Mated to the Devil

Chapter 4

A week had passed since the creepy bald headed vampire had made a pass at Ava. During the interrogations the man revealed his name was Rodger, and insisted that he was just innocently passing through town and trying to have a little fun which we all think is a lie. He refused to talk about his connection, or rather devotion, to the Bloodmoon pack. He insisted that if we have any questions, we should direct them to the Alpha himself.

Alpha Bran was mad as hell, and frustrated that there was nothing more we could do besides let the slimeball go with a warning to steer clear of our town and pack. Being a small pack had it's pro's and con's. We lived peacefully, alluding the wars between packs for territory and dominance, remaining small on everyone's radar. The larger packs were constantly at war and their Alpha's at each others throats.

The Bloodmoon pack was the largest, it's Alpha had brutally challenged other's and extended territory numerous times by force, absorbing their packs in the process, most of us believe due to the magic that lurked within the pack making them a bit stronger than the average werewolf.

Alpha Bran was talking about potentially joining our pack with another small pack close to our boarder, they lived similarly to us, peacefully and raised great warriors. He said that it would give us more strength and numbers to stop us from falling victim to the larger packs dominance as for instance in this incident with the vampire. The elders argued that this would set a target on us, larger packs draw more attention for territory. My heart clenched at that thought. Alpha's fight to the death for pack territory, the thought of Bryce ever being in that situation made my stomach twist.

"Wake up Arabella", Ava's voice rung in my head pulling me from my thoughts as I lay in bed, the quilted white comforter wrapped at my feet.

"Okay okay", I sighed defeated, while I pulled myself to the edge of the bed, cursing myself at the amount of sheet paper I had on my nightstand.

I walked through the open plan lounge to the front door, not even bothering to make sure it was indeed Ava at the door before I yanked it open.

Ava stood there beaming at me with a huge grin on her face, her long chocolate hair in a slick back ponytail accentuating her high cheekbones and smooth caramel skin. She wore a canary yellow sun dress with brown flats. Her arms full with bags, no doubt all the clothes and make up she owned. She looked positively glowing this morning. Happiness looked good on her. Ava had started dating Trevor, a werewolf in our pack, she is his mate. I always knew Ava was destined to be in our pack, I just didn't know who the lucky guy would be. Trevor declared her his mate at his birthday party which was held at the new trendy bar in town.

We were there to join in the celebrations, it was customary to always attend a pack members 21st birthday for various reasons, one being the possibility that they could be your mate. Ava had always found Trevor simply steamy and was constantly vividly describing all the things she could do to him when naked, much to my burning ears. I didn't realise until later that this was the beginnings of the mate bond that would tie them together.

"Well, a little help would be nice", Ava mused, tapping her down sandal impatiently on the cream tiled floor of the doorway.

I reached forward and grabbed the shiny silver makeup case she held in her left hand, and slung a couple of the bags at her feet over my shoulder before I trudged through to drop them on the floor in the bedroom and went back to the lounge. Sleep still making my body feel heavy.

Ava wasted no time making her way to the kitchen to put on a fresh pot of coffee, taking out two red mugs from the overhead cupboard before turning to face me with that grin still plastered on her face.

"I don't know how you are so composed when tonight is finally the night girl!" Ava shrieked, clasping her hands in front of her as she beamed at me in excitement.

I grinned at her, taking a seat at the barstool.

"I have honestly waited so long for this day, I guess I just know the outcome so I'm a lot more composed", I chuckled. Amused at how excited my best friend was for me to finally call Bryce my mate tonight.

"Have you spoken to Bryce lately?" Ava asked, carefully pouring us each a serving of the scalding hot coffee.

"Not since I told him we needed to stay away from each other until tonight" I replied, a frown forming on my face. I missed him. We had never gone more than a day without talking.

"Don't worry girl, after tonight you will probably be doing a lot more than just talking" Ava winked playfully, a smirk twitching at her lips. 

Tonight was finally my birthday, at 12am I would officially be 21 and able to find my mate..... and loose my virginity....

"Alright alright, I've had enough of your horn dog talk lately" I exclaimed, laughter escaping my lips before I continued "You and Trevor have made no secret as to what the mate bond is all about"

"I cant help myself, I'm crazily attracted to him" Ava shrugged.

" Besides... he just pushes all the right buttons" she purred.

"Ewwwww", I grimaced before taking a sip of my coffee. I had already heard enough about my best friends s*x life.

"Okay, well I'm in love... shoot me", she lifted her hands up in a sign of surrender before she rolled her eyes.

We finished our coffee and went though the plans for this evening while Ava began to make some breakfast. Bacon, eggs, toast and some fried mushrooms, our favourite. We would arrive at the packhouse at 8pm, my parents had already planned everything out. The backyard would be set up with tables, drinks and food. Our entire pack would be there and Bryce would arrive at 11:45pm, just before I was due to make my way to the stage and await for the clock to strike a much anticipated 12am. After Bryce being my mate is confirmed, we would head off to mark each other and complete the mating ritual. Something I had been looking forward to since I was a little girl. Ava described in graphic detail how she and Trevor completed the mating ritual, leaving me completely put off my breakfast.

The mating ritual was a very animalistic process with unique aspects to each species that included marking each other to fully opening up the mate bond completely which generally occurred during... s*x.

You would be eternally bound to your mate, allowing you to feel each and every emotion of theirs, feel their fears, their excitement, their anger, and their happiness while bounding your souls together as one, no longer being able to live fully without the other and in some instances at all. Some werewolves died when their mate did, unable to push through the pain and torment, others made it through and lived a lifetime of misery and longing.

Once we were done talking through the proceedings and Ava's vivid recall of their mating ritual. We decided to spend the rest of the day at the local day spa, courtesy of Alpha Bran and Luna Viv, their birthday present to me. Ava and I enjoyed an extensive relaxing mud bath that had my wolf purring in my mind.

Once we were all washed off I swear my entire body felt a couple pounds lighter. We then headed off to a small secluded room for our massages, where we chit chatted about our childhood and all Ava's really strange crushes throughout the years. She had a crush on this one guy we were in middle school with that had an extra finger. She strongly insisted that once he had the finger removed before they get married that he would easily be the hottest boy in town. We laughed until our bellies ached and our cheeks hurt about all our memories around boys and childish girl fights.

"It sounds like you two have been through everything together" the masseuse who was working Ava's back chuckled.

"You have no idea" Ava and I replies at the same time, causing us both to shoot our heads up and look at each other before erupting into some more laughter.

"It must be nice to have a best friend to grow up with, I never had one quite so close." a tinge of sadness seeping through her voice, causing me to look up at her. She had a muddy blonde pixie cut, with a round full face and figure.

She looked at me with brown caring eyes, lines around them giving away her years of experience.

"It's alright dear, I have friends now, I'm just saying, it's rare to grow up with a best friend now days." She smiled warmly, obviously sensing I was beginning to feel a bit sorry for her.

"Okay enough doom and gloom, this girl is going to get laid tonight and we are going to party" Ava shot her head up and changing the mood.

The masseuses stepped away from us and exited the room. Ava and I rolled off the massage tables wrapped in our towels, relaxed and loose. It took me a minute to regain the will to walk.

"Oh my God, it's already 3pm." Ava nearly screamed, causing me to jump out my relaxed and tranquil skin.

"We have to have a quick shower, and head back home to get ready for this evening", Ava spoke quickly, checking her watch again as if it had some how sped up while I nodded and started to make my way towards the showers.

Just as I entered my stall and put on the warm water, allowing the steam to envelope me. Ava knocked on the shower door. "Its me, open up".

"We are not showing together, not even as best friends since childhood" I laughed, stepping under the scalding water.

"Its not that you d**k, and you would be so lucky!" She responded, laughter tugging at her words as well.

I turned around and reluctantly cracked open the shower stall door, the steam that I loved so much escaping the stall, causing me to whine out internally. I eyed Ava suspiciously through the crack.

"Here, please just shave", she grinned. "We cant have you be all hairy werewolf for your first time".

"You're lucky I love you" I snatched the razor and struggling to keep my laughter reigned in before I closed the cracked door.

I had a long shower, making sure to carefully wash my hair, shave every inch that needed shaving. And really just soak in my last shower as an unmated shewolf. The reality of it all finally starting to set in. From tonight I would no longer be a virgin. The long awaiting anticipation, hunger and desire to finally feel that mate bond snap into place will be sated tonight. I've felt a gravitational pull from my soul and wolf to finally find my mate for as long as I could remember, which is what initially drew me to Bryce in the first place. There was no way it could be anyone else.

I stepped out the shower reluctantly to a very giddy and excited Ava who was already dressed in a pair of slacks and a funky black and red tshirt. She handed me my underwear and a pair of faded denim Jean's and a plain navy blue T shirt.

I got dressed and brushed my wet hair while Ava spoke my ear off about what outfits she brought with for me to choose from tonight. I knew I wanted to wear something blue, something that matched my eyes and highlighted all my curves.

I wanted tonight to be ingrained in Bryces memory and mine. I was giving Ava full reign over my wardrobe and makeup for tonight and she was relishing in it. She had been buging me for at least the last 5 years to let her take over, even if it was for just a night.

We walked back to the apartment in a hurry, we only had two hours left before we had to leave for my party. My mind kept wondering to Bryce, his grey blue eyes flashing in my mind. I wondered what he was doing, and if he was feeling the same butterflies that swirled in my stomach at the thought of tonight.

Once we got to my room Ava wasted no time opening her bags and layering my bed full of different dresses, while I sat on a chair, eyes wide and mouth open. Suddenly very aware that my best friend had a shopping problem.

There were at least thirty dresses layered on my bed, in almost every style and colour, mostly soft nudes though, clearly showing Ava's style.

My eye immediately caught the pale blue dress towards the centre. It was a spaghetti strap dress, form fitted and low cut bust line that seemed to flare out in soft waves from under the bust to just below the knee. It was plain, yet more me than any of these other dresses. I immediately picked it out and Ava said she knew that one would catch my eye but she was hoping I'd wear a rose pink dress she held up that looked far too revealing for my liking, but I could definitely see how she thought it would show off every highlight of my body. But that wasn't what I wanted tonight of all nights, I didn't like attention all on me, and when it was already I didn't need to stand out more with a dress like that.

I slipped the dress on and sat down for Ava to do my hair and make up, loving how the soft fabric felt against my skin. Ava chose to do my hair in a half up half down do in it's natural golden waves, with white Pearl clips etched throughout the do. She did my makeup delicately, but paired it with a smokey eye and a nude lip causing my featuring blue eyes to pop even more in contrast. I stood up to look in the mirror at her finishes look and gasped at the person I saw before me. She still looked like me but way more elegant and beautiful. My eyes flashed towards my bust, my full breasts had always gotten in the way of things, but this dress had them tastefully on display, reminding me that I am a grown women about to finally be with my mate in a new way.

We made our way down to the entrance of the apartment block to wait for our cab to take us to the packhouse. I glanced over at Ava who was on the phone speaking sweetly to her new lover boy. She looked simply gorgeous in a simple black maxi dress, her smooth caramel skin the perfect tone against the black dress. Her hair was pulled up into a slick bun, not a hair out of place and her make up was done flawlessly.

Once Ava hung up her call, she came up to me and surprised me with the highest hug.

"Happy birthday girl" she choked, tears clear in her eyes. Tugging at my heart causing tears to well up in my own as well.

"Don't get me started, I'll ruin all your hard work" I sniffed, referring to the amazing job she did with my makeup.

"Fine, but we are totally having a sob tomorrow" she smiled, in that charismatic Ava tone only she could pull off.

Once we made it to the packhouse, light music, laughter and the incredible aroma of different foods and spice was evident in the air. Ava and I made our way around the packhouse to the back where the festivities where held.

I gasped at the sight before me. My parents had gone above and beyond. I didn't know where to look first, the entire scene was just too much, just too perfect. Fairy twinkle lights sprawled across the entire backyard looking like a blanket of stars that light up the dark sky, four long barn yard style tables with benches ran next to each other across the space, with a small clearing in the front for a dance floor and small stage.

My favourite indie music played in the background, The Script. Tables of food and drinks to the left for everyone to help them selves, too many different foods to count, my mouth watering at the sight and smell. I could pick out prawn paella, mini cheese burgers, fries, nuggets, sushi, batter fish and roasted vegetables to name a few. Everyone was dressed for the occasion, gorgeous semi casual dresses and collared shirts on the men.

My eyes caught my fathers blue eyes scanning the party. He smiled and made his way over to us with my mom and brother in tow.

"Oh my God, I can't believe you guys did all of this for me", I cried, tears welling up in my eyes as I internally cursed myself for almost crying for the second time today.

"Of cause we would, you're our little girl", my father sniffed, grabbing me into a hug and rubbing my back, something he used to do to soothe me as a child.

I hugged my mom afterwards. Still trying to keep myself together, determined to save this dam makeup. "You look beautiful honey", my mom glowed, pride clear in her eyes.

"It's all Ava's handy work", I replied shyly, gesturing towards Ava who shrugged me off as if it was all in a days work for her.

"You still look like my dork sister though, grown up yes, but still a dork", my brother laughed in his cocky way, pulling me into a hug.

"Thank you", I gave my parents one last smile before Ava and I made our way towards the food.

We stuffed our faces with almost all the food on the table. I was worried at one point that I wouldn't be able to make it to the stage later, my eyes threatening to close on me while my stomach was so full. I decided to dive into the wine and whole heartedly live in the moment until 11:45pm.

By the time 11:30pm came around I was a little tipsy and Ava was quite smashed. We danced until our feet ached and laughed until our stomachs formed new muscles we never knew of. I was blissfully happy as I glanced up into the Sky just about to go on stage and wait for 12pm, to wait for Bryce... my mate. I thanked the moon goddess for my life and for this night.

I walked up on stage, my family, friends and pack members staring back at me, engrossed in their hushed conversations. I scanned the crowd eagerly for Bryce. A small clamour to my right caught my attention, Bryce's grey eyes staring back at me causing my heart to thump erratically in my chest. A earsplitting smile forming on my face.

Bryce looked absolutely irresistible in a pair of cream coloured chinos, a white dress shirt and a pale blue bowtie that seemed to match my dress. I immediately scanned the crowd for Ava who was staring back at me with a swift nod, confirming my suspicion that she had in fact told Bryce already what colour I had gone with. This was perfect.

Bryce grabbed my hand and leaned in to whisper into my ear.

"two minutes left babe, you look absolutely incredible", he whispered softly, causing goosebumps to erupt through my body.

I tried to check in with Aria for our moment, who was being unusually quiet these past few days which I assume is just part of the buildup to my birthday and mate bond.

I looked up to the Sky and closed my eyes, squeezing Bryces hand to numb some of my anticipation to which he gently squeezed back to reassure me.

Before I could even begin to calm my nerves the crowd erupted

"Five... four.... three... two.... one..... Happy birthday" the crowd cheered.

I held my eyes tightly shut, waiting for the onslaught of emotions from the mate bond to snap into place. But much to my surprise instead of thoughts and emotions of Bryce, a striking pair of honey coloured eyes flashed before my eyes before I opened mine, my heart beating erratically in my chest.

My mouth hung open. I turned towards Bryce who looked at me as if I had just shattered his entire world. I looked down at my parents who had looks of sorrow on their faces, my brother who was next to them just looked down, avoiding eye contact, the entire pack was dead quiet, each and every member knowing what I had just found out.

Bryce was not my mate...