Happily Ever Mate

6

As our parents started to walk down the large staircase in front of us, the clock on the highest top of the room they had been meeting sounded.

They each walked in the order of distance from this main castle campus.

This place held the sanctuary chapel of our gods and goddesses, starting from my parents, followed by the Leonidas clan, then the Itah clan, to whom the triplets reside, and shortly after my parents had met, the final step did the welcoming sound of announcer spoke of the arrival of the Skoll family, running in was the Council of their clan, he had been out of breath from his run from what my ears could identify, ones each was in front of us we started to receive each other in our clans' manners of greetings.

After Irvan and I had said our welcome in the same manner as we did when we first met, we followed Leonidas, yet he didn’t hold Ina’s hand.

He was far from her as his knuckles met one another and then hit the ground flat, in the same manner as Ina, but on her knees.

The Itah clan were different in their greetings by howling at one another.

They sounded beautiful between each other in perfect harmony.

To our please surprise, the Skoll family had arrived to say their excuses, but as any other year, they came with gifts of hunting, a sport I was most fond of.

After they had said they apologized, they welcomed us with their manners of antiquity by holding one hand up and the one in front holding the opposite, then one twirl to be delivered back in the same place as they had started.

It was refreshing to see they had not forgotten, yet if only the same could be said about Isabella, as she was pushing me to walk a bit faster now that we were done. “Could you please stop badgering me to pursue a faster pace? You, my maid, not my teacher,” I clarified her place to show a bit of dominance when Irvan pinched my arm.

I went to caress it when he took my hand instead, “Respect your maid. She is trying to be punctual,” he pulled in my hand, making me whimper.

Budding heads with Isabella was not something of a normal state; we always had differences, but she behaved quite strangely after meeting Irvan.

Walking to the backyard of this campus, my parents spoke, “It is with great admiration that I declare for all four clans the starting events of a practicing marriage. We are aware none of you know the identity of who could be your potential mate. You have agreed to disregard the possibility that you have but a chosen mate. But fear not. Your choices will be honored over time. From every Sunday as we remain here, we will educate you on your vows to your chosen mates.”

I gulped silently, so it was decided.

We would not have the choice to be with whom we were fated.

Directed by attention to the large white chapel, it had large walls of mosaics, each of the four clans' history, starting from the moon goddess herself, the beautiful white silvers that formed the moon goodnesses image reflected beautifully to the inside.

As we all stepped in, I could see the floors weren’t of marble but of a clear glass that showed the galaxy, as if it could describe that it held the moon curd of a chapel in its place.

The mosaics that varied in colors illuminate the entire chapel.

She lives in this chapel as her second home, and here she visits us all.

What wonders could be found if she so decided to show us?

Walking with our chosen mates felt wrong, but it was my duty.

How could I lead my clan without my mate?

Those words stung my heart's desires, for it knew I had lied.

Was Leonidas feeling the same way?

I shook my head.

Why think of another king when I have my own to think about?

Lost in my thoughts, I see the colors of the Fenrisúlfr Clan, the silver reds with black tones passing to land on my solid body, the colors changing into a bright pink shade as it shifts into those of my clan gray, white with gold, as the sun passes so does the colors into a green with purples from the Itah clan, green, oranges and blue, those of the Skoll clan that mixed again.

Chandeliers of crystals hung from the delicate chapel.

It felt as if one touch could break this chapel, but as beautiful as it resembled the potential strength it held at being attacked.

Ivan cleared his throat, and I moved to meet his silent command of paying attention.

“Now that we have seen our chapel know that tomorrow we will have our first rehearsal. Arriving early is your duty as the future King and Queen of your clan.”

Father spoke, and I heaved when Elanor Skoll said, “The arrival order is important. No mistakes must be made on the date of the wedding. Like your parents before you, we too had the same. The date will be when all of you are of age. In no less than eighteen will you wed your chosen mate.”

He adds as father nods in approval.

Then, my wolf would awake at the time of my wedding.

My face had lost color from the mention of these details.

How could I make my wolf feelings understand I had no choice?

Fear consumed me as those words registered, yet Ivan retaliated as he saw my breathing had picked up, “Lady Louise, you embarrassing me,” he complained, and blamed me for fearing my wolf’s feelings, as I did not comply he pulled me down, “are you dead?”

A slight growl was heard from Leonidas.

As we both looked his way, his expression remained angry, “Don’t pull on her. She is not a doll, Young King Ivan.”

He used Ivan’s title, which fueled Ivan instead, “Pay more attention to your own Chosen Young Queen instead of correcting my actions,” Leonidas growled again at Irvan. Still, the Itah King commanded, “Stop your bickering, pay attention to your mates in a caring nature the both of you, Leonidas to Ina. And Irvan to Louise, or be prepared for your following lectures for disobedience.”

He spoke in a harsh tone, to which both the young kings agreed in mutual silence to obey.

Leaving the chapel, we headed to the fire ranges, where we would choose our weapon of choice to hunt our presents.

My mother and father always encouraged me to hunt.

It would be se one Nature when my wolf was to wake fully, yet Ivan wasn’t that joyful to be hunting, as he spoke to my father while I looked at the weapons, “King Legolas, if I may have a word?”

My father kissed my mother's cheek in pure affection as she walked towards me to pick up her weapon.

Mother had been wearing the same clothes as my own.

As I chose a bow with an arrow and a dagger, Irvan asked my father, “Why have a woman pick a weapon? Isn’t that a bit out of her Queen duties? I find that tradition quite a disappointment,” Father growled at Irvan and spoke firmly, “Under no circumstances are you to believe that for being a chosen mate, you have a choice on the rules of our clan.

Only my daughter, with her blood, will be allowed to make any changes.

For a chosen mate’s interference, such as these questions that cause the choices in ranking, a King is above a queen if he is one of the Royal bloodlines.

Not the other way around, learn your place, a Marquess son.”

Father took Irvan’s book, “Young King Leonidas, care to make a bet child?”

I looked behind where they stopped at the entrance door to the armor's room, to which Irvan looked confused about what Father had just told him.

Leonidas walks towards Father holding a whip in his hand, a sword on his hips, and brass knuckles in his other hand, “perhaps you could use your gift today?

It seems we are more than open to starting to demonstrating our talents from what father has told your chosen mate, say let’s have our bet Lou,” mother said as she held my shoulders, “what bet would that be a mother?”

She smiled kindly as I looked up at her, “I bet you a good baking evening after the vows rehearsal that Irvan will never think he is above father when he is done with Irvan,” I smiled as I understood what she meant.