28

Half an hour.

That's how long I have until I turn sixteen. I exhaled as I stared myself down in the mirror. I look like a princess, and I suppose to these people I am. I bit my lip and pulled my dress higher, not at all comfortable with the amount of cleavage on displa-

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the littlest Wood all grown up and ready to mate". 

I cringed at that familar southern drawl. I turned to find a boy who almost resmebled Alec, if not four years younger. Blue eyes with blond hair. In a fitted navy suit. I smiled. "Cousin".

He screwed up his nose. "Cousin, Only your favourite cousin".

I mock frowned. "Well, from the pool of cousins I have, one can only choose between royals and...you southern folk. I'd just consider yourself lucky to be invited".

He snorted. But its no lie. I'd almost forgot that ontop of everything else tonight, there's still basic family drama that comes with any type of gathering.

We're Woods. It means everything. Just because all the allies are here for tonight doesn't change that. My father wasn't an only child, he has two sisters. Which means family, who don't carry our last name and aren't in our pack. Three packs here consider themsleves above our allies. When really thats all they are, allies and not in our pack. 

But, here they'll be idolised too. Just not like Alec, Anna and myself. They're like second class royalty. While the Dawson's like Marcus over here, are respected highly in the south. Here their reputation of bloodshed and hangings is what they're known for. 

Quite the scandal for those wolves with nothing better to do but keep up with the family drama. That or they'll try to mention the Hales to cause a fight or two in the name of Wood. It is quite tiresome. 

He hugged me before pulling a face. "Aunt Lenora's in a mood".

I tusked. "Goodie. How many packs are down there?"

He shrugged. "Only around thrity something so far. You don't have to be down there till midnight. In fact, its highly encouraged that you don't."

I giggled. "Why, you're not hiding up here are you?".

Marcus scoffed. "From who? My seven older brothers? or my uncle Oliver?...or even worse, a beta female who I'll claim as my own!".

I shook my head. "Theres nothing wrong with finding a mate, Marc".

He rolled his eyes. "Says the Wood. Any pack you join, you know they're just going to parade you around at these things like your Aunts. Your mate will love you, sure. But you're new pack they'll see you as a prize. A way in with the family. They'll have the  powerful future alpha Alec in their corner always no matter what. You know that right?".

I'd never thought about it like that. He shrugged. "All the packs are a buzz like at Anna's ceremony. They want a Wood, but I guess everyone does".

I frowned. "Well that sucks."

He nodded and smiled at me. "Any pack out of the five hundred or so that are coming tonight, whose would you like to join?".

I smiled back and tried to think. Countless packs filtered through my head with Alphas that all seemed more brutal than the last. And then I thought of Tahlia's pack. Her home, how its not marble and stone cold. But warm with velvet couches and fireplaces. I shugged. "I want a stress free cosy pack".

He stared at me for a second before he was doubled over in laughter. "T-they don't exist".

I scoffed. "They so could".

He sobered up and shook his head. "Yeah, but not on this side of the feud they don't. I mean, imagine going from a Wood to a member of a pack sworn to Tahlia's. You're father would kill your mate".

I rolled my eyes. "Fine then. Maybe I just want to belong to a pack that doesn't string up rogue werewolves to trees and watch them suffocate".

I'd already started walking away from him but not before hearing him shout back "Low blow, Cous!", from behind me. 

I'd only walked about ten steps out of my room before I was spun into the arms of a girl about three years older then myself. Oh god no. "We've missed you, Avery!".

I felt another pair of arms wrap around me from the back. The smell of lavender assaulting my nose. "Look how much you've grown! just so much like your sister".

It's the twins. I don't like them. They're my cousins on my father's side. And they can both join bodies to form one big she-wolf. Cause, appraently that happens to twins. Not to mention the two of them are the biggest suck ups. Want to be around us or our grandparents the whole night so all these wolves can appreciate that they're related by blood to father. You know, because having the power to double in size just isn't enough.

I stepped out of the hug and nodded at each of them. "Penny, Tory, you both look so pretty tonight".

They beamed at me with a collective "Thank you". 

I hate them and I hate that they talk at the same time. Penny then grabbed my arm and winked at me. "You know we have so many young beta's in our pack."

Tory nodded. "At midnight you'll have to meet them". She winked at me "Cute ones too".

I smiled when inside I cringed hard. Stuck forever in a pack with my aunt and her twin daughters who I can't stand?. Sounds charming.

Penny then looked around. "Where do you suppose Anna is? She hasn't said hello to us yet".

I covered up my snigger with a cough. Probably avioding you two. Besides, its not like Anna has to greet these entiled shits. She's actually above it, so am I. But, as the youngest I seem to be the Wood every wolf clings to as an 'in with the family' as Marc would say. 

I shrugged. "In her room, her scent does seem stronger in there".

Penny smiled. "Amazing, don't hide from us tonight Avery!. We'll introduce you to all the cute boys!".

I fake laughed. "Can't wait!".

I watched them walk in the direction of Anna's room before retreating to higher floors of the mansion.

Certain wolves have permission to enter other areas of the mansion besides the ballroom and garden. The elite I guess. Or as I call them, family that just can't take a hint. Its mainly father's strongest allies and other officals. Not that they'd be up here when father isn't. So as the packs arrive its just family retreating so they don't have to bother with making small talk to all our allies. 

I felt an arm grip mine only to spin around. I growled and looked up at the annyoed face of Alec. I breathed out a dramtic sigh of relief. "Oh thank god! I thought you were some cousin".

He blinked and sniffed, only to frown. "How many of them?".

I shrugged. "Well, Marcus is here so that means the whole Dawson pack..."

Alec turned his nose up. He doesn't like them. Theres eight son's and of course only the oldest will be alpha...it leaves for a lot of built up testosterone. Which means fights. For Alec I guess. I sighed. "And the twins are in Anna's room so Aunt Audrey's pack is here".

He nodded. "Lets hope Aunt Cecilia runs late then. I don't want this floor to be filled with all our cousins".

I shook my head. "They'll be more intrested in the party anyways".

Alec smiled. "Speaking of the party, how are you feeling?".

I shrugged. "Nervous I guess".

He nodded. "I felt that way too. You'll be fine though and who knows, you might be the only one out of the three of us to find your mate at their ceremony".

I bit my lip and avioded eyecontact. "And what if I don't?".

I felt him grip my shoulders and give them a slight squeeze. "Then I get to look after my idiot sister for an extra few years".

I let out a scoff. "I'm not an idiot, I'm-"

"There you two are!. Can you believe these people?!?. Does being a Wood mean anything anymore!. Those twins just walked in on me doing my hair!".

Alec rose his eyebrows and I bit my lip to hide my smile. Anna huffed as she looked at Alec hesitantly who avioded eyecontact. Great. 

She then turned to me with a smile. "You excited?".

I shrugged. "As long as I get to eat some of the cake, then I'll be fine".

She rolled her eyes and then winced. "Aunt Ceclica's arrived".

Alec tusked. "Fantastic. Well, I better go greet our allies before father kills me. Have fun you two".

I nodded but frowned as I watched him leave. I was hoping to ask him about what Anna told me today.

I then smiled knowingly at Anna. "How are you feeling?".

She rose an eyebrow at me. "I'm not the one maturing tonight"

I nodded. "That's true but your mate could be down there!. And then you could leave and the whole Hale problem will solve its self".

She scoffed. "Really Avery?". 

She glared at me before walking off, probably to the party that I'm not allowed to go to until after midnight. I felt bad but its not a lie. Better her off with one of these packs than at the hands of Thalia.

By the time it was midnight I couldn't think straight. I definitely felt more in tune to my scenes. Like my hearing seems to have stretched further, I can smell more of the food out in the garden. I even feel stronger. But theres a down side.

I have a hollow feeling in my chest that wasn't there half minute ago. And I know what that is, its my mate. Or...the feeling you constantly feel when you haven't met them yet. 

As soon as I meet them, they'll complete me and literally fill that whole in my heart. But for now its forever present. 

Thinking about my future mate caused me to think of Derek. Which only caused me to frown. I haven't thought about him at all since I saw him in the forest. Does that make me a bad secret girlfriend?, probably.

In my defence theres been so much going on it just escaped me. I doubt he wants anything to do with me now though. Not after I, along with my siblings attempted to kill Peter in no mans land. Yeah, he might even want to kill me now.

With a shake of the head and a deep breath I did the mature thing and started making my way down to the ball room. Lets get shit over with. 

As soon as I entered my father walked up to me and engulfed me in his arms. "I am so proud of you. My little wolf".

I smiled up at him as he winked at me. "You ready?".

I shrugged. "Probably not".

He chuckled and then escorted me to the gazebo in the garden. With my father by my side, proud smile on his handsome face. It was hard to believe he was capable of causing such monstrous things. That he's the man that broke my bones repeatedly. The man who cut Alec 2000 times. How many cuts could he get in before they started to heal? Fifty three. It was almost game like to him. While my eleven year old self thought for sure Alec would die of blood loss. He came close. 

I shook my head at the awful memory. The gazebo was covered in fairy lights and rose peatels. Thus, the ceremony part begun. Saying our motto and cutting my hand open under the full moon. Supposed to symbolise shedding ones old self to be oneself with your mate or something like that.

And that was it. Father kissed my forehead, he said some speech and then the party continued.  I smiled down at my already healed palm. Neat, I heal faster too now.

It was a long night of pleasantries and small talk. Dancing with too many boys to count. But by three in the morning most packs had left. Which means I, along with my family are left with the simple fact that he's not here. That my mate isn't our ally.

Its fine though. He could be a bitten wolf that I'll meet later in life that hasn't been bitten yet. He could be a foreign werewolf from a country far away. Or...he could be somewhere in this country and in a pack allied to them.

The next day I noted that Ennis' pack is still here. 

Most packs leave the night of the ceremony. Beacon Hills and the surrounding towns are only so big. Yet still, it takes at least a week for all five hundred packs to leave. Its only once father assures the Emissary that all his allies have left that the Hales will come out of hiding. They have a week to leave because thats how long the Emissary gives us. Longer than seven days then its up to the Emissay to deal with. Either give us more time or tell Thalia. Neither pack has ever done that though and I heard father tell Ennis that he wants him out of his house by the end of the day.

Which means Alec, Anna and I have five and a half days to figure out what to do about our little  problem. 

Which is why all three of us are in the secret silent room. 

Alec keeps tapping his pen on his note pad. It caused me to frown. He can't write his way out of this. He's got a copy of the treaty in front of him, looking for a loophole he's yet to find. 

Anna was staring at her phone like its a life line. I guess Aaron might not like the idea of his girlfriend being a werewolf. So much for love, huh. 

Alec rubbed his forehead. "This would be so much easier if we didn't all attempt to kill Peter in no mans land". He made eyecontact with me across the room. "'Intent to and/or kill', sounds awfully a lot like what we did to Peter. Its enough for Thalia to cliam us too. We're all betrayers of peace".

I swallowed. That's great. Honestly we knew that deep down. We can't say clawing Peter's neck was an accident. "Can you spin it somehow?".

He shrugged. "I can saw we were training and the idiot Hale got in the middle of it. But if Thalia sees his memories then forget it".

I sighed. We're fucked.

Anna sniffed at her phone angrily and avioded eyecontact with us. "I'm sorry. I knew it was wrong but I'd n-never felt loved before".

Alec huffed. "We loved you. And you knew eventually you'd find your mate. Wasn't that enough?".

She sighed. "Was that enough for you?. When you first turned mature and settled in the realisation that you'd forever feel hollow without them. Did you ignore that feeling? Or, did you find some human girl to love instead?".

It was an eerie silence that followed. And for once I didn't feel left out of the converstaion. Not too young to understand why being mature was both a blessing and a curse. And the silence, its dark because we all know the answer. A girl died because of Alec. Because probably one of the strongest and most powerful betas in the country, couldn't stand the feeling that comes with being without a mate. 

And, if not only for a second. I wondered if I would be strong enough. Or, if I'd succumb so badly to that feeling inside me that I end up getting myself killed over exposure. 

Or worse, that it ends with some boys face in the paper. Another number in the long line of Beacon Hills animal attacks. 

A/N

I feel like I rushed the ceremony part but I just want get to the good stuff haha. I have planned this out so yeah hopefully it all comes together nicely. I think there might only be ten or so chapters left? It's a lot probably even twelve? I've already written the epilogue so we're good I just need to write it haha