Alpha's Wolfless Mate

0.4| Mating Ceremony

With Naeva gone, Nyra dared not make any moves on her own. She quit her job at the convenience store and stayed at home all the time as that's what aunt Emily wanted. She was going to live in the Wingreen pack anyway, so it was necessary to quit on time. That's what aunt Emily had said.

It was the seventeenth when Nyra woke up to her aunt shouting from downstairs. Uncle Gregory and Tristan were pulling two suitcases into their car and aunt Emily was still calling Nyra's name in a rush.

"Aunt?" Nyra went downstairs in her night clothes. She was surprised to see the commotion they were making. Was it necessary to make so much noise early in the morning? It wasn't even seven in the morning!

Emily's forehead creased into a deep frown when she saw the way Nyra was dressed. Her hair a mess and her face still covered in traces of sleep.

"Wash your face and change into something else! Quick! I'm giving you five minutes!" Aunt Emily pushed her upstairs.

"But why?" Nyra asked, but didn't slow down her steps. She didn't want to provoke her right now.

"We got a call from Kevin and he wants us to get to Wingreen pack a day early to make sure everything goes alright. So change quickly and come down. We are leaving!"

Leaving? Nyra's heart dropped to her stomach when she heard it. But Naeva wasn't back yet! Naeva didn't know they were leaving! Nyra sped up and quickly grabbed her phone from the bed. She sent a text message to Naeva, informing her about the change in plans. Nyra had no idea what Naeva was planning but this definitely wasn't it.

With the message being sent, nyrya changed and washed her face and went downstairs again. The family of three were already in the car, ready to leave.

They rushed Nyra into the car and drove away. The empty house suddenly looked inhabited. Dark and lonely with no sign of life. In the room upstairs, Nyra's phone buzzed with a phone call from Naeva but the call was never answered.

•~•

Wingreen pack was only a couple hours away so they managed to get there by ten. Kevin had a certain reputation in werewolf society.

Even though he wasn't an Alpha nor a closely ranked person around the Alpha, his identity as a person working for the Lycan organization was enough to get him a lot of respect. Nyra peeked outside through the tinted glass of the car and, sure enough, a lot of people were waiting for them as soon as the border was crossed.

Nyra was brought up in a small pack with a population of little over two hundred. She remembered that the school she went to had all kids of two or three packs combined.

Wingreen pack was at least three times larger than their Highwind pack. Even the conditions in which the people lived were vastly different. Nyra knew at first glance that she wasn't made for this. She won't be able to fit it.

A bunch of people approached the car when it stopped. Entering the border was a huge open garage like place where visitors could park their vehicles. Uncle Gregory parked the car and went out to greet the ones who were here to see them. Nyra only went out when aunt Emily and Tristan did.

"Mr Lackerman, we apologise for calling you at such a short notice. You must be tired from the long drive," the old man who came up to uncle Gregory was polite and extended his arm for a handshake. Uncle Gregory was flattered easily.

He laughed, "It isn't a big deal. We understand that this ceremony is a big deal and everything must be done with caution."

"All the relatives and guests will be arriving today. We have arranged for your accommodation. Let me take you there to freshen up. It's a little late for breakfast, how do you feel about a nice brunch?" Then the old man started to lead them away. The other people who were there didn't move. Nyra's eyes stayed on them until they were too far away to see.

The way those people watched her made her skin crawl. Nyra didn't think they were watching her specifically but those eyes were unblinking and terrifying and it made her think they were eyeing her.

Nyra soon found out that the old man was Mr Lokman, Kevin's father. He retired when Kevin got a job at the Lycan organization. Ever since then, the old man had been enjoying the life of comfort and flattery. Uncle Gregory and Mr Lokman got along pretty well. They found a common topic and behaved like old friends.

Aunt Emily was silently following behind the two men, followed by Tristan and Nyra. She kept looking back to make sure Nyra was still there and hadn't run away. Nyra kept up her good behaviour all the way to the building. It was a four-storey building with a security guard outside.

"This is a place specifically made to accommodate visitors for when they come for a visit or attend any kind of ceremony. Our pack currently has five of these and five more will be constructed within two years. It was a plan proposed by my nephew. Our Alpha liked it quite a lot, as you can see haha."

Old Mr Lokman was enthusiastic about everything his family members did. Whenever he had the chance to speak up about it, he'd do so in a single breath. Nyra wasn't paying much attention, but so far she'd heard at least five to six stories about how much their family contributed to the pack's welfare.

"I have to go back home to settle a few matters. We have rented three of these buildings for all our guests. The top floor is given to your family. It has three rooms. Feel free to use them. Chefs have been given instructions to cook according to your tastes, so please co-operate with them. I will meet you in the afternoon," Mr Lokman said. He exchanged some parting words with uncle Gregory and left.

The guard came to them and handed a key to each one of them. Uncle Gregory and aunt Emily got one, Tristan got one and one was handed to Nyra. Each went to their room.

Nyra opened the door to her room and sighed. It was much better than the room she had been living in for the past twenty years. But the feeling of home was missing from here as much as it did from that house. She closed the door and went into the bathroom first to clean up. She didn't have time to take a proper bath in the morning.

After getting ready, Nyra wanted to call Naeva when she realised that her phone wasn't with her!

"Oh no!" How could she forget something so important?!

Nyra's legs went soft and she sat on the bed with a heavy heart. How was she supposed to communicate with Naeva now?! Nyra pined all her hopes in that brief text message. Wished that Naeva would see it and come to take her away soon.

If not, Nyra would have to settle with her life as it is now.

Dejected, Nyra did not have the heart to eat anything or even deal with her relatives. It was aunt Emily who forcefully dragged Nyra out to eat. For the rest of the day, Nyra did nothing. She did cry a little but later aunt Emily found her puffy eyes and scolded her until she forcefully stopped the tears.

She wasn't allowed to cry when missing her sister, life was truly the definition of miserable for two whole days for Nyra. Kevin did not come to see her or uncle Gregory. Uncle Gregory did not care much because Mr Lokman visited whenever he found time after entertaining other guests.

Soon, it was the day of the ceremony. Naeva did not show up. Nyra was quiet and depressed. Her movements were done as directed by aunt Emily, just like a puppet with no soul.

By now, Nyra had convinced herself that if Naeva did not manage to get there in time, she'd learn to live in this pack. She'll be fine. It wasn't a big deal. Originally, her plan had been to go through a mateship and stay in the werewolf society, where she could meet Naeva whenever she wanted.

Nyra sat in front of the mirror, stiff as a rod as two girls got her ready. Everything was arranged by the Lokman family, which made aunt Emily very happy.

Their family didn't have to spend money or lift a finger to get anything done. They got money, got rid of an additional mouth to feel and didn't have to spend money in doing so. It was such a good deal that aunt Emily could fly. That brilliant smile hadn't left her cheeks all morning.

The two girls simply went into her room after Nyra woke up and got her dressed in the traditional ceremonial gown of the Lokman family. Nyra had heard about the mating ceremony gowns before. Aunt Emily often told Tristan that she'd bring out her traditional gown when he took his mate home. Every family had one.

The Lokman family's ceremonial gown was a flowy dress in gold color. It looked a bit old (because it was passed down for at least five generations) but that did not take away from the charm of the dress itself. Adorned with diamonds, it looked heavy and felt heavy. Nyra liked the dress, but not for herself. Worn by the right person, it would shine for sure.

Kevin's mat must have worn this dress, Nyra thought.

Aunt Emily watched with relish as Nyra was being dolled up. She had a couple of things to say about a few things here and there. After half an hour, Nyra was ready.

"Ceremony will start at noon. I will come to get you then. Don't move around till then or their hard work will be ruined." Aunt Emily instructed. When the two girls left the room, Nyra's back seemed to have lost its support. She slumped her shoulders and nodded to whatever aunt Emily said.

"What could possibly go wrong in a mateship?" Nyra asked herself. A lot of scenarios popped up in her head and all of them were conveniently ignored for the sake of her mental well-being. She'd like to think positively. Of course, the most positive thing could be Naeva's timely arrival.

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(Same time)

"Grandmother is getting sick often these days but still has enough energy to visit others. I don't understand her at all." Louis, Alpha Darcy's beta and also his brother-in-law, commented as they loaded up some gifts in their car.

The said grandmother was still getting ready inside while Alpha Darcy helped him.

"She just wants to be lively at this age, what's wrong with that?" Alpha Darcy chuckled and closed the trunk. He buttoned up his suit jacket and adjusted his cuffs.

"But why do we have to go with her?" Alpha Darcy could help but complain a little.

He just wanted to visit his grandmother who had retired for decades and settled into the human city for a while now.

She was sick every few days and her older sister had managed to get her hands on some rare herbs that might help. The purpose of this visit was to give those herbs and check on her at the same time. Liam also called him for a meeting which was scheduled later in the day as well.

As a prestigious Alpha with a busy schedule, Darcy should have been on his way to the headquarters by now, yet here he was, sending a mind link to Liam that he might be late. After all, he couldn't say no when his grandmother insisted that he attend the mating ceremony of someone she was acquainted with.

"Let's go," the old lady came out of the house with steady footsteps. She was very obviously old and her movements were slow. Darcy and Louis helped her into the car.

"Grandmother, is it necessary to attend when you have just got better?" Louis said out of worry, "Shouldn't you take care of yourself a little more?"

After all, the old lady lived alone in the human city with two servants to take care of her. Darcy and Freya tried very hard to bring her back home but the old woman lived up to her stubborn nature.

"Oh, I'm fine. I can attend a few gatherings. I want to see as many things as possible before I fall sick again and die. Your grandfather was the same. Besides, that old man who's son is getting his second mating ceremony done today, was an old acquaintance of your grandfather. How can I refuse when he sends an invite?"

Darcy shook his head and drove out of the driveway. Louis took the passenger seat.

Most of the Betas drove their Alpha's around but it was quite the opposite with Darcy and Louis. Unless it was for an official job, Darcy liked to drive himself everywhere. Currently, they were on their way to the Wingreen pack to attend Kevin Lokman's mating ceremony.