Page 4 of Wolf Traded
I look like a princess and a genuine smile breaks across my face. My crystal aqua eyes sparkle as I examine myself in the mirror. “It’s absolutely perfect, Isabelle. Thank you.”
My mother’s eyes glitter with unshed tears and there is a watery smile on her face. “I’m fine,” she says as our eyes lock in the reflection in the mirror. “I just can’t believe this. You look so grown up.”
“Mom, I am grown up,” I chuckle. “I’m twenty-five.”
“You’ll always be my baby.” She sniffles wiping her eyes.
“You are going to be the mother of the alpha female soon, you can’t show weakness.” I tease throwing her words back at her.
She glares through the mirror but it doesn’t last long and she starts giggling. I can’t help the grin that breaks across my face. Turning, I wrap my arms around her hugging her tight.
“Okay, enough of that. We are going to wrinkle your beautiful dress.” She whispers squeezing me one last time before pulling away and swiping at her red rimmed eyes.
Quickly and carefully, I remove the dress and step back into my own clothes. “I have a few last minute touches to make but the dress will be sent to the pack house tomorrow, child.”
“Thank you so much, Isabelle.” I hug the older woman before turning and walking out the door. I feel better than I had when looking at the dress. It must have just been nerves.
The air is crisp and cool on my overheated skin as we leisurely stroll through the town. The trees rustle in the distance and my pack mates talk animatedly to each other. The entire place is full of excitement and I can’t help but wonder if the excitement is because of the mating.
“The alphas from the neighboring packs are supposed to be traveling in starting today.” Mom says as if reading my mind.
“That’s why everyone is acting so bubbly and excited.” I muse as I walk watching the excitement. It’s almost contagious. Pack members wave at us as we walk past them. I grin and wave back at them.
It’s weird to think that in just a few days I will be their alpha female. I have known for a long time this would be my fate but now that it’s time I’m not sure how it will work. What if I’m a horrible alpha?
“You will need to greet them accordingly, Jara.”
Mother is all about tradition and decorum. Which is good for me because I’m being thrust into a position where those are going to be paramount. Respect and strength are everything in our world. I’m almost sad that I won’t be able to be carefree anymore but it was fated so there isn’t really anything I can do about it.
“I know, Mom. I need to be careful when I meet them too so that I don’t mess up and insult one of them,” I sigh.
“You put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect. Just be you. But remember the rules.” She loops her arm through mine and leads me in the opposite direction from where I need to go. It takes only a second to realize she’s leading me to the pub.
“Mom, I have errands to run.”
“Nonsense, we are going to lunch and then we can run your errands together after. I am not going to get as much time with you once you’re mated. I need to take all the time I can get.”
I can’t argue with that. My mom is my best friend. I don’t have many good friends. I mean people tried to hang around me in school just because they wanted to be friends with the future alpha female. It was superficial at best.
With my shifter nose I could always tell who was genuine and who wasn’t, so I just stopped talking to people my own age. Suddenly the skin on my neck prickles with unease. There are eyes on me. I shrug it off because it’s probably just a jealous female glaring because I’m Grayson’s mate and the ceremony is soon.
“There’s still time for him to reject her.” My exceptional hearing means I hear the whispered words from far away. Absolutely clueless girl. You can’t reject a fate bond.
“Don’t listen to them, honey. You know Grayson adores you.”
Do I though? I haven’t seen him in weeks. He has been extra distant but always sends things to me as an apology for how busy he’s been. Between his role as alpha and handling security for the upcoming ceremony he’s just busy. That’s it. So why don’t I believe myself?
“Yeah, you’re right, I think it’s just nervous jitters.” I shrug. She peers over at me obviously smelling the lie. Luckily for me she doesn’t comment as we stroll into the local pub.
Mike, the owner waves at us as he drops the rag he was using to clean the bar top and makes his way to a booth in the back beckoning us to follow.
The pub has a rustic dive bar feel that I love with exposed beams in the ceiling and black leather booths. The floor is mahogany and the bar takes up one entire wall showcasing all the liquor they offer on glass shelves.
“I figured you would want to be away from prying eyes.” Mike says with a warm smile as he shows us to the booth. “This is the booth the alpha uses when he comes into the pub.”
“Thank you, Mike. This is perfect.” I grin and scoot into the booth so my back is facing nothing but the wooden wall. I don’t like having my back to a crowded room. I wouldn’t put it past some of these delusion females to try to do something behind my back out of spite.
My wolf snarls at the thought of any of those women touching Grayson or rejecting me. A low rumble leaves my chest causing my mother to giggle and Mike to take a quick step back. “Sorry, my wolf is a little volatile this close to the mating ceremony.”
