Page 1 of Welcome Home: When Shifters Unite!
Chapter 1
*Adira*
Stepping out of the cab, I am at last thankful to be home. It's been a year since we all found out that I was Travis' fated mate, but instead of us completing the bonding ceremony, the Elder Council insisted we wait a year until I'd completed the Luna training at Luna camp. We were not allowed to touch or it would have sparked the bonding process, and in a way, I'm thankful for that because it's meant I don't have many issues with the lack of being around Travis.
Blue, my wolf, is yipping in the back of my mind with excitement at being home, too. She wants her mate, and she has been patient all year, growing in her skills with hunting being her favorite. Blue has a temper and can fly off the handle at times, but she is loving and loyal.
'Home, at last. I can't wait to see Travis and Cloud.'
"I know, Blue. But let's meet everyone first. Moma and Papa will be reserved as usual, but I hope our time away hasn't broadened that gap."
'Joliee is the problem. They stopped caring when she was born. She is a spoiled brat who needs to be put in her place.'
"I don't want to make a fuss about Joliee, Blue. She is my younger sister and I know she takes priority. But let's get inside, drop off our suitcase, and say hello to everyone."
Pulling my suitcase behind me, I walk to the front door and open it to find total silence in the house. Then I hear talking, and leaving my suitcase next to the front door, I walk through to the kitchen and look out the window to see the pack in the large garden. But what shocks and takes my attention is the seating, carpeted walkway, and flowered arch that has Joliee and Travis standing underneath.
'Grrrrrrr'
Now, I'm not sure what I'm seeing, but Blue sure doesn't like it. She's growling furiously in the back of my mind. Hackles up and her entire body is rigid with anger.
My eyes flick around the garden, and I see Moma and Papa sitting in the front row, with huge smiles on their faces. Alpha Benedict is holding the ceremony, and I have no doubt this is a bonding ceremony, a ceremony that should have been mine.
If this is exactly what I'm thinking, then Travis should have rejected me first. If he bites into Joliee's neck to mark her while we still have this link, although it's only small at this stage, it will hurt me badly. No matter what they all think of me, I do not deserve that.
'We need to show ourselves. Come on Adira, I'm here with you. No matter what happens, I will always be with you.'
Stepping outside, I quietly walk down the red-carpeted walkway towards my mate and sister. Two people that should never hurt me in this way. Pack members are noticing me but I ignore them and slowly walk toward where my Alpha is holding this ceremony. A ceremony he knows should never be happening.I wonder if the Elder Council knows what is being done here, because this goes against everything the Moon Goddess has put into place.
Alpha Benedict notices me but doesn’t falter in his prayer to the Goddess. “Hear us, Goddess, as we deliver these two as a chosen pair. Mates for forever. You may mark your mate, future Alpha Travis Blackbird.”
I have reached my mate and before I can speak, Travis takes Joliee's chin, turning her face and biting into her neck, marking her for all time. Joliee's eyes open and show her delight in what has happened, but widen as she sees me standing watching this disgusting ceremony. She gives me a sick smile and turns, repeating the process on Travis' neck when Alpha Benedict states, “You may mark your mate, Joliee Stormwalker.”
I am holding my heart with my hands and bending forward, but remain on my feet. The pain has ripped through me, but I hold back the scream and only allow a gasp to leave my lips.
The pack stands to applaud the bonding, but when they see Travis looking at me with horror in his eyes, they look at me and realize that I was his true mate, and the impact of what Travis, Joliee, Alpha Benedict, and my parents have done is irreparable.
Each and everyone here knew I was at Luna camp, training to be the best Luna for them all. What did they all think I was doing there if I was anything but the rightful mate of their future alpha?
My parents at last notice me standing here, and Travis takes a step towards me but is stopped by Joliee, grabbing hold of his arm. She whispers something to him; he looks down at her, then at me. The look on his face is of regret, sorrow, and something else I don’t recognize.
Turning, I walk slowly toward the house, ignoring the shouts of my parents, and not looking any of the pack members in the eye. I don’t want to see pity on their faces.
‘They will pay for this.’
I can feel Blue vibrating in the back of my mind. She is snarling and ready to attack. But I do my best to calm my emotions, so she cools down enough for me to talk sensibly with her.
“We will leave here Blue, make a fresh start somewhere else. I don’t want to stay here in this pack.”
‘We need to reject mate, so no residual pain comes to us. The pains we had were betrayal pains, but I didn’t want to believe it. I’m sorry Adira, I failed you.’
“You did not fail me. He did. They all did.”
“Adira, wait. I need to speak to you,” I hear my Papa say, but I continue walking. He is as complicit in this as the rest of them. I always thought my Papa felt more for me than all the others, but that has proven wrong. He had no true feelings for me, or he would never have allowed this to happen.
Placing a hand on my shoulder to stop me from walking and turning me to look at him, my Papa steps back when he sees the look on my face. The fact he broke my heart is written clearly and the disgust for the deceit he was complicit with.
“Nobody meant to hurt you. They just fell in love. It all happened so quickly that it was like a whirlwind. You are home early from camp…”
