My Peculiar Mates

Chapter 9: The Mark

    “What-” Rheya fumbled for words, shy from the attention she was receiving. 

    “Clan Oslo, hear me!” Lia shouted over the loud gathering, gaining the attention of her excited pack. “Tonight, I have proven again my worth as your future Alpha. Tomorrow at sunrise, we will unite under our blood oath, and your new Alpha and Luna will be crowned.”

    The crowd cheered, and Lia planted another kiss on Rheya’s mouth. She picked Rheya up, still nude, and carried her into the packhouse. She walked up the stairs and into her room, closing the door with her foot, all the while showering kisses along Rheya’s collarbones. 

    “Rheya, I want to mark you tonight,” she said.

    “Oh, are you sure? Isn’t it too soon?”

    “I understand that these aren’t the best circumstances, but I’ve never been more sure of anything. You’re my Sun,” Lia replied. “As long as you’re ready, I’m ready to make you mine officially.”

    Rheya gulped and nodded. She wasn’t sure she was ready for all the responsibility of Luna, but she was definitely ready to commit to Lia.

    “Can you tell me again what will happen?”

    “Well, I’ll mark you tonight, and we’ll have about 24 hours before the venom starts to kick in and you’ll start your change. I have to warn you, it will be painful, but our pack doctor will be there to take care of you. The change will last anywhere from 6-12 hours, and then you’ll be ready to shift.”

    “Okay. I think I’m ready… I have a question though,” Rheya said. “Do you think I could get my brother Rico to be here with me? I know that we’re supposed to keep werewolves a secret, but he’s been with me through every up and down. I would appreciate it if he could be here for this too.”

    “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. I don’t think your family is safe,” Lia replied. “Because the Council knows you have fae blood, that means that they’re likely going to be investigating the rest of your family line as well. It might be better to bring your family to stay here for a while. You don’t have to worry about work, we can cover any lost funds.”

    “That would be amazing, but how are we going to tell them?”

    “How about we do that tomorrow? Before you shift,” Lia said. “We should be able to break the news to them, and then make it back here without you being in any danger.”

    “That sounds good. Thank you, Lia,” Rheya smiled, her eyes roaming over her mate’s naked body. “You are absolutely filthy.”

    Lia grinned and stepped forward, pulling Rheya into a deep kiss. “How about we clean up, and I’ll show you how filthy I really am?”

    They hopped in the shower, exploring each other’s bodies and washing the blood away. Then they jumped into bed, Lia propped up on her elbows and hovering above Rheya.

    “Are you ready to be a wolf, Sunshine?”

    “Ready as I’ll ever be,” she said. 

    Lia traced her hands over her mate’s body, exploring every dip and curve. Rheya stole her breath away, she couldn’t help the strong pulls of desire as she ran her tongue over her jaw and down her chest, before kissing her way back up.

    Lia bit down on her neck, and Rheya saw stars. Pleasure and pain stole her breath away, and all doubts ran away as she was marked. This was her fate. She gripped onto Lia’s hair as she released her neck, pulling her mate into a passionate kiss.

    “I love you.”

    “I love you too, Rheya.”

~~~

    The next morning, they both got up early and dressed to the nines, Lia in a tailored dress shirt and pants, and Rheya in a tight maxi dress, with sloped shoulders that accented her new mark. It was still slightly bruised, but it looked like it was developing into a tattoo. Lia said it wouldn’t fully develop until after she shifted for the first time. She finished her makeup and caught her mate’s eye in the mirror.

    “Ready Sunshine?” Lia asked, walking up and kissing her mark, sending shivers down Rheya’s spine. “You look stunning.”

    “Thank you, and I’m ready as I’ll ever be,” she said. Her hands were clammy, but Lia held her hand anyways, offering some comfort. 

    Lia’s injuries from yesterday were almost all healed thanks to her werewolf powers, but Rheya helped her apply some concealer to hide the black eye.

    They headed down the stairs together, and out into the backyard, where the pack members were already awaiting their arrival. The sun hadn’t risen yet, and the moon was hovering on the horizon.

    The crowd parted as Audette walked forward again. Lia dipped into a bow, and Rheya curtsied as she was instructed earlier. “Elder Audette,” they both said.

    “Lia, Rheya,” she spoke. “Clan Oslo, today marks both the end of an era of peace and prosperity, and the beginning of a new era of acceptance and balance. With the honor of the pack, I present to you the ceremonial knife and goblet.

    “In this goblet are the ashes of May and Paul, and with their death they bring their blessing on their daughters.” Under normal circumstances, all four would pour their blood into the cup, but their ashes would suffice in the ritual.

    “Alpha Lia, do you hereby swear that you will live for the pack, and do everything in your power to keep them safe and healthy?”

    “I do,” Lia said, and Rheya smiled, comparing these vows to a marriage. Technically, it was, as they were marrying to their Clan.

    “And Luna Rheya, do you hereby swear that you will live for the pack, and bring healing and love wherever you go?”

    “I do,” she said shyly, but keeping her head held high. She would do whatever it took to connect with her pack and help them prosper.

    “Then, under the blessing of the Moon Goddess, I declare you both Alpha and Luna of Clan Oslo,” Audette said, tying their wrists together with a white silk wrap. She cut both their palms, and they held their hands together as their blood mixed and dripped into the goblet. The crowd cheered, chanting their names as they completed the ritual and kissed. Lia licked their cuts, healing them both with her saliva, and hugged her girlfriend. 

    “I’m so proud of you,” Lia said. “Now let's go get your family.”

~~~

    They arrived back in Ontario, pulling up outside of her house. In reality, it had only been a few days, but it felt like she had been gone for weeks. She walked inside. “Hello?”

    Rico turned the corner quickly, followed by her father. “Where have you been, Rheya?! You had us worried sick, and you wouldn’t give us your location or anything!”

    “I can explain,” Rheya said guiltily, but her father’s eyes were already on her neck. 

    “Is that a hickey? Did you disappear just to go have s*x?” He frowned, glaring at Lia.

    “No. Both of you sit, it’s a long story.”

    She took her time explaining, and although Rico was freaking out thinking she was on drugs, she noticed her dad wasn’t saying anything. “What is it Dad?”

    “Well… Your mother was also fae, Rhey,” He admitted.

    “What? Are you serious?” Rico threw up his hands. “Is this real?”

    “Very real,” Lia said.

    “Prove it,” he said.

    Lia laughed. “Okay, but I need to change, hang on.” She walked into the kitchen, and a moment later came walking in in her wolf form. Rico just about had a stroke, and walked around the corner as if he were ready to see Lia still standing in the kitchen. Instead he just saw her pile of neatly folded clothes, and a big beige wolf standing in front of him. 

    “J*sus,” he said, flopping back down on the couch and running his hands through his hair. “So wait, what do you mean Mom was fae? Did she have, like, superpowers or something?”

    “Or something, yeah,” Dad replied. “She used to always know what I was thinking before I said it, and she could send mental images to people to change what they thought they were seeing.

    “I always figured that it hadn’t been passed down to either of you, because neither of you showed signs of the same powers. But it’s possible that the Moon Goddess delayed giving you your powers because she knew you would eventually have your wolf.”

    “They could be different powers as well,” Lia chipped in. “Old fae legends talk about mind reading, but they also talk about healing people and other, more elemental powers.”

    Rheya was feeling hot, likely from the anxiety of the situation. “I’d like to ask you a big favour, and neither of you will like it very much. But I want you two to come stay with us,” she said.

    “Because the Council knows that I’m part fae, we’re worried they’ll attack. But they will also probably investigate the two of you, since you’re related to me. I would prefer if you were safe, and we can protect you at the packhouse.” 

    Rico shrugged. “Honestly, Jules lives in the next town over from where you said you guys were, so I don’t mind,” he explained. 

    Rheya’s dad was more hesitant. “I don’t want to place that burden on you,” he said. “And I won’t have the income to support us.”

    “You don’t have to worry about your income, Roger,” Lia said kindly. “If you feel bad, I can always find things you can help with at the packhouse, but you being safe is repayment enough.”

    Rheya started feeling nauseous, and she excused herself to get a drink of water. She wasn’t sure why she felt like crap, but she tried to brush it off. She sat back down and Lia reached for her hand. She stood up quickly, Rheya’s hand was burning like fire. 

    “I think she’s changing earlier than we thought!” Lia raised her voice, picking Rheya up carefully. “I need to get her back to the packhouse, will you two be okay to get there on your own?”

    Rico and her dad nodded, and that was the last thing Rheya remembered seeing before blacking out again.