The spring reached the pack territory at an agonisingly slow pace. The official mating season was on, regardless of whether the last traces of snow were still on the ground and the roofs of the houses. Among the Omegas, there was no other topic to talk about than Stefan walking around, desperate to find his second mate, because the first one was an Omega who ran away from him, in fear, just a few days before he was kidnapped. He could have forced her, however that was not how he intended to treat his beloved one.

  Julienne was frustrated that despite her efforts to conquer the Alpha’s heart, she was yet not chosen to take the vacancy at his side. And not a few days more passed until she found herself mated to a gamma warrior who got rejected by his first mate. Everyone could see her happy smile kilometres away after a few nights of intense sex. Her brothers were still waiting though and felt quite jealous that she finally got the chance to enjoy the pleasures of having a mate.

  Another day at the training barracks, Sarah finished her class with the beginners when Ben approached her. “Hey, Sarah. Do you have a moment?”, wondering the reason for him talking to her without being in a chat surrounded by friends, she paused to listen. “I do. What is it?”. His cheeks got reddish and she held the desire to laugh at the sight of him so shy. “I was wondering if you could… if you wish, of course, be my trainer as I will turn eighteen soon and join the scouting team.”. She offered a sweet smile and felt proud of herself for a moment. “Of course. When do you wish to start?”. She guessed he didn’t expect such a reply as he seemed caught off-guarded by it. “Ehmm, what about tomorrow?”. Sarah began picking up the tools the beginners left around the room, mulling over her agenda mentally. “Sure. I have some time after lunch.”. He jumped as a sign of happiness at her acceptance. “Thank you so much, Sarah! I will not disappoint you! See you tomorrow then!”. He left the place, running, leaving Sarah staring at the floor, feeling her heart was heavy and released a deep sigh.

  The training began smoothly and gradually Ben could perceive improvements in his techniques thanks to his demanding teacher. But soon, Juls’ youngest brother turned eighteen with a big party with all Deltas and Gammas who knew him and trained at the barracks. Sarah was there, hiding in a corner watching him smile and shake everyone’s hands as they congratulated him and handed gifts. The Gamma girl she saw with him earlier was not there, leaving her to doubt if he was still seeing her or not.

  In a moment of distraction, all guests began shouting “Mate! Mate! Mate!” and Ben began walking around the room, trying to find out who his mate was, as his wolf woke up and felt the bond. She knew it because that’s what she was feeling as well, her wolf pushing her to move. “He will find us very soon”. She tried to calm her wolf down, without much success. About five minutes passed until he stopped in front of her and their eyes met. There was no happiness in his expression when he found it out. Alex and Juls approached them but didn’t interfere, and the first couldn’t hide his shock and disbelief.

  “Sarah… you… but…”, Ben messed his hair as he searched the words to talk to Sarah. “Yes, we are mates.” Even the coldness in her voice surprised her, yet she continued. “Think about what you want and we talk when you feel ready. You have a week.”. Not truly waiting for a reply, she left the house to her usual spot, where she could be alone and put her thoughts in order.

  “That’s just too bad, isn’t it?”, Juls sat by her side, knowing very well how hard that discovery meant to her friend. “Goddess has been quite good at messing up things, don’t you say?”. The silence remained with them as the first tears dropped from Sarah’s cheeks. Her friend held her tightly, placing her head on her shoulder, letting her cry as much as she needed.

  “You know… not always the first choice is the best one. And you are such a marvellous girl, Sassa, you will get another mate in no time. You’ll see.”. Sarah lifted her head and cleaned her tears. “That’s why I am crying.”.

  The days passed and the mood in the barracks was not on its best. The Betas and Alphas showing up to use the facilities also didn’t help to improve the environment. No one truly knew what was going on other than Sarah training way heavier than before, maybe with a death wish once she challenged Beta Lucius for a “friendly” fight. Most of the ones around the ring area at that moment stopped to watch.

  “She is always aiming high, isn’t she?”, Alex said to no one, standing by Stefan’s side while smiling proudly. “She will get herself hurt.”, the Alpha concluded once she got thrown on the floor. “She is always challenging the strong guys for a fight. That’s how she learns how to put them down.”. Analysing her moves for a while, both could see that she was only playing with Lucius until the point where he was slightly tired and she could easily predict his movements. About twenty minutes passed when both agreed to stop in a tie.

  At noon, Sarah left the barracks followed by desperate bawls from Julienne and a few other girls. Soon enough, everyone in the barracks and on the streets began to follow as she walked determinedly to the ancient buildings, ready to attend the ritual where wolves offered themselves to be claimed in case they were rejected or not claimed in the time of ten days by their mate.

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  “Sarah! Don’t do it! Have you truly thought it through?”, Julienne ran to catch up with her, trying to change Sarah’s mind at all costs. “You will make a fool of yourself!”. Sarah finally paused and turned to face Juls. “Make a fool of myself? What about finding out that my to-be mate meets with another girl and refuses to tell me? My decision is not up for discussion!”

  The scout resumed her journey to an open-spaced ruin where there was an arc made of stone and the ground, also made of stones, was engraved with old dialects within a big circle. At the centre, there was a drawing of a full moon and a wolf. Elder Cassius was at the stairs that led through the arc, waiting for anyone who wished to be claimed to start the ritual.

  “Sarah, please don’t do it!”, Alex ran and reached for Sarah’s arm before she stepped on the ladder. “If you could wait only a few days more I could-”, she frowned and released her arm from his grip. “What are you talking about? We are like brothers, Alex! I couldn’t possibly be mated to you!”. The expression on his face changed from anger to sadness, followed by others who could hear her. Everyone knew his intentions for a very long time, but she was blind to the fact that he was in love with her.

  Sarah turned her attention to the elder, bowing her head lightly. “I wish to go through the claiming ritual, Elder Cassius.”. His sharp blue and experienced eyes ran across Sarah’s features for a while. “How long has it passed since you met your mate, Delta?” Even though Sarah could hear someone shouting her name from afar, she ignored it. “Fifteen days.”.

  Elder Cassius noticed Ben approaching, breathless. “Won’t you give him another chance?”. There was ice in Sarah’s grey eyes as her will just got stronger with the passing minute. “He had fifteen chances. Why should I give him another one?”. Elder Cassius smiled at her, acknowledging her resolve. “Very well. You may cross the arc and place yourself in the middle of the circle. It will cut whatever bond you shared with any unclaimed mate you had up until now. Then I will start the ritual for you.”. Her features softened as the elder agreed to help her. “Thank you, Elder.”

  As she went up the ladder, Ben yelled her name countless times until she placed herself in the middle of the circle, which blinked a light blue colour, and turned to face the crowd. Ben dared to step on the ladder, stopped by Sarah’s growl. “Don’t you dare come in here!”, he looked shocked and seemed not to notice all eyes over him, and a few males groaning, threatening. “But I am your mate! You shouldn’t be in there!”. That made Sarah’s blood boil. “You are a coward who didn’t dare to claim me! That’s what you are! Neither you were man enough to tell me that you have someone else already! Take your ass out of here before I do it myself!”.

  More people arrived to check what was happening, turning the small crowd into a big audience as if it were a play during the daytime. Ben didn’t find words to reply to keep arguing with Sarah, but he remained there, waiting for what would happen next.

  “Let’s begin. For all the eyes present here, this female who goes by Delta Sarah Nightingale claims to be unmated and willingly is placing herself available to be claimed. The one who believes capable of being accepted by her as a mate, cross the arc and meet with her within the circle.”

  Silence. The air was thick with tension, waiting to see who among them would dare to cross the arc and claim her. Many had shown interest in her before, yet none felt man enough to take things seriously. “You must be there until sunset, dear. After that you will be free to do as you please.”, Elder Cassius instructed Sarah, as they waited for someone to show up. Not so far, she noticed her mother watching her, with a satisfied expression on her face.

  “As I said last night, I support your decision all the way.” her mother mind-linked her, as all Deltas could do among themselves. “I am very proud of you.”. A soft smile found its way to Sarah’s lips, as she felt the words of her mother sinking in her mind as petals of roses. “Thank you, mom.”.

  A minute more elapsed. Sarah’s wolf began to move in her head, impatiently and howled. She lifted her gaze to the crowd and noticed someone walking in her direction. Murmurs started to spread among the crowd and her heart beat fast until the feared word crossed her mind as soon as he stood in front of the ladder. “Mate!”, her wolf shouted and the bond within her chest was like a turmoil of emotions mixed up. Her hands got cold and her face hot, unable to move her eyes away from him.

  “Are you eligible to claim her?”, Elder Cassius intervened, before he could proceed. “I must be, as she is my mate and I feel the bond.”. Astonishment provoked more murmurs as the crowd heard his words, in disbelief. “So, go on. Just remember that she has the option to accept your claim or not.” A gentle bow was all he did before going up the ladder, eyes locked on hers.

  As he stepped into the area, the circle engraved on the floor shone green colours and was noticed only by the audience, who were concentrating on watching their next moves. He stopped a foot away from her, carefully reaching for her left hand and placing a sweet kiss on it. “I just hope you don’t see me as a coward as well.”.

  The time seemed to stop as the sparks almost burned her hand, pleasantly. “Alpha Stefan.” She didn’t know how she managed to speak, as being so shaken by the tsunami of emotions and the urge to touch him, triggered by the bond. But clearly, he was happy, as his lips and eyes were smiling at her, warmingly. “It took more time than I anticipated.” He entwined their hands, and lowered them, with no intention to release any time soon.

  “Anyone who challenges the claim of Alpha Stefan Thundersten to mate Delta Sarah Nightingale must get into the circle in the next half hour.” The elder shouted for anyone to hear. Whoever had the intention of claiming Sarah, let it go, but no one seemed to wish to leave the place yet. All of them wanted to stay until the end and witness the most desired Alpha take that girl to himself.