7. 

Why did this feeling make him feel stronger, while all it was supposed to do was make him weak?

One by one, the beta's of the pack quarters came up on stage. Handsome men, gorgeous women. I recognized almost all of them, as I had seen them often enough on the tv at home. The beta of the Amor quarter came first, then Maeror, then Gratus, Ratio and Peccatum, and at last Ira and one I didn't recognize. But as there was only one pack quarter beta I didn't recognize, I assumed it must be the Caelum beta, beta of the happiness quarter of the pack.

They stood in half a circle, facing the public, us youngsters. Then they casted their heads down, which was usually a sign of respect. Quickly I casted my eyes down as well. If the beta's bowed their heads, it could only mean that the alpha was about to come, and as no one knew if the rumours of his merciless behaviour was true, everyone in the room showed the utmost of respect. Nobody wanted to be the one to end up on the receiving end of the wrath of a disrespected alpha.

Still, I couldn't help but peek at the handsome man as he walked onto the stage. I sighed dreamily – and with me probably all the females and some of the males in the room – when I looked at his body. It was utter perfection. He looked like a fairy-tale prince, with broad shoulders, muscled arms, thick and dark hair, and a height of at least 1.95 metres. Naturally, I knew he looked like this. But still I couldn't help but think that he looked even better in real life. Not that it would matter. Once I met my own mate, he would be even better than perfection. He would be my personal heaven, I was sure of it.

As the alpha stood in the middle of the circle, he started talking. "Ladies, gentlemen, welcome. As you may know, I am Aericon, alpha of the Sensus pack. My seer has looked in every one of your souls and showed you your path in life. I hope you will become happy in your new pack quarter, or maybe you have always been at the right place. Find your rhythm in life and start to feel what you have been destined to feel. Anger, love, happiness, logic, grief, thankfulness, or maybe mischief. You have been shown your path of life, now your job is to live it." He looked around briefly after this speech, silently waiting for his words to sink into the minds of all wolves present. As we all waited impatiently for the next part of the ceremony, the alpha just looked around the room. I could see it, because even though I had my head cast down, my eyes peeked through several loose strands of my hair. I knew from his look that he was trying to find something, and I felt sad for him for a short moment. Our beloved alpha – merciless as he might be, he was an incredibly good and fair man – hadn't yet found his mate at the age of 24, seven or even eight years later than it was possible to find them. Not that many wolves found their other halves at the age of sixteen anyway, but still, eight years without a mate to help you through the stress the job as an alpha gives, is a lot. However, I didn't have a long time to keep thinking of this mateless alpha, because soon after I started feeling sadness, he began talking again. "Now, the moment most of you have probably been waiting for: Anima. If all the girls will please stand in a line next to the wall."

We all shuffled silently to stand next to each other to form a long queue of girls in beautiful dresses.

"Gentlemen, please go past the line one by one and look every girl in the eye to find the other half of your soul. If you don't find them here, don't worry. Your soulmate may be of age in four years during the next ceremony, or maybe they have been sorted into their pack quarter already. No matter what, soulmates will always find one another."

I can't remember how many guys walked past me, briefly looked me in the eyes, shook their heads and walked on. Sometimes I could hear a squeal or the sounds of loud kissing if two half souls found each other. However, I never met the eyes of my mate in the countless of boys. When Francis stood in front of me, he only smiled and told me with his eyes to not give up, but with every single guy that moved away from me, I felt my hope diminish. What if my mate wasn't in this ceremony? What if I had to live without him or her for another four years? I would be devastated.

Eventually, all the boys in the room had walked along the line. No mate for me. I looked down sadly, but remembered to stand still and not break down in tears.

"Mates who have found each other, please leave the room together through the open doors, you will have time to get to know one another there. All others, please form a long line of boys and girls. The unmated beta's and I will try to find our mates in this ceremony now."

With these words all the unmated youngsters shuffled into a curved line silently. It was obvious that almost everyone felt as defeated as I did. All heads were turned to the ground, none of us dared to hope that the alpha or the beta's found their mate amongst us. Not that it would be logical, to be honest. Some of the beta's were late in their thirties or even forties, such as the beta of the Ratio quarter. He just walked down the line for the ceremony, I was absolutely sure he didn't have it in him to hope to find his mate here. He would be older than her for more than one and a half decade. The beta of the Gratus quarter however, would be able to find her mate here. She was only twenty-three after all, and she would be thankful for whomever she would find as a mate. Hell it could even be a chicken and she would be grateful and thanking the gods for an eternity. As it was in my genes to love everything with all I had, it was her destiny to be thankful with everything she was given.

Indeed, I heard a loud – unprofessional as well, if I'm allowed to add – squeal as the young woman found her other half. The happiness, gratefulness, and love that immediately sounded through that squeal made my hope flare up again. Maybe, just maybe?

Slowly but surely, the leaders of my pack came closer to me. I slowly raised my head as the beta's walked past, but with none of them my heart started to scream.

Until him.

The alpha came last, and when he stood in front of me and looked into my eyes, I thought I would melt on the spot.

"Mate," I whispered silently, and I heard him murmur the same word. Shortly, I saw his eyes soften, his look caring.

Just as quickly as it came, it was away. He grew cold and turned around. "Make sure she gets a room somewhere in the castle, as long as it not near to mine."

My heart felt as if he stabbed a long dagger right inside of it.