‡CHAPTER TWO

Delaury's POV 

The pack grounds bustled with joy ,  finally Orion and his troupe would return today  and the ceremony would begin. The moon was already shaping into its crescent form, depicting the start of a mate finding night. Still believing I was cursed by the moon goddess, I smiled at the moon , sending a slight prayer to the moon goddess to at least allow my mate spare me a glance if she truly gave me one. 

Picking up my mother's favorite dress and plucking a few borrowed flowers in my hair, I smiled at the broken mirror. 

The superiors surprisingly gave me an off day today and I was asked to be at the ceremonial grounds early today to prepare the area. Done with my work, I had rushed back to dress up. 

“ We're running late, Laury, you know the omegas are supposed to wait on for our leaders at the playground.” Sylvia called out from outside, reminding me of the kind of world I lived in” 

“ I'm coming!” Straightening the dress and checking to see if I was looking okay, I went outside. 

“ You look beautiful, “ Sylvia commented , picking out imaginary stuff from my hair. 

“ You're looking more pretty, Sylv, I love your hair. “ She really was dressed pretty. Her beautiful blue dress complimented her short brown hair making her look like some sort of princess. I, on the other hand, looked like a seamstress. 

It didn't matter anyways since the dresses would be torn into shreds if the mates were being matched and they each had to go and find when they would mate, they would each have to transform into their wolf. 

Omegas have never been allowed to transform into their wolf for fear of overpowering any of the beta, Gamma’s ,Delta or even the Alpha. We were only allowed if we've been mated which meant we would be controlled by our mate. An omega and omega mating was rare as they would continue to give birth to omegas who would continue to serve the pack. Each omega preferred to mate with either an Alpha , Delta ,Beta or Gamma. 

Sylvia and I silently walked to the ceremonial grounds. I congratulated myself immensely for making such a beautiful arrangement. The chairs were arranged according to each position and Sylvia and I walked to get Omega seats. 

Being the outcast,my chair was a bit far from the rest of the omegas and Sylvia frowned in disgust at how far I had placed my chair.  

“ This is a gathering, the moon goddess knows nothing about omegas and outcasts , we're all omegas if you asked me “ she voiced out. 

“ Don't shout so much Sylv , you're going to get us into trouble , I don't think you want to miss this “ 

She nodded .

“ I'm so scared , Laury, do you think I'd mate with an Omega? I really don't want to mate with one “ 

“ You won't mate with an Omega, you're beautiful Sylv , and we both know who your eyes are on and I believe your wolf moves anytime you see him “ 

“I know Laury , but it's been long “ 

Sylv and Sebastian , Orion's beta to be, were kinda eyeing each other before they had to go to war. She was sure her wolf was a bit too excited when they were together and I believed they were true mates. 

My wolf seemed dead and I wondered if I was a werewolf at all , maybe because I was banned from looking in the eyes of any Alpha ,Beta or Gamma. I wouldn't know what my wolf yearns for, unless it was with another Omega. 

“ Settle down people, General Eziele says the Alpha to be is almost here “ Delta Argon called out as we each took our places. 

Angela, dressed as the Luna she is and followed by her friends, paraded through the people, taking the seats closest to the Alpha throne , ready to be pronounced the Luna.  If they were truly mates, shouldn't she be able to at least feel him near? 

Turning in my seat and looking silently at the route out of the Eziele pack , like the rest of the people, we waited for the grand return of our Alpha. 

★★★

Four huge wolves burst through the parade ground howling victorious noises as the people cheered on. 

I had never seen the wolves close up like this and stared at them in awe. 

The biggest of the all ,grey colored , with daunting eyes and an aura of power depicted Orion as his fellow Beta ,Gamma and Delta surrounded him in harmony. His wolf , ruthless as he was ,  bared its fangs at  us showing how much of a fight he had put up. 

The rest of the wolves, almost as large as Orion , bared their fangs and I could see Sylvia fidget infront of me as the deep brown wolf , Sebastian stared at her in admiration. These two were obviously mates.  

The crowd cheered on as General Eziele took his seat. He had no Luna , his mate had been murdered a long time ago by a rival pack and he'd since remained a lone wolf . The people praised him as kind and I believed I was obliged to praise him too for keeping me in his pack and not banishing me.  

The big wolves had disappeared into the pack mansion to get dressed and as we waited, General Eziele gave out a speech. 

“ For over forty years , the Eziele pack has thrived through thick and thin , in the land of the Wolf's age . I, Oliver Eziele, Alpha of the Eziele  pack have created a bond  so strong that nothing could break its connection” 

I watched as Orion , Sebastian, Ervin ,his Gamma and Fidele, his Delta , took their place. There was a weird feeling surging through me as I gazed at Orion. 

They had been gone for six months and yet the boy that went six months ago was now a big muscular man with a sharp jaw , staring down at his people with a menacing glare. Though I believe his behavior still remained rotten, Orion was clearly a man now and I couldn't resist staring him down..

His 23 year old body seemed too large for his age but then again he was the Alpha to be and most Alpha's were known as strong. 

Luck wasn't on my side as his gaze fell on mine , I turned from him in haste. I had committed a crime and I would definitely pay for it .

Orion and I had never spoken to each other. Most of the times when he came to supervise the omegas to work, he only gave our general commands and made sure to stay away from me. He did speak up close with most of the omegas,but he'd never spared me a glance and for him to at least look at me today, I was grateful. Maybe I wasn't such a nightmare to look at. 

“ So today, I hereby step down as Alpha of the Eziele pack and hand the position over to my kind and competent son, Orion Eziele” General Eziele stated. The crowd cheered on at his words as Orion appeared beside his father , followed by Sebastian. 

Competent? Maybe. But kind? 

Orion was far from kind. 

Handing over a mantle to Orion, the general took his seat , wiping a tear from his face . I turned to realize a few of his elders were wiping tears too. It was the end of his reign ,another one had begun. 

Angela moved to stand beside Orion and I watched as the two hugged. My heart tore into a million pieces and I was confused. Why did I suddenly care so much at the sight of Angela and Orion? They'd been together since they were kids and both families couldn't wait for the crowning of  Angela as Luna. Another ceremony I would be working so hard at. 

The crescent moon had appeared in its fullness and finally the single wolves were ready to be mated. Sylvia, still fidgety , moved her seat beside me and grabbed my arm. 

“ It's almost time ,Laury ! “ she shrieked. 

“ Calm down Sylv , everything will be fine “ 

The mated couples moved to one side making way for the singles to locate their mates. Sylvia and I watched as some Delta's called out to their mates by shifting to the wolves and sniffing their mates scents in. Others too just found themselves being directed by a force to meet face to face with their mates. The moon goddess had different ways of finding a mate and I wondered how mine would be. 

We watched in silence and awe as some omegas found Delta mates and rejoiced , free from Omega rules. 

The omegas that mated with omegas cried in despair at the thought of being slaves forever. 

A few singles were left , including Sylvia and I.  With the exception of the little children, everyone in the pack was supposed to have a mate. The moon goddess had made it in such a way that, to create harmony, each person mates with someone he or she is in the same pack with. 

A loud roar followed by sounds of cloth tearing was heard and we turned to find a deep brown wolf sniffing its ground, its eyes hazy and confused as it searched around for its mate. 

Sylvia's body grew hot as she let go of my arm in haste and in no time Sebastian was in front of her, his wolf sniffing Sylvia's body and taking in her scent. 

Her joy knew no bounds, as blinded by her mate's bond, disappeared into the woods with Sebastian. Leaving me  lonely, gazing  into space. 

The elders were confused, why hadn't Orion mated with Angela yet?. 

The two , holding on to each other as if their lives depended on it. 

The pack grounds were almost empty as some who had already bonded came back to celebrate and others found their mates and disappeared into the woods. Apparently everyone was waiting for two things; when would Angela and Orion bond together?  and what would be the fate of the Omega outcast?. Clearly anyone that was mateless was either banished or kept as the pack slave. However, it was up to the new Alpha to decide and I only prayed that at least Orion would keep me as the pack slave, I had nowhere to go .

My body started feeling uncomfortable, the flowers in my hair falling off as I  found my hands roaming in my hair as if I was going mad. The discomfort continued followed by an excessive heat that radiated from me.  

Is this what  the mood goddess wanted from me? To go mad ? 

The people watched on as my discomfort, coupled with a pushing force urged me on as I walked towards Orion and Angela. I needed to stop, why would I be going that direction? 

I watched as Orion let go of Angela , turning his attention towards me ,he moved forward too, clearly being moved by the push force. Walking, as if controlled by an object , Orion finally spoke words I never dreamed of hearing. His wolf’s eyes replacing his human eye stared at me possessively and muttered a silent “ mate” 

For the first time since I was born into the Wolf's age, I felt a slight whimper from my wolf as it couldn't hide its excitement, it muttered ;

“ Mate !” 

Orion was my mate. I was the ‘ to be ‘ Luna!.