Alpha Ultima

Chapter 18

The final preparations are coming to a close. The food has been lined up on table after table in a buffet sort of style. The smells lifting high into the air, making my mouth water and my stomach grumble in a very unladylike way.

The pups had placed the flowers in every such way surrounding the grounds, that it actually looked like it was done that way on purpose. Each pup had such a wide grin on their face, showing their pride. Even the boys, much to their chagrin.

Tyler, Quinn and Xander stood on one side of the setup, their Beta's not far away. Pack members huddled in little groups talking and laughing. Fairy lights are strung up high over top of the rows upon rows of chairs, illuminating everything in a way that made it look enchanting.

At one point in my life, I would have thought it was beautiful. That it might have looked like something out of a fairy tale or possibly a romance novel. Today, it just left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Flashbacks of walking down the aisle, through rows and rows of these very same chairs, passed through my mind. Walking towards my destiny, my beautiful mates standing at the end, smiling so widely at me, never knowing what was to come. Quinn's beautiful mother helping me get through that morning. Blood red dresses. The echoing of gunshots. I closed my eyes tight and clenched my fists and jaw as I tried to push the images out of my mind.

A hand wrapping around my arm brings me back to reality. I open my eyes and meet the beautiful silver orbs I've fallen so deeply in love with. Quinn's brows are furrowed as he looks down at me with concern. He turns and runs his eyes over the setup everyone had worked so hard on, and his eyes meet mine once more though now showing so much sorrow.

"I am so, so sorry, little wolf. Not one of us managed to realize how this might look for you." His voice was soft and full of remorse.

I shook my head and lowered until my forehead rested on his defined chest. He wrapped his arms around me tightly and remained silent as I focused on my breathing one deep inhale at a time, regaining my composure.

"You shouldn't be apologizing, my soul. This can't be easy for you either."

"It's not, but I'm not the one who died, Carter. You were. I'm sorry we didn't realize it sooner and saved you from reliving it."

I lifted my face and looked deep into the mercury filled orbs. He pulled me closer to his body, holding me tight. Breathing his scent in deeply, I let the feel of our bond calm my mind and soul.

I couldn't imagine the pain Quinn went through the night of our original ceremony. He held me as I died in his arms. He watched the life fade from my eyes and the last bit of breath in my lungs escape my throat. He felt his heart crack and implode inside his chest as the battle with Viktor, Tyler and the twins raged around him.

His quick thinking of the prophecy is what saved me. The blood of my mates. Without them, I wouldn't be here today. Even so, he felt rejoice at my body repairing and life filling my veins once more, only to watch not one, but both of his parents be murdered in front of his eyes.

"I may have died, but you lost so much more, Quinn. I don't mean to be weak right now. I promise I can get through this." I whispered as he placed his palm to my cheek, keeping my gaze locked on his.

"You are not weak, Carter. You are the strongest woman I know, and if you need to take a second to compose yourself, no one would ever think differently of you." He placed a soft kiss upon my lips.

"I don't know what I would do without you, my soul. Thank you." I whispered and lowered my forehead against his chest. He didn't bother with a response, just wrapped my body more tightly in his arms.

After another moment of silence, I pulled back and looked into his soft eyes. "Let's do this."

I slowly walked away from the warmth and comfort of my mates embrace. I needed to show my strength at a time like this. I couldn't and wouldn't allow myself to crumble. It hit me that I didn't have Sam here by my side for something as important as this. He would have leant me his strength and given me a shoulder to lean on while my mates held strong enough for us all. I shook my head from the thoughts and continued walking.

I met the Beta's, Xander and Tyler at the front of the aisle, Quinn only steps behind me. A hush had fallen over the pack, as all heads turned to watch. I looked into Tyler's eyes and saw slight fear, of what I wasn't sure of.

"Are you okay?" I whispered softly.

His adam's apple bobbed as he gulped before giving me a subtle nod of his head. His dark hair was ruffled and looked bed ridden, and it made sense when I watched him run his hands through it roughly.

"You're nervous." It wasn't a question. I raised a slight brow to him, he just nodded imperceptibly once more.

"I don't want to let anybody down. I am here for pure reasons, I know that and I know that you know that, but they don't." He pointed to the pack surrounding us. "You're pack is strong and true. I have seen a lot over the past three days while I have been out of my cell. What you have is enviable. These wolves and Lycan's would lay their lives down for this pack. I want to be a part of that. I want to be worthy of being a part of it."

His words stung in my chest. Over the years my hatred and anger had not subsided. My focus had always been on what I had been through, what Xavier and all of my Lycan's had been through. I never thought that there could be anything more to it.

I've thought over and over about what had happened between us. From meeting in the clearing behind Grandpa Jones' house, to being in his bed, to being kidnapped and drained of my blood. While I realize the man standing in front of me is not the one who threw my traumatized body down a cement stair case, I needed this oath from him. I couldn't let my guard down enough to breathe without it.

I shot him a look as if to say you can do this, as I moved to stand between my mates. Everyone began to gather around for the ceremony. I held my head high and tried to sneakily take in a few deep, calming breaths.

"Brothers and sisters," Xander's voice carried heavily through the air. "We have asked you here tonight to oversee a momentous occasion. As you have all gathered over the past few days, standing here before us, is the son of our enemy. Tyler Evans has come to us with news of impending danger." Whispers exploded around us and the echoes of others trying to hush the sounds filled the air.

"I am sure you have had your walls up with concern and questions that have been piling up. Tyler has come to us, requesting peace and trust and in return he will stand by our side as our brother. We have asked you to witness the blood oath he swears under the light of the moon. Under the glow of the Goddess herself."

Quinn lifted a wicked looking athame and held it out for me to grasp. The silver metal curved sharply and glistened under the light of the moon. There was a single rough cut, red jewel at the end of the handle. Delicate symbols and swirls etched into the sheen of the blade caught my eye. I wrapped my hand carefully around the handle and was surprised at how heavy such a simple looking dagger was.

"Tyler, please come forward and stand before your queen." Quinn commanded. "Place your right hand out, palm up." He did as he was asked and I grasped his hand in my own, keeping the fleshy part of his hand open to the sky.

It was time.