Vyra

"Finally it's done!"

I fell into a slump onto the floor.

The finished dress was short on Sonya's much taller frame, but I was able to see my vision come to life.

"Will you make me a dress as lovely as this?" Sonya begged. "We can lie and say it's for you."

My heart squeezed at the small request, "Of course, you don't even have to ask."

"What is this mating event even for?" Sonya asked absentmindedly, swirling her hips and watching the fabric shimmer under the light.

That worsened my mood. Any memory that led me back to Seren wasn't welcome.

I shrugged. "You are the one who listens to gossip. You tell me."

"Without a name? It depends on the solar calendar, but I don't remember the order," she reminded me, her hands placed on her hips.

I blew out all the air in my cheeks. "He said something like tarantula, tortula, tantallon-"

"Oh! The Tantulus?"

Her blue eyes sparkled, a blush spread across her freckled nose while she bit her ruby bottom lip to hold back a laugh.

"You know what it is? Tell me!" I stood up, hands knotted by my sides.

"Nope, I think it's better you don't. This will be fun."

Sonya looked down at my furious expression, and patted the top of my head. I shoved her hand away.

"You know who this is not fun for? Me! I feel like I'm being taunted by the Alpha, his people, and now my own! The last year of my life isn't some spectacle. Why can't you help me?"

Sonya's face turned scarlet, rivaling her hair.

"I don't know how you feel because you don't talk to me!" She took a deep breath, lowering her voice. "I'm trying to, I don't know, make it exciting for you because most won't ever get the chance to experience what you get to."

Her initial ire already faded. My fight snuffed out quickly in tandem. She wasn't the person who deserved all of my heartache.

This was my ornate room, and I complained. I was the Alpha's protected mate, and I complained. I was fed well every night, the costly dress that hugged her body was made for me, and yet I couldn't find a single ounce of happiness in any of it.

Before, my friends would've died for a chance at any of this.

Sonya rambled, insistent that I understood, "You have a mate. You, a hybrid and an Outcast have a mate, one of our most sacred blessings. It has to mean something."

I resigned. "My mate is the son of the-"

"Alpha who murdered your family. You've known this your entire life, and you've never hated him. You know it is not his fault."

I bit my tongue until I tasted blood.

"That was before everything. Why are you so sure of his innocence? That he is not complacent? Beautiful things kill all the time."

Her eyes narrowed with suspicion, "Why are you so sure he's guilty?"

We were both hiding something from each other. She did not know what my grandmother told me. It would have to stay that way, until I sorted the truth from lies.

Crossing my arms, I stood fast. "I asked you first."

Sonya knew I would always win the battle of stubborness. I was harder to crack than a chestnut.

She peered around my room nervously. I leaned in, alert and concerned by her cautiousness as she whispered.

"You know that day you almost drowned when we were children?"

A memory I've been reminded of too frequently as of late.

"Yes." I offered between pursed lips. Silver eyes and gentle hands flashed through my mind.

Just his name in my mind sent a sinking feeling down my throat and into my chest.

"I watched him pull you out of the water. I came up later and was freaking out until I realized you were breathing. He made me swear not to tell anyone." Her face went pale as snow. "Shit. I've told someone."

Silence. The only sound was the crackle of fire behind us. She couldn't be lying. I hadn't told her that Seren revealed himself to me. This confirmed he told the truth.

"Why did you listen to him?" Why did he want it kept a secret from me?

"You already know." She stated, visibly relieved she wouldn't be personally punished by the Alpha.

"He told me himself." I muttered, attempting to sort through this tangled, sticky web.

"See! Your mate cares about you. He always has."

She was back to being delusional. No matter what path I took to figure out the Alpha, I never landed there.

"Even if you're right nothing will save me from this battle. Nothing."

"If he's in love with you he won't kill you."

I choked on air. Love?

"If he's in love with me and won't kill me, one of us will die anyway." Even saying this lunacy out loud made my stomach roll and my body clench with embarrassment.

I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I felt anything other than attraction for him.

Tears welled in Sonya's sapphire eyes, "Maybe the goddess will spare the last of her moon clan."

So many lies, and I couldn't correct them. I am not the last of the moon clan. I am not favored by the goddess.

I am cursed.

The door rapped suddenly, breaking the tension. Sonya rid her expression of discontent.

"I'll get Petir!"

The hand knocking had been heavy. "It's not-"

The door was already open. Sonya's back was to me, but I could sense her change in mood.

"Oh. It's you." She said, deflated.

I held back my snort. Was Titus the person who could keep her from bouncing off the walls?

He was dressed in his uniform, his dark hair tied entirely back away from his freshly shaved face. Lifting a thick brow, he glanced down at Sonya.

"Black isn't your color." He said gruffly, looking away from her and to the side.

"That wasn't nice of you to say." Sonya fired back softly.

The man nodded noncommittally, already finished with the conversation. "Yes, is there anything else you want to say that isn't stating the obvious?"

"No." She squeaked, moving to the side.

"Good." The dark glare he gave Sonya as she kept her head down made me shudder. What was that all about? When Titus finally turned to me he was focused back on royal affairs. "Seren found this while fixing up your room. He says it's yours and that if you refuse it, it'll end up with mice and rotten vegetable peels."

How noble of him. Gifting me and making it sound like a threat, again. I rolled my eyes at the small pouch Titus held out to me.

"Generous. Why didn't he give it to me himself?" I prodded, grabbing the item. It felt light in my hands.

"This was more convenient." His eyes flickered back to Sonya once before quickly moving away. His expression was severe. "Goodnight. And don't make a fuss when I come to escort you tomorrow."

"Wouldn't dream of it." I answered back slyly, which earned me a wink.

When the door closed I threw the pouch on the nightstand.

"See. He's more scary than Seren." Sonya said, creeping back to me and watching the door as if he'd come back.

Titus did seem to have some kind of dislike for her, which was strange because they didn't cross paths often.

"Did you two argue? If not, that's just how he is before he warms up to you." I quickly reassured her.

I wanted all my friends to get along.

"Not really. I've never really talked to him but sometimes I-," she shivered, "I'd like him to remain frozen and far away from me."

"What, you don't like it when a man is so brutal he could hold your life in his palms and rip it out of you?" I asked, describing most of the men in Clan Umbra.

Sonya smirked, pressing her fingers into my ribs. "Not as much as you apparently, Vyra."

My soft growl of denial rumbled between us. Sonya broke first. Our laughs carried out into the night.

"Liar." I said, far too long after her accusation to stick.

***

Seren

Vyra was already twelve minutes late.

My foot tapped against the ground impatiently. Leaning back in my chair, I turned to Mena.

Her posture was stiff, expression just as militant. "Titus went to collect her a half-hour ago. I don't know what could be taking so long either."

The chair across from me meant for Vyra taunted me with its emptiness.

"If they aren't here in the next five minutes, go get them." I said, my voice low so that only she could hear me.

The room was filled with only members of Clan Umbra. I tried not to think about the faces I couldn't see, the ones that left with Cyrus. About a hundred or so of us gathered in this empty hall.

They couldn't give less of a shit about anything while they kept themselves full with mead and wine. I hoped it remained this way.

Titus told me the Tantulus would be my favorite mating ceremony. I had been away meeting with another Pack during the last one, held a few years back, so I was going based on his word.

He assured me it would be over 'rather quickly'.

I didn't tell Vyra the truth at last night's dinner. She was intelligent, and I feared I had already revealed too much in moments of weakness.

I didn't want her to know I had no idea what would be occurring tonight.

Sticking to tradition had seemed like a great idea. Until I found out what it was like to have Vyra in my arms, and what it felt like without her.

She hated it, but if I stopped now, she would wonder why I ever insisted on actually participating in the first place.

I took a deep breath and suddenly my lungs filled with winter jasmine and frozen cranberries.

She's here.

The chatter started to dwindle around the room, but I barely noticed. Not when I turned to find her.

Vyra was enchanting. The goddess of moonlight in the flesh, dressed for stealing souls.

Mine was at risk for capture.

I tracked her as she glided gently across the floor, a petal caught in the wind. Never wanting to take up space but holding so much of it.

Her dark eyes brushed uneasily over the room and its occupants, only anchoring when she caught my gaze.

Long moonlight hair fell down her back, her features lightly defined in smoke and berries.

The dress was magnificent. Not only in the way it hugged along her curves, a deep V exposing her chest to the top of her ribs that made my breath hitch. But in craftsmanship.

She made it, probably bled onto it, and worked tirelessly with her needle. It made my chest swell with pride that I was able to give her the reign to make something she wanted.

It was deep toned, the color of a black pearl. One of Clan Umbra's colors, and only supposed to be worn on special occasions by the clan it symbolized.

I should be offended, and that was more than likely her intention. But...Vyra misunderstood me greatly.

She looked fine in my colors. Too good for comfort, and with so many prying Lycan.

Vyra took her place across from me, and I held my lungs captive. If I scented her again, I would likely make a fool of myself. My fists pumped open and closed at my sides, trying to grasp onto something.

I still didn't have the strength to pull my eyes off of her. The dress pooled around her legs, her waves licking her arms as she crossed them over her chest.

My eyes caught shining metal in several places. The family heirloom kissed the tender flesh between her winged collar bones. An amethyst laden crescent moon strung on a delicate chain.

A second fuck you to the rest of us.

It should scare me, how right it looked on her, the Clan Lunae heir. It did the opposite.

And finally, fine silver thread gathered around her shoulders, and the deep waist of her dress. Curling in a delicate pattern of vines.

If anyone touched her, they would burn.

There you are Vyra Lunae, fangs and all. A stupid grin threatened to spread across my face. I adjusted the way I was sitting, hoping no one could see just how much I was enjoying our silent battle, her graceful ferocity.

Pull it together Seren.

It was easy to pretend I was offended by her, as I forced myself to remember my ire for Titus and their late arrival. I ripped my attention from her, letting my face speak for itself.

'I had to help her tie up her dress. Sonya was unable to do so'. Titus excused himself immediately, not looking the slightest bit apologetic.

I nearly let out a growl at the thought of him touching her, before noticing his inner voice curl vehemently around the other Lycan female's name.

'Interesting.' I remarked, hoping I didn't sound solicitous.

'The truth is usually more boring than a lie.'

"Vyra." I said out loud, ending our private conversation.

Her midnight sky eyes were unwavering on mine. A chill ran down my spine as I tried to read what lay in those unyielding depths.

If my father hadn't spent so much time hating her, he would have wanted her as a spy.

Vyra gave nothing away. It was as unnerving as it was fucking impressive.

"Seren. So are we just going to stare at each other all night or are we going to get this over with?" Her delicate features twitched, tone harsher than usual.

She didn't even realize when she gave me an attitude, it came so naturally to her.

I accepted it greedily, as she was only unkind to me.

"Titus will get us started." Started with what? I wasn't sure. Hopefully it was musical chairs, as we'd be finished in seconds.

My best friend clapped his hands together, smiling as he commanded the attention of the room. His eyes were brimming with mischief.

Oh fuck. What is going on?

"The Tantulus is a challenge of self control, in which our mated pair must test each other." Titus paused, taking in the horror that was likely emanating from me. "Whoever incites the bond from their mate first, wins. You all are here as witnesses, but only I will be able to know who caves first."

He lied to me.

I couldn't find it in myself to look at Vyra's face, not wanting to see the disgust I would find there.

This was a nightmare sprung to life, exposing everything in myself I needed to keep hidden from her.

I could barely contain myself and all she did was walk into the room.

'No. This is not happening. We are no longer participating and everyone can drink and fuck till their faces fall off. I am not doing this with her.' I told Titus silently, glaring up at him.

My nostrils flared, scenting Vyra's unease. Panic made me rise from my seat when hands clamped down on my shoulders, keeping me rapt to my seat.

Titus spoke back, 'You will not leave, and you will participate. Mena is worried sick from the thoughts you let slip during training, and I cannot say I am without concern. Show us you can withstand her pull, that you are stronger than this mating bond. Prove yourself, Alpha.'

It was a direct challenge to my leadership. Fuck.

If I still insisted that this doesn't go forward, I would appear weak.

My body tensed as I sat forward, trying to think of ways to ring Titus's neck. I wasn't getting any support from Mena, who was purposefully avoiding joining the conversation.

I was stuck.

'Read for the bond only. If you try to see her thoughts or reactions, I will kill you myself.'

Clan Umbra's ability to mindspeak had several laws, since privacy was a right of all Lycan. We hadn't reached that level of training with Vyra yet, so she had no way to protect her mind after permitting him in.

'Easy now, don't get worked up already. I will not cross that line.' Titus teased.

I was in no mood. 'Fine then.'

Sitting back in my chair, my face hardened stone, I looked at Vyra. She was just as impassive, except for the tapping of her fingers against her thigh.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, the color of bloomed roses. Embarrassed, or maybe shamed by our customs. Or the thought of having to be near me.

I'm sorry. I can't tell her.

"Here are the rules. No kissing. No running or chasing. No screaming or pretending there is any danger. These are things that naturally incite the bond. Get creative." Titus laughed, enjoying this too much.

Silence ensued, the room waiting for the first play of the match.

Vyra took a deep breath before looking up at me. With only that single glance, I could hardly breathe.

There was another reason I didn't want to go through this, more painful than the rest.

The bond was only as strong as the bearer's true feelings, not the other way around. I didn't desire to find out how little she cared for me.

But I knew one thing.

I was absolutely done for.