Chapter 2 My Brother's Mating Ceremony and Other Disasters

‎If there's one thing I've learned about werewolf mating ceremonies, it's that they're eighty percent drama, ten percent magic, and ten percent trying not to cry in front of your entire pack.

‎I adjusted the collar of my too-tight shirt, glaring at my reflection in the mirror. My hair refused to cooperate, my wolf wouldn't shut up about the bond, and the suit Grandma picked for me looked like it came straight out of a royal ball for people who still used the word betrothal.

‎Jamie's voice boomed through the door. "River! Hurry up, the ceremony starts in five!"

‎"Tell fate I'm busy avoiding lifelong trauma!" I shouted back.

‎"Already told her," he replied. "She laughed."

‎Typical.

‎When I finally stepped out, the forest clearing had been transformed. Strings of lanterns hung between trees, and an altar woven with silver leaves stood in the center. The entire pack gathered in a semicircle, wolves in human form, dressed in muted shades that somehow made them all look like magazine models for "Rustic Supernatural Living."

‎Jamie stood at the front, grinning like he wasn't about to bind his soul to someone for eternity. His soon-to-be mate Dominic, Rowan's Beta, which was just fantastic stood beside him, looking nervous and devastatingly in love.

‎And there, across the clearing, was Rowan.

‎The Alpha.

‎He wore a dark suit that fit him too well, his presence commanding even without a word. The moonlight traced the line of his jaw, the broadness of his shoulders. He was talking to elders, but his eyes kept flicking toward me. Every. Damn. Time.

‎I looked away, pretending to focus on the flowers. I was fine. Totally fine. My heart wasn't doing parkour in my chest. Nope.

‎Grandma Quinn raised her hands, calling for silence. The ceremony began, soft chanting, the faint shimmer of magic binding Jamie and Dominic's hands together. Their vows were sweet, clumsy, and so them.

‎When the final mark of the bond glowed between their palms, the crowd erupted into cheers. Wolves howled, champagne popped, and someone started dancing barefoot under the lanterns.

‎It should've been perfect.

‎But halfway through the celebration, my skin started to prickle. That faint electric pull in my chest, the bond was back, thrumming like a heartbeat that wasn't mine. I didn't have to look to know Rowan was close.

‎"River," a low voice said from behind me.

‎I closed my eyes. "Nope."

‎"River," he said again, and this time it wasn't a command, it was a plea.

‎I turned. Rowan stood a few feet away, his expression unreadable but his eyes stormy, restless. He'd discarded his jacket, sleeves rolled up, the top buttons undone. The Alpha aura around him shimmered faintly under the moonlight.

‎"What do you want, Blackthorn?" I asked, crossing my arms.

‎"Talk."

‎"I don't think that's a good idea. The last time we talked, I ended up in a closet."

‎He winced. "I deserved that. And worse."

‎For a second, just a second, something like guilt softened his face. Then his jaw tightened again. "But this bond, we can't ignore it."

‎I took a step back, the scent of cedar and smoke invading my senses. My wolf howled quietly, wanting to close the distance. "Watch me."

‎He moved closer anyway, voice low. "I felt it the second I saw you. You know what it means."

‎"Oh, I know exactly what it means," I snapped. "It means the Moon's got a terrible sense of humor. You? My fated mate? The guy who made high school a living nightmare? No thanks."

‎"River..."

‎"No. Don't 'River' me." My voice cracked, betraying the tremor underneath. "I built a life away from this place. Away from you. I'm not letting some ancient magic decide who I'm supposed to love."

‎Rowan's expression softened again, pained but steady. "You think I wanted this? You think I don't remember what I did to you?"

‎The rawness in his voice caught me off guard. "Then why act like this bond is a blessing?"

‎"Because it's you," he said simply.

‎For a moment, everything went quiet. The party blurred at the edges, the laughter, the music, the flicker of lanterns all fading into the background hum of our bond.

‎His scent wrapped around me like a memory I couldn't shake. My wolf pressed forward, confused and wanting. I took a shaky breath. "Rowan, don't..."

‎He reached out, fingers brushing mine. The contact was brief, but it sent a shock through me so sharp I gasped. The bond flared, visible for a split second like silver lightning between us.

‎Gasps rippled through the nearby crowd.

‎Oh no. Oh no.

‎I jerked my hand back as whispers started. "The Alpha...did you see?" "An Omega?" "Fated mates?"

‎Rowan's jaw clenched, his gaze cutting across the pack, protective and furious. "Everyone, back to the celebration," he ordered, voice laced with Alpha command. The crowd hesitated but obeyed.

‎When they dispersed, he turned to me again. "You can't hide this. The bond's awake now."

‎"Then maybe I'll find a way to break it."

‎He looked like I'd punched him. "River..."

‎I forced a smirk I didn't feel. "Enjoy the party, Alpha."

‎And before he could say another word, I turned and walked straight into the forest away from the lanterns, away from the pack, away from the mess fate had dumped at my feet.

‎Somewhere deep inside, my wolf whimpered. But I didn't look back. Not once.

‎