Chapter 3 - Mate-Finding Mayhem

Izzy stands at the center of the spectacle called the mate-finding ceremony, her most dreaded part of being a werewolf. The entire ceremony ground is a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds that assaults her senses.

The elder stands beside her, takes a hold of her necklace and roughly breaks it. The fire turns red, green and yellow as the elder reads the sign. Then he frowns, and his eyes go to someone in the group of unmatched males.

Izzy clenches her jaws and stares at her feet. She cannot, she can’t possibly have a mate now, after all those years!

“Ah, this is strange,” the elder whispers.

‘Yes, I am strange for not wanting a mate. I know that already!’ she thinks. All the female werewolves want it, even Chloe and Aria, except her!

“Ah, I apologize, but Alpha Landon Hayes, will you please step forward?”

Izzy’s lips tremble. The sound of his name is already pulling at the strings of her heart, so she ensures that her eyes are fixed on the solid ground. But, the alpha?! The widowed alpha Landon Hayes?! He’s still in his early thirties, a few years older than her, but does that mean that she will become the pack’s Luna?! Fucking NO! That will destroy her future to irreparable damage! She’d rather have Miles!

But then, she made the mistake of looking up and her eyes meet alpha Landon’s eyes. He is standing before her, resolute and with a bit of amusement in his eyes. He is taller than her, more imposing, and her heart is beating wildly as she stares at him, at her mate. HER OWN MATE. HERS ALONE.

Izzy takes a step back, trying to distance herself from the alpha. Landon’s intense gaze is making her feel uncomfortable and she can’t help but feel a stirring of desire and possessiveness towards him. It’s confusing and overwhelming, considering she has always been against the idea of a mate.

Landon takes a step forward, closing the distance between them. “Isabella,” he says in a deep voice, his eyes never leaving hers.

She swallows hard and looks away, trying to compose herself. “Alpha Hayes,” she responds stiffly.

He chuckles softly. “Please, call me Landon.”

“No, there must be some mistake,” she whispers, shaking her head stubbornly.

Alpha Landon Hayes is a man who exudes power and strength, with broad shoulders and a commanding presence. His gaze is intense, almost piercing, as if he can see right through her. He has short-cropped dark hair and deep blue eyes that seem to hold many secrets.

His lips twitch into a small smile as he looks at her with amusement. “Suit yourself,” he says before turning to address the rest of the pack.

“As most of you already know, I have been widowed for a few years.” His voice is strong and commanding, making everyone pay attention. “I think it’s about time that we assign a new Luna.”

“Wait, no!” she steps forward and holds his arm to stop him. However, the contact made her squeal. It is hot, as if her body is on fire — for him, she fucking desires him! Like right this very instant!

He looks at her and whispers, “It’s better not to touch me. The desire for a mate is overwhelming, especially in the first few days of matching.”

It’s too late for a warning. To remove the feeling of desire, she wipes her hand on her clothes, hoping that the trembling in her body would be gone.

“Do-don’t announce me as your Luna...” she whispers. She’s a little breathless. “I can’t be your Luna.”

When Landon turns his attention to her, he raises his brow, which makes her cheeks heat up. She tries to hide her blush by looking down at the ground. 

“Alpha Hayes,” the elder interrupts. “The mate-finding ceremony is not yet done.”

“I am aware of that,” he says, his eyes still on Izzy. “There are more matches for the other werewolves, right?”

“I mean… I am not yet done calling the names of this match’s mates. It’s not a one to one mate this time.”

This time, alpha Landon turns his eyes away from Izzy and asks, “What did you say?”

“There are multiple mates.”

“I’ve just been widowed,” he responds, clicking his tongue in frustration. “I can’t handle multiple mates. Isabella is already enough—”

“For her, Alpha Landon,” the elder explains. “Isabella Garcia has multiple mates.”

Landon’s jaw clenches as he stares at the elder. “What are you talking about?!” he growls.

“The mate-finding ceremony has revealed that Isabella has multiple mates,” the elder repeats, not fazed by the alpha’s tone.

Landon turns to look at her. She is staring at him with wide, scared eyes. He might be seeing the panic and confusion written all over her face.

“Izzy,” he says, using her nickname for the first time. “Do you know anything about this?”

She shakes her head, still unable to form any words. Her mind is reeling from the shock of finding out that she has multiple mates. Still, it doesn’t escape her attention that alpha Landon has just called her in her nickname.

The next she notices is when the pack members start to whisper amongst themselves. Some with a tone of excitement, while others with disapproval.

“Who is it?” Alpha Landon asks, his deep blue eyes scanning the sea of faces. It is silent now, the tension building with every passing second.

“Carter Grayson, please step forward.”

At the mention of the name, Izzy feels smaller than ever. Carter is a womanizer beta who is included in her circle of friends. She doesn’t think highly of him, but in her pack, even if she doesn’t like the man, she has no choice. In their pack, there is only one circle of friends and everyone is friends with each other.

“My beta is also my mate’s other mate?!” Landon growls.

Izzy hears someone laugh, and at the way her heart leaps at the sound, she knows it to be Carter. The annoying, flirty laugh belongs to no one but him! Unfortunately now, it sounds music to her ears.

“Come on, Alpha Landon. Don’t be so angry. You are the alpha. Maybe the Moon Goddess thinks you will be too busy to have the time to properly care for our Izzy here.”

NOOO!! Izzy screams inwardly as she feels rooted to the spot. She shuts her eyes close and wishes to be woken up from the nightmare.

“Be grateful that you are my beta!” Landon threatens, which Carter only answers with a laugh.

“Now, should we get this over with?” Alpha Landon asks, sounding irritated by the second.

“That’s the problem,” the elder adds. “There is still one more.”

Alpha Landon groans and Carter chuckles.

“Who the fucking else?!” Alpha Landon snarls. “How many else is there?!”

“Miles Bennett, please step forward.”

Izzy trembles. This time, her eyes opens wide with shock and disbelief. This can’t be right! She is definitely in a grim-joke-type of a nightmare. This can’t be happening!

“The mates for Isabella Garcia are...” the elder announces. “Alpha Landon Hayes, and his two betas, Beta Carter Grayson, and Beta Miles Bennett!”

Landon grumbles, Carter laughs, and then there’s the sound of Miles’ footsteps. And then she cries. Three mates... She doesn’t even want a single mate! A very, very cruel joke!

Carter takes a deep breath and softens his tone. “Izzy...”

She can smell Miles even before he comes forward. “Don’t touch me!” she screams at him. “This can’t be...”

Izzy hugs herself. The presence of her three mates is overpowering, her body is quivering with desire for the three of them. This cannot be!

Landon’s voice echoes on the field. “Continue with the ceremony,” he says, his voice firm.

Izzy continues her quiet crying, only trembling as she tries to reel herself in. This is not happening. This can’t be happening. She feels like she’s living in some kind of nightmare.

“The four of us, let’s talk somewhere private,” Alpha Landon suggests.