Chapter 3
1004 Words
The pack began preparing for the mating ceremony two days before the moon reached its peak.
It was impossible not to notice.
Lanterns were taken out of storage and cleaned carefully, their glass polished until it shone. Decorations that had not been used in a year were brought out and dusted. Elders moved through the pack grounds with quiet authority, giving instructions, correcting small mistakes, reminding everyone of what was expected.
There was a feeling in the air that Irene could not ignore.
Anticipation.
Everyone knew what was coming.
The mating ceremony was not just another pack event. It was sacred. It was ancient. It was believed to be the night when the Moon Goddess herself looked down and decided the futures of her wolves.
Two days.
Only two days stood between Irene and answers she had been quietly waiting for all her life.
She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the simple dress folded neatly beside her. It wasn’t extravagant or flashy. Irene had chosen it carefully, soft fabric, pale color, something that felt like her.
Her fingers brushed the cloth lightly.
Her heart fluttered.
She wasn’t afraid.
Not really.
She was nervous, yes. Her stomach twisted every time she thought about standing beneath the moon, waiting for something she could not control. But beneath the nerves was something else something warm and hopeful.
Excitement.
Irene had always believed that love did not need a mating bond to be real. She believed love was built through time, trust, and choice. Through showing up again and again, even when it was hard.
That belief had guided her heart for years.
But still… she believed fate was kind.
She believed the Moon Goddess would not ignore a love that had already grown strong without help.
Surely, fate would reward that.
Outside, the pack grounds buzzed with activity.
The central clearing was being prepared carefully. Stones were placed in a wide circle, marking where unmated wolves would eventually stand. The fire pit at the center was cleaned and rebuilt, ready to burn through the night when the time came.
Elders gathered younger wolves and repeated the traditions, even though most had heard them since childhood.
On the night of the ceremony, unmated wolves would stand beneath the full moon. They were not to touch anyone, not to influence anything. The bond, if it came, would come naturally.
Some would feel it instantly. Others might wait hours. Some would leave without finding anything at all.
No one was allowed to interfere.
Fate could not be rushed.
Irene listened from a distance, her arms wrapped loosely around herself.
Two days felt like a lifetime.
Later that afternoon, she found Sebastian near the training grounds.
He was sparring lightly with younger wolves, correcting their movements, encouraging them when they stumbled. He looked completely at ease, confident and sure of himself. Others respected him naturally it showed in the way they listened when he spoke.
Irene watched quietly, pride blooming in her chest.
Sebastian noticed her almost immediately.
“Hey,” he called, stepping away from the group. “You’ve been standing there for a while.”
“I didn’t want to interrupt,” she said.
“You never interrupt,” he replied easily. “Come on.”
He led her a short distance away, where the noise faded and the trees offered some shade.
“You alright?” he asked.
She nodded, then hesitated. “I think so.”
“Thinking again?” he teased gently.
“Yes,” she admitted. “It’s hard not to.”
He smiled. “Two days is a long wait.”
Her eyes met his. “Does it feel long to you too?”
He paused, just briefly. “Yeah. It does.”
That answer eased something in her chest.
“I keep imagining it,” she said softly. “Standing there. Waiting. Wondering.”
“You don’t need to be scared,” he said.
“I’m not scared,” she replied honestly. “Just… nervous.”
“That’s normal,” he said, reaching for her hand. “Anyone would be.”
She squeezed his fingers. “You’ll be there, right?”
His answer was immediate. “Of course.”
“You promise?”
“I promise,” he said firmly. “I’ll be there for you.”
Her heart fluttered.
“I don’t know why,” she said quietly, “but knowing that makes it easier.”
He smiled, softer now. “You don’t have to face things alone.”
They stood close, hands still joined.
“Irene,” he said after a moment, his voice lower, “no matter what happens in two days, I want you to remember something.”
She looked up at him. “What?”
“You matter,” he said. “You always have.”
Her chest tightened. “You don’t have to say things like that.”
“I want to,” he replied.
She studied his face, searching for something she couldn’t quite name. “Do you think fate already knows?”
He looked away for a second. “I think fate… takes its time.”
She smiled. “I think it watches first.”
He didn’t disagree.
As evening fell, the pack gathered for dinner, the mood thick with excitement and restless energy. Laughter rang out too loudly. Conversations kept circling back to the same topic.
Two days.
Irene sat among familiar faces, but her eyes kept drifting to Sebastian across the space.
Each time their gazes met, he smiled at her.
Each time, her nerves softened just a little.
When night finally settled, Irene stepped outside and looked up at the moon. It wasn’t full yet but it was close. Bright. Watching.
Two days.
Two days until fate spoke.
She pressed a hand to her chest, her wolf stirring quietly beneath her skin.
She had loved patiently. Faithfully. Without demanding anything in return.
Surely, fate had seen that.
Surely, when the night finally came, it would answer her love.
- Writer
