesn't mean I won't kick your ass!" She spat. If this bickering didn't stop now, I'd be listening to it the whole drive.

"Guys, let's just get through this night without killing each other." I laughed at their childish bickering.

"Fine." They groaned in unison.

For the rest of the time, we drove in silence, listening to my favorite hard rock station. As we passed by the woods, I heard a strange voice calling out to me.

"Astrid......" The sinister voice of a woman whispered out my name. I peeked over at Derek to see if he heard anything suspicious but he is tapping on the steering wheel to the beat of the music, clearly unbothered. Nicole does not seem affected either. I sat up straight and decided to let it go, but the voice calls out to me a second time.

"Astrid......" My wolf internally growled at the voice.

"What is it?" I asked my wolf, urgently.

"It's coming from the woods," She responded.

I instantly looked back to the window. My sharp vision caught a woman wearing a dark cloak standing at the edge of the woods. She is staring right at me with her emerald eyes and a malicious smile. My wolf senses picked up right away.

She is a witch!

"Stop the car!" I growled, causing Derek to slam on the breaks.

I kicked off my heels before exiting the car and running towards the woods with Nicole and Derek hot on my tail, but before I could get to the witch, she turned on her heels and disappeared into a thick cloud of black smoke.

"What is this?" Nicole asked, as we reached the black smoke, "Witchcraft!" Derek growled in response.

"There was a witch! She was just standing right here. She called out to me in the car. She knew my name!" I shouted, running my hand through my curls. Frustration soon takes over me. I was so close to catching her.

"You guys didn't see her?" I asked. Nicole and Derek both shook their heads in response.

"I don't understand I thought witches weren't allowed here in Silverhill?" Nicole asked in confusion.

"They aren't no witch has lived here since-"

"Lamashtu," I spoke her name before Derek as the stories came flooding back to me.

Many years ago, before we became enemies, Jackson Blackburn of the Blood Rose Pack chased all the witches out of Silverhill city with the help of his friend Lucas Collins of River Ash. I vividly remember my grandfather Riley telling me the stories.

Lamashtu was the last witch to ever live in Silverhill. Jackson owned almost all Silverhill city, and she wanted the city for herself.

She planned to compel the city with her dark magic so she could finally be the leader of all the werewolves, keeping them as her slave dogs.

Hearing of her wicked plans to take over leadership, alpha Jackson and alpha Lucas gathered all the packs to form an attack on her coven. The wolves slaughtered each witch that belonged to Lamashtu's coven, forcing her to leave Silverhill.

She was infuriated that her plan had failed, so she compelled Jackson to kill Maria Collins, the Luna of River Ash. Lucas did not understand why his friend would kill his mate after he helped him with the witches. He became very enraged and made a promise to avenge the murder of his luna.

This divided the city of wolves, leaving them to choose sides, half believing Jackson was innocent and the other believing he deserved revenge. The packs were at war. Lucas knew if he asked River Ash to help him take down Jackson, he would send them to their deaths. Blood Rose was too powerful, so he went out on his own.

One-night, Jackson was out searching for Lamashtu seeking to destroy her after her hateful act. To his surprise, he found an incredibly determined Lucas. Lucas brutally tore Jackson's black wolf into pieces until there was nothing left of him.

After successfully killing Jackson, Lucas returned home and slit his throat. He would never be the same without his luna.

The sons of the fallen alphas did not want to live in war, so they made a truce between River Ash and Blood Rose. This was a tough decision, but it was for the best. No matter how much hate they had for each other, they would remain civil for the sake of their packs.

As the years passed, the packs never regained their trust in each other. My grandfather always said that it was as if Lamashtu cursed the packs to always be enemies.

Overtime, Blood Rose became even more powerful. The Blood Rose pack now has thousands of werewolves residing in their territory, causing them to split the pack in two. This created the Silver Moon pack.

These powerful packs are now led by the deadly hybrid demon wolves, the Blackburn brothers. I stare off into the darkness of the woods as I think about our bad blood with the Blackburn's.

"What would a witch want with me?" I muttered more to myself, "Whatever the reason we will have to deal with this after the ceremony, we'll be much safer there than out here with no backup. We don't know what her motives are or if she came alone," Derek explained with a worried expression plastered on his face.

"We will not speak of this to anyone until after the ceremony, understood?" I asked grimly. They both nodded, and with that, we headed back to the car and left.

When we arrived at the event center, mom and dad are already waiting outside for us, worry decorating their faces.

"We were about to send Keaton to look for you. You're 20 minutes late." Dad said unpleased, "I know I had to deal with something important first." I sighed, in hopes he would drop the conversation.

"More important than this?" He asked, clearly annoyed with my tardiness. I hated to disappoint him so early on in the night, but for now, this conversation would have to wait.

"Dad, I am sorry. I'm here now can we please just go inside?" I pleaded. Noticing the stress in my voice, he dropped the subject and led us inside. On our way in, Nicole mind linked me.

"I know you're worried, but you've come too far to let that no good witch ruin your night keep your head high. We will deal with her later."

I looked over my shoulder and gave her an appreciative smile. She is right. There is no way I can let this get to me, not tonight.

When we entered the ballroom, Nicole and Derek walked ahead of me to their places at the main center stage while my parents and I waited in the hallway.

"I love you so much, my beautiful girl." My mother said with tears in her eyes, "Mom, I love you too, but please, I don't want to cry." I choked on my words as she hugged me.

"Are you ready, sweetheart?" Dad asked impatiently. He has been waiting for this moment for a long time now.

"More than ready," I replied and entered the ballroom with my parents on each side of me.

"All rise!" Liam, our lead pack warrior, called the room to attention.

As the guest stood for our entrance, my heart palpitated wildly in my chest from the attention directed to me. When we reached the front of the stage, the three-council member's called for everyone to be seated.

The council wore black formal attire with a black cape draping over their shoulders. I instantly became impatient as they spoke for what seemed like hours about our family history.

Nicole and Derek take their oaths first. They both made exceptional speeches. Once they are finished, Dad and I stepped on stage. We faced the audience as the council member picked up a dagger and stood directly in front of us to begin the transition.

"Jonah Collins, do you acknowledge that you are giving all leadership rights to your firstborn, Astrid Collins?" The old wolf asked. My father looks at me proudly before answering, "Yes, I willingly pass my rights down to my firstborn daughter."

The council member then turned to me and asked, "Astrid, are you willing to accept your birthright?" With this question, my wolf takes over. I fix my posture and stand tall in front of the council, ready to accept.

"Yes, I am willing," I spoke with confidence.

The council member leads me to the podium, and I offer him my hand. He slides the knife across my palm, letting my blood drip onto the contract placed on the podium. I look out to the audience and begin taking my oath as my blood drips on the line where my signature should be.

"I Astrid Collins daughter of Grace and Jonah Collins accept leadership of the River Ash pack. I take full responsibility for the safety of the members of the River Ash, and I will be held accountable for all my actions. I will honor those who came before me and those who will come after me. I, Astrid Collins, accept." As I spoke my last words, I instantly feel my alpha aura become stronger. Everyone in the ballroom no longer makes eye contact with me. The council faces the audience and continues to speak.

"Members of River Ash, I give you your alpha Astrid Collins."

My pack cheers fill the ballroom as the council introduces my new title. I smile lightly as my dad offers me his hand to walk me off the center stage.

"How do you feel? He asks with a grin. His mood has changed drastically from earlier. I wait until the last step to give him a proper answer.

"Powerful," With my response, I hear my wolf speak.

"This is just the beginning"...