Part One

Four years later…

 “You can’t cancel your own birthday celebration,” Jared said to me.

“Why not?” I asked him. I wasn’t looking forward to it. I would be twenty-one soon and be able to meet my bonded half, or my mate, the one meant for me, the one that would calm my anger and soothe my troubles, the one made for me for eternity.

“Firstly, you’ll give Elder Isaac just more ammunition against you and secondly, think of all the girls from sixteen to twenty who would be heartbroken if you did,” he said to me and I laughed at him.

“I hate this,” I said to him.

“I know but unfortunately this is how it works, you’re an Alpha so everything you do is public knowledge and cause for a celebration, especially if you find your mate on your birthday,” he said to me.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for that, a lifetime commitment, settling down,” I said to him.

“You don’t have a choice, that bond does the magic for you, once you meet her, you’ll want all those things,” he said.

“Please don’t let her be sixteen,” I said and Jared burst out laughing.

“Imagine you’ll have to wait two years before you can touch her,” he said as I pushed him out of his chair.

“Don’t be an asshole,” I said to him.

“I hope she’s a bitch though and keeps you on your toes,” he said as I smiled.

“The bond won’t let her be a bitch to me,” I said as his smile faltered.

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that part,” he said as I laughed at him.

For the next two weeks, the packhouse was filled with activity as my mother and Kat took over the organizing of my birthday celebration. The guest list consisted mainly of other clowders that we had alliances with as well as the Elders and our Council members. If by chance I did imprint and meet my other half there were more than enough witnesses to validate it.

I was standing in my dressing room when a knock came on my bedroom door and then opened as I zipped up my pants. Kat and my mother, Sara, walked in and sat down on the sofa in my room. I chose a shirt and walked out to meet them.

“You should’ve been dressed already,” my mother chastised.

It had taken about fourteen months to get her out of that slump and then another year before she could function like a normal person. It had been a hard journey but it was well worth it, especially now as I looked at her proud smile.

“You two are early,” I said as I put the shirt on.

“Your father would’ve been proud Damon, by twenty-one only half of his one arm was marked,” my mother said.

“What happens when both your arms are covered?” Kat asked.

“Then I’m an Elite Enforcer, my strength comes from the marks I collect, each one adding strength and wisdom, trust me, it will be many years before both my arms are covered,” I said to her.

“An Enforcer wears his marks with pride Kat, you would count yourself lucky to mate with a man who’s arms are covered,” she said.

“What if I mate with a human?” she asked cheekily.

“Then we will accept him into the family,” she said as I smirked.

“After I’ve beaten the crap out of him,” I said and Kat smiled.

“Always the over protective brother, lucky for you I’m not eligible yet,” she said as I smiled.

“And I always will be, no matter what, so if some guy thinks he can make you submit, he’s got another thing coming,” I said and they both laughed.

“All right, we need to get downstairs and greet the guests,” my mother said as she took the tie from my hands and tightened it around my neck. I hated wearing suits, but there were many ceremonies such as this one that required it.

I followed them downstairs and then my mother took one arm while Kat took my other arm and we made our entrance into the ballroom. The chatter and music had died down as I made my entrance and I received plenty of smiles from other Alphas and friends.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending this birthday ceremony, tonight is a celebration of another prosperous year for all our clowders. My wish tonight is for us to once again stand united, honour our members and feast!”

There were loud cheers as I finished talking and made my way down the raised dais where plenty of people waited to congratulate me.

“She's here,” Axel said and I stiffened as I realized what he meant.

“Where?” I asked him.

“She hasn’t entered the ballroom yet but I can smell her from here,” he said.

I couldn’t fully concentrate on the conversation around me as I kept looking around. I caught the faint scent of lilies and I tried to find the source as I excused myself and started walking through the ballroom. Axel would be searching as well because he needed to connect with her jaguar, only then would she imprint on me.

“Alpha Damon,” I heard a voice behind me.

“Elder Isaac,” I said as he stepped forward.

“This is my granddaughter Nina,” he said and I sighed in relief when Axel didn’t go crazy in my mind.

“Nice to meet you Nina,” I said and nodded my head.

“The pleasure is all mine Alpha Damon,” she said and I caught the hidden meaning behind her words as her eyes roamed over me.

“Nina just turned sixteen,” he said and I gave him a slight smile as my eyes found her.

“It’s her!” Axel yelled in my mind.

“Alpha Da…” Elder Isaac started to say.

“Please excuse me,” I said as I started walking towards the woman who had her back to me.

I knew it was her, she was the one. Her scent became stronger and almost addictive and I could feel Axel reaching out to her. She turned around when I was a foot away from her and I could see it in her eyes, her jaguar had recognized Axel.

“Iris,” I said as she looked at me with wide eyes.

“Alpha Damon,” she whispered.

“Mine,” I said as I took a step closer to her.

“Yours,” she confirmed and the crowd around us was quiet.

“Congratulations Alpha Damon,” Elder Isaac said but I could hear in his voice that he didn’t mean it. He had hoped that Nina would be the one that Axel recognized.

Iris Howell, the younger sister of Jared Howell, my Beta and best friend. She had just turned seventeen and I couldn’t touch her for another year. I could feel that bond clicking in place as I took her hand and led her back to my table as people watched us and murmured quietly among themselves.

“This is great!” Kat squealed. She and Iris were close friends and now they would be family.

“This will be your seat now Iris, on the left of Damon,” my mother said as she stood up and gave Iris her seat.

“Thank you Mrs. Woods,” Iris said.

Even though Jared and I were best friends, I hadn’t ever really spent any time with Iris, I didn’t really know her that well but as I sat down I saw Jared rushing into the ballroom, probably as he heard the news spreading like wild fire through the clowder.

“You couldn’t wait ten minutes for me!” he said as he reached the table and sat down on my right.

“Not my problem you were late,” I said to him as he looked at me.

“I’m glad you found a decent girl, my poor sister though,” he said as he smiled.

“Is it just me or is Elder Isaac glaring at me?” I asked him.

“He’s probably pissed that you didn’t imprint on his granddaughter,” Jared said.

“Spare me, it’s already bad enough having him as an Elder here,” I said and we both laughed.

“So Alpha Damon, what are your intentions with my sister?” he asked me.

“Relax Jared, it’s not like I’m going to haul your sister off to my room and take advantage of her,” I said to him.

“Just checking,” he said and narrowed his eyes at me.

“I promise,” I said to him.

“You have a year to get to know each other at least, and I think you should wait until she’s eighteen before doing the acceptance ceremony, because if you mark her before the time, you won’t be able to resist, neither of you will,” he said to me.

“I know how it works Jared,” I said to him as I looked over at Iris. She was talking with my mother and sister and they all seemed happy and content.

“Do you smell that?” Jared asked me.

“Smell what?” I asked him.

“Cinnamon,” he said and looked around.

“Go find her,” I said to him but he had already left the table.

I watched Jared as he made his way through the throng of people to a table near the back of the ballroom. Seated at the table was Alpha Mandrake, his daughter Bessie, his Beta Roger and his daughter Charlotte. I wondered which one of the two girls it was as Jared stopped in front of the table.

I saw the smile on Charlotte’s face and then she stood up as she took Jared’s hand. Her father, Roger, had his hand on Jared’s shoulder and I knew he was in for a speech and a half. Charlotte was sixteen and suddenly I laughed as I realized his predicament.

Both Alpha Mandrake and Beta Roger nodded their heads at me and I nodded back confirming that I had witnessed the imprinting and that they had my approval. Of course negotiations would take place as Charlotte neared eighteen for her transfer to our clowder, the acceptance ceremony and all that goes with it.

“Damon, you remember Charlotte,” Jared said as he reached our table at the front.

“Alpha Damon,” Charlotte said and bowed her head.

“Welcome Charlotte and congratulations,” I said as I smiled at her.

“My father has granted permission for Jared to cross our borders and asks that you do the same for me and my chaperone so that Jared and I can get to know each other until I become of age,” she said.

“Of course permission is granted Charlotte, you are welcome here at any time for as long as you want,” I said to her and Jared smiled.

“What were you saying earlier about waiting until the right time?” I asked Jared as he laughed softly.

“Asshole,” he said to me.