Chosen

2

I ran up to my room and changed out of the dirtied clothes. I threw on a simple blouse and a long skirt, then thought better of it. What if I were to run into my Mate on the way? I didn't have much to offer in ways of genetics, but I could at least clean up a bit more. I quickly brushed my hair out and braided a few pieces away from my face, then donned a long sleeved blue dress that fell just past my knees. A pair of black heels and a black coat were the last things I grabbed before running downstairs to meet father. While most Lycans wouldn't need the coat, my small stature required it. I wasn't as bad as a human; even in the coldest day of winter, I would only require a light jacket. However, most Lycans could weather single digit temperatures with thin layers. Another sign of my weakness.

I made sure to grab my phone and wallet from the kitchen before meeting father on the porch. He and mother had moved out of the pack house when they'd gotten pregnant with me, but I had moved in at sixteen, as was custom in White Moon pack. Unmated Lycans, the Alpha family, and older Lycans all resided in the pack house, which was built more like a compound than a house. My father had made a big deal of his "little girl" leaving home, but had eventually gotten over it when I had turned sixteen and hadn't felt the change take over for my Mate. I could only imagine how he'd act now that I was ready for it.

My parents' house was only a short drive away. It was a small, single style rancher with a big patio and built-in fire pit out back. I could see a group of people huddled around the blazing fire with beers in hand. Most likely father's friends, I surmised.

"My baby! Oh, darling, happy birthday! You're finally ready!" Mom attacked me in the same way father had, crushing me in a big bear hug and squeezing the life out of me. She then proceeded to drag me through the house, introducing me to all the people she'd invited, most of whom I'd had met before. I knew what mother was doing. She was hoping to introduce her daughter to her Mate.

By dinner, I had decided my Mate wasn't at the party. I'd met almost everyone and hadn't felt anything. My mother had said that my blood would "sing" when I'd met my Mate, but I hadn't heard any singing. Mrs. Reed had stopped by with some food she'd prepared for the gathering, muttering out an apology that she couldn't stay as Black Moon pack had rescheduled for another day and she had a lot of packing to do. I winced. All that food wouldn't go to waste in the pack house, but it meant Mrs. Reed would have a lot of free time for a few days. That made Mrs. Reed antsy and agitated, which meant the pack house would be a mine field until she could get back to cooking.

I was busy re-heating the food and setting it out when I felt it. My blood started to rush, and my stomach flipped. I felt my breath quicken and jumped up, looking around for the source of this feeling. This must be it. This must be the "singing."

The kitchen was almost deserted, so I headed out into the patio where everyone had gathered. It had gotten late and cold, but I barely noticed as I scanned the area for any face she hadn't already seen. I'd almost given up hope when suddenly my eyes connected with bright blue ones. I took him in with a once over. He wasn't particularly muscular, built more like a runner than a fighter, with a slim figure and scant muscles. His hair was cropped tight to his head, but based on the thick eyebrows it must've been a light brown. A light crop of facial hair littered the bottom half of his face, darkening a bit over his upper lip. And his lips, thin and pink, stretched into a wide grin at the sight of me.

I moved closer to him hesitantly, not knowing who he was and not remembering ever seeing him before.

"Oh, Lily, dear, this is Travis Maine. He just came back from studying overseas, isn't that exciting!?" Mother came over and pushed me towards a Travis, who smiled over at the older woman.

"Pleased to meet you, Lily."

"You too, Travis. Mom, Travis is my-"

"Is the dinner ready, Mrs. Sanders?"

"Yes, yes, please go help yourself!" Mom twirled off to greet more guests and my Mate pushed me inside towards the kitchen. He looked around at the few people there and decided to keep tugging me along. He settled for upstairs, in the guest bedroom. I was relieved, because my childhood bedroom still had some embarrassing posters of Jesse McCartney and the Backstreet Boys.

"So we're Mates, then." The way he said it was as if he'd just made a business deal: calm, collected, and unemotional.

"Yes, it seems so. Do you...do you not like that?"

"Honestly? I don't know what to think right now. I hardly know you. I can sort of remember you cooking a few meals before I left, but I don't really remember seeing you around the pack growing up. Did you move here recently?"

"No, I just... I don't really get out much."

"Hm." The sound was very noncommittal, as if he wasn't sure what to make of that statement. I suddenly didn't feel as euphoric as I had moments ago. I'd always thought that meeting you Mate would be a magical moment, that I'd fall into his arms and he'd kiss me and sparks would fly. Instead, it seemed more like I was applying for a job rather than meeting the person who was destined for me.

"So what happens now?" His question broke me out of my thoughts.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, now that we know we're Mates, what do we do?"

I blinked. "Um, well, most couples move in together and get to know each other a little better, I guess. And there's the mating ceremony, and...and then it's just 'happily ever after' from there."

Travis nodded. "I suppose it would be best to move in together; it would be the quickest way to get the mating process started. And I have to go to the Alpha's office in a few days to drop of the paperwork from my studies abroad, so I can pick up a mating form when I'm there. We'll see about the mating ceremony after that, I guess. As for the happily ever after, well," he smirked, as if that last part was some kind of joke. "I guess we'll just pray for a fairy tale."

But weren't we already in one?