‘So, it doesn’t look like you two had a full-on make-out session that messed up Nina’s bedroom. Even your mattress is on the floor,’ Josie laughs.
I get myself off of Nina and help her up from the mattress on the floor.
‘So, which one of you will explain this situation?’ Flint asks.
Nina and I point at each other, and the others laugh.
‘Well, we can’t tell you.’ I say.
‘What do you mean you can’t tell us?’ Zak growls.
‘Because our Luna said we aren’t to tell anyone else.’ Nina explains.
‘Who else knows about this secret thing you are keeping from us?’ Zak asks.
‘All our parents know, and then us two.’ I say.
‘So, our parents all know about whatever it is, but we aren’t allowed to be let in on it?’ Zak says.
‘Correct.’ I say, too guilty to look them in the eye.
‘If you don’t let us in on what is going on, I will tell everyone about you two making out.’ Josie smirks.
Nina and I give each other a look.
‘Fine, get in here and shut the door behind you.’ I grumble.
Everyone finds a spot sitting on boxes. Nina and I sit on the mattress.
I lean over and grab the book and hand it to Zak first.
‘We were searching Nina’s room for any relics someone may have hidden here.’
‘Relics? And why I am holding a book of Spells and Hexes!’ Zak asks.
‘I can’t shift without it causing immense pain. So we had a witch named Yiselda come and see if she could figure it out.’
‘A witch?’ Josie says.
‘Yes, there is a secret coven that still exists. Yiselda clearly stated that I can’t shift without it causing immense pain because of a curse Nina carries.’
‘Nina’s cursed?’ Flint asks.
‘Yes, we don’t know what kind of curse or how it affects her, but it affects me. Without knowing who cursed her or what the curse is, we can’t break it. So, Pipsqueak and I broke into the town’s library secret, forbidden room to research curses. This book was the only one I had come across so far that may be helpful.’
‘Wait, wait, wait, hold on a minute! There is a secret room in the library? And who is Pipsqueak?’ Josie asks.
‘Yes, the library keeps all the forbidden and banned books there. It was like a military operation to get in there without being caught. Pipsqueak is a friend from school. You all know her.’
Everyone gives each other a confused look. Zak passes the spellbook to Flint.
‘I read in this book that curses can be made from relics and placed in bedrooms. So Nina and I searched her room when you guys knocked and startled us. Nina slipped, I caught her, and you all saw the rest.’
‘Who would want to put a curse on Nina, though? It makes little sense.’ Josie frowns.
‘We don’t know. We are trying to do what we can in the meantime to break it. No one else knows about this but our parents and Pipsqueak. Mother thinks Nina’s life will be in danger if the pack finds out she is cursed and it’s affecting me, the future Alpha.’
Everyone gasps and stares at Nina with worry.
‘I’ll be fine as long as we keep this to ourselves, and besides, nothing has changed about me. It hasn’t affected me yet, anyway.’
‘If anyone notices anything that could be related to the curse, then let me know straight away.’ I say.
Everyone nods, and we part ways and go to bed for the night.
I’m early for breakfast for the first time. Mum takes her seat on dad’s lap.
‘Alphas and their packs will begin arriving today for your wolf ceremony tomorrow night.’ She says.
I hadn’t thought much about it until now. On your Eighteenth at midnight, we have our first shift and meet our wolves. The shift is involuntary, and the wolf takes over completely.
‘Mum, Dad, if I already had my first shift, does that mean I won’t shift at midnight tomorrow, or will I still involuntarily shift? I’m not supposed to shift. Remember to avoid the pain. Last time, I ended up with that terrible fever for days.’
Mum and Dad stare at each other and mind-link each other for a few minutes. Then, when they finish their private conversation, they both look at me.
‘We hadn’t thought about the fact you might shift tomorrow night. Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do other than have the pack doctor nearby and wait.’
Flint and Josie enter the dining room. Mum and Dad change the subject, as they don’t know Josie and Flint are aware of everything now.
‘You might meet your mate as soon as today.’ Mum smiles.
‘Yeah… maybe.’ I say unenthused.
It should excite me I can find my mate now, but for some reason
I’m dreading it. I feel disappointed, and I don’t understand why.
Nina enters the room and I can’t help but smile when I see her. She gives me a small smile in return and sits down for breakfast.
‘Surely, you’re not wearing those clothes today when Alphas are coming to see you? They will bring their unmated daughters too, you know! You must look your finest.’ Mum says.
Nina, May, Josie, and the boys try to contain their giggles.
‘What’s wrong with these jeans and this shirt?’
‘Goodness Magnus, let’s find something more presentable in your wardrobe.’ She stands up and drags me up the stairs. Sometimes I wonder how she has so much strength in that tiny body of hers. I assume being Luna strengthens her more than a regular she-wolf. Mum rummages through my wardrobe and hands me over suit pants with a white shirt and a maroon tie.
‘Are you serious, Mum? It’s not a ball.’
‘No, it’s not a ball. It’s an even bigger event than that, my child. It’s your eighteenth! Your wolf ceremony! Now get changed and get cracker-lacking this instance.’ She orders as she leaves my room.
I fall back onto my bed and lay there for ten minutes before getting dressed. I pull my black shoes out from under the bed and put them on. I come back down the stairs, and all eyes are on me.
‘Now, that’s more like it.’ Mum smiles.
I comb my hair back, using my fingers as Nina walks towards me.
She smiles at me and steps that little bit closer. Our faces are near. She smiles, and I blush to wonder if she is about to kiss me in front of everyone. Instead, her hands reach up, and she adjusts my tie and places a hand on my chest.
‘There, that’s better. Now you look perfect for your mate.’ She says with a sad smile. ‘I hope she is everything you dreamed of.’ She says and walks away.
Staff bustle around the house, setting up decorations and a banquet for today’s arrivals of guests. Alpha Mason arrives with his son, Hank, and two daughters, Bethany and Addison.
‘Alpha Ryker, Luna Astrid, it’s been far too long since we’ve seen each other.’ He smiles.
‘Alpha Mason, we are glad you could make it for our son’s wolf ceremony.’ Mother says graciously.
‘We wouldn’t miss it, especially my two daughters. They have been dying to meet your son. Is he around perchance?’
I’m standing behind the statue of a giant knight behind the staircase, hoping no one sees me.
‘Magnus, there you are.’ Mother smiles, finding me straight away as if she knows this is where I would be.
She leads me to our newly arrived guests. The daughters fan their faces and giggle.
‘Oh, so handsome.’ One says, and they both blush and giggle again.
‘Magnus, these are my daughters, Bethany and Addison.’
I step forward and begrudgingly take Bethany’s hand and place a kiss on the back of her hand and do the same with Addison. I know straight away neither of them is my fated mate.
‘Pleasure to meet you both.’ I say.
‘And a pleasure to meet you too.’ Bethany says with a curtesy.
‘Yes, a pleasure.’ Addison says, copying her sister’s curtesy.
‘And this is my son Hank, future Alpha of the Greystone pack.’
We make eye contact and shake hands as the front door opens; Nina enters.
‘And who is that stunning, beautiful creatuuuure ough!’ He yells, pulling his hand from my tight grip. ‘You almost broke my hand?’
‘Oh, did I? Oops, sometimes I forget my strength, forgive me.’ I smirk.
