Daisy's pov
The weight of several judgmental stares came to rest on my shoulder the moment I stepped into the pack hall, followed by hushed but audible whispers.
"Unbelievable, she actually came…"
"This girl must have bones of steel."
"If I were her I would have found a way to sit out the whole ceremony, instead of walking here with my own two feet to be humiliated."
I grabbed a drink and slipped into a corner, slowly sipping at the wine.
I wasn't dumb, I knew my chances of being accepted were extremely slim because I had no wolf. Even so, I deserve a fair shot just like everyone else. I didn't ask to be born like this, to feel stagnant, while my peers seem to be rushing ahead of me.
Besides, they would have torn me apart if I didn't show up anyways. It was always a lose-lose situation for me. I was on my second glass of wine when I noticed my step sister, wearing a designer special, her red sparkling gown made everyone else look like background figures. Her face had even been done by a professional makeup artist that Dad paid for in advance.
Just looking at her made me feel like someone was sprinkling salts on my open wound. Even though we both came from the same roof, it was clear who the alpha acknowledged as his real daughter and the one whose existence made little to no difference for him.
I gulped down the rest of my wine, searching for my third glass. The night lingered on as more and more people found their 'forever' while I got to watch bitterly from the side. But even though I was envious I had to admit that it was a beautiful sight, watching two people that were meant for each other gradually gravitate towards one another then unite pulled by a bond stronger than life.
My heart thumped with anxiety, I had all but smothered every speck of hope in my heart but at the same time I still hoped…
I froze like a statue as my wolf started leaping within me echoing one word; "Mate!"
My head spun around, he was here. Immediately my heart began to race faster as my feet seemed to move on their own.
Each step was loaded with hesitation but it didn't stop me, I kept walking until I bumped into someone; a tall handsome handsome guy. He reached out for me and grabbed me before I could fall and my wolf went absolutely crazy.
"Mate! Mate!"
My eyes met the stranger's as he steadied me on my feet. His wolf was probably yelling at him just like mine was. Parting my lips to break the ice first, another pair of arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me to a broad chest.
"What are you doing with my mate?" This newcomer said in a demanding voice. I turned around to tell him that he was making a mistake when my wolf went off again.
"Mate! Mate!"
Two mates…I had two mates? I thought it couldn't get worse than that.
It did.
Just as I was trying to act as a mediator between both males a third one appeared, confidently breezing into the conversation.
"My apologies, but can both of you get your paws off of MY mate?"
My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I saw who said that.
"Robert?" I blurted out without thinking.
Robert–as in my crush since middle school Robert Brown. I had always secretly admired him from afar. Sometimes we were even in the same class but even though we ended up interacting from time to time because of our proximity the closest I ever thought I was to him was a simple acquaintance.
This was because Robert only had eyes for one person–my step sister, Becky.
I could see the rage burning in his eyes as my other mates held me, one in my right hand and the other at my left.
"Didn't I just tell you guys to take your hands off her?" he growled and goosebumps popped up all over my body, hearing the guy I had wanted for years possessively demanding for me made my head spin.
An Elder finally came to settle the issue at hand.
It was quite rare but not impossible for a She Wolf to have more than one mate, however the solution was the same.
"Just accept the one you want to be your mate and reject the other two…" the Elder said almost impatiently.
"Introduce yourselves…" I said awkwardly, but they did.
My other mates came from well off prominent families while Roberts was middle class if I was going to be generous.
My heart was begging me to run to him, but my brain was holding me in place.
I walked over to Robert and he leaned down to listen to me, my heart picked up and I whispered in his ear.
"What about Becky?"
I wish I could have sounded more nonchalant. But I couldn't manage it. My step sister somehow always managed to hijack the things I treasured the most, even without trying.
"What about Becky?" Came his response.
A small smile wrapped around my face.
"It's nothing," I said, patting chest, he must be over her. After all she always had guys trooping and tossed them away like yesterday's trash the moment she was bored.
I lifted my head, prepared to finally claim someone for myself that my sister couldn't steal away.
"I, Daisy Johnson of the Sapphire pack, choose you, Robert Brown of the Sapphire pack as my mate…will you accept me..?"
His grin was almost too big for his face, "I accept," bending just an inch more to give me a kiss I had imagined in my head a thousand times over.
"Are you crying?" He asked as he pulled away and tears were rolling down my cheeks. He wiped them off with a handkerchief and I just mumbled, "These are tears of joy…"
Finally I've found my mate. I thought this was going to be the start of
my happiness but I didn't know that I was just at the tip of my downfall.