Chapter 19: Chapter 19

The night of the ceremony was spent with Margot. After parting ways with James, she was given the tour of Margot and Matt’s beautiful three-story home. It was much different than James’, although she now considered the little cabin hers as well. The home had a more modern feel, with wide open rooms and minimalistic decoration.

Soren was ushered into the master bedroom by a frazzled Margot, who insisted Soren had to look absolutely perfect for the monumental night to follow. Margot insisted this night was one of the most special and significant ones in a wolf’s life and Soren couldn’t help but feel nervous at the prospect. Not only would the night involve standing in front of the three hundred-something members of James’ pack, but also publicly devoting herself to him for the rest of her life.

After a quick shower, Margot spent what felt like hours blow-drying and then curling Soren’s blonde tresses into long flowing waves down her back. When that was done, she braided some piece out of her face and sporadically throughout the rest of her hair. She had never been so pampered before and it was safe to say it was out of her comfort zone. While she dolled Soren up and applied a light makeup to enhance her natural beauty, Margot explained to Soren the process of walking up to the stage, and what would be expected of her.

Since she was human, Soren’s outfit was slightly different than the traditional garb, with a long fur jacket and soft leather boots in addition to the usual long-sleeved dress. All dressed up and ready to go, Margot turned her to face the mirror, her first look at what had been done to her.

The girl in the mirror was a stranger. Gone was the meek girl who hid from all but James, and in her place was the fierce warrior the woods had raised her to be. The makeup Margot had spent so long perfecting did nothing more than emphasize her features, highlighting the plains of her face and making her look ready for anything.

Soren felt a burst of confidence. Looking like this, she could do anything, say anything, be herself in front of a crowd of strangers. It brought tears to her eyes, looking over at her only friend, a woman who understood her so well, and who had brought out the best parts of her.

When they had started, Soren had thought she’d turn out looking like a clown. Now she cursed herself for ever doubting the woman that had been so kind and caring towards her since the moment they had met.

“Thank you, Margot.” There were tears of gratitude building in Soren’s eyes, she hadn’t had a friend in so long, and while James was her soul mate, it didn’t count.

“What are friends for?” Margot wrapped Soren up in her arms, pulling her in tight,

“We’re basically sisters anyways. Todays the day we make that official.”

Pulling away, Margot kept hold of Soren’s hand,

“It’s time to go, the ceremony’s about to start.”

Soren’s heart rate sped up, she clenched her hands into fists, trying to stop the nerves that were threatening to make her legs shake. She was strong, she was born to be their leader, and she would not back down from something as silly as stage fright.

She nodded to Margot, who took the hint and lead her down the halls of her magnificent house. Pulling her outside they began their way into the woods, the trees comforting her the deeper in they went. Eventually they got to a point where Soren could hear a faint humming noise,

“I can’t go any further with you, I have to take my place with Matt. Just remember what we talked about. It’s just over there.” She nodded her head towards the direction Soren was to go.

Letting out a shaky breath, Soren gave her a small smile,

“I’ll see you, afterwards right?”

Margot gave her hand a squeeze,

“Of course, I’ll be in the front row, just look at me if it gets to be too much okay?”

“Okay.”

“Alright then Wild One,” She used the name Matt had given her, “go on now.”

Margot faded away into the trees, leaving Soren to fend for herself. It felt better almost, to be alone, when she had no one else to rely on was when she did her best work, the times when she was most divisive. Turning towards the direction Margot had shown her, she began to walk.

It was time to claim her spot at James’ side, and in the presence of the trees and the soft breeze that brushed through her hair, nothing had ever felt so right.

The humming she had heard previously, had been members of the pack. They seemed to be chanting lowly under their breath. The group parted as she approached, creating an aisle that lead up to the stage, where James stood.

He was shirtless and his pants were made of the same coarse material as her dress. His feet too, she noticed, were bare. She knew had it not been for her long fur cloak and leather shoes, they would have been matching.

As their eyes met, she lost all thought of the outside world. She didn’t care that the pack members were all grabbing her arms and hands as she passed by, Margot had warned her about it, but it didn’t matter. Everything else faded away as all she could focus on was getting to the stage and getting to him.

When she got to the stage, he bent down towards her, offering his hand and pulling her up next to him. She could feel the warmth that radiated off his golden skin and scooted as close as possible to soak it all up.

“Ladies and Gentlemen of Colorado Pack!” Matt’s loud voice boomed out from beside them, startling her out of her haze.

“Today is the day I have the honour of introducing to you, the newest member of our pack!”

Howls rang out from within the pack, the expanse of forest echoing with the approval of the wolves that lived within. Soren felt her spirit soar, as she felt the acceptance of the hundreds of people that agreed to live with her, protect her, and welcome her into their ranks.

“It has been a long wait for Beta Hughes, but he’s finally found his mate, may the happy couple live long prosperous lives in peace, and may we all welcome Soren, our new Beta Female, to our home!”

With the last ringing echo of his speech, the howls turned into a thunderous roar of cheering, clapping and whoops of joy. It seemed to Soren that James hadn’t been the only member of the pack waiting for their Beta Female to show up.

James wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her into the air, spinning her in circles until she was dizzy, her light laughs soothing to all the members watching their leaders rejoice.

A cough sounding from just in front of the stage brought Soren out of her reverie. James stopped spinning and set her down gently, pulling her behind him to place himself in between whoever had interrupted. Soren peaked around James’ hulking form, placing her hand on his bicep to steady herself when her head span from all the twirling.

When she saw who stood before them, she lost the ability to breathe.

“My fellow packmates!” Her voice rang out crystal clear, not an ounce of uncertainty to be heard,

“I will not stand to have our pack contaminated by scum like her,” she spat on the ground, “We are a pack of fine warriors and of time-honoured traditions, and it is against my duty as a wolf, to bow down to a mere human. That is why, I, Grace Wojtek, challenge Beta Female Soren, on the grounds that she is unfit to lead this pack.”

Murmurs of surprise and full on yells in complaint could be heard erupting from the captive audience. It seemed Matt’s talk with her hadn’t gone as well as he expected.

“Grace you can’t do this, she’s only human.” It was James, who looked like he’d seen a ghost. He knew what Grace had done, he’d challenged her in front of the pack so that there was no way to get out of it, or to kill her before she could lay a finger on his mate. Grace had witnesses, which meant he either needed to get her to rescind her challenge or would have to watch as his mate was mauled.

“I’m sorry, James,”

He growled.

“I mean, Beta Hughes, but I’m doing what’s best for the pack. You know that, you just don’t want to admit it because she’s your mate.”

The pack didn’t know what to do at the open disrespect angled at their Beta, they wanted to rip Grace apart for her tone, but couldn’t because of the challenge she had issued.

“If you make her do this, I’ll step down as Beta. You’ll have to find someone to replace me.”

Gasps echoed throughout the pack, James was their beloved Beta, the kindest most caring one they’d had in their history as a pact, but also the most fiercely loyal. They knew he would stay true to his word.

“If you decide to step down once she’s dead, that’s up to you, Beta. We wouldn’t want someone that weak leading the pack anyways.”

A member of the pack stepped forwards, an aging woman with angered eyes,

“Don’t presume to speak for the rest of the pack, pup. If you do this, you’ll no longer be welcome in my home.”

Grace staggered backwards at the claim,

“But mom-”

The woman held up a hand and Grace went silent,

“Do what you must child, but you’re no child of mine anymore. The Grace I knew loved everything and everyone, I don’t know what happened to you.”

The woman sent a last steely look Grace’s way before disappearing into the crowd of people surrounding the events.

Grace looked like she wanted to cry, but upon seeing all the eyes on her, straightened her spine and turned back towards Soren and James.

“I stand by my words. Now we fight.”

Soren had been in a daze the whole time, not registering what was happening, only one thought rolling through her head,

I’m going to die.

James grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a tight hug,

“You have to fight, Soren, baby. I’m sorry, I broke my promise. I can’t protect you right now, it’s all on you.”

Looking up at the beautiful face full of worry, she could not help but feel his love seep past all the fear and anger she was feeling. Pulling his face into her she connected their lips, uncaring of all the eyes that were fixed on the heartbreaking scene.

“James?”

“Yeah?”

“I think I love you.” He blinked.

“I just want you to know in case I die right now. You’re everything a girl could ever dream of wanting and more. You make me so happy it’s unreal.”

He kissed her again.

“I love you too, Ren. So much. You’re going to win this fight. You didn’t survive all those years in the forest and find me, just for it to end this way. Look at you, you’re a survivor.”

She looked down at the fur cloak that hung over her shoulders, fixing her posture and lifting her chin in pride. He was right, she was a survivor, and she was determined to do justice to the fierce girl Margot had unveiled from within her.

Stepping out of James’ hold she faced Grace head on, uncaring of the pack that had made a large circle around the two women.

She sent a wicked grin Grace’s way, startling the wolf who looked prepared for a fight,

“Kill me, I dare you.”