The Mate's Curse

Chapter 12

(Cassie’s POV)

I was awed by all the people heading towards the main pack house. Families with children running around, and groups of friends all laughing and smiling, there really was a buzz of excitement in the air. We walked up the stairs into the main entrance and Amelia took hold of my hand and started pulling me towards the double doors at the back which were already open. 

We walked into the grand hall and I gasped, it was beautiful. The high ceilings were glass and there were fairy lights everywhere, all mixed in with white roses. The hall was huge, and the opposite wall was complete glass and glass doors, all the doors were open and the fairy lights continued on to a grand patio where there were tables and chairs. All the tables had candle lanterns on them and there were people milling about. 

Amelia grinned at me “what?” I asked

“Nothing, you look mesmerised, wasn’t it like this with your old pack?” for a moment I thought back to the evenings behind Alpha James’ house and felt a sadness in my chest, I shook my head “no, we didn’t have a pack house, we all had our own houses on the same street, but it was shared with humans who didn’t know what we were” Amelia looked shocked so I carried on “but we had amazing bonfires in the back garden of the Alpha’s house” 

“Wow” she blurted out “I couldn’t imagine not living in a pack” I just shrugged and she put her arms around me and whispered “well you are home now” I know she meant it as comfort but I couldn’t help the pang of bitterness, that was home. I smiled weakly.

“Bloody hell kid!” I heard the familiar gruff of Beta Declan and I rolled my eyes before turning to face him with eyes narrowed “I’d say you clean up well, but that's an understatement” he said as he reached me. He was dressed in a black shirt and tie, with tailored trousers. I was not a fashion fan but I could tell quality when I saw it, and had an indication his outfit cost more than my whole suitcase of belongings. I blushed at the compliment and he laughed out loud.  He had been joined by a woman, who was super model beautiful, she had blond hair that was in a classic updo and her grey dress clung to her in all the right places. She rolled her eyes at the Beta before taking my hands in hers ”Since my husband has forgotten his manners, please let me introduce myself” her accent was tinted with something more European, although I couldn’t place it “My name is Rina, and I have the unfortunate occurrence of being mated to this lugg” she nodded her head to the Beta who pretended to be offended before grabbing her from behind and growling “mine” in her ear and nuzzling into her neck. You could tell the love of a fated mate bond from miles away, it’s just something that never died. Well unless… I let my thoughts trail off, I didn’t want to think of any of the unlesses, no one did. “Darling, we are embarrassing the poor girl” Beta Rina tried to pull herself from her husband's grasp but he wasn’t letting go. She sighed and stopped trying “You should meet our son” she said looking around “where is that boy?” Beta Declan huffed “Probably in a broom closet with some girl, knowing him” he said off hand but something told me he was proud. Rina sighed again “that boy is going to get a shock when he meets his mate” she said. Declan chuckled “why do you think he doesn’t go travelling with Hunter anymore, boy is terrified of the idea of finding the woman that will dominated him” 

There was a noise over some speakers that I couldn’t see and Declan suddenly stood to attention and looked behind me and nodded his head, “duty calls” he said releasing his wife and kissing her quickly on the cheek “Miss Waters would you do me the pleasure of accompanying me to backstage?” I looked back where he had looked, and for the first time saw one end of the room was a raised platform. Oh crap, the ceremony, I’d forgotten about that. I gulped and turned to him and smiled nervously. He was holding his arm out so I linked mine in and he started moving us through the, getting busier by the minute, crowd.

There was a set of steps to one side and he guided me up them and through the back of the stage where there was a door. We went through the door and found ourselves in a room with the Alpha. 

As Declan closed the door the Alpha turned and smiled. He  was wearing a full tailored black suit and black shirt and tie, geez they liked black here I absently thought. “Cassandra” he walked over and took my hand. “You look beautiful,” he said warmly before kissing my hand. I wasn’t sure what to say so muttered “thank you”. He started to talk but the door behind me opened and I could tell by the look of wonder on his face that I was about to meet the Luna.

He guided me to turn “ Cassandra I would like to introduce you my wife and mate Luna Melissa Black” I turned and saw the woman behind me, she was small, maybe about 5ft 2 or something like that and her slender frame looked almost fragile, but with a strength that you can see radiating from her. She had raven black hair and the most stunning amber eyes that seemed to swirl with gold. She had a warm smile on her face about to say something, and then she gasped and stopped still. I stopped in my tracks not sure what I had done wrong. She looked like she had tears forming in her eyes as she stared at me. I shifted uncomfortably not sure what to do 

“Melissa?” The Alpha questioned behind be, which seemed to pull her back to herself. Suddenly she rushed and pulled me into a tight hug. “It is so wonderful to meet you child” she said excitedly and then whispered in my ear “finally”.

After another few heartbeats she let me go and looked at me in almost like a motherly way “she is beautiful, isn’t she Stephen” she said while holding my hand “of course she is my dear” I looked at the Alpha and he seemed as confused as I was. 

The Beta faked coughed “it’s time” he said. This seemed to break the spell and the Alpha turned to me and said “have you seen a pack transfer ceremony before?” I shook my head “not that I can remember” he nodded his head like he expected it. “It’s simple and not dissimilar to when you swore loyalty in your old Alpha’s office” he smiled. And then he walked me through the words and as with almost all werewolf ceremonies there would be a blood pact which would officially bond me to the Alpha and the pack. Part of the process was to break the bond with my old pack which made me feel sick when he told me although I knew it was coming.

He started to say the next part when the door banged open making me jump. In rushed a small woman, she was wearing a short black dress that was mostly lace, it had one shoulder that looked like additional cloth that then draped down her back almost to the ground. Her chestnut  hair was tied in an intricate braid style. She came to a stop in front of the Luna and I could instantly tell the similarities. She grinned with a mischievous smile turned and glanced at me and then back to the Luna “Hey mum, sorry I’m late, I was erm… busy” she mocked embarrassment at the last part, a low growl rumbled to the side of me and we all turned and looked at the Alpha, the girl scoffed and walked over and kissed him on the cheek “silly daddy, don’t worry, we used protection” which earned another louder growl “LUCY” the Luna used her own Alpha voice but it didn’t seem to faze the girl “do not wind up your father”. Lucy just grinned mischievously. She turned to me “You’re Cassie right?” I nodded “It’s lovely to meet you, I have heard so much about you” 

“From who” I was surprised

“Bianca” she grinned again “She told me about you and your new best friend Eden” she winked. Oh, I grimaced and she laughed “If Bianca likes you then I know we are going to be friends”

“What about Eden?” the Luna asked curiously

“Oh she got b*tchy with Cassie here, tried asserting dominance because Cassie got the position she wanted with Bran. But Cassie was having none of it, she squared right up to the vile hag and set her in her place” she said proudly, to which the Beta chuckled and the Luna even looked impressed. The Alpha just looked confused “Lucy darling, I really don’t understand your distaste for Eden'' he scolded “She is a lovely girl from a good high family rank, she is always polite”

Lucy rolled her eyes “Yeah to you dad, but that’s only because she’s trying to get into Hunter’s pants, girl thinks herself the next Luna” the Luna scrunched her nose at this and saw me looking before smiling. 

The Alpha shook his head and turned to look at me again. “As I was saying once we have completed the transfer and acceptance I will then announce you to the pack and if your fated mate is in the audience give them chance to step forward to claim you” I couldn’t help my eyes from widening, the embarrassment of being stood in front of so many people was bad enough but to then to be potentially claimed. The Luna placed her hand on my shoulder “don’t worry child even if your mate is in the pack then he could very well not be here tonight” She clearly took my concern for not being claimed, it was quite the opposite but I smiled weakly anyway. 

A knock on the door revealed an older stern looking woman who turned out to be the Alphas personal assistant Anna letting us know that everything was ready to start. The Alpha and Luna excused themselves to the stage where they gave a speech about pack values and loyalty and all the things. 

Then it was my turn. I walked on stage and did my best not to look out at the audience, I ignored the whispers and went and stood by the Alpha. He smiled reassuringly to me and called for the ceremonial knife which was carried by the Beta. I spared a glance into the audience and saw my parents off to one side, both smiling, but still both sad. 

“Cassandra Waters you stand here before the Alpha Stephen Black of the Black Stone pack, who bare witness today, what say you?” the Beta boomed in an official voice 

“I Cassandra Waters…” I begin to choke at the next bit “... renounce my link to the Silver Lake pack…” a single tear falls down my cheek as I feel a snapping somewhere knowing that it is my bond to the pack that I have called home my whole life,  and I hear more whispers at the mention of my former pack “...and seek acceptance into the Black Stone pack”  

“Do you vow to be loyal to the Black Stone pack, placing the safety and concerns of the pack above all others?” the Alpha spoke slowly but clearly in his Alpha voice, “I do” 

The Alpha takes the blade which I recognise from the other night when he took over Silver Lake and slices the palm of his hand with no change on his face that it might hurt. 

“Cassandra Waters I offer you sanctuary and acceptance in the Black Stone pack, do you submit to the blood bond?” he hands me the knife which I take shaking and close my eyes before slicing the black blade through my palm wincing at the pain, and take a deep breath before clearly saying “I Cassandra Waters submit to the blood bond of the Black Stone Pack” and hand the knife back to the Beta before holding my hand out. 

The Alpha places his hand over mine and grasps our hands together. I feel the blood bond connection straight away and a rush of pure power surges through me making me gasp, and for half a second I feel something feral but familiar inside me, almost like an excitement that isn't mine but is mine at the same time. The Alpha’s eye widen slightly and then he composes himself “Cassandra Waters as the bond forms from blood I official recognise and accept you as a member of the Black Stone pack” he turns to the audience still holding my hand “I announce Cassandra Waters formerly of the Silver Lake pack now bound by blood to the Black Stone pack, I ask if her mate is here to step forward and make himself known” I stand there silently praying to the moon goddess that the room stays quiet, after a minute the Alpha goes on “as no claim is made then Cassandra Waters I officially welcome you to the Black Stone pack” I breathe a sigh of relief as the crowd breaks out into a mix of applause and howls and the Alpha grins warmly before pulling me into a surprising hug.  

As he releases me the Luna steps up to me smiling and pulls me into a hug, and she whispers in my ear “welcome home”.