Chapter Nine
1850 Words
******Three years later
"Oh my Goddess, I can not believe you found your mate!" Alyona squealed in delight at her sister, "I can not wait until I find mine!"
Irina was still surprised that she, the youngest of the triplets, found her mate first. Sergei had arrived from a pack on the other side of the country, which was why he hadn't found her when she turned sixteen.
"So, when are we going to celebrate?" Alyona asked.
Irina shrugged, she was still the most mild-mannered one of the girls and she didn't know anything about this sort of thing.
"What's even better is the fact that you're not leaving the pack!" Alyona said, thinking about this wonderful bit of news.
Isabella jumped in on that one, "Yeah, we won't be separated!" The thought made Bella smile, she wasn't ready for them to be so far apart.
"So, we will need to get all of our friends together, to have a she-wolf night out," Ally said, her finger to her chin, in thought. She looked at Bella, "And you and I are going to go the store," she emphasized the words.
Bella looked at Ally puzzled, "The store?"
Ally giggled, "Yeah, you know the one that awesome girl Sherry works at?"
Bella was still confused, but Irina blushed a deep scarlet, she knew where Ally wanted to go. She wandered in there accidentally one-day last year!
Seeing Irina blush so hard at the mere mention of the store, made Ally want to go there even more, even if it was just to get her some lingerie.
"The bonding ceremony isn't until Friday, so we have time," Bella said, still unsure of what this store was Ally was so keen on going to.
**********
Troy was reading over the invitation, in the office at the Hawthorne Pack. He was unsure if they would be able to attend this particular event, as there was also a conference meeting that same weekend. And they were the leading medical pack. It still surprised him that people mistook their strength in medicine as a weakness. They were far from weak, and Kane was actually doing wonders at building their strength in fighting as well.
KNOCK, KNOCK.
"Enter," Troy called. As the door opened Troy's nose was assaulted with the stench of stale cigarettes and alcohol. Without even bothering to look up, "What can do for you Thadius?"
Thadius sauntered in and slurred, "I want to make my brate bond." He was so drunk his words weren't even making sense.
The woman came running in behind him, she was bearing his mark. Finally, after almost two long years he marked her. "I'm so sorry Alpha," she apologized. She looked down, ashamed of her mate.
He studied the woman closely, she looked to have a few burns on her skin and was wearing clothes that were much too young for her. She looked more like a child than the adult that Troy knew she was.
"Thadius, go home, sleep off this stupor and you can come to see me in the morning," Troy said. He was angry that this man was doing this. "And you, young lady, go to the clinic for those burns," he eyed them both. He was sure he knew what her burns were from, but he was powerless to say anything until she did.
"Yes, Alpha," she said meekly.
Kane walked in as the couple was leaving, he turned his nose in disgust at the stench coming from Thadius. He shook his head sadly at the sight of the woman beside him. Why would the moon goddess pair them like that?
Troy greeted his son with a smile, "Kane, my boy," Troy pointed to a chair across from him, "Have a seat."
Kane looked at his father and arched an eyebrow when he was this "cheerful" he usually had plans for him. He settled himself in the chair and made himself comfortable.
"What's up?"
"I don't know if you're aware or not, but there is a conference this weekend. I'll need to attend it," Troy said. He had to meet with Egan his clinic would be opening soon and he would need some help, "I will be meeting with someone who is new to the ordeal and needs some guidance."
Kane nodded, "So, you need me to be in charge this weekend?"
"Yes, and no," Troy answered, "the Dragonmoon Pack is celebrating one of their daughters, "Apparently, she found her mate."
Kane looked up, "Lucky her," he said honestly. He was twenty-one years old and still hadn't found his mate. He was beginning to think he never would.
"Someone from our pack needs to attend," Troy said.
"Okay, I can send Fillan or Sheila," He said. "I'll stay here."
Troy looked exasperated, that wasn't what he meant. He wanted to have Kane attend. "I was thinking more like you?" he suggested.
Kane shook his head, "Sorry, Pops but the weekend is coming and that means trouble. You know that he," he jerked his thumb towards the door those two just left, "will cause some sort of issue. He always does."
Troy pinched the bridge of his nose in disappointment, "I almost forgot about that," he sighed. "What are we going to about him?"
Kane shrugged his shoulders, "If I knew that answer to that, I would surpass you." He joked with his father a little more, and they ironed out who they would send to the Dragonmoon Pack.
Kane stood and stretched, "Someday, I'll make it to the Dragonmoon Pack!"
**************
Birsha was smirking in his cottage on the isle, ever since Maura discovered he had cheated on her, she disappeared. This made his life so much simpler. He could continue to plot his take over and bed anyone he wanted. He didn't care, he knew this would be his way to success. He told Mavaka that mates were bad news, and he wasn't wrong.
Egan was changing, he was different, and he would have to do his best to reel him back in as well. If that didn't work he would have to work his magic with his son, Abigor. He knew he needed them for much of his plan to work.
He left his mind wander to the imbeciles in the Hawthorne Pack. That Thadius was going to be the ruin of this. How was he going to get him out of the picture? He smirked evilly as he heard the splashing and laughing of the mermaids. He knew what he could do. Anemone would help him.
He sipped his tea, finishing it. He swirled the dregs of is allowing the leaves to fall where they may. As he peered into the cup his mouth dropped open.
"No! It can't be!" he cried. "This can't be true." He swirled the little bit of liquid again, letting the leaves fall a second time. When the leaves fell exactly as they had the first time, he cursed.
*****
The triplets were giggling as they made their way down the little shops on the boardwalk. It was a beautiful day out, the sun was shining brightly and it was warm. The tourist season would be starting in just a few short weeks. They had a few early birds that came in before the rush of summer. They stared at the identical girls as they strolled down the sidewalk arm in arm. The girls didn't care, they were used to it.
"OH, let's go into Dreamers!" Alyona cried excitedly.
Bella and Irina just followed Ally, they were used to her antics. They walked into the shop were instantly greeted by the eccentric old lady. Today her outfit was in muted pastels, but still swirled cheerfully around her as she moved.
"Ladies," Circe greeted them in joy, "I was waiting for you!"
The girls exchanged a look of surprise at Circe's exclamation.
"Oh, come now," she waved her arm at them, "You know me better than that." She rushed over to Irina and gave her a once-over. She nodded, seemingly satisfied that the girl was okay. "So, what can I do for you fine young ladies?"
"We're just here to browse," Bella spoke up.
Circe studied Bella with a curious glint and nodded, "I see." She walked over to the balms selection and lifted one, "Yes, this one will do quite nicely." She handed it to Bella, "Use this on your muscles dear, it'll help."
"But-" Bella started to protest, but Circe cut her off with a wave of her hand.
"Nonsense, you are the warrior, are you not?"
Bella just nodded mutely at the old woman. She knew this battle would be a losing one.
Circe turned her attention to the other two, "As for you, ladies." She lifted two small vials and handed one to each of them.
As the girls opened the bottles and smelled them, each surprised that they were so different.
"But of course they would be, you are both different girls," Circe grinned at the girls. "Now, off to your next adventure," she winked, shooing the girl out of her shop. "Oh, and Bella," she called.
Bella turned to Circe as the woman said, "I think you'll like it in there."
Isabella was puzzled by Circe's last statement but smiled anyway. She quickly caught up with Irina and Alyona as they were getting ready to enter the brightly lit store a few doors down from Dreamers.
"Pandora's Box?" Isabella said. "I thought this was a jewelry store."
Ally burst into a fit of giggles, "No you're thinking of the charms. This is far from that! Come on," she said, pushing open the door.
As they walked into the store, they were greeted by a cheerful red-haired young lady with a perfect smattering of freckles across her nose.
"Hello, hello ladies," Sherry greeted.
"Hey, Sherry!" Alyona greeted.
"Okay, so help me out here," Sherry said looking at each of the girls, she pointed at Alyona first, "I know you since you greeted me but, the other two, I'm not so sure of."
Bella raised her hand, "Isabella."
Irina, who was blushing so deeply scarlet that she looked as if she were choking on something, "I'm Irina," she mumbled.
"So, you're the one that found your mate," she smiled.
Irina just nodded, she was so embarrassed.
Sherry smiled at her, "No worries, hun. We can start you off with just lingerie," she patted her shoulders.
The women proceeded to spend the next hour checking out the skimpy lace and scraps of satin that qualified as lingerie. While the other girls were checking out the outfits, Bella's eyes kept getting drawn to the items on the wall. Her wheels were turning.
"These things can cause pleasure as much as they do pain?" she thought to herself. She was fascinated by the thought.
Sherry caught Bella looking over the items on the wall. As the girls were getting ready to leave, Sherry pulled Isabella aside, she whispered something in her ear that only she could hear.
That night, Bella had the most interesting dream.
- Writer
