CHAPTER THREE

Ryker

The Crescent ball ritual began today, and it was responsible for the bad mood I was currently in.  I stood before the large mirror in my room, covered in sweat and herbs. A white towel hung low around my waist. The combined smell of Marjoram, dill seeds and some other herbs swayed, circling the air around me, its juices dripped from my head down to my toes.

How long was I going to do this shit?

Eileen had said it was compulsory I did the herbs ritual again this year, but she never said they intended to bathe me in some ‘herbal’ liquid. The burnt herbs and incense I could take, but being drenched in a mixture of herbs in hopes to attract a non-existent mate, was something I couldn't. 

Then give them a Luna. Find your mate. 

I hated the thought of this. Finding a mate when war was right at our doorsteps was nothing but misplaced priority. I knew what was more important. 

A knock on my door pulled me out of my musings. I turned to the door, just in time to see Caden slide in. He took one good look at me, then burst into a guffaw. 

I shot him a glare. 

“Not funny” I remarked, moving from the mirror. 

“Sorry” He chuckled. “When my mother said you were taking a bath, I never imagined you'd smell like a princess” He joshed.

“Shut up” I let out a soft, low-toned laughter. 

“So how long will this go on for?” He asked walking further into the room, he stopped at the sofa, sitting down. 

“A day more, or two. I don't know” I shrugged. 

“Hmmm” he nodded. “What is the essence of this new ritual?” He continued. I stared at him squarely, he raised his left brow quizzically. 

“What else?” I frowned at his question. 

“What else?” He prodded. He couldn't fool me, he knew I hated the word or even the though of it, but he wanted me to say it. 

“What else” I replied. “You know we can do this all day long” I said. He laughed in response, then raised both hands. 

"Okay" he muttered. There was a little silence as we sat, each to his own thoughts. 

“But seriously though," he began again "I think you should give them what they want. Well, except you intend to smell like a princess henceforth." I shot him a glare. " Your pack needs a stable rule," he continued "and a Luna chosen by the moon goddess, marked and mated by you is what you need to give them"  He counseled. 

“And how am I supposed to do that?” I asked him.

He glared at me. "Isn't apparent enough?" Caden knew I didn't believe in mates or soulmates. And he also believed I had something to do with my lack of a mate. Like it had to do with rejection or something. Ironically, he wasn't even mated, and it was his thing. 

“It's not my fault.” Why didn't they understand this? It wasn't working for me, because it doesn't exist for me. 

“As if” he scoffed

“ It is not as if a mate is someone you can just pick. Last time I checked, you are linked to one. Isn't the moon goddess that moon goddess' job?". To this, he kept quiet. "A Luna I can get, but a mate is over reaching” I finished.

“You intend to marry Olivia?” he queried curiously, left brow raised. 

“Have I toiled with the idea? Yes.”

“What?!” He exclaimed incredulity replacing curiosity. 

 “She's the perfect fit,” I shrugged. Caden stared at me as though I had grown a horn at the middle of my head. He was one of the many people who didn't approve of Olivia, her father's position in the pack notwithstanding. 

“Because of her father?” he pressed.

“Because of Olivia” 

“I still don't get it.” Caden shook his head. “Of all the gorgeous Crescent moon women of rank to pick from. Her?” 

“I don't expect you to” I pushed myself off the table. “I'm going to take a wash” Caden got up. 

“Mother wants to see us though, she's downstairs. Something about the ball and final preparations” he informed, making for the door.

“I'll be down soon” I assured him. He held the door knob, then paused.

“Ryker” he called, then turned to me. “I understand you're under a lot of pressure to fulfil duty and take care of your pack, but don't do anything you'd regret. The Pack's Luna will have to be your wife first, before anything” and with that, he was out. Leaving me with the weight of his words and the smell of herbs. 

                         🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘

“Why the fuck should I put this in my wallet?” I stared at the bay leaves Eileen had pressed into my palm. 

“To attract your mate” she counselled, then handed me a little bottle of greenish liquid. 

“What's this for?” I queried, staring at the bottle she stretched out to me. 

“Perfume made with Lavender, patchouli, nutmeg and fennel” She recounted.

“And why the hell should I wear this?” I questioned, staring at the bottle that was still stretched towards me. 

As expected, she said;

“To attract love, and your soulmate”  

Seriously? Bay leaves too?

Caden snickered, I shot him a glare. His mother turned to him “I made a bottle for you too” she said, handing him another bottle, same as the one she'd given me. Caden's smile dropped. 

It was my turn to laugh. He stared at the bottle suspiciously. 

“Book a herb bath for him while you're at it,”  I said.

“Hahaha, very funny” He rolled his eyes at me. 

“I already did” Eileen joined in the banter. I laughed hard as Caden's expression went from disappointment to horror

“Mother!” He called. She handed him his bottle in response.

“In your bath lotions, your oils, and to your cologne. Use the oil twice each day” she instructed him

I laughed at how specific his instructions were. Taking the bottle from her. I handed it to Anna who stood beside her.

“Should I put in your lotions and oils?” She asked.

“No”

“Yes” 

I and Eileen answered simultaneously. I glared at Eileen.

“Yes” She said to Anna. Anna stared at me skeptically. Eileen gave me a challenging look. I sighed, it was just oil right? And it smelled good. I nodded affirmatively to Anna. She smiled, took a bow and left the room.

“Mother wins again”  Caden muttered underneath his breath. 

“I heard that” I said, making for the door. 

“Mother knows best”  Eileen remarked “Come home for dinner?”  

“We will” Caden responded. 

“Ryker?” 

“Certainly” I replied to her. “Are you coming with?” I directed to Caden.

“Yes Alpha” He mock bowed. His mother hit him playfully.  “See you later, mother”.

The moment we were outside, I pulled him in, knocking him off his feet. He landed on his back. 

“Dude!” He wheezed. 

“Did it hurt?” I stood over him, stretching out my right hand to him. He eyed my hand suspiciously, then finally took it. I pulled him up, tapping on his back. “Now, we are even”  I brushed past him, heading for the car that was parked and waiting.  I noticed Caden wasn't following behind. He stood still at the spot where I'd left him. 

“Cade?” 

He didn't reply, just stood still watching me. 

Seriously?

“Cade?” I called again

“Was just thinking what would happen when you step out with that thing in your wallet” He spoke in a serious tone.

“You mean this?” I showed him the bay leaves in my palm. 

His eyes twinkled mischievously “Mate?” He mocked, then burst out into taunting laughter at my irritated expression. 

God help me!

“ I can't wait!” He remarked, heading towards the car. There was no winning with this dude. How he managed to switch from stoic, to playful and then ruthless was beyond me.  I shoved the bay leaves into my wallet. 

“We'll see”