The Alpha's Runaway Mate

THE CEREMONY

Nathaly's POV

Before I was called to attend the meeting, and meet my mate, and everything happened. My mom had arranged a private shopping session, where the store came to the pack house with everything that was my size, and mom had me wear over a hundred outfits of formal clothing, party clothing, nightgowns, and a lot more things. Long story short, she decided to buy everything, every single outfit I had tried and a couple more that she chose when I left.

And all she said was "You will need this, you'll see", so I stopped protesting and just went with it. Then we went to have lunch and the waiters had already arranged a big table, so all of us could celebrate. I had a seat between my family and my mate, who kept looking at me like I had just improved big time his day. I was so startled that I'd forgotten I still didn't have a date for tonight's ceremony, nor the ball. Believe me, I would have remained oblivious if Edward hadn't asked me to go with him.

"So... I have a question", he said while nobody was looking at us. "I don't know if you have a date for tonight, and if you have it well, I would cope with it, but if you don't, I would like you to come with me". Unbelievable, one of the most powerful Alphas in the entire world is nervous to ask me out. Wait a second... Did he just ask me out?

"Luckily for you, I don't have anybody, and by any chance is this you asking me out?". He turned to look at me with a wicked smirk. "Yes this is me asking my mate out, and this is as well me happy to know you are available"

OH MY, please Goddess, don't make me regret this, this man was so unbearable. "I am glad I can surprise you. Imagine how boring it would be to not be surprised by your mate. I promise you this will never be boring". He made that devilish smile when he finished that sentence and I said very lowly "Ok, I just expect my first date to not be a total disaster".

"This is going to be your first date?!" I should have known he would have heard. I only nodded, "Like in your very first?" I nodded again.

"Yes, it will be my first date ever. I have never gone out with a boy. I have never even kissed a boy, so yes. I knew that there would be nothing like my mate, so it made no sense waisting all my firsts with someone else."

I knew he had already had all his firsts, but at least I was sure of something. The way a mate affects you can't be compared to anything. "I know you will probably have already done all your firsts, so know that I don't hold anything against you. Just don't you dare ruin any of my firsts, or I will have your head" that made us both laugh, and he gently kissed my temple and whispered in my ear, "You have no idea how much I already love you".

Everything might seem too fast, but two years is not as much time as it seems, and I wanted to start with as much sincerity as I could. Across the room, I saw how Seb was looking my way. I knew he was happy, it's just that it is very probable he was expecting to be my mate, as much as my family was expecting that, and when it didn't happen... Well, to say the least, my family was set back to point zero. They didn't have an idea of where to look for my mate. They were obsessed with that, because a mate was the only thing that would show my parents blessing to keep going with my life and leave the grief behind.

That was a tradition in our pack. When your parents passed away, the pain of their deaths would hunt you until your mate arrived, so my parents wanted me to stop suffering after their deaths. That's why dad was happy about me finding my mate, but before, he didn't want to give me false hopes, so he hid his suspicions until they became certainties. Both mom and dad had always been caring and loving to me, Aroon had never stopped protecting me, and Seb had always been there. When he found out he wasn't my mate he started helping my parents and brother to look for my soulmate. If I learned anything from them is that the family goes through everything for you, they want you to be happy and their love for you is only rivaled by the one of your mate's, or so I have been told.

When we finally finished lunch, Edward took me to my room to get ready for tonight's ceremony. He had a soft smile on his face when he left me. An hour later my prep team arrived. They carried make-up boxes, tons of jewelry, heels, hair products, curling irons, the dress I had chosen and gift boxes... why were they bringing gift boxes with them? They started greeting me when they came in and began organizing everything for my makeover. But there was still that question lingering on my mind.

"Hey girls, who sent all those boxes?"

They looked at each other with amused expressions.

"Miss, they came from an Alpha"

I approached the boxes and checked the letter that was on top of them, while they kept their organizing. Hope you like what I found for you Angel. E

I couldn't help the smile that found its way to my face. This man was really a box of surpises. I started checking the gifts. There were necklaces, earrings, bracelets. All of them with diamonds, emeralds, or rubies in white, rose gold or in silver. In one of the boxes there was something that resembled a tiara, and another had many diamond pins that were shaped into hearts and were of different colors: light pink, yellow and white. And were arranged so that there could be seen a shining heart. Who would say he was such a romantic person?

"Miss, we are ready for you"

I looked up from the box and left it on my bed.

"Then let's get started"

After almost three hours, I was ready. I had a complete spa to soften my skin and my hair. They gave me massages to release the stress, and when they knew who my date was, they started rubbing my skin with oils and perfumes. Then, when they applied make-up, it was a light evening style, my lips were painted a soft red and my eyes had a shade of navy blue that made them sparkle. My hair was left loose, perfectly curled and tilted to one side, they had decorated my hair-do with the diamond pins that my mate had sent me. They made it look like a meteor shower in my curls. The dress was strapless with a sweetheart neckline. It had a gray dregradé that ended in black. It was a hi-lo dress. The highest part was an inch under my knee and the longest was brushing the floor. It was tight from the waist up, while the gauzy skirt moved loosely. I was in a pair of black cut-out heels of 7 cm. And my jewelry consisted of drop sapphire earrings, a long thin necklace that had a diamond shaped into a half moon, with two blue stars on each point of the moon. Finally, I had a three-stone silver ring on my right hand with embedded sapphires on it.

When the stylists had finished arranging me, I still had about an hour before the ceremony started, so I started checking the plan for the ball and details about the celebration. Almost everything was set for the girls to be back to their usual blur when someone knocked on the door. I dismissed the ones that wanted to open the door for me, because I didn't want them to take too long, they had to be ready as well. When I opened the door, there he was, wearing a tuxedo. I am not going to lie. He looked very nice in it, I could clearly notice it was tailor-made, and his stance made him look even better. It was like he allowed the light to hit in the right places that made him look dream like. When he looked down at me, he leaned on the door's frame.

"Like what you see angel?" I was definitely busted. I didn't notice I was staring. I blushed and he answered with a grin.

"Just checking if you are dressed for the occasion", I said as seriously as I could.

"Well then beautiful, what is your verdict?" And he leaned a bit closer to me.

"I guess it is acceptable. After all, I don't think you brought anything else so you can stay like that", at that, he started laughing hysterically.

"You know I can tell when you lie to me, right?" Goddess, he is right. My heart was pounding very hard. I was scared it could go out. It was an achievement in itself being able to think straight in front of this crazy good-looking man. So I ignored his statement.

"What brings you here an hour before the ceremony?" He looked slightly embarrassed, his hand was rubbing the back of his neck.

"Here is the thing: I was hoping we could hang out before the big event so you could show me around the place and maybe... talk" I knew he was holding his wolf and trying to play as cool as he could, but it was just very amusing and way too cute.

"Sure thing, the girls here are over with me and I think they will be more comfortable with me out of their way" the team laughed a little, and I knew that immediately after I closed the door they would start talking about the gorgeous date I'd found. So I started walking out the door while Edward closed it behind me and then offered me the crook of his elbow. He was looking at me, and didn't stop grinning, not even for one second.

"Is there anything amusing about my outfit? Did I ruin my make-up or something?" I asked, wondering what could keep him so entertained.

"You see angel, I like very much what I am looking at."

"And it would be because..." I left the last part hanging.

"Because you are wearing what I sent for you: the pins, the earrings, the necklace, and the ring. All was among the gifts. I told the guys to leave at your door after lunch" so that was it. I knew those girls were up to something, they worked in a rush and without saying a word.

"Did you have anything to do with my team taking a record time to dress me all up?"

"I may have, or may not have, I could have hinted while they went through the hall that I wished I could spend more time with my date, and one could have or not asked who I was taking to the ball and I could or not have answered it was the Alpha's daughter."

"You are unbelievable, poor girls. They rushed their work just so you could get a few minutes more with me?, they don't even know you are my mate yet. Seriously, it's like everybody here was desperate for me to start dating someone, anybody" I raised my free arm in fake frustration. He looked up to the ceiling.

"About them knowing of our mate bond, they could or not have gone a bit suspicious, so I may have said that I was your mate and hadn't had time to see you until today, and that could have done the trick", I laughed.

"You are definitely something Alpha...", he raised a brow at me, knowing I would understand. "Edward, I can't even laugh without you complaining at me calling you by your title."

"You are the only one that is allowed to call me by other than my title. I don't get it why you like it so much. My mother says she likes it better than this whole alpha thing." I sent him a playful smile.

"Then I am not the only one who addresses you by your name." He looked at me with a cautious expression, "Your mom and close relatives must too, so there is no difference anymore. You know nothing really special."

He pretended exasperation. "Then, how would you like to call me, other than Alpha and Edward, and calling me Alpha is out of the question, you are not calling me like everyone, even the people who don't know me call me by."

"Ok, ok, but you didn't have to get all grumpy and edgy about it. You could just have said you didn't like it", I paused a moment, and looked straight into his eyes, and checked him all out. "I think I got it,... what about Eddie?" he made an exaggerated thoughtful expression, and since I knew his mind was already made, I pulled from his arm gently and made puppy eyes. "Come on, Eddie pretty please, for me", then he looked down and chuckled.

"I can't resist that adorable face of yours. You are the only living person allowed to call me like that, and if anybody else tries to use it, I will rip their heads off. Only my queen can call me by my nickname", and he kissed my forehead. Even if I couldn't feel the bond like he did, I certainly could feel every ounce of love that dripped from his words and his kisses.

The first place I took him was the main garden. It had blooming flowers, and had fountains with lights decorating all the place. It was the perfect place to see the sunset, and that was the main reason I took him there. Every day, never mind how tired I was or how stressed out I was getting, I came and saw how the sun started to hide behind two mountains. I knew this was the view he had from his room, but I didn't know if he had had the chance to appreciate it.

"So, here is it, we are going to sit right there, and watch the sunset for fifteen minutes, then I can show you some other things and head straight to the ceremony. How does that sound to you?" he looked at the horizon, where the sun was just in between the two mountains, so I led him to the bench that I knew for a fact had the best view and just sat right next to him, not letting go of him yet. When I was about to put my hand down, he got a grip on it and shook his head, so I kept resting my hand on his arm.

"Isn't it beautiful?" I had been mesmerized by the colors of the sky and the change in the landscape, while the sun started to vanish.

"It certainly is. I haven't seen something as beautiful in my entire life". Something told me we weren't talking about the same thing. I leaned my head on his shoulder. That caught him a bit off guard, but almost automatically he put his arm over my shoulder, what a picture we must have been.

"Well, enjoy it while it lasts. We have to leave in two minutes."

"I will enjoy it until the last piece"

Then our time was up, and I took him to see the pool we had in the pack house, the greenhouse where we had vegetables, fruits and an entire section had flowers. After those two, I knew we had about fifteen minutes before the ceremony started, so on our way back I showed him the entrance to the game hall, and the staircase that led him straight to the terrace, where we had more flowers, and a little study room surrounded entirely by glass and creepers.

We got to the party with five extra minutes in time. Most of the guests had already gathered around the stage that was located in the far middle of the garden that is only used for special celebrations and ceremonies.

"Ok cute one, I have to leave you and go meet with my mom and sister-in-law right there", I said while pointing at the other side of the super-elegant staircase that I had made sure was nicely decorated with withe and red roses, "so don't make a mess while I am gone, I will be back with you in a second".

He pretended to be offended but nodded, "I will wait for you, but I can't speak for the other guy right here, he doesn't want you anywhere far from him" I laughed and kissed his cheek.

"Tell him to hold on, it won't be much" I laughed on my way to the place we agreed to meet and looked back to find a wide-eyed Alpha starring at me in amazement.

"Ok girls, calm down, she must be on her way..." I interrupted my mom with a kiss on her cheek, and then I jumped and trapped Jainny with a hug.

"I am sorry I didn't get here earlier. I was showing Alpha Edward around, and we lost track of time". Jainny's ceremonial companions, herself and my mother, looked at me with a knowing expression on their faces, and my mom explained to the other girls.

"She meant she was showing around her mate, and that's why she got here almost late." Thanks Mom, now I am getting far more attention than I wanted.

"Okaaayy... So are we all set?" I asked, a little embarrassed.

"That we should ask you, after all, you are the one that just got here", Jainny answered with a grin on her lips, and a playful look.

"Yes sweetie, everything is ready, here you have your bouquet". I thanked my mom with a nod and a shy smile, and went to take my place next to Jainny. Afterwards, I would be standing right in the middle of the steps, in front of the other three girls that accompanied their new Luna to her naming.

"You look gorgeous, my brother will totally flip" I said while I winked an eye at Jainny.

She chuckled. "Thank you, you also look astonishing. I wonder how your mate allowed you to leave his side?" I blushed a bit, and we both laughed quietly at that.

"It wasn't easy, but I had to be here with you, so I told him I would be right back and left him standing down there". We laughed for a bit more, until my mom warned us that the ceremony was about to start, because the council had arrived with the Moon Record, where all Alphas and Lunas were registered in their pack's record. I had never seen a Naming Ceremony, therefore I had no idea how their names were supposed to enter the record. Mom told us that nobody save the Council was allowed to touch the Moon Record, not even the Alphas or Lunas, so how their names would be embedded in the book was a total mystery to me. I guess I could have asked Edward about it, but then it wouldn't be as fun to watch the ceremony, would it?

The head of the Council started reading the record of the five past Alphas and Lunas from our pack as costume dictated, and then they announced the entrance of the current Luna of the pack, and the Luna that will take her place today. My mom looked back at Jainny and, with a warm smile, nodded, and we started to go down the staircase. We were in an elevated room made up of wood and big windows that had two entrances, the one of the great staircase, and the one behind it. It was intended for these occasions where neither the guests nor her mate should see her, and it was in the far corner of the garden, suspended from a tree, like a tree house. When we don't use this place, pups usually come here to play, on the condition they clean up after they finish.

When we finished the staircase, I noticed that the solemn music had been playing all the time we've been making our way to the stairs. I saw all eyes were on Jainny, and with all due reason, she looked amazing, her Luna dress was beautiful, her make-up flawless, and her hair had been arranged to make the flowers and jewels on it resemble a tiara or a crown. Along with her presence, she had everyone looking her way, correction everyone except one, whose eyes were fixed on me, and smiled when our eyes met in the crowd.

Jainny couldn't care less about the world around her. When my brother saw her, he almost shed joyful tears, and when they locked their eyes it was obvious they were fixed on shortening the space between them and being a whole for their pack and for themselves. That's why I think we say that a mated Alpha is a strong Alpha, because before that he was just half of himself and, with that, well, you can't really do as much as you could for your people.

After we were all in our places, the Councill started with the naming. "Like his father before him, Alpha Peter will now allow his own flesh and blood to print his name in the Alphas Record of the Silver Crimson Pack", and my dad handed a silver needle to one of the Council members, he was the writer. He pierced my dad's arm, where he had our pack's crest, then he inserted my brother's arm with the three quarters of the tainted needle. When the silver sensed his blood, it turned red and something like fire started showing on the Moon Record. After a few more seconds in my brother's arm was the crest of our pack, a silver circle surrounded by sky night blue stars and the circle was filled with crimson red. "Now the Alpha's blood mixed with the one of your current Luna will give you your new Luna", the writer did the same with my mother and Jainny, but the needle wasn't cleaned after the process with my dad and my brother, and that's how their names were now on the record.

"Aroon Everain, now your life is one with your pack, this is your place to give your pack their Luna" and my brother took Jainny's hand on his, he took the arm that had just been marked with the pack's symbol and his as well.

"Jainnine Alserein, you are now one with the pack and the same as your Alpha" then he rose both of their hands, while the head of the Council said "Silver Crimson Pack, rejoice because today you have been gifted by the Moon Goddess with your new Alpha and Luna" and that was our queue to bow. After a few more seconds, the room roared with people celebrating their new leaders. That's when we followed Jainny and Aroon down the stage, so they could bond with the pack and receive the congratulations from our guests. The second I stepped off of the stage, Edward was next to me. When he was watching the ceremony, I looked his way and, while they named the Luna he had a sad expression on his face, maybe because that part had been missing from his ceremony, and somehow he felt incomplete without it, without me.

He hugged me and rested for a while, his chin on my head. "I missed you", I smiled at his sad comment, "and we got anxious when we saw that our Luna was far from home when this pack was getting hers". I felt the sadness dripping from his words, so I hugged him back.

"Soon our pack will have theirs, and there won't be anything for you to be sad about" I wasn't going right now to the pack, but they were certain to be my new life.

"You called it 'our'pack" he took a step back and caressed my cheek, "I can't wait for them to meet you, they will love you."

"Why wouldn't I call it 'our' pack? We are in charge of it, you and I. Unless, you want it to be just yours and that..." I was interrupted by him putting a finger on my lips, and shaking his head, eyes closed and gentle smile. He clearly found my mumbling totally amusing.

"It's definitely not that angel. I couldn't like it more than you already accepting the pack as your own. It's just that, since you asked for your two years of preparation, I thought it might have taken a while for you to get used to it", he looked deep in my eyes, truly happy. That's when I realized what he meant to me; not his last name or family tree, just Edward for being Edward. My Eddie, the one person made exactly for me by the Moon Goddess.

"Now that you mention it, I was thinking..., maybe it would be good for me to visit the pack, to get to know the people, and for them to know me, you understand what I mean, right?" his eyes started sparkling with a hundred stars. It was like the expression of a pup that was given exactly what he wanted for Christmas.

"Angel, nothing would make me and the pack happier. When do you want to come? How long will you stay? You won't want to leave that I promise" and he kissed my head, my forehead and my whole face with gentle pecks.

"I was thinking, since you have to go back after your visit concludes, I guess I could go with you and the guys. Then I could stay for a couple of weeks to be introduced, and then I would come back here." Now he was ecstatic, he looked at me with so much love and intensity. I don't think I have ever seen anybody this happy, less for my cause.

"I think I have never been so happy with a deal baby. I think it was totally worth it giving you two years. You will be perfectly ready, and the pack will get to know you. You can't imagine how happy you've made us." He was the cutest. I thought I had fallen in love of him, and in a matter of hours, unbelievable. His words truly warmed my heart.

"We should join the party, you don't strike me as a party popper, especially because there are lots to celebrate about" and I dragged him to the dance floor, and we started twirling around. We just stopped for the toast.

"Thank you all for being with us to celebrate this grand event in our pack's history. Special thanks to the pack members that have made this ceremony possible, and to all our guests who are dear friends to us all. It is the first naming ceremony in over a hundred years that is celebrated in times of peace and with representatives from the Argent Moon Pack. Cheers everyone, to our new Alpha and his beautiful Luna, that the Goddess guides their actions and choices for the good of the pack" and all started screaming cheers at each other. A waiter bowed to me and handed me my champagne glass. I toasted with my mate, my family, the pack members and a few other guests. Edward never left my side, not even for a split second.

"Now, lets all dance and celebrate this historic date" screamed my brother over the crowd.

"You heard him, let's keep dancing" and I drank a couple more sips of my champagne and left it on his table. We danced for a while more, but I started feeling dizzy, so Edward made me take a seat. I hadn't drunk too much, and it was very weird. All of a sudden, I started feeling odd. I spent the rest of the evening wrapped in Edward's jacket and talking to him.

We talked about his wolf, whose name was Aran. Turns out he was all crazy for me and couldn't stand being away from me. We joked, and he was just happy with me. He never left my side, nor gave me a hint of discomfort. When Axel, Darrin and Dereck, all three of them, came to the table to inform Edward that they weren't going to come back so that he shouldn't worry about them, he answered jokingly "When do I do? And my hands are full here with the Luna, so get lost", and they left, bowing to us and winking at Edward. Could they get more immature? I smiled. After that, I tried to go back to the dance floor, but when I started standing my head was spinning around, so I sat down and rested my head on Edward's shoulder.

When everybody was leaving, Edward offered to take me to my room, so I started walking, but I didn't get too far. I felt my legs give up, and my head spin terribly. Since there weren't many people left, and the music was low, Edward caught me before hitting my head on the ground and started calling out for me, but I couldn't keep my eyes open completely. I tried to move my body after I heard and saw my family's shock around me, but all I felt was numbness, then I saw a few dim lights and then all went black.