Unexpected: Forever His (Book 1)

Chapter 16: A Dinner Marks the Start

*****Kayla's dinner ensemble pictured above*****

I couldn't put the books down. The one I was reading now was a replica of the Ancient Book that stored the Ancient Prophecies that I apparently was the star of. I still had difficulty comprehending that I was the queen who could either bring piece or destruction to all of Earth. I skimmed through some more of the pages and two words caught my attention. "Blood Bond"

I turned the page back and started to read. I understood the gist of it. Basically the Blood Bond was there to unite the couple's souls. It was one of the final steps to unity between the pair and in most cases, the pack. It required the male to use the ceremonial dagger and cut the palm of his hand. The female would then follow suit and upon request from the Master of Ceremonies, they would place their palms together with interlocked fingers. Their hands would then be tied together with a Ceremonial Bonding Ribbon and not removed until the next morning after the Vows and Bonding had been consummated. It seemed so beautiful, but it was also usually done only with mated couples. Couples who had been destined for each other. I shivered just as a knock came at the door. I glanced at the clock. 5:45. I had let time slip away from me. I glanced up at the black dress that hung from the back of the door as I stood and walked over to the door.

I opened the door hesitantly only to find Nina staring back at me with a huge smile on her face. She was holding a medium sized box in her hands and she was now wearing a baby blue dress that met her knees and she wore it with an elegance that I hoped I could learn how to possess.

I backed up and she stepped past me into the room. "I've come to get you ready for dinner." She turned and smiled awkwardly. "Not that you couldn't...I mean I'm sure you could get ready on your own, but..."

"I would like the help, Nina. Thank you." I lifted my hand to her shoulder. "Besides, maybe you can explain something to me so that I can understand it better."

She glanced at the books. She was right in assuming my question had to do with what I had read. I had questions about a lot of it, but right now my interest was on the Blood Bond.

Nina stepped over to the bed and skimmed the open page and sighed before she looked back up at me. "I'm not so sure Dante would request this of you, Kayla. He has every right to, but it is not a simple or small thing. This is a tradition that has held in our pack since the time of the Ancients. Before even Dante could have been thought of."

I walked over to the door and pulled the dress that Dante had gotten for me off of its hanger and stepped back over to the bed with it. I laid it flat and looked back up at her. "Is there a reason why he wouldn't want to ask for a Blood Bond with me, Nina?"

She glanced at the window and then to the balcony door. "Dante should be the one to explain to you about his past, Kayla. You are his future...our future. We look forward to that, but there was a time when no one here thought we would be seeking ceremonial decorations for a new Luna." The sadness in her eyes was undeniable and I wanted to ask her to explain further, but I knew she wouldn't. I doubted if Dante even would. It seemed as though a great sadness had touched the people here and it made me feel sad to think of it.

"I hope that he can trust me enough to tell me about it one day so that I can be the Luna I need to be for his people." I smiled as I said it.

"We are your people, Luna. I don't think either of you see it yet, but there is something so special about you. I saw it as soon as I saw you. I have a gift for seeing inside of people. Maybe just a knack. I don't know, but however I see it, your heart is pure. Genuine. What you've been through has only strengthened that purity. I know that's why my brother is drawn to you. I know he will open up to you in time. Just give it that." I nodded, a smile still lingering on my face as she stepped around me and lifted the box. "I got you a gift too. I hope you like it. I sort of snuck a peak at some of your shoes to know what size to get you when I came in with the books earlier."