Twisted Mate

Mate

Opening the door, I am surprised to see my mother; she has hardly left her room since my father died. She secludes herself from the rest of us; I am not really sure why, but I imagine it is because she does not want to deal with life as it is now.

“Mother, is there something wrong? Do you need me to get you help?” I turn to find my phone and call for help when I hear my mother speak to me.

“No, Elizabeth, nothing like that. I merely wanted to walk with you to the ceremony. If you do not mind, that is?”

I hear the hesitation in her voice, as though she is unsure of what my answer will be. I love my mother dearly, but in a way, she is no longer my mother.

“If you would like to join me, I would love for you to walk with me. Are you sure you are up for this? The whole pack will be there,” I remind her.

“I am sure. I do not want to miss this moment.”

I nod to her, unsure of what to say. This moment was not apart of the plans I imagined in my head. I tilt my hand out, indicating that she should start walking ahead of me. I follow behind her as we climb down the stairs. My room is on the fourth floor, also the top floor, of the pack house. The Alpha and their family typically reside on the top floor, although things are a bit different right now.

When we reach the bottom of the stairs, I pause for a moment; this will be the last time I can show any hesitation for what is to come. Once we open the french doors that lead to the outside, I will be facing my pack, and they expect me to be prepared for anything. I am the one that will guide them through everything that is to come until it is time for me to pass my title off to my eldest.

That time is still a ways away though, as I have not met my mate, although there is a possibility that I will meet them tonight for the first time. My father and my mother realized they were mates the day my mother shifted for the first time. My father was two years older then my mother, so he had shifted two years prior. He knew that day but waited for her to be old enough to find out herself.

I know that having a mate is a necessary part of being the Alpha. Heirs are essential to protect the pack from those that may do us harm, but seeing the way my mother has crumbled leaves me little desire to find them.

We come to a stop in front of the french doors; I wait until this moment to speak to my mother again. "Go on ahead of me mother. I will see you out there; I just want a few moments to myself."

"Of course, Elizabeth. Before I go, I just want you to know that I am proud of you. Your father would be proud of you too. You are growing into the woman I dreamed you would be."

With those words, she softly opens the door and steps out. I see her look at me for just a moment before she tilts her head to the side and closes it behind her.

Gazing at the doors, I am reminded of how much I love them. There is quite a bit of detail work throughout the panes of glass. A forest scene of the pack house as it was has been etched into the glass; it is absolutely breathtaking. The scene was depicted while the sun was setting, my favorite time of day.

Looking past the scene in the glass, I am able to see what awaits me outside these doors. All of the pack members are waiting, even those that will be unable to shift for the pack run that follows. I am surprised to see a few individuals that I do not recognize near the platform that I will accept my title. I was not expecting visiting packs, but it is not unheard of for the surrounding packs to want to be there for the crowning of a new leader.

I continue to take in the view before me knowing that Gabriel will come to get me when it is time to exit the house and face my destiny. The platform has been decorated with strands of lights, giving it a beautiful glow.

Someone I do not recognize catches my attention; he is walking towards the platform. I can feel my wolf stirring and becoming restless; she wants me to leave the house. I look over my shoulder and see that it is 11:26 pm. Gabriel should be coming to get me any moment.

Right on cue, I see Gabriel heading for the door; it is not a very long walk from the crowd of people to the door leading out. I feel a slight urge to run, to run from him, to run from what waits out there for me, to run from my destiny. But those thoughts are not an option for me, and I shake them to recesses of my mind.

Gabriel has reached the door by now and is silently opening it. Not wanting to draw the attention of those behind him any further I feel him mind linking with me.

“Are you ready Elizabeth? It is time.” He holds out his hand, waiting for me to take it. Typically the Alpha to be would take the Luna to be’s hand and escort her to the platform, but nothing about our situation is normal.

I place my hand in his and nod my head ever so slightly so that it would not be perceptible to those around us. For better or worse, I was ready to accept that which is mine.

Walking steadily with my head held high, we reach the platform within moments. Once again, my eyes land on the man I had noticed before, and once again, Topaz feels restless. Upon closer examination, I feel like I recognize him, but I am unable to place who he is or what pack he is from.

Once Gabriel and I reach the center of the platform, he releases my hand, tilts his head ever so slightly to me, and turns to face the pack. The Alpha aura is still radiating from him as he addresses those with us tonight.

“Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us tonight. This is a moment we as a pack have waited for with bated breath. In just a moment I will be passing the title of Alpha to Alpha Benjamin’s daughter Elizabeth.” Most of the crowd cheers at this, but I know some of them remain silent, believing that Gabriel should hold onto the title and continue to lead. Those people will be my most significant obstacle to being a successful Alpha.

With those words, Gabriel turns to face me again. “Elizabeth, are you prepared to lead this pack to the best of your ability? To lead in a way that ensures our survival and ensures our growth? Are you prepared to lead us by example?”

It is my turn to speak, and I know there can be no hint of hesitation in my voice.

“Alpha Gabriel, I am prepared to lead this pack to the best of my ability, to ensure that we not only survive but that we flourish, and to lead each and every one of you by my example. I am ready to fulfill my destiny as Crystal Blood’s new Alpha.” My voice rings out clear, calm, and radiating the same Alpha aura.

There is a small table beside us that holds a silver knife. This will be the second time this particular knife has been used to transfer a title. The one that was passed down through the generations was sadly never recovered.

Following my vow to our pack, Gabriel reaches out and grabs the silver knife and extends his arm out, waiting for me to extend my arm out as well. Once my arm is lifted, he takes the knife and cuts into his palm first and then into my palm.

“On this night, I pass the title of Alpha to you, Elizabeth. Lead with grace.” With that, he places his palm onto mine.

Within seconds I can feel the changes coursing through me. That shift of power and I go from Alpha to be to Alpha is indescribable. I lean my head back, taking it all in before I turn to address my pack as their Alpha for the first time.

I know that I only have moments left before the moon will be at her highest, and I will complete my first shift. With that in mind, I slowly turn my body to face the crowd and take a deep breath.

“Good evening, everyone, and thank you again for being here. As you know, we will be having our first pack run together shortly. I cannot wait to experience this moment with each and every one of you. While I am now the Alpha, I know that it is truly you that keeps our lives running, and I thank you.”

Finishing my sentence, I begin to feel the sensations of my first shift. It starts off relatively minor, and within two seconds I feel pain ripping through my body.

My legs begin to break first, sending me to the ground as they shift into position. Next, I feel my arms snapping and breaking. With each new break, the pain courses through my body and leaves me gasping for breath. I then feel my back arch upwards in a manner that can only be described as earth-shattering. I look down to my arms, and I see my claw breaking free and my fur replacing my fleshy body. At that moment, my head begins to dissolve into pain as my snot elongates, and my ears start to stretch to points.

As the pain begins to dissipate some, I know that I have completed my first shift, and I close my eyes slightly before I push myself up onto all four paws. Topaz is urging me to allow her to take over when we hear the crowd gasp.

I look around to see what is causing the outburst when I see that same stranger stepping towards me with his eyes locked onto my body. Traveling up his body to meet his gaze, I know what caused the outburst.

I feel the words escape my lips as I shiver, “Mate.”