Betrothed

Chapter 5: The Initial Meeting

                                                       

Willow

I couldn't help but wonder what my mate looked like and begin thinking about all of the possibilities. Is he charming and tall? Is he nice and protective? Is he quiet and lean? I need to know him. I need to see him! Why can't time go any faster? Why make us wait so long to meet?

My mom had set out a really pretty short sleeveless teal colored dress with a gold belt and some ruffles. It was so pretty and sitting beside it were a pair of gold-colored flats because my mother knows that I do not like high heels. I wondered what Brayden would think of me in this dress. I kept daydreaming about him, and I wondered if he was doing the same.

After I got my dress and flats on, I went downstairs to my parents' room. My mom turned around and looked as if she was going to cry and my father well, he walked over to me and gave me a hug.

"Can you help me with my hair, mom?" I asked my mother with a smile on my face, being so excited about today's event.

She nodded and walked into their bathroom. She pulled out a curler and a pretty hair piece.

"Mom, how much longer until I get to meet him?" I was just hating how slow the day was going.

My mom stopped curling my hair for a second, "You will get to meet him when it is time."

She continued curling my hair and putting it half up half down. When she was done, she looked me over to make sure I was perfect.

She nodded, "You are ready. It is time."

We walked out of my house and to the middle of the woods where lights were hung in the trees and music was playing softly in the background. Also, there was a large group of people, some in chairs, others walking around, and more sitting by the bonfire. They were all here to celebrate Brayden and I, and our first meeting. I scouted out the whole area and didn't see Brayden anywhere, not that I know what he looks like, but I just know that he isn't here yet.

Knowing my wolf would know when he was near because of the instincts your wolf has to determine your true mate from a crowd of random people, or so I was told it works that way.

My mom came to check on me by the bonfire, "Willow, why are you sitting by yourself?"

She should know why. She should know that I am waiting by myself because he isn't here. I feel like Brayden would be the type to know where a girl in distress hangs out at. My mom gave up trying to get an answer out of me and walked away.

After sitting by the fire for too long, I could smell the smoke on me and knew that wasn't going to make a good impression. I made sure no one was following me and ran into the woods trying to get the wind to take away some of the smell. I kept running, not caring about anything because I felt free. The first time I ever felt free was when I turned for the first time on a full moon, that was when I was thirteen. Now I am nineteen and feel rejected by someone that I haven't even met before.

I continued to run until I couldn't feel my legs anymore.

Shortly after I stopped running, the feelings I've been running from came flooding back. All I could do was sit on a stump and cry, no one heard me because I was a silent crier. After I pulled myself back together, I made my way back to the party meant to celebrate me and someone's first meeting that has yet to happen.

I found myself walking over to a tree and leaning beside it, but I wasn't the only one who found me.

I watched him as he approached me. He walked slowly, trying not to scare me off, with his shoulders held high and a smile on his face. He was around six feet tall or taller. He was wearing a black tux with a teal tie and dress shoes. His hair was a dark brown kept short, but it still fell right above his eyebrows and his arms were muscular even hidden under the tux sleeves.