Chapter 4
Sarabella POV
Dad took us to a room from where we could hear loud noises, coming from too many conversations meddling with background music. Both hooked to one of his arms, Malia and I were nervously looking at the huge oak doors. I could tell, because she wouldn’t stop using our link, giving me an endless list of rules to follow, like not to disappear from her sight, not eat or drink too much, to tell her if I were to leave the room, and so on. I just answered the affirmative every time, focusing on not forgetting how to breathe.
This was a big moment. THE moment. The milestone I’d been waiting for since I saw my sister shift ten years ago. I hoped I could too. I was 20 and was at least supposed to hear from my wolf since my 16th birthday. All I could hear was murmured voices, and it wasn’t the same all the time. And I could affirm it was not coming from one wolf inside my head. I never told Malia. Every time I tried to, I got interrupted, or my courage abandoned me. What if I had a body too weak to bear a wolf? My family would surely deny me. We were nicknamed 'National treasures'. What if I was not as precious as they made it seem? What would happen if I failed?
Malia was strong. She’s the incarnation of a reliable Luna and we both already knew she had a - gorgeous may I add - wolf. Me? I got Luna’s duties sorted out too and focused on demeanor to compensate for my lack of warrior traits.
I must have sighed too loudly because I could feel two hands pressing my forearm and two pairs of eyes locked on me filled with concern that I couldn’t stand at the moment. I just shrugged it off with a smile that didn't reach my ears and made the first step towards the door. They opened without me touching it, and before we could even see inside the room, it was complete silence.
“ Alpha Cadel Lobo and his twin daughters, Malia and Sarabella.”
We were announced like royalty and that made me want to throw up. But I stood straight, holding on tighter to my dad, my support, and glanced at Malia who, on the opposite, was almost defying the whole room with each stare. There were close to 500 wolves in the room, which seems a lot, but considering the number of packs all over the continent, and even some overseas packs, it seemed like an average attendance. The age range was wider than I expected but considering some packs' circumstances, it was understandable. Dark days we were living in.
‘Keep it cool, you are traumatizing them.’ I scolded Malia through our link.
She scoffed and her expression softened, and the tension in the room seemed to stoop down a notch. Music started to play again, and conversations returned to where they were left. Before I could even catch my breath and shake off the stress from my shoulder, someone grabbed my hand to kiss it. He definitely was not one of the future shifters considering the grey hair running down his shoulder down to his hips. I froze until my dad cleared his throat and introduced him.
“Sarabella, Malia, may I introduce you to the head of the Packs Council, Elder Kodard, accompanied by Elder Cravyn and Elder Juban. Elders, my daughters.”
My dad bowed his head. I’d never seen that. It felt weird. Not by arrogance, but as an Alpha, he was fair and strong. He worked hard for his pack up until now, but also for his kind. He fought bravely all his life to ensure a bright future for us. To see him like that made me uncomfortable. He didn’t owe anyone that much respect.
“It is a pleasure to finally meet you, ladies. We’ve waited for this moment for years now.” Elder Kodard gently declared. An attempt at politeness that failed to convince me, given the glance he gave my father. It made me growl lowly, unconsciously. He raised his eyebrows at me but before I could apologize, my sister stepped in, offering her hand in the place of mine.
“Good things come to those who wait for them. Despite the wait, you seemed to have picked a favorite. I implore you to make it even with me.”
“There is no such thing as a favorite. Not with two gorgeous and visibly strong women like you.” He diligently kissed my sister’s hand and all the while she was staring at him, almost like a challenge.
“It was indeed time you brought them out of your pack, Alpha Cadel. You gave up your seat at the Packs Council for that one favor, but it was still overdue.” Stated Elder Juban, nose up, as if he could take on my dad anytime soon.
“It was not my intention to make you wait long, but for the sake of our kind and foremost, their safety, considering their rank and status, we waited and made them strong enough to carry any burden.”
The three Elders smirked at his answer, satisfied. Another one appeared by their side, younger, but still looked a bit older than our father. He gave us a bright smile and extended both his hands to my sister and me. We both shook it, sharing the same surprise, before he exchanged a firm one with our dad like an old friend.
“Ladies, I introduce you to Alpha Evander Salvino, who is also part of the Packs Council. I think he too, succeeded in bringing his offspring with him.”
“He is arriving soon with his Beta. I am ashamed to admit that I am unsure about his participation, I am afraid I could only make my son come for work with the council, Elder Cravyn. But this year, his Beta will enter the lottery.”
“Oh, but I am confident that with those ladies he would surely change his mind.”
“Let’s hope, but I wouldn’t bet on that, as amazing as they are. Now, what if we let these ladies mingle with people of their age, and we go for a drink?” Alpha Evander cut Elders off in their little game, and I couldn’t be more grateful to step away from them.
Bowing our heads to the Elders and Alpha Evander, giving one last squeeze on our father’s arm to reassure him, we took off from their little group.
‘Drinks.’
‘Yesterday.’
Laughing, both exhausted from that small exchange, we let our dad join Alpha Evander upstairs, to one of the balconies, where the Elders shared a drink and gamble, to run to one of the many tables with drinks and appetizers. We then found a place in the back with a couch, and we let ourselves fall on it. Very unladylike. But we deserved it.
“Jerks. I don’t know what it is about them, but I hate it. Absolutely. Everything. Argh.” Groaned Malia with anger, as she took a bite.
“Shh, Lia… someone could hear you.”
“What would they do, huh? Hurting their national treasure is far from being in their good interests, so let me complain as I wish.”
“Still. You are not untouchable. They could turn their punishment toward dad and mom.”
She turned silent. I saw her biting her lips for a few seconds, and she nodded slowly, eyes glued to her shoes. I knew it was not only from fear. I could almost hear her blood boiling. But before I could comfort her, a delicious but faint smell hit me. Jumping on my feet, I lift my nose, taking all of it, looking for the source. I knew what it meant; Mom would always tell the story of how she met Dad and what it felt like when she tucked us in, instead of a regular fairytale.
The only difference was that no voice in my head was screaming ‘Mate’.
“Mate.” I heard in my ears, a soft and gentle voice that cut through the crowd, grabbing me by the hips and lifting me in the air, twirling. Really? Could it really be? I had a mate?