ANNALISE
‘Change and cover those marks, or there’s going to be hell to pay!’
‘Get the hell out of my sight before I knock your head from your body!’
It’s hard to discern if he was linking with both of us, or if I was hearing his thoughts as he commanded us to leave his presence. But I knew that some meditation was in order, before I was surrounded by a whole slew of shifters, I hardly knew. Or another run through the woods. It’s imperative that my uncle help me keep my special abilities in check.
“Don’t touch him! We didn’t do anything wrong. I’m still a virgin daddy.”
He narrows his eyes at us. “Max, remember how it was for us before we came of age. You did that very thing to me all the time dear. Marking your territory, so other male shifters would know to stay away. Annalise, it would be wise for you both to leave for the time being. I’ll contact you when it’s time for the celebrations to begin.” With that she growls, grasps dads wrists and pulls him toward the rear exit of the house.
“Apparently this is something all male shifters do. Did you know that my mom and dad remained virgins until they were sure they were mates? Mom’s only a few months younger than my dad. But they dated all throughout high school and stayed faithful to each other until my dad turned nineteen and had his coronation, to become alpha of the Blood Moon Howler Pack. They made it that long, I’m sure we can.”
“That was twenty some odd years ago, Annalise. Numerous things have changed since then. Cell phones were mainly flip phones. The internet was barely beginning to advance. I want that for us though. It’s not going to be easy, but I’m determined to hold out, until we know for sure that we are mates.”
Smiling mischievously, I clutch his wrist and he follows me as we ascend the stairs. “I’ll do my best to behave. No promises though.”
Yanking my dress off, I plop myself down in front of the mirror, grab my concealer, then dabbed all the spots that needed to be hidden. As I worked to blend the makeup over the marks, I grew more annoyed by each passing moment. There are teenage shifters walking around the pack daily with markings just like mine. Why do I have to be singled out?
“This is bull crap!”
“It’s fine, sweetness. You’re the alpha’s daughter. I should have known better than to mark you, but I did it anyway.”
“You know what really sucks. There’s eleven months between us. You’ll be almost twenty before we can know for sure if we are mates or not. Unless you find your mate after turning eighteen. From what we know, it’s impossible to resist the mate bond. I hate to say it, but maybe this is all one colossal mistake. Maybe we should stay away from each other.”
“Don’t speak that way. I’d rather have this time with you, while we have the chance. If the time comes and my mate ends up being someone else…” He inhales sharply and shakes his head. “Look, we won’t know for sure until I turn eighteen. We have over a year before that happens. So just chill and let's enjoy this time together. That’s all I’m asking.”
“I hear what you’re saying. But, I don’t want to hurt you, anymore than you would want to hurt me. I’m just saying…” Scowling at myself in the mirror as I blend the makeup into my flesh, I contemplated my thoughts. Xillon’s right, we should enjoy our time together while we can. “Never mind, you’re right. I’d rather have this chance to be with you, than to never have this chance at all. Well, this is as good as it gets. You can still tell that the marks are there, but they aren’t as visible as they were before.”
“I took the liberty of picking some clothes out for you. It’s the least I could have done, since I was the one who left all the marks on you,” he says as he lays the garments down in front of me.
“You know, it’s funny, but originally I was thinking of wearing these. But I changed my mind, thinking that I should wear something to show off the hickey’s. It’s funny how we think so much alike.”
Clutching the garments I amble over to my bed, spreading the black dress slacks, followed by the navy, silk dress shirt with quarter sleeves and nod with approval.
“Figured the dark blue would accentuate your eyes. Come to think of it, maybe I should change. I don’t think I’m dressed appropriately. The alpha and luna were dressed to the nines. My mother would beat my ass for showing up in jeans and a t-shirt.”
“Not just your mom, but mine as well. You know how she is.”
He grins, bends down, brushes my cheek with his lips, then walks towards my bedroom door and leaves, without another word. It’s funny how his thoughts come and go. The whole time I was concealing the marks, I didn’t hear not one word coming from him that he didn’t speak himself out loud. Maybe it was because we were conversing back and forth and I was preoccupied. Who knows at this point? But even when we were downstairs, I heard nothing coming from him.
***
It was another hour before my mother linked me to tell me all was well. Most likely dad had to go out for a run to release some anger. Considering she had pulled him toward the back exit. Xillon never returned during that time, which was strange. I figured he would have and that we would go downstairs together as we had before.
Clicking my door shut, I glance around and furrow my brows at how quiet the hallway and the entirety of the wing is barren from anyone else being around. Usually I could hear the others bustling around in their rooms upon reaching the hallway. But you could hear a pin drop at this point. Where the heck is everyone?
Once arriving downstairs, I amble towards the dining hall and become even more perplexed than I was before. There isn’t a soul anywhere. Tables and chairs haven’t been set up to accommodate our guests. Normally there would be omega’s scurrying around. But I’m literally the only person in the mansion.
‘Uh… I’m at the dining hall and no one is here. Where is everyone?’ I mind linked my mom and waited for her reply.
‘I’m sorry honey. Your father and I decided to move things out to the barn, where we hold the coronation ball. I thought I had told you.’
‘Nope. That’s fine. I’ll be there shortly.’
As I walked towards the massive barn where we hold the coronation events I could hear classical music filtering through the cracks of the massive doorway. Is this how it would be when Jarek is crowned alpha and myself a year later. We’ll have to remedy the music, because I will be damned if I’m made to celebrate that type of music, on the most important day of my life.
A couple of guards opened the massive doors for me and escorted me inside. I looked around in amazement of how gorgeously decorated everything was. Then looked down at my attire and grimaced.
‘Do I need to change? I was unaware of how formal we were supposed to dress.’
Mom glances my way and grimaces. ‘Did you not see the dress I had hanging up in your closet?’
‘Have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. There’s the one I wore for my first shift and that’s it.’
‘Give me a moment. I’ll excuse myself and assist you. I’ve had tons of things going on. Most likely I forgot to give it to you.’
Following my mother up to the fourth floor to my parent’s quarters, I thought back to a few nights ago. Going up all these stairs is a serious pain in the ass. “We need to get some elevators up in this place mom. I mean seriously. Don’t you get annoyed with going up and down all these flights of stairs all of the time?”
“It keeps us young.”
“Be forewarned that when Jarek and I take over, we’re getting elevators. Don’t give a rat's booty who frowns upon it either. Also, shifters live for hundreds of years. They could live to be three hundred and when they die, still look thirty. So that statement is…” I’m cut off when my mother glares back at me, then continues up the stairs.
She pulls her closet doors open wide and glides inside, flips the light switch and glances around. “I’m sorry honey. I must have not told them to put this dress in your closet. It’s been dry cleaned. Hum… the marks Xillon gave you, were you able to cover them?”
“For the most part.” Holding the gown up I immediately see what has her concerned. The floor length navy colored silk gown will most undoubtedly show off more of my chest than the dress I had on earlier. Though it’s a formal dress, it’s plunging neckline dips down lower and it has off the shoulder sleeves.
“Do what you can and hurry. This was my fault, I’ll admit. But everyone is waiting for you. It’s not good to keep hungry wolf shifters waiting,” she says and leaves me without another word.
Going down the flight of stairs to reach my room, I’m fuming. She normally has a good head on her shoulders, but here lately, she’s been all over the place. That’s when it hits me. She’s most likely pregnant. Though I was young I remember how she was when she was pregnant with my youngest brother.
“Please, let it be a girl this time,” I grumbled upon reaching my room. I thrust my door open and went to straight to my desk, undressed and went to work on covering the hickey’s I hadn’t bothered with before. I left them alone because I knew they would be covered by whatever I decided to wear. Now I’m screwed.