Veya
Finding a mate can be pretty exhausting— no, finding the perfect mate can rip your heart out of your chest.
Should it be that hard?
No!
It's supposed to be simple. Find a pretty boy. Smell his scent. Boom! We're mates, right?
That's what I thought until I met those freaking bastards!
I wipe out the lone tear that threatens to peek out the corner of my eye. I can't cry not when I'm all hardened to play the game they wanted to pawn me in.
I take one last look at my reflection shimmering under the moonlight. Tonight's the night. I have to find a mate. I will find a mate.
You might think, Veya, aren't you a little too desperate?
No. I'm not. If I had my way, I would withdraw into my shell, and stay away from men, maybe from people too, but I can't.
Unfortunately I need a mate for, well... the sake of it.
That's a lie.
I need power, and the moon won't give it to me unless someone is kind enough to bind himself to me. I actually thought I could find love along the way too, but—
I sigh deeply as I look ahead of me towards the woods where the mating hunt is taking place. Fluttering my eyes shut, I chant a spell.
"By moonlit veil and silver gleam,
Shift my form as I now dream.
What is seen shall change tonight,
Take new shape 'til morning light."
A soft, shimmery glow clouds my skin as I watch my fair skin turn into golden olive. My waist length white hair shortens to a platinum blonde that drapes around my shoulders. I watch my golden eyes turn into deep shades of sapphire blue.
I stand there staring back at my new self, a perfect disguise.
Satisfied with my appearance, I strut towards the woods, ready to get this over with and just find a mate.
Howls rip through the air. The smell of fur, semen, and naked flesh hits my nose as I reach the outskirts of the mating ground.
How I hate the mating ground.
With a soft sigh, I push myself deeper into the woods. I just need to find a mate. I just have to find a mate. I will find a mate.
"Fuck it," I groan as I stumble over an undergrowth.
I catch myself before I land face flat on the thick ground that scowls back at me with wild thorns, and thick under shrubs.
"Couldn't they find a more cleared place? Why do the higher ups always associate these events with ominous grounds?" I facepalm lightly.
I keep on strutting because my head throbs with anger, more anger, rage, frustration. The fact that I have to come here disgusts, and embitters me to the core.
My chest clenches with sadness as I keep on strutting, hoping I can find a scent that'll bond me with someone. At this point I don't actually—
An overwhelming scent of vanilla and cinnamon hits me in the nose. Strange.. strangely sweet.
I pause in my tracks, looking around for wherever that scent is coming from. There's no one here because everyone is gathered deep into the woods, either still finding a mate, or fucking their newfound mates.
My insides churn with another fresh wave of disgust at the thought, and I keep on walking.
"Moon goddess. You can't be that cruel to me, I'm your singer, the only one in the whole of this region. How can you do this to me?" I grit my teeth as another annoying thorn pricks at my sole.
"Ah fuck you!" I grunt, skipping over the thorns that wait to draw out my precious blood.
I walk a little further, and that scent hits me again. This time, it's so strong I scrunch my nose because of it's overwhelming effect.
I whip my head to the side, but still I see no one. No one is behind me either, so where is this scent coming from?
"I would have concluded someone was boiling a pot of honey and cinnamon here, but that can't happen. It's a 'mating ground'," I mutter, rolling my eyes so hard they almost stick at the back of my head, and quoting my last words.
I push past another gathering of undershrubs, and wild bushes before I finally come to a more cleared place. Not exactly wiped out of those bushes, but bearable.
Two wolves trot past me, nuzzling at each other.
"Tch," I grimace, continuing my painful journey.
"Dear mate, why won't you appear so we can just bond already?" I mumble under my breath.
"Lena? Is that you?" A gravelly magnetic voice rumbles in my chest.
I freeze in my tracks, a sweet sensation running down my spine at the sound of that voice.
Damn.
"Lena my dear?" It says again.
"I didn't think you'd come for the mating hunt. I'm so glad you're here. I like you a lot, Lena. Please, please would you do me the honor of claiming you? I know there's some sort of connection between us."
The scent of vanilla and cinnamon is so strong now, I might actually pass out.
My belly tightens at the stranger's confession.
What a wonderful night. The first person I come in contact with, makes a confession to another woman who's probably being bent over or something.
I clench my fists, debating internally if I should walk away, or face the stranger.
"Lena. Please say something," his voice sounds again; this time his footsteps are approaching me.
His voice sends another ripple of sweet heat searing down my chest. It's gravelly, magnetic, and warm as a hug. For some reason, I want to wrap my arms around him, and cry out my pain while he just comforts me with that beautiful voice.
"Lena?" His large hands hold my shoulders, "Why aren't you saying anything? Oh fuck, you hate me already, right?"
Who the fuck is Lena?
I spin around to face whoever this person is. On beholding his face, I audibly gasp.
I wanted a pretty boy, but this man— he is beyond beautiful; he is divine and anything beyond it.
His dark hair is tousled with a lock of hair falling over his forehead. Thick eyebrows that lead to the most beautiful, thickest lashes I've ever seen on a man. His eyes are the deepest shade of sapphire blue. They carry a intensity that sends scalding shivers down my spine.
His cheekbones are high, not so high but high enough to balance his already stunning features. Then, oh so kissable full, rose pink lips.
Fuck. Hot sweetness, runs down my chest to my core drenching it in absolute bliss.
That overwhelming scent hits me again, this time my knees buckle and I fall forward.
The stranger wraps his arms around me, pulling me flush against himself, "Lena my dear."
Ugh, fuck you Lena.
My head comes in contact with his hard chest, his sweet scent enveloping me like a hug.
Vanilla and cinnamon.
Hold on—
I push myself away from his embrace, my jaws dropping lower than my abdomen,"You.. you are my mate?"