Raised by Wolves

11 A Ceremony*

Random fact
When wolves howl as a pack, two wolves can sound like twenty due to their changing pitch this is known as the "Beau Geste effect."

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"Get up!" Ruby yells at me, ending my beautiful dreams that I have already forgotten. "You need to get ready!"

"For what?" I ask, still groggy.

"Your date with Alic." She says, pulling me to a seated position.

"Date?" I ask. I didn't know we had a date.

"Chris and Mindy's mates ceremony? Alic said you were going with him." Ruby elaborates.

"I am... but that's not for a few hours. I don't need to get ready now." I tell her.

"Do you have a dress?" She asks, and I shake my head.

"I was just gonna wear normal clothes. Do I need a dress?" I respond.

"Oh, my ignorant friend. You really have no idea what to expect, do you?... Yes, you need a dress. We are going shopping let's go!" With that, Ruby tears off my blanket and pulls me out of bed.

I quickly shower and dress and we're out the door.

"Let's go!" Ruby says, pulling me through the doors of the mall. This girl has taken me here a few times, and I still don't see the appeal. Seriously, it's a lot of walking.  I'd rather just get in get what I need and get out, but that is impossible.

"Try this one, and this one, and this one." Ruby makes her way through the store, pulling dresses off of racks. "Into the dressing room you go!" She says, pushing me into the small room.

I look at the dresses, and honestly, I only like one. No way I'm trying them all on. I slip on the blue dress and step out.

"This one." I tell her.

"You look amazing! Don't you want to try the rest, though? We could get them for you to wear later." Ruby asks.

"Nope! Let's go." I don't bother changing out of the dress because with how long Ruby took shopping, we will probably be late now. I remove the tag and hand it to the cashier. She seems irritated but rings us up none the less. Ruby ended up doing the same noting that we are running late.

"I had a dress picked out for this too." She complains as we drive back to the pack house.

"It's your own fault for taking so long." I tell her.

"It had peach flowers, and I was gonna wear matching Converse!... it is so cute." She continues.

"I'm sure it is... but you got a new outfit." I tell her.

"I guess but the other one was better." She huffs.

"Well, you can wear the other for my mates ceremony." I tell her, and she slams on the breaks.

"Little sister say what? You and Alic are having a ceremony!? Why didn't I know? I could help plan..."

"And that's why you didn't know." I cut her off. "Your dad has it handled. It will be small no need for big planning."

"Fine!" She grumbles as she continues to drive.

It's not long before we are back at the pack house. Alic and Malak are waiting on us and seem to be quite irritated.

"You didn't tell me you were having a ceremony!" Ruby yells at Alic.

"You stole my mate and disappeared for an entire day, making me late for my own Gamma's ceremony!" He responds. Ruby huffs at him.

"Fine. We're even. Let's go." She says, taking Malak's arm.

"You look radiant, little Bell... and we match." Alic hums in my ear as he wraps an arm around my waist. I could get used to this. I look at him and notice he is right. His tie is a perfect match to my dress.

"You are quite handsome yourself, my King." I respond smiling at him. He growls lowly and inhales deeply.

"You don't know the effect you have on me." He mumbles as we make our way around the pack house to the back yard where the ceremony is being held.

"I do, actually, and it's fun to toy with you." I whisper back.

"It's not fun to tease, little wolf." He growls.

"It's fun for me." I respond. He raises an eyebrow with a mischievous gleam in his eye. Uh oh.

Alic leans down and begins kissing his mark on my exposed skin. I'm sure he is leaving a hickey and we're about to be at a party with most of the pack! I want to push him away but can't seem to think straight.

"Is teasing still fun, Bella?" He asks as he pulls away.

"Very." I mumble fighting a blush that only intensifies as he growls at me.

"You're killing me, Bella." He says lowly.

"You'll survive." I tell him as we reach the ceremony. As soon as we are seated, it starts.

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It was... I honestly don't know what to say. I can feel the tears in my eyes, and I hardly know these people. The love on their faces as they vowed to be with each other forever... It was awe-inspiring. I see how I robbed Alic of that moment. How beautiful it was when they marked each other. He can't have that now.

"You're upset." Alic states, pulling me closer to him as we sit at our table for the reception.

"I'm fine." I tell him.

"You're not. I can feel it. What's wrong, Bella?" He asks, truly concerned.

"I ruined your mates ceremony by forcing my way into the pack. We won't have that beautiful marking like they did, and it's my fault." I tell him, my voice muffled by his shirt as I cry.

"No, we have a passion filled marking in front of the entire pack. One where my beautiful mate claimed me as hers, not caring who was around. One where she showed her power and dominance. I wouldn't trade our marking for a normal one." He tells me.

"But you wanted that. You wanted a traditional mates ceremony." I argue.

"I had a lot of plans for my life. I planned to be Beta to my best friend. I planned to find my mate on my 18th birthday and to have my ceremony the week after I met her. Instead, I am the King of all Alphas. I waited a year to find my mate, and I got to know her and help her before anything remotely romantic happened. I got a strong mate who has overcome more than most can bear. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to take it. I think I made out better than I planned." He says, lifting my chin. "You are perfect, Bella. And we are still having a ceremony. I promise you that."

"I can't wait." I tell him hugging his neck.