The Reckoning

Into the Unknown

Preparing myself for the announcement from the alpha’s, I get dressed in a pair of jean shorts, a white tank, and some white sneakers. My mind races with both excitement and anguish. Leaving behind Rowan, is going to break my heart. With my father chasing rogues, he will be alone. With no friends and no mate to keep him company, I'm worried he will get lonely.

‘He will find someone to spend his time with. If not, he has a pack to look after.’ My wolf sounds chipper this morning.

‘Why haven’t you spoken to me in so long?’ I inquired.

‘I’ve been talking to someone else.’ She purrs.

‘Who have you been talking to?’

After waiting for her to respond and getting nothing, I decided to mindlink Rowan.”Where are we supposed to meet for the ceremony?”

Quick, short, and to the point, he answers.“Go to the ballroom.”

Grabbing my suitcase and slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I took one last look at the room that was once my confinement. I won’t miss this room or even this house. I will miss the memories I shared with my brother through the years. Tracing the lines on the door frame where Rowan and I would mark and measure ourselves, I sighed deeply.

Heading to my alchemy station before leaving, I make something special to give to Mason, Rowan, and Isabella. Using my sea brick pot, I add 3 drops of my blood, aged bamboo, 3 dragon scales, and finally a dash of fairy dust. After brewing for 6 minutes, I remove the liquid and place it in 3 separate vials. Feeling satisfied with the obsidian color, I go to the ballroom.

I spotted Mason sitting in a corner, looking utterly nervous. I take a seat next to him and he gave me a light smile. We sit in silence, as I search for Isabella. When I finally give up, some hoots and hollers catch my attention. Dragging myself from my seat, I go to check it out. Isabella is intertwined with Ardol. Not caring who is watching them, the steamy makeout, makes me turn my head away quickly.

Shocked, my jaw drops to the floor. When she said her mate was a beta, I didn’t realize she was talking about High Crown. Is this why she said she was interested in High Crown at dinner last night?

An arm snakes its way around my waist and I instantly know who this is. “Seems as though your friend and mine are mates.” Tobias’s whispers send a shockwave down my body catching me completely off guard.

“Seems like you enjoyed the little show they’re putting on. Imagine if that were us.” He exhales close to my neck leaving me feeling dizzy. His grip steadies me and keeps me in place.

With his lips so close to my ear, my whole body throbs wanting him to hold me tighter to his chest. He quickly lets me go and goes to the back of the stage with the rest of the alpha’s. Feeling confused, I made my way back to Mason.

Mason seems to be the only one who has seen the whole ordeal with Tobias and I. He gives me a sad smile, making me feel terrible for him witnessing it.

I clear my throat and just when I’m about to speak, the alpha’s have taken the stage. Mason and I grab our belongings, and stand just below the stage with the rest of the reckoning members and face out toward the crowd.

“Marcelo, why don't you go first.” Rowan's voice is barely audible and my heart thuds in my chest.

Footsteps step behind us and make me stiffen my back up straight. “First of all, I would like to say thank you to the son of the Shadow pack for hosting this year. We carefully deliberated all night, and the majority of the morning about where each of you should be placed. Many of you impressed us beyond measure, making it difficult to finalize the decisions. It gives me great pleasure to welcome Mason Zimmerman and Shelly Cockran into my pack with open arms.” Cheering amongst the crowd erupts.

I looked at Mason who has already taken the stage to shake Marcelo's hand. His face is filled with shock and utter excitement. After Mason and Shelly shake Marcelo’s hands, they come back in line taking their place.

The alpha’s of Grimhide, Dawnfall, Primal, Wintercrest, and my brother have already taken the stage and announced who they were welcoming in. Leaving the Mystic Keepers, Ironhide, and High Crown to finish. I wait impatiently for my name to be called. Ironhide wouldn’t be too bad. I just might go brain dead after staying around meat heads all day. Being a part of the Mystic’s pack would be exciting. With the ever growing knowledge and collection of Mythical beings, and collecting for Alchemy would provide me with never-ending adventures. My heart, however, had always lied with High Crown.

“Alpha Tobias, it's your turn.” Rowan’s voice sounded more than happy.

“I would like to first say just what a pleasure it’s been staying here.” His voice sounded sarcastic and I rolled my eyes at his words. “There are two people here today that have proven themselves worthy of the challenges of my pack. However, I’m accepting three. The third person needs to work hard on proving to me that they can withstand the qualities I search for in my pack. Starting off, I would like to welcome Isabella Adkins. Aside from finding Ardol as your mate, you have shown both in the ring and at the questioning portion, that you will be a great part of our pack.” Mason and I both cheer harder than the rest, creating questionable stares from the rest of the crowd, but I don't let it bother me.

“This is an obvious selection that many of you already knew I would fight to have, Reyna Odeda. I welcome you to High Crown with the utmost respect.” The world stops around me and I find myself frozen in place. Before I know what's happening Isabella’s pulling me toward the stage by my arm and we stand behind Tobias waiting for him to announce the last person joining the pack.

“Remember to train hard and you could be a promising wolf, I welcome Angelica Jameel.” The way he says her name makes my whole body tense.

I forgot that b***h was even here. I glare at her ever so perky face as she makes her way on stage. She gives Tobias a hug on her tippy-toes, then proceeds to give me a smug look over his shoulder. My blood boils at this point.

“Are you okay?” Isabella elbows me and stays hushed.

Before the crowd settles, I leave the stage, I grab my things, and leave the ballroom. Now I’m stuck with both of them. How could this possibly happen? She did terribly in the ring, was one of the first people found in wolf and seek, and didn’t stand out amongst the questioning other than her flirting with all the alpha’s. There were so many others that would better suit the High Crown pack.

Mason and Isabella found me hidden in the garden after the ceremony had finished. They brought me some fruit, pancakes, and bacon

“Listen, if that smug b***h ever tries anything I’ll take care of it.” Isabella speaks first with a mouth full of pancakes and waves her sausage that's on the fork with each word.

“Trust me, before you can do anything I will have already taken care of it.” I started moving my food around with a fork but not eating.

“There you are.” Rowan's voice makes me beam back to life.

“Brother.” Running to him, I threw my hands around his neck and he spun me in victory circles.

“You did amazing, Reyna. I’m beyond proud of you.” As the words leave his mouth he puts me down. My eyes burn as they tear up. Holding my face gently, he looks concerned.

“Is everything okay?” He wipes the tears from my eyes and I just hugged him tightly.

“I’m going to miss you.” I sniffled and he pulls me away from him to examine my face.

“I have something for you,” he says with a caring smile.

“I have something to give you too."

Wiping my face, I go to my backpack and grab the letter and the vials of elixir. Handing out the vials, I give one to Mason and then give Rowan his letter and vial. Each of them look at me suspiciously, especially Isabella, who looks like she feels left out.

“This elixir will be just like a mind link. The mechanics are just about the same anyhow.” Isabella looks relieved, considering we will be a part of the same pack we wouldn’t need an elixir to talk to each other.

I continue,”It will last for 6 months. If we don’t see each other before the 6 months is up, it will be a great reminder to visit one another.”

“I'll be right back.” Running at full speed, he returns shortly holding a ivy green box.

“Don’t open it until you leave. We need to get back, it's almost time to portal you to your new home.” His eyes are filled with sorrow but his mouth smiles anyway. I put the beautiful box in my backpack and make a mental note to open it when I arrive at High Crown.

Going to the training fields, everyone groups near their newly claimed alpha’s. Giving Mason and Rowan a long hug, Isabella and I go to the group gathered around Tobias. Not being able to push through the crowd, we settle at the back behind everyone who traveled from High Crown to witness the Reckoning. They usually travel by wolf to get here then portal back to save energy.

“Before we get started, who hasn’t gone through a portal before?” Tobias’s voice sounded annoyed.

“Have you portaled before?” I look at Isabella and she shook her head rapidly from side to side.

“We haven’t.” my voice is strong and everyone turns to where we stand.

Ardol comes to the back parting the crowd looking shocked that Isabella hadn’t portaled before. He then looks at me and smiles wickedly.

“What a coincidence that you two are the only two who haven't portaled before.” Looking over his shoulder, Tobias is giving me a similar grin.

“You two will be escorted by Ardol and I.” Tobias’s' eyes don’t move from mine as he speaks.

Taking what looks like a compass out of his pocket, he fiddles with it for a few seconds, then sets it on the ground in front of him. Everyone takes steps back and a few seconds later, the ground changes into what looks like a black hole.

“Everyone luggage and belongings first. Then you can jump in after everyone has their stuff in.” Ardol booms.

Throwing my luggage and backpack in, I watch as everyone completes the task. People start jumping shortly after. One by one the group got smaller and smaller, until it was Ardol, Isabella, Tobias, and I left.

“Are you ready baby girl?” Ardol swipes some hair from Isabella’s face and kisses her gently on the forehead.

She gently shakes her head yes and stares up at him with eyes gleaming. He must leave her speechless. The last few times I had seen her in his presence she never once spoke. It was like she was under his spell.

Climbing on his back, she wraps her arms around his neck, and her legs around his torso. Both of them looked crazy in love, with a ride or die, type of vibe. Isabella’s face beamed with excitement. As they jump into the portal, they scream with laughter. The way they are with each other made me wish things could be the same way with Tobias and I. I knew the second I smelled him on another female, I couldn’t let myself divulge in him. Jealousy is something I worked hard to keep away. It only causes pain for everyone involved. With pain comes weakness. I will never let myself be weakened by him. Don’t get me wrong, I have weaknesses, just none that I will ever tell or show.

“Are you ready?” Tobias broke me from the trance.

Taking one last look at my old home, I say, “Yes.” In one fellow swoop he scoops me up in his arms, taking my breath away.

“What is me riding on your back not your style?” I snicker.

“I would much rather have you riding something else.” With that he jumped into the hole.

My breath hitches as we spiral down what feels like a never-ending hole. It felt like I jumped off the highest building ever created. I take in the colors around us, it looks as if you had put a whole world in a blender. The exhilarating feeling causes my wolf to come to the surface.

Grabbing his face gently, she turns his head to face us. Rubbing his face gently with circles. His eyes stare into mine as he closes his eyes, and when he reopens them his pupils are dilated. His wolf has come out to accompany mine.

Smelling the familiar scent of the wilderness, I look down and my wolf flees from the site. The portal had us landing right on top of a lake. Before I could prepare myself to hold my breath, we were fully submerged under water. Breaking myself from him, I swim to the top, coughing up water. What the hell just happened?

My white shirt is now drenched, making it practically see through. My lacy red bra pops through the now see-through fabric making me groan in frustration. Bunching up the shirt, I wring out the extra water.

“Is this a joke to you? Why the hell did we land in water?” I turn to Tobais who has already stripped out of his black v-neck shirt. Leaving his perfect chiseled abs on full display.

“I honestly don’t know.” A smirk is on his face and he lets out a small chuckle. “I had to get you alone somehow.” My whole body stiffens.

Before I can make a run for it he has his hot body pressed up against my back and an arm snaked around my waist preventing me from moving. His hot breath is inches from my neck. Gently, he moves my hair out of the way and kisses the base of my neck.

“Please let me go.” it comes out as more of a whimper.

Turning me to face him, he stares at me as though he’s hurt. “I need to explain myself before you completely think I’m a man-whore.”

“Okay, go on explain.” I grumble, not really wanting to hear it.

“Angelica and I have a history. Her father was the Beta of the Bane pack for years. We bonded on the many trips we had together with our fathers. We have been friends for years.” Something in his eyes says he’s leaving stuff out.

“So you were never romantically involved?” I challenge him with a quirked eyebrow.

“We were. It’s just a bit complicated. For a long time, I thought she was my mate. We had a connection and it was weird that everytime we touched it was like electricity. Nothing like what we have, but similar. It wasn’t until we went to do the mating ritual that she fessed up, knowing we wouldn’t be able to complete it. She had already slept with another wolf she had been stringing along over the years. I was lucky to find out she had been giving me an elixir, everything I had felt for her wasn’t real. It took me a year to even talk to her again. She’s more of an acquaintance than a friend now.”

“Evil b***h can’t even make a damn elixir right to this day. And yet she still tried making a fool of you.” Pushing him away I start walking away from him not even caring if it were toward the pack house or not.

Turning around I add,”It still doesn’t explain why she smelled like you.”

Looking right into my eyes his face no longer looks soft. “I honestly shouldn’t have to explain what we did. It was before I even met you.” His words were laced with venom.

I restart my journey to the house and leave him to his own devices. Although I don’t want to care about what he says, it still affects me. He has a way of awakening every emotion I try so hard to bury. It’s like he purposely pushes my buttons to get a rise out of me. Like it or not, this is what I signed up for when I told them that High Crown was my goal. If I had said literally any other pack maybe I wouldn’t be here right now. Unfortunately, there is no turning back now.