“Set up the mating ceremony.” Zeus said and Georgina couldn’t believe her ears. “It’s about time anyways.”
“You needn’t say another word!” She gasped, the wrinkles on her face were removed by the wide grin she sported after her grandson’s orders.
Mrs Georgina took the preparations for the mating ceremony seriously. In no time, the entire werewolf community was informed of the news.
All except June who had yet to become a formal part of the Nightshade pack. While the female wolves who converted the position prepared themselves for the event, she was made to train.
Tara didn’t go easy on her. After the last training, there were a lot more gruesome ones that followed. June also hadn’t seen Zeus since her first training.
Not at dinner, not on the training grounds, and not even in the hallways. It seemed like the Alpha abandoned her to the woods and a part of her longed to see him.
These days, she had a terrible need to sniff the Alpha. June was shocked to realize she could identify his scent.
She was going crazy with her need to see him and just feel the heat that exudes from him. So much so she daydreamed about the Alpha who looked so much like her Rafael.
June shook away the feelings and woke up everyday to carry out her duties. In no time, a week passed. Old Georgina disappeared too. She barely saw her these days.
It seemed like there was an entire world of the Nightshade pack she was not privy to. Unknown to her, there was a mating ceremony by the sides.
One day, after an intense workout session with Tara, she was left battered and knocked up. Despite the harsh treatments, June could feel her body strength build.
She no longer felt as weak as she did two weeks ago. Her form was stronger and she could maintain her balance. Although all Tara did was to beat her to a pulp and rant off some words about how she needed to do better, she learned from experience.
With her restlessness from weeks of not seeing Zeus, she channeled her energy towards training. In the day with Tara and on her own at night.
One of the nights, she was in the training grounds, perfecting her spin kick when she felt his presence. Zeus.
“I see you have gotten better.” He said from afar. “You still have a long way to go.”
“Where have you been?” June didn’t realize when the words went out her mouth.
Zeus stilled and watched her with an expression she couldn’t understand. “Did you miss me, little one?”
“Of course not!” June felt stupefied. “I was just wondering…”
“As was I.” Zeus got closer to her. “I’ve spent the last few weeks trying to figure out what you are.” He mumbled into her ears. “Who you are and where you come from.”
June stiffened. “What are you talking about? I’m Augusta. Didn’t I tell you? The rejected mate of Alpha Darren-”
“Don’t…” Zeus seemed like he was close to combustion. “Don’t you ever say his name.” He trailed a hand through her sweaty face. “You are mine, little one. I can’t wait to unravel the many things inside of you.”
“One at a time.”
Meanwhile, Georgina was in her chambers with a paper in hand. Whilst preparing for the mating ceremony, she came up with something tangible, and wondered her grandson’s response to it.
Georgina didn’t trust her grandson’s decision making skills and decided it was preferred if she helped him out a bit.
When she heard Zeus was back from his long journey, she rushed to the front of the house, hoping to catch him before he retired.
“Where is he?” Georgina asked one of the guards wolves who pointed towards the training grounds.
She saw a glow of light from the area and immediately hastened her steps. Zeus usually practiced his elemental magic at night for obvious reasons.
She hoped she could get him on time before he went into the darkness his gifts afforded him during training.
Zeus usually trained with a fire shield up. This was because his gift tended to cause more damage during testing and in order to safeguard the lives and properties in his pack, he came up with the strategy.
Georgina was shocked when she saw Zeus standing closely behind Augusta. When he brought her into the pack, she had suspected they had a special relationship.
One that made her walk through all his lines and still lived to tell the story. However, her grandson has refused to say a word on her true identity.
She suspected they were mates but with his sudden acceptance of the mating ceremony, she was thrown off by that theory.
“Zeus!” She called fondly after standing for a while.
“I was wondering when you would speak.” He said without turning around. He’d sensed his mother’s presence the moment she came.
June however, was startled. She had yet to get a hang of the situation and couldn’t sense anything other than Zeus.
Every other person was difficult to pinpoint as she was still unused to her heightened senses.
“Dear Augusta, I see you are putting in the work. I hope I am not interrupting anything.” Georgina wriggled her brows suggestively.
Zeus shut it down before it could fly. “You were looking for me, Georgina.”
The old woman was taken aback. It’s been a while since this child of hers regarded her by her first name.
“Grandma,” she corrected with love. “You know better than to address me by my name, Zeus.”
She turned to Augusta. “I’m glad I found you here. I believe you could help me convince him of this.”
June’s ears perked. “I doubt I have as much influence on the Alpha but I’m glad to esteem me in that position.”
“Nonsense! You might be the only one this man cares about in the entire Nightshade!” She joked.
Zeus rolled his eyes.
“I have been so caught up in preparing the mating ceremony.” She started. “Just tonight, it finally hit me.”
“I don’t want just any she wolf to be your bride, Zeus. We can’t be careless in our selection for your bride.”
June nodded, understanding the old woman’s point. “I think it’s best if you choose from a carefully selected group of women.”
“Only the best for our dear Zeus! Don’t you agree?” Georgina said to June who nodded like a lizard. However, the little beast within her begged to differ.
Zeus’ gaze burned on her and she squirmed on her feet. He had such intense eyes.
“What do you think, Zeus?” Georgina asked. “I want the perfect bride. Your little friend agrees too!”
“I don’t care.” Zeus said and walked towards the side. “Whatever you do, make it quick.”
“Of course! I will have the best females ready before you know it!” She said with a smile and sent a wink to June.
“I have to train.” Zeus announced and June decided to call it a night until he dragged her back. “Where do you think you are going?”
“You said you wanted to t-train,” she stuttered and he smirked.
“I didn’t say you were permitted to leave.” He whispered into her ears. “I watched you a while back. Your fist needs a lot of work and your form is weak. Don’t stop until I say so.”
Zeus gestured to the makeshift punch bag standing in the cold. “Don’t let me stop you.”
“She’ll get hurt.” Georgina said. “She can’t handle your gift.”
June felt her wolf perk up at that.
“Let me be the judge of that. Good night grandma.”