Mated To My Biggest Enemy

Riley's Point of View

"Remember what I told you about those humans," Dad panted to me as we made our way to the stone circle. "Don't mention them to anyone. Not even our pack."

Three days had passed since the horrific encounter with Victor Steele's goons. Dad hadn't uttered a word since then aside from telling me to keep my mouth shut. The fear in his eyes had twisted my stomach.

"But Dad, the men were threatening. Shouldn't we warn the other packs?"

"The other packs have their own agendas." Dad's voice clipped with tension. "Tonight, you behave to bring honor to our pack. Nothing else matters."

The sacred stone ring lay in a glade between all of the pack lands, neutral territory blessed by the goddess of the moon herself. Old, giant stones thrust themselves up out of the earth like slumbering giants, their facades bearing carvings old beyond remembrance. This evening, they shone from within.

Dozens of packs of wolves had congregated, their howls merging into a low-level howl of anticipation. As it hung silvery in the sky above us, the Harvest Moon illuminated everything with its mystical light. For wolves without mating partners, this was the night of the year.

Wearing a silver dress that shimmered like a starry sky and a braid of blue ribbons through my hair, I proudly wore the colours of my family. I signalled the passing of a Blackwood with my stride. As I went by, members of the pack from friendly nations nodded politely.

"We have the Alpha of the future," someone whispered. "She looks just like her grandmother used to at that age."

The praise made me feel alert. My entire life had been leading up to this moment-to attend the great festival as a guest of my pack. I had finally arrived at this very evening after countless hours of studying pack law.

As a symbol of her heritage, Sarah stood by my side, dressed in green and yellow. She was so enthralled that she was about to jump up and down from her seat, her blonde ponytail adorned with a whole bouquet of wildflowers. My name is Riley. Do you really think we're here?"

As I looked around the mob, I said, "I can't believe that so many wolves turned out." "There must be hundreds of them."

"And half of them are unmated males looking for their ideal Luna." Giggles and a squeeze from Sarah on my arm. What if, this evening, we can both meet our soulmates? Then wouldn't that be fantastic?

I should have been ecstatic at the thought, but instead my stomach twisted into a knot. Is it possible that my partner isn't present? What if his pack was one that Dad disapproved of? Is he someone I simply cannot be with?

Upon entering the clearing, the Red Canyon Pack felt an immediate surge of tension. Under the moonlight, they also revealed their colours, which were a fiery mix of red and gold. With a stiff upper body and numb eyes, Victor Steele led the charge.

As I observed Asher walk hand in hand with his dad, I held my breath. Wearing his suit, he appeared uneasy, as if he preferred to be somewhere else. Even though he had combed his dark hair recently, his kind eyes darted restlessly from one spot to another.

"Is that him?" Sarah muted her voice. "Who will succeed him at Red Canyon? He doesn't resemble the image I had imagined.

In the depths of my soul, my wolf had gone silent, so I was unable to respond. Her wrathful expression made me cringe as she stared at Asher. No matter how much my senses begged me, I just couldn't turn my head.

Who is Riley? Hi, are you alright?" Sarah felt worried. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I'm well. The ceremony is making me nervous. Asher Steele saw me stand up, so did I. "Let's get seated."

Each pack was in its usual spot within the ring of boulders. At an extreme distance from Red Canyon, Silver Moon stood. Sharp as a razor, the tension ran between our packs.

COUNCIL OF WOLFNS

Aforementioned Proposition:

Shadows and Light by Jaci Burton.

Dad was among the rest of the Alphas standing in the middle of the circle. I was standing with the unmated pack, my heart pounding harder than it ought to. The old ritual was to be performed, and it seemed like the fate of my whole world hung by a thread over the edge of a cliff.

Mountain Ridge Pack elder Patricia conducted the ceremony forward. Her silver hair glowed in moonlight as she extended her arms for silence. "Children of the moon, we gather beneath the Harvest Moon to honor the goddess for provision of actual mates."

The audience held its collective breath. The wind held back, as though catching its breath. This was our most sacred time of the year, when the moon magic was strongest and authentic affinities could be revealed.

"Summon all unmated wolves," Elder Patricia instructed. "Open your hearts and the goddess will lead you to your mate."

My legs were as limp as a strip of water as I heaved to my feet. Every place around the circle that I could see, there were dozens of young wolves rising up from the same stance. The moonlight was growing thick and I could sense ancient magic flowing in the air.

Sarah held on to my hand hard. "Good luck," she said softly. "I hope you find someone fabulous."

I entered the circle with the other unmated wolves, my silver gown billowing around me like inky night sky. The power of the moon washed over me in waves, making my skin shiver and my wolf tense stiffly.

Down the circle, I saw Asher step forward too. He lingered behind in each movement of his body, but he went into the holy space. For an instant, our eyes crossed the expanse of wolves.

The world shifted.

Something in my chest pulled hard, as if a string of nothing connected me to him. My wolf stopped pacing and sat up, all his senses focusing on the young man standing before me. The feeling was awful and beautiful and completely wrong.

Aunt Patricia began to recite in the old language, words calling forth the goddess of the moon to bring real connections into being. The air magic strengthened, and I stepped in tandem.

Other wolves also changed, drawn by invisible strings to their destined partners. Happy yips rose up as couples reunited and their connections snapped into place. The beauty was infectious and beautiful.

But I had seen Asher Steele alone.

He was walking towards me as well, his face shielded by the same shock and recognition as mine. With each step, we were moving closer, and the pull within me was increasing. My wolf was singing with joy, but my mind was screaming with horror.

It was not possible to do it. The moon goddess would not be so cold. She wouldn't make my destined partner the son of my worst enemy.

I said, "No," but my legs kept moving. "This can't be."

Asher's lips moved in what looked like the same way of denying, but he kept walking towards me too. We were only a few feet away from each other when the space between us kept getting smaller and smaller.

The whole festival was quiet. Everyone was shocked and looked at us. It was funny to hear Dad gasp on the other end of the queue.

On the other hand, Asher extended his hand to mine while his eyes were wide and filled with shock and horror. "I am familiar with you," he said in a hushed tone. "You're the one who is calling me."

In response, I spoke in a tone that was barely audible above a whisper. "You're calling me," I expressed.

When our palms came into contact with one another, the mate bond that we shared shook like a bolt of lightning. My entire being was filled with vitality, and for the very first time in my life, I experienced a sense of completeness. Asher was my equal, my lifetime companion, and my perfect match.

Additionally, he was a Steele.

When the people in the pack discovered what was going on, the crowd responded by going absolutely insane. The voices of those who were angry screamed all around me, but I was unable to understand what they were saying. I could only think about the sensation of having Asher's hand in mine and how wonderful it was to be in his presence.

Then, like a knife, Dad's voice cut through the yelling that was going on.

"Kill them both."