Finding Her Mate

Chapter 38

Ash answered, "leave this to me, the only thing that can save her now is surgery". Maddie thinks sadly, 'this is all my fault, Zion wouldn't have been here at all if I'd just agreed to be his mate, I'm a coward'. Ash carries Ellie away as Charlie stands and turns to Maddie, a serious look in his eye. Maddie notices everyone staring at her as she says, "Charlie, I am so sorry, if I had just done better, fought harder, gotten here faster, I-". Charlie says, "stop", unexpectedly he pulls Maddie into a hug saying, "thank you, thank you for helping when you did, if you hadn't been here, it would have been much worse Maddie". Maddie was surprised saying, "w-what?". Kayden says, "what you did with the Wolfbloods... commanding them with your voice... you saved us Maddie". Maddie says, "saved you? we all fought equally". Ryan says, "no Maddie, you charged head-first into this battle with no regards for your own safety, I know we've been hard on you in the past, but you have proven yourself". Hannah says, "yes, you have earned your place in this pack". Akira says, "you are one of us!". Ryan says, "as long as our Alpha agrees?". Rhydian nods saying, "yes, it's time we bring Maddie into the pack properly". Maddie is escorted to her room with Akira asking, "what's going on?". Hannah says, "it's time for your initiation". Sarah says, "time for you to well and truly become a member of our pack". Maddie wonders, 'they want to invite me in? officially?'. Maddie asks, "so what's happening exactly?". Sarah replies, "our Alpha has declared you worthy of an initiation which is no small thing". Hannah says, "I am not sure human society has an equivalent to this, Maddie, it is a ritual conducted under the full moon that binds you to each of us on a spiritual level". 

Rhydian comes there saying, "but you have to look the part for start". Maddie turns to see Rhydian leaning against the door as she takes a good look at him, his slick lean body is adorned in the finery of his people. He puts three dresses on the bed saying, "these dresses here... these were made by my great, great grandmother passed down for ceremonies such as this". Maddie says, "really? so, they are special to you?". Rhydian nods replying, "very, they have only been worn by the women in my family". Maddie was stunned saying, "what?". Rhydian replies, "each family passes down ritual clothing, worn by a Wolfblood on the day of their initiation". Akira says, "I get to have my initiation in five years, Maddie!". Maddie turns to Rhydian saying, "so, Rhydian... y-you want me to...". Rhydian says, "wear the clothes promised for my family? yeah, if you will accept them". Maddie looks at the options saying, "in that case, I will wear it". She takes the silk one and heads to the bathroom and changes into it; she soon comes out brushing her fingers over the silky dress saying, "it fits like a glove, like it was particularly meant for me". Maddie looks at Rhydian asking, "how do I look, Rhydian?". Rhydian replies, "you look....". Akira says, "so pretty like a princess". Rhydian is silent for a long moment staring at Maddie in his ancestral clothing. Rhydian says, "the last time I looked at this was when my mother showed it to me, she told me about the day she wore it and told me one day I would be able to pass it on to someone special". Rhydian comes closer and caresses Maddie's cheek saying, "she was right". He takes her hand saying, "come on, it's time". They soon come down in the forest near the estate by the fire as Maddie sees everyone looking at her. Maddie asks, "what are they all looking at?". Rhydian replies, "you". Maddie blushes as Rhydian asks, "are you ready? once you have experienced this ceremony, your connection to this pack will go deeper than anything you've ever experienced, you will feel what we feel, know what we know, and truly be one of us and of course as my mate our bond will be the deepest of all, I want you to close your eyes and listen to the howling of your kin, feel the coming moonlight". 

Maddie does so as Rhydian says, "think on how it guides each of us and most importantly, let the pack in". Maddie follows Rhydian's instruction feeling the stars and moon as she hears the howls and then suddenly she's overcome with sensation. Maddie opens her eyes saying, "woah". She feels the moonlight above as Rhydian asks, "Maddie, by the light of this full moon, do you herby accept your place in this pack? Will you join us, stand and fight with us? Will you become one with us, forever more?". Maddie replies, "Alpha, I do accept my place in this pack". She feels a burst of energy flowing through her as her skin tingles from her fingertips to the very center of her heart.