CHAPTER 3: MATING CEREMONY.

~HERA.

“It’s going to be fine, Genia” I consoled Eugenia, my friend as she leaned on the kitchen sink, sobbing.

“No, I don't think I can get past this!” She cried more, clutching to her chest. Her teary eyes were filled with so much pain. Pains of rejection from her mate.

This was what comes with the mating ceremony–Heartbreaks, sobs, and sometimes suicide from those who couldn't accept their rejection, all because they weren't good enough. 

It's so sad that Eugenia happens to be in the statistics. However, watching her cry this hard for a man who rejected her without thinking twice made me a bit irritated. 

Gradually, she turned down her sobs and finally gave me a face.“What about you? Any luck in finding your mate?"

I deeply sighed and shook my head.

“The head maid kept me stuck in here making pancakes for the guests,” I uttered, gesturing at the heap of mixed flour on the baking board.

“Tell me you ain't that daft? So, you're gonna miss your only opportunity to find your mate by baking pancakes?!" She said, seemingly annoyed.

"You know how the head maid behaves when I double cross her. I can't afford to get myself into any more trouble”. I tried reasoning with her.

The other day I neglected my assigned duty for another, The head maid scarred my back with hot coals from the oven. 

She firmly shook her head."You have to take the risk. You know finding your mate is the only safe card of leaving this hell alive. You need to find him”.

 I remained in the spot, feeling hesitant. 

"Like right now, Hera." She crossed the space between us and took off my apron.“I will handle things here. Go" She added, dropping a tray of freshly baked pancakes. 

I pulled up a big smile to which she returned and then I hurried out. 

Eugenia is right, finding my mate was the safest way to leave the castle but as I hurried down the hallway leading to the ballroom, I couldn't help but think if I would also be unlucky to share the same fate as Eugenia since my status was no different from her?

Refusing to allow the negative thought to settle in my mind, I quickly shook my head and scolded. “Stop being paranoid, Hera". 

I need to stay positive. Perhaps my mate wasn't as heartless as Eugenia's. Maybe he is a man who doesn't care about what other Alphas see as an insult to their face—An omega as a mate.

The moment I stepped into the ballroom, my nostrils instantly caught a scent. Amidst the salivating smells of different lavish delicacies on display before the guests, I could clearly single out the scent—Sandalwood mixed with peaches. 

As if automated by the scent, my legs got moving. With each step I took farther into the large ballroom, the scent became stronger causing my stomach to churn in excitement. Every fiber in my body nervously jittered. 

Feeling I wasn't in my usual calm self, I didn't need a soothsayer to know the scent belonged to no other person than my mate as I could feel Elsa on cloud nine. 

“Our mate is present in the room”. Elsa, my wolf confirmed in my head and my gaze frantically shifted past the faces in the room in search of him. 

“Why the hell are you standing dumb there?!” I heard a familiar voice snapped behind me. 

Irritated by the voice, I let out a groan turning to behold the face. Here comes evil, can't she for once get a grip and leave me alone? 

It's not that hard, she can just act like she never saw me. But then again, the typical Blair will never ditch an opportunity to humiliate people below her.

“What do you want, Luna?" I asked, forcing an obvious fake smile. In response, she raised her chin high, pushed her shoulders a bit higher, and smirked, blatantly enjoying being called Luna.

“Since you have nothing to do other than gawking at my guests, pull off your shirt and wipe the dust on my shoes”.

What?

Was she that blind with so much evil to the extent she couldn't see the tray of pancakes in my hands? Or was she clueless about my job here even with my appearance? I doubt that. 

“I have something else to do, I'm here to serve–” Her eyes darkened and then she cut me off, seething."I don't fuckin care about that, do it this instant!” 

She should get angry all she wants. There is no fuckin way I'm gonna do that. 

“I'm sorry Luna. Get other less busy maids to carry out your request. If you may excuse me, I need to serve the guests”. She gripped my hand before I could walk away.

“Spare yourself the humiliation and do as I say right now?!” She growled, her emerald eyes slowly turning dark. 

Not deterred, I looked her straight in the eyes as I replied with a flat tone."No Blair, you spare yourself the humiliation by letting go of me this instant”.

Shocked by my utterance, her eyes slightly grew wide. She quickly masked her shock, glaring hard at me, and made to splash the cup of wine in her grasp on me but I beat her to it, throwing the tray of pancakes on her dress. The whipped cream on the pancakes smeared on her dress.

At my action, loud gasps swept across the ballroom. I never knew the guests were watching us. Briefly, Blair assessed how much of a mess her dress looked and shot a dagger glare at me. 

“How dare you, bitch!" She bawled, closing in on me but before she could reach me, someone pulled her back. 

At that moment, my mate's scent came filling my nostrils stronger than ever causing me to shift my gaze away from Blair. To my mate.

“Mate!" Elsa spoke up the instant I laid my eyes on the tall figure right behind Blair. My eyes widened.

This must be a joke!