The Fated Malachite Luna

Chapter #9 - Familiarizing with Strangers

Cami’s POV

After spending a total of three hours at the boutique, I leave with an entire outfit for the banquet tonight. Megan and Jessica ended up getting new dresses too but didn’t put them on Hunter’s account, thankfully. I would’ve felt too guilty.

Megan’s dress is an off-white lace body-con style dress with off-the-shoulder lace straps that goes to her mid thigh. Jessica chose a baby blue body-con dress as well about knee length with baggy tool sleeves and small silver butterflies all over the material. They’re both beautiful and it’s making me excited for the banquet!

“Let’s head back to the pack house to start getting ready!” Megan exclaims.

“Okay.” I flash her a smile.

I’m starting to warm up to them more. All I can think about is Shyla and how well her and Megan would get along. I had totally forgotten about my unusual circumstance while we were at the boutique and now suddenly a wave of panic washes over me. What if Shyla is freaking out wondering where I am and has been trying to contact me?! What if she went to the police? As soon as we get back to the pack house I need to call her and talk to her to make sure everything is okay. For now I try to enjoy the walk back to the pack house, listening to Megan and Jessica banter about life.

“So, what is the mate bond like?” I ask Jessica suddenly.

I heard her explain that she’s mated to Hunter’s head trainer, Brock. I guess I’m just curious how someone would know who their mate is or not…

“It’s unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Being with your mate is like… when you see them… everything changes. All of a sudden, it’s not gravity holding you to the planet anymore… it’s them. You’d become whatever they need you to be, do whatever they need you to do… simply for their ultimate happiness. I love him more than anything else in the world.” She explains with a big grin on her face.

She looks down at the ground as she talks and I can see the love she has for him simply in her expression. It sounds so amazing. Almost too good to be true.

“That sounds amazing.” I honestly admit.

“I hope I find my mate once I turn eighteen.” Megan sighs.

“I’m sure you will. I got lucky and found Brock not too long after my twentieth birthday.” Says Jess.

“Yeah, but you got lucky. Some mates don’t find each other till years and years after. Like Hunter, Jonathon and Avery for example.”

“Yeah but I have a good feeling about yours.” Jess winks at Megan.

“Well that makes one of us.” Megan pouts.

“You don’t think you’ve met your mate yet?” I ask Megan.

“It’s hard to say. Sometimes you can feel drawn to a person even before you turn eighteen… I guess I’ll have to wait and see.” She shrugs.

We make it back to the pack house after stopping for some caramel apples on the way. The territory has so many unique shops outside of the residential areas. As of right now I’m not sure I want to leave…

We all go up to Jess’s old room on the Beta floor to get ready. Some of her things are still here from when she moved out so it’s not completely bare. I watch her mind-link her mother to bring some things from her and Brock’s home.

After about thirty minutes, Jessica’s mom shows up with a giant makeup bag.

“Woah!” I blurt with eyes wide enough to pop out of my head.

“I’m always prepared.” Jess winks.

“Alright!” Megan claps her hands together. “We need to figure out what to do with our hair!”

“First we need drinks and snacks.” Jess says as her eyes cloud over and she mind-links someone.

“Umm… Can I ask you girls something?” I start.

“Anything.” Jess smiles.

“So… Hunter explained that I’m a werewolf… and my mom confirmed it… but like, I don’t know what that means yet. I don’t have any of the same abilities you guys do.” I shrug.

“Well…” Megan starts and then she glances at Jess.

“We were raised as wolves so a lot of our abilities came completely naturally to us. We didn’t really have to ‘learn’ how to do it… we just did it.” Jess explains.

“I guess that makes sense.” I nod slowly.

“Yeah. Like when a wolf turns eighteen they meet their wolf and shift for the first time. It’s fun cause we normally have a big party and then the pack goes for a run in wolf form together. It helps strengthen the bond we have.”

“Wow. That sounds amazing.” I add.

“It is. Megan turns eighteen next month, along with Hunter’s younger brother. They’re only a couple weeks apart so we’ll have two parties next month!” Jess exclaims excitedly.

“Cool. Are you excited, Meg?” I ask her.

“Totally! I just really hope I find my mate right away.” She pouts.

“Like I said before, I’m sure you will.” Jess flashes her a smile.

Our conversation is interrupted when an Omega knocks on the door and enters holding a tray of drinks and food.

“Oh my gosh… it’s the like the royal treatment here at all time!” I exclaim in shock.

“Well… in a way, the upper-class wolves are kind of like royalty.” Megan shrugs.

“I see.”

I decide to go with my hair down and lightly curled with a couple sparkly beads put into my hair by Megan’s suggestion. I’m not a girly-girl so this is way out of my comfort zone but I’m looking forward to it nonetheless. I paired my dress with a pair of silver stilettos, drop earrings with little stars, and bracelets and a small necklace to match.

Jess went with a pair of white chunky heeled, strappy pumps, a simple silver necklace and silver butterfly studs. Her long thick hair is done half-up, half-down.

Meg is wearing a pair of nude heels to go with her white dress and a small gold chain necklace with matching bracelets and earrings. She put her hair up in a messy up-do with braids.

I can’t deny we all look hot as hell. Getting all dressed up is making me miss Shyla all over again. I need to remember to ask Hunter if I can call her later. I keep getting distracted and then feeling guilty about it.

We make our way down to the main floor and as soon as I step off the bottom stair, I get the most magnificent scent waft up my nose. I can tell Hunter is near. All eyes suddenly turn to me and I’m the centre of attention in a crowd of werewolf strangers. Everyone stares simultaneously clapping and all I can do is stand there in shock.

Hunter’s POV

As I distract myself with Argenti Contracting up in my office with my dads help, I suddenly get a call from Brock.

“We found Cami’s condo ransacked again. Apparently there was also some collateral damage. A janitor was murdered and they have a lot of the building blocked off.”

“Are you kidding me?! Any idea of who it was or what happened?”

“Definitely more vampires. I have a feeling this is a large, unfriendly coven.”

“s**t. Anything else?”

“Ya. We found a human woman asking the authorities about a missing ‘Cami’.”

“What does she look like?”

“Blonde hair, brown eyes…”

“That’s Cami’s friend. I saw them at the mall together. Bring her back with you.”

“We came in wolf form. We don’t have a car.”

“Right. Rent one using my business account. I’ll see you when you get back.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

With that, he hangs up. The fact that Cami’s condo was broken into again and someone was murdered in the process is just the motivation I needed to go on a killing spree. No one threatens my mate without paying the consequences with their life. I’ll make sure that entire vampire coven doesn’t live another year. Cami will be happy to know that her friend is safe though and coming here soon. I’m sure she could use a familiar face.

“Everything okay?” My dad asks, after quietly waiting for the call to end.

I know very well he could hear the entire conversation, but he waits for me to explain anyways.

“Not really. But we’ll figure it out. First thing tomorrow after training I want everyone back in my office for another meeting. For now let’s enjoy the banquet.”

“Sure thing, son.”

I head to my room to throw on some nicer clothes for the banquet. I slip into a pair of navy blue slacks, black dress shoes, a white button-up shirt and a blue suit jacket overtop. In the bathroom I lather some styling cream in my hands and messily brush my hands through my blonde, shaggy hair. I add a bit of cologne to the side of my neck and take one last look in the mirror before heading downstairs. I really hope Cami likes me. It’s been hard to tell what her true feelings are since she doesn’t quite have a wolf yet. I really don’t want to freak her out, but truthfully every time I see her I just want to bend her over the nearest piece of furniture and claim her as mine in front of everyone.

As I leave my room and meet all the omega’s on the main floor, I pray to the moon goddess that Cami’s wolf makes her appearance soon.

“Well don’t you look handsome!” My mom greets me in the kitchen as she instructs all the omega’s on their jobs.

“Thanks, mom.” I nod and steal a skewer of steak and veggies from one of the trays.

“Hey!” She narrows her eyes at me but I pop it all in my mouth before she can snatch it away. “Save your appetite for dinner!”

“Sorry.” I chuckle with a mouth full.

“Normally it’s Avery doing that, not you!” She huffs.

“Sorry. Maybe I’m just nervous.” I swallow my food and stand with my arms cross against the counter looking down at the ground.

“Don’t be, my son! Everything will turn out just how it’s supposed to!” She flashes me a reassuring smile.

“Yeah…” I nod slowly.

“Yo! Where’s all the ladies at?!” Avery saunters into the kitchen with Jonathon closely behind him.

“Probably still getting ready. Don’t you know it takes precisely three business days for women to get ready?” Jonathon chuckles.

“Damn. That long?” Avery’s eyes widen.

“It was sarcasm you dumbass.” Jonathon lightly smacks Avery on the back of the head.

“Ouch! Jackass!” Avery rubs his head.

I’m laughing at their playful banter when we all join the party in the dining room. There are about three-hundred omegas gathered in the dining and living room, about twenty in the kitchen, and everyone else outside either on the deck or gathered around the cocktail tables set up in the grass.

An omega walks up with a tray of drinks and Avery and Jonathon take one each.

“Alpha, Beta, Gamma… I hope you enjoy yourselves tonight.” She smiles at the three of us.

“Thank you. You as well. Make sure not to work too hard.” I say and take a sip of my champagne.

My comment makes her blush and she slightly bows her head and then walks away. I’m used to the women flirting with me, but now that Cami is here, I have eyes for only her.

I start to make my rounds and welcome all of the omega’s to the pack house when I’m suddenly distracted as I get a whiff of raspberry and vanilla and my mouth instantly starts to salivate. I swallow hard and we all turn towards the stairs.

Megan and Jessica step off the stairs and shortly behind them is Cami. All the hair stands up on my body as I try to hold back Ezra.

Claim her now!

No! Not yet.

I push him to the back of my mind and step forward out of the crowd. Her body is out of this world and I want so badly to run my hands along her curves and commit every dip and mound to memory. She sparkles like a literal gemstone in her sparkly dress that matches her eyes. Her eyes meet mine and her cheeks flush a slight pink. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful and I want to fall to my knees and worship the ground she walks on. I never want to be apart from her ever again.

My mom’s appearance breaks me out of my trance. She approaches the ladies and takes the confused Cami’s hand, then turns to the rest of us.

“In honour of our guest, Camille, we hold this banquet tonight! Feast and drink to your hearts desires!” Then she claps loudly and the party gets underway.

I see my mom and Cami exchange a few words and then she walks off, leaving Cami a few yards away, standing alone.

Jessica has gone and joined some of the omegas and Megan has disappeared somewhere. I suddenly realize Jonathon is also nowhere to be found and Avery has a random she-wolf sitting on his lap in the dining hall. My shyness gets the best of me and I hesitate for too long to approach Cami. She starts to look around awkwardly and then her eyes rest on an Omega with a tray of champagne glasses. I snap myself out of it and swiftly grab a glass and bring it to her.

“Here you are.” I say awkwardly and have to clear my throat.

“Oh, thank you.” She takes the glass and tucks a piece of hair behind her ear.

She exposes her neck and I have the strongest urge to bend down and run my tongue along her skin. I’m sure if she could hear my thoughts I’d be scaring her away right now.

“I wasn’t aware the banquet was in my honour…” she says quietly all the sudden.

“Yeah, we take our guests really seriously and you’re important.”

“I am?”

“I mean, yeah… you’re one of us.” I almost slip up and cover it up swiftly.

“Right… about that, I have a friend that doesn’t know anything about what’s happened. Could I borrow your phone again to contact her?”

“Actually, she’s on her way here right now. Brock found her looking for you.”

“Really?! Thank god!” She exclaims and I can see her shoulders relax. “Wait. Does she know Brock is a wolf? Does she know anything?”

“No, I don’t think so. I think it would be best if you explained everything to her when she gets here.”

“Okay. I agree.” She nods slightly and takes a sip of her champagne.

The banquet starts off fantastic. Lots of the pack members approach her and introduce themselves. Not everyone knows she’s supposed to be my Luna yet, thankfully, otherwise I’m sure someone would’ve slipped up by now. The fact that no one has mentioned anything about her smelling like a human, just confirms that she is in fact- a werewolf.

I spend the next couple hours admiring her every move. The way she speaks, the way she moves, it’s as if the moon goddess gifted me a literal angel as my mate. I thank her over and over again for her gift and pray that nothing ever takes her away from me.