16. The First Ritual
Evelyn felt sick but not because of the chilly midnight cold, she was feeling appalled by those wolves because they not only fantasize about having her as their own female but also discussed about it through mind-link and didn't bother to conceal the agenda from her. It made her feel insecure and frightened even if she tried to shut those feelings off.
"We hadn't come here to get a mate." One of them growled, the one who wasn't much fond of the idea.
"But we've completed our task and it's not our fault that she's 'untouched'." Evelyn shivered at that remark. That time wasn't too far away when she'd speak the truth about herself.
"He has a point but I do need a mate before my coronation." The one who was closest to Evelyn declared, the eldest one. There was determination in his eyes as he stalked closer to Evelyn and began to encircle her, inspecting her.
Having a stranger inspect her like that as if she was some rag-doll waiting to be bought by a picky child was disgusting. It was the most embarrassing thing Evelyn had to go through in her life, even more embarrassing than having William insult her in front of the entire family.
He wasn't done with his inspection as the growls behind Evelyn came out harsher. Michael was struggling, he couldn't endure his mate being tortured like that.
The wolf stopped beside Evelyn. No matter how much uncomfortable she was feeling, she didn't dare move an inch. His snout was touching the side of her neck. She shivered at the sudden contact of his fur to her skin. He was inhaling her scent as if it was the last piece of breath he'd ever have.
"Tell me Eve, would you take me as your mate?" He breathed next to her year in a husky tone. Her name spurting out from that wolf's tongue was like venom to her ears. She took in a deep breathe and calmed herself down. She had to remind herself she was doing it for her mate, to save him.
"I will." She said her voice void of any emotion. She wasn't trading her freedom for Michael's life, nor she was going to sacrifice herself for her mate's. This was only a game and she was planning for a trade but Michael failed to comprehend her intentions and began to wriggle on the ground. He was in a state of agony and pure anguish as he stared his mate and it took everything in Evelyn to not answer to his muffled cries.
"Sure thing." The wolf came in front of Evelyn and inspected her intentions this time but to her blessing, the face of her wolf was the most innocent thing one could ever witness in his life.
"Should I call an official announcement then?" He asked her and for the first time she looked at him, into his dark eyes glowing with lust and pride and power. She involuntary smiled in her thoughts as she took this game to another level.
"Only if you give me my wish right now." Now it was her time to take control and encircle around him like a predator waiting for his prey to fall in the trap.
This was it. Evelyn knew the sacred rituals there were considering the whole bonding and the first of the rituals was a wish, a gift from the male. A wish the female could ask of her male and he'd have to give her that despite the dangers or consequences.
The gift Lucida had asked of Oscar was a promise of forever since she was his eternal mate and the wish Mrs. Osborne had asked of William was a promise of an eternal protection. If the male somehow failed to keep his word regarding the wish, the moon goddess would make him go through an eternal torture.
And now it was Evelyn's turn to ask. She was certain and stubborn about her wish even if it'd bring her pain. Just like the compulsion of a male, a female was also bound to mate to the male who'd fulfilled her wish and if she went out of line, the consequences were just as grave.
The wolf seemed to have been in thought before he eventually gave up his will and feel for her predatory charms. "What is it you wish of me?"
Evelyn felt like she was going to jump out of ecstasy and glee as her dream came true. Her calculations were right and her destination was minutes away.
"I want you to leave this territory and never in this lifetime come back here or even so much as try to get a hand on me or Michael by yourself or your wolves." She added. "I want you to promise me that."
He didn't look much surprised but he looked like he'd expected it. He wasn't angry, he was smiling viciously. He shook his head a little in enjoyment of the show in front of him and gazed into the onyx eyes of Evelyn.
"You've got yourself in a dangerous place there." He warned before he chuckled lightly at her. "I promise to keep out of your and your mate's hair and wouldn't try to force my wolves on either of you." "I promise to leave you alone until the right time comes."
He neared her but she didn't cower away. He was smirking in her thoughts as he turned around and all four of them vanished in about a minute. Disappointment and anger were written on the three of their eyes but the eldest wolf, he looked pleased by her actions which troubled Evelyn more than anything.
After they left the first thing she did was climb next to Michael and tried waking him with her snout. She was scared when she felt no motion in his body but didn't lose hope. The next moment she realized she was howling for help to her pack. She couldn't carry his massive body by herself and this place was no longer safe.
She howled again two or three times before a clattering between the leaves occurred. Many howls and clicks of paws on the ground followed shortly. She looked to her mate and tried waking him again more stubbornly. She was not going to lose him. She couldn't.
His eyes fluttered open and he looked at her intently but couldn't form the words. He was surprised and hurt to care for anything else but her. He wanted to hold her close as long as life still rushed in him but his mate had other plans.
The next moment his beta and gamma and several other males came rushing to his side, absolutely stunned at what they're witnessing. They'd never seen their alpha so weak and beaten. It was a sight hard to take but Evelyn was getting out of patience.
"What are you looking at? Help me!" She barked at them and in an instant they all were by her side, lifting Michael on their backs before running.
"Bring him to the house fast, I will be there with the doctor and medicines." She ordered with an authority they couldn't decline. The worry in her voice was vivid and she wanted the best for Michael.
Without another word she scampered away towards the pack house with one of the wolves following her closely. She couldn't believe they actually thought she was the one in danger but there was no time to be wasted on arguments. She needed to get there soon and get the doctor and the medicines.