CHAPTER 173 - MUSTERED IN

-RAINA’S POV-

Sloanne’s rejection shattered us all. A gloomy vibe threatened to break up our jovial party. A sadness fell in Zack’s Sacramento green eyes. His features were sullen, confused, and wounded. My heart broke knowing how much this meant to him.

“Wiccan obeisance of celibacy?” Zack reiterated lowly. Repressing his disheartened emotions, he wiggled like a grubworm in the weeds that bound him and glanced from Sloanne to Penn to me, and then back at his mate.

“There's a lot more to it than that,” Benji explained with hands behind his head, capturing Sloanne’s attention. “Mate bonds are unpredictable because it’s the Moon Goddess that does the matches. She peeks into our souls to make sure we are the perfect fit. Two halves of a whole that bring out the best in each other. You only get one mate in a lifetime. That's why they're so precious."

“Yes. Now, please release him.” Penn pleaded, solemnly.

“I-I don't know.” Sloanne was hesitant. Her forehead creased with worry because Zack’s green eyes turned black, canines exposed. Yearning for his mate, his wolf had taken control. “Wasn't he going to attack me? His eyes are as black as a demon.”

Breaking from his big Flintstone portion of ribs, Valen interceded with an Alpha command to both human and wolf. “Zack and Bhodeck, behave and stop scaring Sloanne.”

With instant submission to his Alpha, Zack’s body went still. Sloanne relaxed, grateful to Valen with a bow. She leaped onto Penn first, pulling her in close for a hug. Then Penn led her to our circle, sitting beside her on the red and white picnic mat. Sloanne did a slow flick of her right hand.

The vines popped and Zack's muscular body fell to the grassy ground with a heavy thud. His eyes were fixated on his mate. Though his wolf retreated, disappointment coated his face and he walked back to sit beside Venus. Being a gentleman, he fixed Sloanne a plate of ribs and pinwheel wraps and stretched it to her as Penn did a quick introduction.

“This is a lot to process. I feel like I am being thrown into an arranged marriage or something.” Sloanne seemed uneasy but accepted the plate and told him. “If mates are a werewolf thing, I wouldn’t feel like a proper mate or even know how to act. This is freaking me out.” She shook her head while looking down at her plate. “I can’t be what he wants me to be."

Zack’s eyes turned watery as I watched his entire face fall like a house of cards. His shoulder slumped and he gripped his thighs so hard that I worried it would bleed.

"Zack, calm down," Venus whispered, rubbing comforting circles on his back as he relaxed slowly.

"Stop it.” Azara butted in, while swallowing her food. “There is no right way, every couple is different. Some meet and fall in love right away. Others take time, maybe months even." She cupped each twin under their chin, and they purred, leaning into her for more. "Just try to give him a chance. Happiness is worth everything."

Sloanne absorbed the intimacy between Theo and Thaines with Azara.

“You know, finding your mate is one of the biggest gifts in life. It's not a death sentence," Isaac chided, giving her a small reassuring smile and joked, "You could do worse than Zack."

Sloanne began eating and her attention wavered once more. “Witches don't do the mate thing. We're not shifters.”

Peaches interjected, eyeing Penn with contempt, “That's right. Wolves should stick to wolves, period.”

Zack resembled a heartbroken man, worn and torn. All the while, his eyes trained on Sloanne with hurt swimming in them.

Penn nudged her friend in the side. “That's nonsense. I could be someone's mate.” Her eyes swung on Devin and their gazes met. “I don't mind having a loyal and dangerously indecent wolf.” She licked her lips.

“Girl, he’s not from the State Penitentiary.” Peaches derisively mocked.

“Haa-haa.” Penn faked a disdainful laugh.

Sloanne's champagne eyes drifted down her body and then glanced over to Zack's unwavering gaze. Blushing, she soaked in every inch of his muscles and physique. Her daunted eyes caught mine, assessing me and Valen, and I realized that she was comparing her pear-shaped body to ours.

She had major insecurities.

Zack's perception caught on and he reassured her by stating, “I want you in my life, but I don’t want you to feel forced." His hand went over his heart. "The moon goddess chose the right person for me and I wouldn’t give you up for the world.”

“But?” Sloanne asked, nervously and chewed on her lower lip.

“But what?” Zack was perplexed.

“Everyone has a but.” She began and broke eye contact. “Like she’s a cutie but she has bad breath and always rushes to get the early bird specials.”

Zack crinkled his eyes for a moment, then with the kindest expression, he affectionately averred, “But take care of my heart, because you stole it the moment I first saw you.”

Touched by the sincerity of his words, Sloanne’s head flipped up and they stared at each other for a while. There was a faint smile on her Barbie pink lips. The rest of us held our breaths, waiting for her acceptance. As her lips twitched, our hearts stopped. The hush was exasperating. What’s her decision? Will she be mustered in the mate bond?

"The mate bond is like a beacon from one soul to another. It draws you to that person and binds you forever. You feel it, don’t you?” I asked, seeing the twinkle in her eyes.

“A little,” Sloanne admitted, shyly.

“In time, Zack's touch will set off sparks on your skin. His scent will be like a drug that you can't get enough of and you won't want to be apart from him." Valen offered, "Once you reach your ascension and become a full-fledged Eastwick like Pennelope, I can change that Wiccan Obeisance to a Wiccan Rede. That will allow you and Zack to be together without consequences."

Sloanne responded with a slight nod. Happiness broke out on our faces and the tension lifted.. The mate bond has won. Zack shot Valen a thankful look and I smiled reassuringly.

“She's pretty, Zack. Congratulations.” Heidi toasted, holding up her cup of beer.

“About damn time,” Benji teased him with a goofy grin.

“Hear, hear.” Isaac hailed, offering a supporting smile.

“Happy for ya, bud!” Theo exclaimed with delight and Thaines gave him a thumbs up.

Zack grinned with pride swelling his chest. Venus draped her hand around his shoulder, giving him a brief side hug.

All of us raised our cups to salute their bond.

“Zack's a great guy.” Venus vouched for him, smiling at Sloanne. “There's no rush. You can take things slow. Penn will help you to adjust, and we're here for you both as well. Welcome to the royal clique.”

Sloanne inhaled sharply. She bit her lips as her eyes locked with Zack's. A slow smile crept on his lips and her lips curved to prevent a grin. Her bisque cheeks colored red.

“He’s cute too.” Penn acknowledged, then targeted Devin out of the blue. “But my guy is cuter.”

“I am a flamboyant bachelor.” Devin snapped his attention at her. He was taken aback by her outburst and rejected her advances. “I don't do relationships.”

“So, no mate, then?” Peaches asked with a keen interest in her orbs.

“You are not, so what does it matter?” Devin glared at Peaches in a way that could blow her to pieces.

Peaches looked like she wanted to sink into the earth. Penn snorted with a giggle. Devin seemed pretty uptight beside her. He tensed even more when she reached her fingers into his shaggy blonde hair.

Penn chuckled, showing him the small white blossom that had caught into his strands.

“I'm free, you know. I can do whatever I like.” Penn threw the stick behind her and was fixing the side of his hair with small flips.

Highly irritated, Devin grabbed her wrist. “Stop. I'm not fucking interested.”

Penn frowned. He released her hand and continued drinking his beer. Penn's disappointed face continued to stare at his. He ignored her until she pouted, rubbing the sore area. Remorse set in his eyes as he realized that he had almost bruised her.

“Sorry,” Devin muttered under his breath.

Penn’s lips tugged up, and she shoved her wrist into his face, holding it at his lips. “Blow on it.”

Devin gaped at her serious face, gritting his teeth.

Penn raised her brows, urging him with a flick of her head.

Reluctantly, he conceded and blew exasperatedly. The witch lit up, rising to her knees, and kissed him on the cheeks. Devin turned tomato red and chugged down his beer. I almost laughed out loud.

“I’m going to need a hard workout after all this food.” Penn stretched her hands up, “With a personal trainer who’s well-packed and endowed.”

Devin choked and spat out the liquid in his mouth straight into the cup. The contents spilled upwards into his nostrils. He blew his nose free of the drinks while coughing.

"What?” Penn eyed him quizzically. “Do you want to train me?" She leaned back on her hands. Her fervid eyes slowly sized up his muscular body, and she sighed, acting as though she didn’t already have him in mind. "I train at night."

"Benji will train you." Devin asserted, backing out and wiping his mouth with his hand.

"Bro, what?" Benji opposed, not liking being dragged into their antics.

"No can do. He must be unmated to qualify." Penn was smiling deviously the entire time as she toyed with Dev. "Because I'll also have to brush up on my sex game."

They engage in an intense stare-down, challenging each other.

Venus leaned over to me and Valen. "Hey brother, when did they start sleeping together?"

Valen shrugged. "I don't keep tabs on who my Beta fucks, Vee."

Disappointed, Venus frowned at his words and glared at Valen.

Valen took her in. "Are you interested in Dev?"

"Pfft." Venus rolled her eyes. "Of course not. He's like a second you. Ew!" She grumbled inaudibly, "I'll choose my mate soon."

Getting jealous that I was not attentive to him, Valen kissed my mate mark, and electricity crackled between us. I moaned and he chuckled. He buried his nose in the crook of my neck, closing his eyes and enjoying my scent, kissing my skin occasionally.

My thoughts got clouded with lust as I adjusted my body to seek his lips, only to be obstructed by another one of Venus’ announcements.

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