Bound

Andrea

Chapter Two:

Andrea

The meadows looked exactly as how I remembered from when I was younger. In full bloom and beautiful for the start of the lilac season. A little something our territory was known for.

As I roll down the window of the car, I inhale deeply. Savoring the potent smell of lilac in my nose. A smell I might not be able to enjoy after tonight. Depending on how the rest of the evening went.

The scent of lilac’s always reminded me of home, considering we grew up here. As we make our way through the crowded streets, I am reminded just how much I am going to deeply miss it.

I had spent the better part of my life here, with my parents and my brother Liam until we had moved. Even though I had spent some time away; I still loved it here. The people, the surroundings, the smell of fresh lilac.

All of it.

I wipe a tear from the corner of my eye, before Liam can see. I didn’t want to be over emotional. Especially on a night like tonight.

I look over at Liam, who like always looks relaxed and content as he gazes outside the car window. Not a care in the world.

I envied him sometimes. Being able to overlook all the bad things that had happened to our family over the last year as if it had never happened. As if the earth didn’t just swallow us both up and spit us back out.

Yet somehow Liam, made it look easy; as if he were unfazed by every part of it. When deep down I knew, just like I was, he was fighting to breath. I knew he was a mess, and the ceremony tonight was not making things any better for either one of us. We were just so used to hiding our feelings at this point, that it didn’t faze us.

We both knew this day was coming.

Honestly, I had been looking forward to tonight for as long as I could remember and even though the last few months had been rough to say the least. I wanted to enjoy myself tonight.

I planned on forgetting the last year of my life, if only for one single night and enjoy myself. It was not every day the mating ceremony and your eighteenth birthday fell on the same day.

I sat back, thinking to myself about what was going to happen in the next twenty-four hours. Realizing that my life was going to drastically change one way or another.

I look over to Liam once again, imagining what he must be thinking about right now. He looks so focused as he looks out the car window. As if tonight wasn’t possibly the biggest night of both our lives. I couldn’t tell if he was nervous at all, and if he was, he did not show it even in the slightest.

Liam wore his dark blue suit, with a white button-down shirt underneath and his solid gold cuff links, which were a gift from our father on his eighteenth birthday.

His shaggy blonde hair was slicked back with too much hair gel, showing off his icy crystal blue eyes under a set of baby lashes he got from our mother.

“Are you ready for tonight?” Liam’s voice says pulling me from my own thoughts. His eyes neverly meet mine but stay focused on the moving scene outside the car window. As crowds of people appear, starting to blur as we drive by them.

We were almost to the Manor. My nerves started to kick into overdrive, causing my stomach to tighten in tight knots.

I was nervous. Liam knew what to expect at this type of thing considering this was his third ceremony. He had yet to find his mate, but each year he was hopeful he would find her.

“As ready as I can be.” I respond; eyeing Liam next to me in the car. “What if I don’t find my other half, Liam? What if I’m just not meant to have a mate.” I say, remembering the stories my mom would tell me, as a girl of how she had met my dad at her first mating ceremony. How lucky she was, to find her mate as well as her best friend. I remembered the stories she would tell us when we were kids.

“Trust me, Andy you got this. There is nothing to worry about.” Liam responds his face finding mine for the first time since we left our home in the country.

I give him a reassuring smile as I turn to look back out the window. I knew we would be approaching the Manor soon.

I try calming my nerves, knowing that tonight wasn’t in my hands. You didn’t get to choose your mate. Our mating bond didn’t work like that. The moon goddess held all the power, and wielded are the cards in deciding who you were mated too. I just had to hope she mated me with someone kind.

Some were not so lucky.

“Oh, and by the way. In case I forget to tell you. Happy Birthday little sister.” Liam says extending his hand across the car to mine, giving my hand a gentle reassuring squeeze.

I give him a smile. Feeling a surge of dread fill my body, all the way to my bones.

I could feel the beat of my own heart in my chest as our car pulls into the manor driveway, followed by dozens of other limos and town cars patiently waiting to reach the enormous entrance.

Lanterns light the driveway adding to the romantic atmosphere, as fireflies fly around giving the entrance a mystical look to it.

The royal manor was breathtaking, and everything I imagined it would be from how my mom had described it to me as a kid.

The moon had already begun to peak and soon would make its way from behind the clouds and into the night sky for all the party goers to see. I could feel my nerves starting to get the best of me and cause me to panic.

Something I was more than accustomed too, having the anxiety of a wounded bird and all. Not one of my strong points, but a flaw I had learned to live with after dealing with it my entire life.

One of the many traits I had dear old mom to thank for.

At least I knew my source of anxiety tonight, which made it a little easier to keep it at bay and under control. This was a huge deal for not only me but for my brother as well.

I look over to Liam who still seems so calm and relaxed. Even though we were minutes away from both of our lives changing forever.

“Wow, this is all becoming so real. I can’t believe this is all really happening.” He says finally, gawking at the scene outside the window as we make our way toward the entrance.

I look from my brother, to the front of the driveway where butlers stood awaiting guests. Liam starts adjusting his suit, as we were just a couple limos away from the entrance.

I smile over at him realizing that after tonight, I may never see my brother again. That fact was enough to bring tears to my eyes, but I hold them back knowing that tonight was not about just me but Liam as well.

Liam and I had always been close, it just being the two of us siblings and all. We had to be. After our dad died, we had to be strong for one another as well as our mom, who was really not the same person after dad died.

Then less than a year after his death; our mom just disappeared in the middle of the night, nothing more than a note. Liam took a stand and made it work for us. I honestly do not know what I would have done without him.

I took a deep breath, as our car stops in front of the entrance. I take one last good look at my brother. Trying to mesmerize his every feature just in case tonight was really the last time I would get the chance to see my brother. I didn’t want to forget him. Or him to forget me.

Neither one of us knew what the rest of the night had in store for us, and if this were the last time, I would see him I wanted to make it count.

“You ready?” Liam asks, as a butler opens the car door.

I give him a reassuring nod and slide across the seat, taking the extended hand he held out as he helped me out of the car. I took the folds of my gown in my hands and ascended the small staircase leading up to the estate, hoping tonight I would not regret wearing a taller heel than I normally did. I couldn’t help but say a small pray to the moon goddess that I didn’t make a complete fool of myself in front of everyone.

“Are you nervous?” Liam asked as we made our way through the grand entrance of the estate. The building was obviously incredibly old. The stonework was impeccable. Something you only seen in really old movies, or history books. I was in complete awe.

I knew that Liam would be worried about me the whole time if I told him just how nervous I was. So, I shook my head and continued to make my way through the estate. I really did not want to make tonight about me. Tonight, Liam could potentially find his mate as well. The thought of Liam finding his better half made me smile. Causing my nerves to slowly ease. “Not so much nervous as I am excited.” I lied putting on my best face. Liam nodded his head, smiled, and steered me towards the flow of other people goers making their way out toward to the garden where the party had really taken off.

I handed my shawl over to the over-eager coat attendant, who took it without hesitation as she handed me a coat number. I looked back to my brother, who handed off his jacket as he headed further into the party. I gave him a nervous smile feeling completely out of place but pushed on following the flow of party goers.

As we made our way out to the garden followed by all the party goers, the party was already in full swing. People of all different backgrounds, and packs mingled together as one. Some on the dancefloor, others socializing at the bar and others chatting with other wolves from different packs. It was an amazing sight to witness. I knew now why my mom had always described her ceremony as magical. Something you didn’t see every day. I had never seen so many different people all in one place in my life. Even at the moon festival which happened once a year, where wolves from outside packs would come and bestow gifts on our Alpha and Beta. A sign of obedience as well as respect towards the powerful.

“This is amazing.” Liam looked around wide-eyed and full of life. “If you are going to be alright, I am going to go mingle. Find you later?” he asked, cautiously moving in the direction of a female wolf from a neighboring pack with beautiful jet-black hair, and perfect legs.

“Of course.” I said shooing him away, a genuine smile appearing on my face for the first time tonight. I was excited for Liam. Maybe tonight would be everything we both hoped for after all. Apparently it was already going towards Liam’s favor.

Once alone, I looked around the beautiful garden; a DJ was blaring the newest hip hop jam on the dance floor. As bodies grinded up against each other, dancing along to the music. Their bodies almost melting into one another. It was almost too erotic for public, and I could feel my face begin to blush from just watching them.

I decided this was as good as time as any to get a drink. Maybe a little liquid courage would help me relax, and enjoy myself tonight.

I made my way over to the open bar and stood in line waiting for a drink.

“Hey pretty, what can I get you?” a young female bartender asked as I approached her. I smiled at her sitting at one of the seats, embarrassed by such a compliment.

Back home, I was your typical wolf, nothing special so having someone notice me was out of the ordinary. It wasn’t that I couldn’t take a compliment I just wasn’t used to being noticed. I tended to stay in the background compared to some of the other wolves.

“I’ll take a red wine, please.” I said to the bartender, feeling like I was almost yelling so she could hear me over the pumping music in the background. “You got it, sweets.” She said as she danced off behind the bar, dodging other bartenders in her way.

I looked around the Manor. Wolves from all over, were everywhere. In sync with one another no matter, of status or pack.

It was incredible.

I loved watching so many different wolves mingling together as one without a care in the world.

“Gale, please tell me you have something to ease my suffering? I really thought this would have been more fun.” a young man says, sliding into the seat next to mine.

“You got it boss.” She said as she handed me my glass of wine.

I gratefully accepted the glass and took a small sip, savoring the flavor of the wine. I wasn’t much of the drinker but tonight I wouldn’t be the same shallow girl I always was. Everything was going to change.

It had too.

“Hello.” The man next to me says, propping his arm up on the bar as if he owned the place. I look over at him and when I did, I felt my breath catch in my chest.

A sudden warmth grew in the pit of my stomach, and my lungs felt like they had been completely drained of air. It was hard to breath. He was that breathtaking and beautiful. One of the most handsome men I had ever seen in my life.

He had to be about my age, maybe a couple years older.

With a head full of long blonde hair that was tied back from his face in a ponytail, and eyes that were the deepest color blue I had ever seen.

I blinked a few times to make sure he was real. He looked like he stepped right off the cover of a magazine. I had never seen such a beautiful male before. Or at least not where I was from.

“Hello.” My voice sounded panicked.

I sit unsteady swirling my wine around in my glass. Finding anything to avoid eye contact with this man. I knew my face was beat red, and if I looked at him again, I would lose it.

He chuckled a bit. “May I ask your name?” his words started sending shivers up my spine as he spoke.

I stopped swirling my wine and took another sip. Goodness how the rich live, I thought to myself. This was by far the best wine I had ever tasted in my life. Not that I was much of a drinker, but you could tell it had been aged to perfection, for a special occasion just like tonight.

“Yes, you may ask. But that doesn’t mean I will tell you.” I say with a bit of sass. He gives me a genuine smile. A surprised look on his face.

“Ah, a feisty one. That’s good I like a challenge.” He stands up. “I’m Killion.” He announces, as he bows in front of me. I smile.

This man was perfect. Literal perfection. I could only imagine the type of mate the moon goddess would mate him with. And what a lucky girl she would be.

“Nice to meet you, Killion.” I say with a smile, doing my best to avoid giving him my name.

What would it matter anyway, I would never see him again after tonight. I was here for one reason. I stood from my seat and bowed, showing him my respect.

I motioned over for the bartender to refill my glass, and without hesitation she did. After just a few minutes she was back and my glass was full again. “Well, enjoy your night, Killion.” I stood starting to leave before Killion grabbed ahold of my arm to try to stop me. Not tight but enough to stop me.

“Wait, you never told me your name sweet girl.” His face held a smirk that I could tell had gotten him into a lot of hearts and probably even more beds, but I was not that type of girl. “I know.” I replied with a wink over my shoulder as I turned and walked away. Swaying my hips a little more than I usually would.

I could feel his eyes on me even with my back turned to him. I could feel the warmth spread from my stomach to the tips of my fingers. Why Killion had such an effect on me, I would never know.