Black Mountain Mates

Nevaeh

            I opened my eyes to see a somewhat familiar ceiling, and sat up slowly to hear the sound of shuffling. My body felt hot, feverish, and made my head fuzzy, but I don’t get sickly. It was strange, and slowly I felt cooler again. When I looked over I saw Yana in front of her wardrobe looking for something.

                “Morning Yana.”

                She spun around and let out a little cry. “Holy moons! Your awake!”

                I shrugged. “Yes, what’s wrong?”

                “You’ve been asleep for a whole day, Nevaeh. It’s now nine in the morning and Wednesday.” She said coming over to me with a small smile on her face.

                I sighed. “Nice, so, why are you rummaging through your clothes like the Queen of England is coming today?”

                She rolled her eyes with a smile on her face. “The King and Queen of the Wulfkin are coming today with most of their official pack! I thought it wasn’t until next week, but apparently, it’s today. I’ve been so worried about you that I never remembered. I want to look nice so they don’t judge the Alpha.”

                I giggled. “I doubt Sterling’s reputation is going to blemish because you wore comfortable clothes.”

                Yana shook her head. “It’s not, but what if I find my mate? I want to look nice and pretty so he doesn’t reject me on the spot.”

                “You really think that?” I asked going to the wardrobe to help her.

                She snorted her amusement. “You already have a mate, so there’s no need to…sorry.”

                I shrugged. “It’s fine, really. Does the whole pack know?”

                “That you are the Alpha’s? Yep. He was in the middle of giving the patrol guards orders when he growled, shifted and took off. Then he licked you and let you cuddle him, and no one even touches Alpha Laken. Now the pack is just waiting for you to mate and become our Luna. We’ve waited a long time for you, Nevaeh. We all just want to see you and the Alpha together.” Yana said watching what I did.

                “Yana? Do you want to know why I don’t trust men?” I asked while I picked out a lovely blouse with a pair of dark wash jeans.

                She nodded. “Thank you, Nevaeh.”

                So, I told her everything and she stayed quiet and listened to every detail. When I was done, she came over and hugged me tightly. Then she asked me a question, the one I keep asking myself.

                “Do you think Alpha Laken is going to hurt you like that?”

                I shrugged. “I’m not sure. I don’t know him well enough to make a solid opinion.”

                Yana smile gently. “Alpha Laken is stern, hard headed, cold, but never cruel just for the fun of being mean. He’s been waiting for you as long as we have been, for a little over eight years. He doesn’t want to seem weak by being loving, that’s just who he is. Waiting for so long for a mate has made him rough, and sharp around the edges. Give him a chance and he might surprise you.”

                I let out a deep breath. “Let’s finish getting dressed, I want to go see…”

                “Him?” Yana said with a smirk.

                I rolled my eyes. “No, I want to go see what is for breakfast.”

                She giggled. “Sure.”

                There was nothing I could say at that point. So after getting dressed in a form fitting black crop top and light wash skinny jeans with black heels we went to go to the common house.

                As soon as I walked in the Dire wolves of the Luz pack bowed their heads to me, and instantly I was feeling weird about it. They were not acting like this the other day at dinner, but then again no one knew I was mated to their Alpha until recently. I lifted my head and inhaled deeply before I realized what I was doing. I was looking for Sterling’s scent.

                ‘He’s not here.’ My spirit said with a slight whine to her voice.

                She was right, when I found it, it was old. So, I decided to just follow Yana and get food.

                After breakfast, I was ambushed by at least a dozen Dire’s asking when I was going to mate with the Alpha and become their Luna, what foods did I want at our wedding or what kind of blankets I would like for our first child to be wrapped in.

                That’s when I finally broke down and told them what they probably already knew. I wasn’t a full Dire like them, and half Witch. Then, I got asked if I preferred being called Luna now or just Nevaeh until mated to Sterling. No one seemed to care about the things I thought were going to be an issue. They all just…accepted me. Without knowing who I was or what had happened to me. They just, asked what they could do for me.

                When I got too flustered, Yana stepped in and gestured for me to go outside. I did and found peace in a horrible place. Next to the Outpost I was chained too for five days. I sat down in the dirt with a sigh before closing my eyes.

                Think magic. This monstrosity can become something pretty, but what though? Somehow, my mind drifted off to Sterling. I remember that soft look in his eyes the moment he confirmed I was his mate. No one had ever looked at me like that. I doubt anyone ever will since the whole mate’s thing comes into play. With a shrug, I opened my eyes and smiled big. The pole was now wrapped in blue roses and vines. It was beautiful, and then I realized when I thought of Sterling my magic worked flawlessly.

                The village was bare, no grass, and the only foliage was the surrounding woods. I want to make it look not so dull and lifeless. From what Yana explained, while I was tied to the pole, is that two years ago there was a fire set by a loner wolf that burned a lot of the village. Singed the grass away, burned homes, and even killed an elderly man when his shop caught on fire and collapsed on him.

                “Okay, this is a tall order, but I think I got this. Just think of…yeah.” I shook my head and closed my eyes for a second. Thinking about the way Sterling’s fur felt against my face, his tongue on my neck healing me, and his lips on mine. When I opened my eyes, I lifted my hands and watched in amazement. Grass sprouted, beautiful thick vines wrapped around the houses and light poles. The village was completely different.

                I watched some of the pack members come out, and for a second I thought they were going to start yelling at me and eventually I was going to be chained back to the Outpost. Instead they came over and thanked me, told me it was beautiful, and admired the greenery. The smile that was on my face made my cheeks hurt, but it was the first time in years that I felt…a part of something.

                “Luna! It’s stunning!”

                “Can you grow food too, Nevaeh?!”

                “Thank you for doing this right before the King and Queen of the Wulfkin show up!”

                “Sterling will be so proud!”

                “Luna Nevaeh!”

                All around the pack praised and asked questions, then a familiar scent filled my senses. Fresh fallen snow and cut cedar trees.

                ‘Mate.’ My spirit said with a relaxed sigh.

                “Sterling.” I said lightly, looking over to see him watching from the steps of the massive pack house.

                His emerald green eyes held my violet ones, and for a second I thought he was going to smile. Then he suddenly straightened before turning to the Dire in wolf form next to him, saying something before the wolf launched itself off the porch and into the woods. I raised an eyebrow, I could have sworn he smirked, but it was Sterling so I doubted it.

                Suddenly my body felt on fire, radiating from my stomach outward, and yet after a minute or two the feeling was gone. Maybe I was getting sick?

                “The Royal entourage is here!” A young boy called out, causing the crowd to disperse a little. I shrugged and looked back to the Outpost pole.

                I feel like there is still something missing. I squinted my eyes at it, trying to figure out what it was. I let out a huff and it hit me. To do this I was going to have to do more than just make grass grow. I swallowed hard and let my mind have that feeling whenever I was close to Sterling. I focused on the top of the pole and held out my hand. Focusing my feelings into my magic, with a groan I closed my fist and opened it again. At the top of the pole etched into the wood was a very noticeable scrollwork of a massive stunning L.U.Z going down it thorough the roses.

                “Oh man, all that was exhausting.” I said with a huff.

                I turned around to go back and saw there was around two dozen people gathered in front of the pack house watching what I was doing. Two of the people stood out from the rest, and I was sure that was going to be the King and Queen.

                Since I wasn’t mated to Sterling yet, I wasn’t his Luna, and there was no reason I should go over there. I smiled at them before going to head back to Yana’s house. Unfortunately, I didn’t get three steps in before I was stopped by a female Dire with a confused look on her face.

                “Where are you going, Nevaeh?” She asked. Then realized I had no idea who she was, so she introduced herself. “I’m Leyona Jadson.”

                I nodded to her. “I’m going back to Yana’s house.”

                Leyona shook her head. “You should be over there. You’re our Luna, and should be introduced to them at the same time as Alpha Laken.”

                “I’m not mated to Sterling, I can’t be your Luna.” I said with sympathetic eyes.

                She shrugged a little. “Only a minor technicality. Plus, if you didn’t feel something there for you in him, you wouldn’t call him Sterling. It would be Alpha Laken. So, go over there and join him.”

                I was shocked she was suggesting I barge in over there. “Nope, if he wanted me there with him, he would have asked or since it’s Sterling, demanded.”

                “Your minds are not linked yet since you haven’t mated, would you like me to ask him if he wants you there?” Leyona asked with a wink.

                “Wait, no. Don’t do that. It will seem weird and desperate.” I covered my eyes with my hand, knowing Leyona was talking to Sterling already.

                She came back and smiled big at me. “He requests your presence. The King and Queen want to meet you.”

                I shook my head. “What? Did he tell them we’re Mates?”

                “They want to meet the witch living with Dire wolves. They are going to figure out once you get there that your one of us too, and I’m sure Alpha Laken doesn’t want them unsupervised around you. Our Hybrid Luna.” Leyona said with a coy smile on her lips.

                Of course. Makes sense. Except not at all. “Alright. I’m going then. Don’t want to embarrass the big bad Alpha in front of the visitors.”

                Leyona giggled. “Good luck now, Luna!”