Aether's Claim | Editing

Chapter 3

With shaky legs, I stepped onto the stage and made my way into my position, placed between two girls of similar rank and the same pack. The stage was large enough to fit about sixty wolves, but still I felt cramped and uncomfortable under the stifling heat.

The announcer began speaking and I tuned him out, knowing there would be many females before he got to my name. Instead, I searched myself for my wolf, feeling her curled up in a ball, conflicted as she watched from my eyes. She too was feeling overwhelmed by what had just happened, an immense urge to shift and run, something she knew we couldn't do for a while, overwhelming her.

I often wondered how it felt for our wolves to be cooped up inside us all the time. The first time I'd let my wolf out and given her full control, being at the back felt like a dream, or watching someone drive a car from the backseat. I couldn't imagine being like that for most of my life.

A few females ahead of me found their mates and my heart swelled with happiness for them as they were led off the stage and into their mate's arms. However, some females didn't find their mates this time and walked sadly off the stage, doing their best to put on a brave smile and re-joining their families. It wasn't something shameful to have not found your mate yet, but the sooner you found them, the better your chances were.

"May Bard."

The announcer's voice pierced my thoughts and I blinked, startled as I heard my name being called again. I blushed furiously and stumbled slightly as someone nudged me forward, embarrassed that I had been daydreaming while I was supposed to be paying attention.

"May Bard from the Crescent Moon pack will now use her wolf to find her mate. May the Moon Goddess guide you." The announcer began, throwing me a small encouraging smile as he turned towards the crowd.

I breathed out, summoning my wolf forward. Truthfully, there was no telling if what I was doing was right, but somehow, I knew it was and I felt my wolf emerge and my eyes change as a sixth sense somehow opened and my eyes fluttered closed.

He was here, I could feel it.

My eyes opened again, and I searched the crowd, a sort of tugging pulling my gaze. I searched for hours, it seemed, but I knew it was mere seconds before my gaze landed on a particular pair of familiar striking brown eyes.

My face fell in confusion as Ares stepped towards the stage, nudging Drew away as he tried to hold him back. My heart hammered in my chest as my mouth opened slightly in shock, completely baffled as to what was happening.

Goosebumps erupted onto my skin as Ares made contact with my hand and I shuddered, soaking in the pleasure as he pulled me off the stage. A few claps and cheers rang out from the crowd and our pack members, who beamed at me with encouraging smiles and turned back to the stage. Ares didn't let go of my hand as we whizzed past his family once again, and for once I was grateful for his powerful strength that held me up, as if he let go I would surely faint. My head was swimming with both pleasure and confusion, waves and ripples of what I could only assume was the mate pull coursed through my body and had my wolf frantic and pouncing around.

I jogged to keep pace with Ares, revelling in the feeling of my hand in his and the tingles of pleasure that danced across our skin as we kept contact.

He pulled me into the same tent as an hour ago, but instead of sitting me down he held me to him, nose burying into my neck as he inhaled my scent. I remained rigid and allowed him to, feeling sparks ignite where our skin made contact with each other. I was feeling the effects of the mate pull already as he pulled away and held me, brown gaze darkening once again. My eyes flickered to his lips, down his body and back up to settle at his neck; the urge to mark him was strong and I knew he felt the same way.