Be my mate

THE CEREMONY

CHAPTER THREE

Beth POV

The mating ceremony was announced all through the two packs; the Black Moon and the Black Fang pack were going to become neighbors and partners. In return, our small pack would gain freedom and his pack would gain size, and everyone would benefit from the mating. Joining their resources to make one larger pack, people were happy; the promised threats of attacks had dwindled to sounds of tentative celebration.

I could understand Alpha Derek's need for dominance; the only thing keeping him from attaining power in its entirety was the Alpha everyone dreaded the most.

Alpha Kage, the man, was a legend, owning a single pack twice the size of my new mate and mine combined. He was alpha to over ten thousand people, and every other pack that wasn't his but was near his territory paid reference to him. It was an unimaginable power to wield, and most men wanted it. Derek was not an exception.

I was in my room; it was the only place that I could be alone to think, and being alone was something I rarely ever got to do these days. People were always humming and buzzing around me, offering their wishes for my marriage as if they didn't call me the black widow.

Even now, in a few minutes, my place would be overrun with people trying to dress me and expecting me to smile even when I was mourning the death of my mother and the end of my life as I knew it. I think most were just happy to be rid of me, and so they were eager.

There was nothing I could do right now but accept my fate and learn to live with it because anything more or less would mean no future for me.

Alpha Derek had arrived the night before, and my memories of him had not been exaggerated. He was a big man with a big stomach, a loud voice, and a big appetite for everything—booze, food, and inappropriate behavior. I had avoided him all night after the initial greetings when his hands had constantly tried to wander up my dress, and under the guise of tradition, I had rushed to my room, and he had let me know I couldn't expect that to last long. I couldn't complain to my father because he never did it to my father's face.

My room door opened, and an Omega Tess walked in on silent steps. She swallowed, smiling at me. I looked away from her. She was my help through everything; she had been there for me, leaving me food and medicine, taking kind notes, and helping me prepare mentally for the thought of having a mate.

She held a bag in her hand with the dress for my ceremony, which would be different from the ones I had used in my mating ceremony. That would have been done if Alpha Derek were my fated mate. They would have been the mating run and bite, and then the party to come with it.

But for this, the priestess would just join us in a ceremony and bless the union and then there would be the mating night, from which stained sheets would be presented to the council of elders.

I was afraid, I was not stupid enough to think that all men would be soft and sweet with me like my father or many of the men who had been my mates were, but Alpha Derek was different, and I was afraid that he would not even care at all if he hurt me.

"I'm not sure what to say to you", she said with a shaky laugh.

"What would you tell a normal bride" I asked. She hummed beneath her breath,

"It will be alright" Lisa muttered as she set the gown onto the bed. She led me to the bathroom and helped me wash my hair, then my body.

"Is that what you would tell a normal bride?" I asked, and she flushed.

"If you were mating any other alpha," she whispered, as if trying not to offend me.

"So, what would you tell Alpha Derek's bride?"

She led me to the room and helped me get dressed. It was a pale white gown, smooth as silk, with a zipper half way and a tiny million buttons running down the back. It was a pretty dress, but I had big doubts that Derek would all of a sudden appreciate that at all.

"You have to love your mate; you have to honor him," she choked. Her hands were shaking, but she pulled them away, took a deep breath, and went back to work.

"You will have to sleep with him, and for a man like him, I'm sorry to say, but you just have to lie down and let him finish," she murmured. I gulped, fear filling my gut, and nodded in turn.

"Your father is making arrangements for your leaving; maybe I can come and stay with you in your new packed house," Lisa murmured as she helped me get dressed.

Completely dressed, I stood and looked her in the eyes.

"Thank you," I whispered against her neck, and she nodded sharply. Pulling away, she wiped her eyes.

"Let's go."

Once I was dressed and pretty enough that my father would be proud, Lisa led me out of the room.

He was in the corridor. He gripped my palm, his firm and dry against mine, even though I could see how tense he was. I struggled not to cringe when he sighed.

"You're doing the right thing."

"Your mother would be proud," he whispered.

Was I really doing the right thing? My mother would want me to give up my life to a man she knew could never be trusted, but I couldn't leave my pack to suffer, and this was the only way to atone for missing the ceremony.

I paused, my breath hanging in my throat, as I saw Alpha Derek, where he stood quietly, his robe falling over his big gut, his snow beard falling in a long plait. The more I got to observe him, the older he looked, and the more his wandering hands that flitted to the skirts of young girls and mated women disgusted and terrified me.

Was this going to be my life with a man who would likely beat me even as he assaulted me? With all the help, my chest tightened, and my breath was hanging as well.

"I need to use the restroom," I whispered, squeezing my father's arm.

He looked at me, and back at the altar. He sighed and let my hand go.

"Be quick."