Chapter 2 - Mate-Finding Ceremony

The mate finding ceremony is about to start. A sense of anticipation hangs in the air, excitement palpable amongst the crowd. The grassy field is filled with pack members, their eyes all centered towards the makeshift stage at the middle where the ceremony is being held.

Izzy finds herself getting anxious by the second. She feels her palms becoming clammy and so she takes a deep breath. There’s nothing to worry about, she reminds herself.

Every year the mate-finding ceremony happens, and every year, no one is deigned for her. It’s all good, she doesn’t want a mate. However, now that she is already thirty, her chances of getting a mate are higher.

Then Izzy’s eyes find Miles. He is a few feet away from her, freshly groomed and wearing a necklace, signifying that he’s still unmatched, just like her. His eyes meet hers in the crowd and for a second they hold each other’s gaze. Izzy breaks it off first, turning away before he can think of something stupid again.

A drum roll begins, which quiets down the chatter. The sound echoes throughout the field and the elders start their chant. They are asking the Moon Goddess’ blessing for the night; asking for a peaceful ceremony and; asking for more healthy werewolves.

After the matching, it is customary for the matched werewolves to find a private place for them to have their first night of procreation. Customary, because sometimes, they start making out in the field as soon as they are announced, without waiting for the ceremony to end — something that Izzy is afraid of doing.

“It’s okay, Izzy, you don’t have to be afraid,” Chloe whispers as she squeezes her hand.

Like her, both Aria and Chloe are standing amidst all the unmatched female werewolves.

“Thank you,” she whispers back. Chloe doesn’t know how much it helps to have her by her side.

“Look,” Aria whispers. “Miles has been staring at you for the longest time. You should meet the poor guy’s gaze. Have pity on him.”

Izzy tries her best NOT to look at him, even if she feels guilty. She doesn’t like the feeling of hurting him. He is a dear friend. Someone she cares for a lot, but the romance in it, it is something that she never entertained.

The chant grows louder. It is intense and starts vibrating in the air. Aria holds her hand and then, by instinct, her gaze falls on Miles. Aria is correct. He is gazing at her. And then, slowly, when he realizes that she is looking at him, he smiles — that charming smile that he always reserves for her.

As the chant reaches its crescendo, Izzy can’t help but feel all the more guilty. She doesn’t want to give him any false hope, and yet, she cannot take her eyes off of him.

The chanting comes to a sudden halt. She breaks away from him and watches as the elders bow their heads and perform a final blessing before announcing the start of the ceremony.

“May the Moon Goddess guide us in finding our destined mates tonight!” they proclaim in unison.

The crowd erupts in cheers as the first pair of matched werewolves take center stage. Izzy’s eyes flicker towards Miles again. He is watching the couple with a bittersweet expression on his face. She can sense his longing for the same kind of happiness — a mate to call his own.

The second pair is announced and Izzy, Chloe and Aria cheer for them. This time, Izzy can feel Miles’ gaze burning into her as another round of cheers fill the air.

Without a choice, Izzy looks at Miles again — to scold him with a look. But then, without any warning, he stands up from where he was sitting and walks in her direction. Her heart starts to race with fear as she watches him approach her with determination in his eyes.

“What is he doing?” she hisses, her eyes wide in shock. She is clinging to both Aria and Chloe’s hands.

“He probably can’t wait any longer,” Chloe replies with a knowing smile.

“It’s been five years of pining for you, girl,” Aria adds in a teasing tone.

But before Izzy can respond to their comments, Miles is already standing in front of her with a hopeful expression on his face. He takes her hand gently, and bows down on one knee. So, he’s resorted to this!

“Izzy, will you do me the honor of being my mate?” he asks sincerely, looking up at her with love in his eyes.

Izzy stares at him in disbelief. She doesn’t want to hurt him by rejecting his proposal, but the thought of being romantically involved with him makes her feel uncomfortable.

“I know that it will be uncomfortable at the start, given our history as friends, but I want you to see me as a man, instead of a younger friend that you need to care for.”

Before she can say anything else, the crowd around them falls silent as all eyes are now on them. Everyone is waiting for her response.

**************

And then Izzy’s mind goes somewhere else. She finds herself reminiscing about the good old days, when she and Miles would spend hours together, talking about everything and nothing.

And then that night, during her thirtieth birthday. She and Miles are sitting on the kitchen counter. Her head comfortably leaning on his shoulder as he sips on his drinks and she hugs his arm to her.

“Izzy, there’s something I need to tell you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Izzy looked at him, a bit dizzy from the alcohol. She had no idea what was coming, but she could feel a sense of tension in the air.

“Izzy, I... I’m in love with you for a while now,” Miles whispered.

Izzy felt like she had been punched in the gut. She didn’t know what to say or do. She had always thought of Miles as a friend, a confidant, a brother. She had never thought of him in a romantic way.

“The mate-finding ceremony is coming and I am afraid that you will finally find your mate without me telling you what I felt for you.”

She withdrew from him and scowled. He must have gotten an idea on the way she looked at him.

“I will always love you even if you get a different mate,” he said back then. “Even if I have become the second man in your heart. Even if I become just an alternative, you will always have my heart.”

Then she answered him with a slap.

**************

“Izzy,” Miles whispers, bringing her back to the present.

His voice is filled with love and longing. Despite not having a prior relationship, Izzy is not emotionally challenged not to sense it, which makes it all the more harder for her to say no.

“Izzy?”

The drum roll sounds again, and Izzy is grateful for it. It will give her time to think about the proper way to reject him, in a way that won’t hurt him... so much.

“Isabella Garcia, can you please come up front?”

OR MAYBE NOT.

“Me?” Izzy asks a bit loudly, confused why she is being called by one of the elders on stage, when Miles is kneeling in front of her.

She looks at Miles and sees the fear in his eyes. And then, her eyes find Chloe, as if seeking her help.

“Isabella Garcia, please come up here,” the elder repeats, as if getting impatient.

This time, Izzy takes a hold of Chloe and Aria’s hands. Now, she realizes why she is being called on stage.

“Don’t let me go. Help me escape! I cannot have a mate!” she says in panic. “I don’t want to lay my eyes on my mate!”

Chloe squeezes her hand and stares at her as if saying, ‘You can go through this’. As for Aria, she is chuckling. She even has the gall to blink playfully at her!

“Miss Isabella Garcia!” the elder screams this time.

Izzy’s heart is racing as she stands frozen, trying to think of a way out of the situation. She can feel the stares of everyone and they are waiting for her to make a move. Aria is looking at her with amusement, clearly enjoying the drama unfolding in front of her. And Chloe, she just looks worried for her.

Without a choice, Izzy walks towards the center, towards the elder. She is walking as if in a gruesome procession where she is offering her entire life to an unavoidable prison and torture.