Once Upon Her Three Wishes

Chapter Five

Tatyana smiled at her daughters. They were beautiful. Alyona twirled around for her mother, excited at the opportunity to meet her mate. The layers of icy blue fabric swished and swayed, wrapping itself around her long legs. The color she chose was a stark contrast to her beautiful smooth warm brown skin. Isabella stood there in her cream-colored pants suit, the legs billowed out, giving the appearance of a skirt. It was the best she could find that she'd be comfortable in. Her mother looked down and tsked lightly at her choice of shoes.

"What? They're comfortable, and if, by some chance, I do meet my mate. I don't want to tower over him." She shrugged, "Or run from him easily if I don't like him."

Irina giggled, her lavender scoop neck gown complimenting her figure and hairstyle for the evening. She was happy with her appearance. The updo exposed her neck and showed off her dangling amethyst earrings and necklace.

Alexei came up behind his wife smiling broadly, "Moya prekrasnaya doch' " He sighed, "I don't know how I'm going to keep the men off of you until your mates are here!"

An omega came up to the Alpha and Luna, "This has arrived, Ma'am." she handed the eldest Boyets female a note.

"Thank you, Leslie. When is your shift over? I know I hired outside help for the ball, so all of our pack could attend." Tatyana always made sure that for the biggest events, if the omegas and other staff wanted to attend they would be able to.

The young girl smiled, "I'm finishing up now, Luna."

Tatyana returned the beautiful smile with one of her own, "I'm so glad. Now, hurry and get ready. You have all worked so hard to get the event staff up to date. And I thank you."

Leslie hugged the Luna before she could help herself. "Thank you."

Alexei smiled, he knew where the poor girl had come from and was more than happy to allow her and her mother refuge from the tyranny of the Sapros Pack. He'd used his connections to find out more of what was going on over there and made some 'adjustments' to their Alpha's thought process. "And don't worry, young lady, your former pack, while invited, are under strict rules here." His reassurance made Leslie feel safe, "And if your mate happens to be in that pack, then he will have to come here. You are under no obligation to leave my pack or the safety thereof for a mate."

Leslie smiled in appreciation of the Alpha and Luna. They'd taken her and her mother in when Alpha Julius and his sons allowed her father to abuse them. They ran in the middle of the night a little over a year ago and have been safe here ever since.

Alexei returned his attention to his mate, "What happened, my love?"

Tatyana sighed, "It looks like the Hawthorne Pack's young alpha-to-be won't be here. He's come down with wolfpox. I hope he's okay."

Alexei shook his head sadly, "I do hope he recovers quickly."

Alyona sighed, "That's terrible! I hope he gets well soon!"

Isabella and Irina agreed. The youngest triplet was sad. She'd secretly hoped to be mated to that pack. Their medical research was above the bar and it was amazing.

Bardik knocked on the door before entering, "Well, damn, I didn't think my sisters could clean up that well," he teased.

Alyona and Irina blushed, Isabella scowled, "Says the wolf that stinks of smoke again."

Bardik shrugged, "I showered and changed at the station," he explained when his mother gave him a warning glare. "What? It's not like I can tell the buildings not to catch fire." He pulled his suit jacket down, "And who knows, maybe my mate likes the smell of fire and cologne." He pulled a hand over his tightly braided long hair and winked at his sisters.

Tatyana sighed, "I don't know what I'm going to do with you." She brushed some invisible lint off of Bardik's shoulder and shook her head. "So do you think you've found your mate?"

Alexei looked up at his son and gave him an approving nod, "You know there have been offers from other packs. Including Alpha Odin's."

"I told you, I am not about to lose my goddess-chosen mate for some desperate spoiled little daddy's girl. I'll find her soon enough." Bardik's tone was enough to stop the conversation. He looked at his little sisters, "Besides that, this is their day. Have you met your wolves yet?"

The girls nodded, their wolves had shown up right after midnight and introduced themselves. Irina was thrilled that her wolf's name was Lyubov'. It gave her hope that her life would be filled with love.

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Selene smiled contentedly, at least one of the girls would be meeting their mate this evening. She felt bad that Kane wouldn't be there to meet his mate, but wolf pox was not a laughing matter. The mood goddess stroked the chin of the tiny quoll and gave it a few insects. She knew that Sergei and Irina would be a good match. He'd seen enough pain from his father's actions that she was confident that he wouldn't repeat the cycle. As Selene looked over the Dragonmoon Pack, she smiled. Bardik's mate was close, and it would only be a matter of time for Alyona to get her mate. That young lady needed to learn patience. Isabella's mate would balance her out as soon as they met and, hopefully, it would make up for what happened in her childhood.

The mood goddess then turned her attention to other creatures in her room. Giving each the attention it needed so they could get sent back to their rightful territories. She sighed sadly as she thought of how cruel humans were in their greed. She scratched the lynx behind its ear as she examined its hind leg. The cat's thick fur was the reason it was there. Someone had tried to kill it for its fur, for money. Selene understood if they were grateful for the animal and used everything it had to offer, but to just kill the poor things and take only the fur was infuriating to her.

Selene's attention was taken from the creatures by someone praying to her. She walked over to her watching pool.

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"Please, Moon Goddess, let them love me as I know I will love them. Make me worthy of the girls' love. And show my father that I am someone important." Sergei's plea broke Selene's heart. She had wished his father hadn't been so cruel and heartless. But what did he mean, them? He was only mated to one. Selene shook her head, this couldn't be a good start.

Sergei looked in the mirror in his bathroom, taking a silent inventory of himself. He looked pretty good. His dark blonde hair was cut perfectly. The dark purple of his tie complimented his brown eyes. He smiled, showing his only dimple. This was going to be an amazing night.

Oksana knocked on Sergei's door before entering, "You look so handsome," she whispered as she limped in. Her wolf was taking longer to heal than usual and she didn't understand why.

"Momma, your foot isn't healed yet?" Sergei asked, concerned.

His mother smiled at him, "Don't worry about me, I will be fine." She held her son at arm's length and took him in. She seemed to be savoring this image as if it were the last time she would see him. Her eyes welled with tears, "Be happy, my son."

"Momma, you're acting as if I'm leaving. My mates are the daughters of the Alpha. We will be set after this."

Oksana nodded, "You're right, my son." She patted his cheek, "Go, find your girls, and have a grand time."

Sergei leaned down and gave his mother a kiss on the cheek, "I love you, Momma. See you in the morning."

The tired she-wolf watched her son leave the house and then limped into the kitchen. She pulled the vial that she'd hidden months ago out of its hole and hobbled into her room. She wasn't sure how long it would take for it to kick in, but she didn't want her son to find her on the floor of the kitchen. She sat on her bed and looked at the bottle. She couldn't do this anymore. She didn't want to run and her mate certainly didn't love her. Sergei would be okay, he was mated to two of the Alpha's daughters. Oksana uncorked the bottle and swallowed the purple-blue liquid. The sweetness of it surprised her. She closed her eyes as the potion took hold, making her go to sleep. Her final thought before entering the Shadowlands was, the money she gave the witch on Sergei's birthday was worth it. It had been for this, not the vision. The witch had told her this would be the only way Sergei would become the man he needed to be. And she didn't want to be with her mate anymore. He had caused her too much pain, and she couldn't handle it any longer. Her silver wolf met her at the edge of the Shadowlands, guiding her to a small lake where she could watch her son grow with his mates.