The mating ceremony

Leah's POV

The mating ceremony had started, and Octavier and I were there.

The main hall was lit up, showcasing the colors of outfits everyone had worn. From the way they were dressed, it was obvious that they cared so much about their looks, especially since it was a day everyone was expecting to find their mate. Each person had the mindset to look good before their mate.

As for me, I cared less about the gown I had put on. There was no way it could increase my chance of finding my mate. I could have made some effort though, but my mood had kept me in a state that dressing was a far less priority. 

I was simply in a red gown, completely plain. I had dressed that way in order not to draw attention from anyone.

“You take some steps, and you relax your mind for it,” Octavier said.

She could hear my heart beating fast.

How am I supposed to relax my mind for it?

If she was in my shoes, she would have been in a worse situation in terms of mood.

Soft sound of music was played by a musical band as a way to ease the tension in the hall. 

There was tension in the hall, and the thought of that gave me a feeling that I wasn’t alone in plight. Of a fact, no one in the hall had the same heavy feeling I had.

Mine was the heaviest. Who else had a fate to die?

At each instant, the purpose of coming to a mating ceremony was always accomplished by two people. A feral attraction brought them together, and kisses could not be avoided. If the girl had seen her mate to be ugly before the bond started, her eyes would not remember it.

As usual, everyone would clap their hands to congratulate them for becoming life partners.

Three hours had passed, and I had spent most of my time watching the mating process of different people. I was starting to get worried.

“Why haven't I gotten a mate?” I asked Octavier.

The time going against me gave me a sense of being left behind.

“You aren't the only one waiting.” She whispered into my ears and continued her slow swings of dance.

“Aren't you going to have a mate?”

I noticed she hadn't shown any interest in the mate finding process. Maybe she was actually like me, except for the fact that mine was a necessity.

“It all depends.” She was holding my hands for a dance. “We are here for you, aren't we?”

Another hour had passed, and the ceremony was already coming to an end. That was when it dawned on me that the ceremony had turned against me. My purpose for coming was not achieved.

I was close to the exit to the hall, about to go outside. Octavier had no words she could use to encourage me.

“It didn't–”

I hadn't finished what I was about to say when the scent of fresh spices was mixed with the air that flowed into my nostrils. It was like waves, and all the parts of my body could sense it. It was more than a scent.

My eyes were no longer focused on my path, and so, I bumped into a man that was of tall height. Instead of moving away from him, and then saying “sorry”, I stayed in place.

He was supposed to move me away from his body, but to my disbelief, he touched me with his hands.

What was he doing?

“Mate.” His voice came out like the soft melodies the musicians were playing.

That was it!

I felt a longing towards him in that instant, and the pain I felt in my head before coming to the mating ceremony seemed to have gone on vacation.

“You are my mate!” He pressed me tightly to his body as though he wanted to blend our souls together.

I wrapped my hands around him, allowing his scent to take me to a different realm. My eyes were closed. 

I didn't think of a word to say, the feeling lowered my breath. His scent was a cure to my heart ache.

In the next moment, he did the exact thing all other new mates had done. He placed his lips on mine, and they danced into a kiss.

The feeling of it… It was otherworldly. I could spend hours in his arms.

When I withdrew myself from his hold, the feeling of ecstasy that was built up between us turned into the throbbing head I had woken up with. I took two steps backward from him. My  eyes had caught a glimpse of his eyes.

All through the kisses and hugs, I had not looked at his face.

The feeling was above facial look

“Your eyes…” My face had become contorted.

He touched his eyes with both hands. “What about my eyes?”

I could tell he was confused, and maybe he was thinking that my reaction was also part of the mating process.

“Red…” I found it hard to say words in completing a sentence. “Eyes…”

I was moving backward to meet Octavier.

My new found mate walked a step to me. “What about a red color?”

He still had a smile on his face, and I concluded he did not understand what I was doing.

Tears were welling up in my eyes.

“He has… red eyes!” I finally turned to meet Octavier.

My steps were not even, and I almost tripped to the ground if not for Octavier quickly grabbing me.

“Is everything okay?” She asked.

How would everything be okay? My head was processing too many things at a time, and my mate was my dilemma. It became worse when he walked closer, covering the distance I had given him.

“Is anything wrong with you?” He tried to touch me.

I would not let him, but before I was able to walk far from him, he had gripped me with his hands.

“Do you have any problems?” He asked.

He could not make sense of what was happening to me.

I could not move from his grip, and had to look into the same dead eyes that had been hunting me in my dreams.

He nudged me a little. “You have to speak to me.”

My eyes were tearing up, but I was trying so hard to hold the tears from pouring out.

He wanted to draw me into his arms, but I pressed my hands against his chest, my feet going backwards in order to stop him.

Sometimes, it's hard for people to believe the scene they could see with their eyes. The same thing was happening to my mate, and he tried putting up a smile as he came closer to me. Glee was still on his face.

Instead of taking some distance away from him, I decided to do more. I turned around to face the exit, and without giving Octavier a prompt of what I wanted to do, I raced out of the hall.

How could my mate be the same man that was going to take my life?