Mating Ceremony

Benita’s POV

Today was the day—the one I’d been waiting for my whole life. It could either be the best day or the worst, and I wasn’t sure which terrified me more. Standing in front of the mirror, I studied my reflection. My cheeks were slightly flushed, giving me a soft, youthful appearance, while my body curved in ways that didn’t fit the slim, toned ideal my family worshiped. My hips were full, my stomach soft, and my thighs pressed together when I shifted my weight. I could see every part of me that didn’t fit into the narrow expectations of what beauty was supposed to look like.

I tied my black hair into a bun and wore jeans and a simple shirt—not exactly the look of someone excited for a mating ceremony. But I had learned not to expect much, and I dressed like I was bracing for disappointment.

“Benita, get your lazy ass down here!” my mother yelled from downstairs. I let out a heavy sigh before hurrying out of my room and down the stairs into the sitting room.

As expected, Nina was already seated next to my mother, glowing as usual. My father, at the head of the table, sipped his coffee, his face set in stone.

“So lazy,” Nina sneered, but I ignored her and sat across from her.

“You should consider taking a gym class. That chair can barely hold you,” my mother taunted, sipping her coffee.

Nina let out a soft chuckle. “She shouldn’t even bother, Mother," Nina chimed in. “It won’t help.”

My heart ached at their cruel words, but I buried the pain, quietly placing two pancakes on my plate.

“At least she should try," my mother continued coldly. “The mating ceremony is in two hours, and I hope you find a mate so you can finally leave my house. I’m tired of seeing your ugly face.” she spat, her tone laced with bitterness.

“A mate?” Nina scoffed. “Come on, Mother. She won’t get a mate, and even if she does, I’m sure he’ll reject her on the spot. Who would want to be mated to…" Nina paused, eyeing me with disgust. “Someone like her?”

“Maybe a rogue?” Mother added, and both burst into loud laughter.

I swallowed my pain and took a bite of pancake, forcing it down. I was used to their cruel remarks about my size. It wasn’t like I hadn’t been trying to lose some weight. I starved myself most days, eating only once and avoiding soda, sweets, and junk food.

To my family, being plus-sized was an unforgivable crime. They saw me as nothing more than an embarrassment. Every day, my mother reminded me how much I needed to “work on myself.”

“Ignore them, Benita. You have an amazing body,” my wolf reassured me in my mind. I nodded, swallowing my pain, and tried to focus on the food in front of me.

“Mom, in just a few hours, I’ll be mated to Nathan," Nina gushed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Of course, darling. I have no doubt you’ll be his mate. Who else could be more perfect for him than my beautiful, sexy daughter?” Mother cooed, showering her with praise, something she’d never done for me.

It was always strange how different Nina and I looked despite being sisters. She was the family’s pride. She had long, glossy black hair cascading down her back, flawless skin, bright almond-shaped eyes, and a slim, graceful figure. Nina seemed to light up every room she entered. She seemed to have everything, even Nathan, the soon-to-be Alpha, as her boyfriend. Everyone believed Nina and Nathan, the future Alpha, would end up as mates. They were so in love it was almost sickening.

And then there was me—the Beta’s spare daughter. I once overheard my mother telling a friend that she only had one daughter. In her eyes, I wasn’t even worth acknowledging.

“If you’re not going to eat, then leave. Stop playing with the food," my father’s cold voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

Holding back my tears, I took another bite of pancake. When I could no longer force myself to eat, I stood up and tried to leave the table, but Father called me back.

“Why aren’t you dressed for the ceremony? We leave after dinner,” Father spat, his tone laced with irritation.

But before I could respond, Mother scoffed. “Oh, let her be, darling. I see no need for that. I don’t think she’ll be mated to anyone, and even if she is, I believe he’ll reject her. So I’d advise we don’t bother about her.” Mother mocked, and the tears I had been holding back came rolling down my cheeks.

“Aww, is my sister crying? So touching.” Nina mocked, and not able to stand their taunts, I left the dining room and stormed up to my room. Inside my room, I fell to the ground, resting my back against the wall, and pulled my knees toward my chest. Uncontrollable tears rolled down my cheeks as my whole body shook with pain. I could take any insult, but coming from my family—the one group of people who were supposed to love and protect me—was something I couldn’t take.

“It’s okay. Take a grip of yourself. We have to be at the mating ceremony. We are running late,” my wolf spoke.

I glanced at the wall clock and realized I was running late for the ceremony, which was about to start in an hour.

“I have a good feeling about the mating ceremony,” my wolf, Olivia, said confidently in my mind.

“Really?” I asked, skeptical, while wiping my face with the back of my palm.

“Yes, I feel like the Moon Goddess has something special in store for us.”

A small smile crept onto my face at the thought. The mating ceremony only happened every four years. All wolves who had reached the age of eighteen or older would participate in a ritual to connect with their destined mates if they were present. I was both anxious and terrified. What if I didn’t have a mate? Or worse, what if my mate rejected me the second he saw me?

“Stop doubting yourself, Benita. Anyone would be lucky to have you,” Olivia scolded me gently, but I scoffed. She was only trying to make me feel better.

“Get up, Benita. We need to go,” my wolf urged.

Lazily, I pulled myself up, wiping away the last remnants of tears as I moved toward the wardrobe. I wasn’t in the mood to dress up, but Olivia’s words kept replaying in my head—the Moon Goddess has something special in store for us. Despite the heavy weight in my chest, I wanted to believe her, just this once.

I pulled out a simple blue dress, one that wasn’t too tight or too revealing. It hugged my curves in a modest way, flowing down to my knees. After slipping it on, I glanced in the mirror again. My swollen eyes stared back at me, but I had to push through. I quickly applied some light makeup to cover the evidence of my tears, brushed my hair back into a neat bun, and took a deep breath.

This is it. No matter what happens today, you’ll be okay, I told myself, trying to steel my nerves.

I descended the stairs, the house eerily quiet. My parents and Nina were gone. I wasn’t surprised. They probably left without bothering to tell me. That was how it had always been, like I didn’t even exist to them.

I grabbed my small purse and stepped out of the house, feeling the cool evening breeze hit my skin. The path to the ceremony grounds wasn’t far, so I decided to walk. Each step felt heavy, but I kept reminding myself that this ceremony could change everything.

As I approached the field where the mating ceremony was to take place, I saw groups of wolves already gathered. There was excitement in the air, the kind that came with the possibility of finding a mate. People were laughing, talking, and I could even hear some whispers about who might end up with whom. I kept my head down, trying to blend in.

“Don't be nervous, Benita, Olivia reassured me. Your moment is coming.

I stood off to the side, watching the ceremony begin. My heart clenched as I noticed Nina by Nathan’s side, looking radiant and full of confidence. She was already glowing with anticipation, sure that the night would end with her as Nathan’s mate. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was right. The two seemed to be so much in love, and sometimes I envied her. I wished someone would love me just as much as Nathan loved her.

This was I and Nina's first mating ceremony, but it was Nathan’s second. The first one was when he was twenty, but unfortunately, he didn’t find his mate. Obviously, his mate wasn’t of age yet; I was only sixteen then, and Nina was fourteen, so neither of us could participate. But now Nathan is twenty-four, I’m twenty, and Nina is eighteen, so Nathan is certain that Nina is his mate.

I moved my gaze away from Nathan and Nina, then watched my parents conversing with Alpha Richardson and his wife, Luna Anita, as if they were going to be in-laws soon. I could see the bright smile on my mother's face as she kept staring at Nina and Nathan with pride, but when she noticed me, she frowned, looked at me with disgust, and looked away. My heart sank, but I was already used to it.

“Attention, everyone,” Alpha Richardson’s voice boomed over the crowd. “The mating ceremony is about to begin.”

My stomach twisted with anxiety as I stood frozen in place.

“All unmated wolves, please come forward,” he instructed. “Females to my right, males to my left.”

I hesitated for a moment, feeling nervous and scared, but Olivia pushed me forward. Reluctantly, I joined the other unmated females, standing across from the males. My eyes found Nina again, standing

directly across from Nathan. Of course, she would be.

The priest stepped forward, his long robe trailing behind him. He raised his hands, eyes lifted to the sky, his voice calm but commanding. “With the blessing of the Moon Goddess, let the fated mates be revealed tonight. A magical cord will bind those destined for each other, linking their hearts and souls forever. If your mate is here, the cord will appear on your wrist, guiding you to them.”

Suddenly, he began chanting some incantation. The air felt thick, like it was buzzing with energy, and everyone was waiting, eyes glued to their wrists. My heart raced. I tried to ignore the panic bubbling inside me. What if nothing happens? What if I don't have a mate?

Then, out of nowhere, I felt it—a tingling sensation on my wrist. I looked down, and there it was, glowing softly under the moonlight, a thin, silver thread. My breath caught in my throat as the cord stretched out in front of me, pulling me gently.

I froze, unsure of what to do, but Olivia nudged me. “Go, Benita. Follow it.”

My legs trembled as I moved, following the silver cord as it snaked through the crowd. Around me, others were finding their mates, their cords already guiding them to one another. Each step I took made my heart pound harder.

But suddenly, I stopped, my breath catching in my throat. The cord led me straight to Nathan.

His eyes met mine, wide with shock, as our cords intertwined.

“Mate!” Olivia howled loudly to me.