C2 2 - Dreams of Fate

On the morning of Araceli’s seventeenth birthday, bells rang throughout the realm of Silver Moon, their clear notes flowing through fresh autumn air and reverberating between stone structures as the community slowly came to life. For most of the wolves it was just another gorgeous fall morning, full of old patterns, daily chores and the peaceful expectancy of harvest time. Shops opened, servants went to work, warriors got ready for another day of drilling under a sky tinted with delicate hues of gold and blue.

But the morning seemed strange to Araceli. The bells rang crisper, the air cooler on her skin, each moment they passed loaded in a way she couldn't ignore. Today was not a normal day.

It seemed like a big deal.

It seemed as if the world had changed while she slept. Araceli opened her eyes before dawn. Her heart pounded. In that same moment came consciousness to her. Eighteen. The number resonated in her head, too loud to ignore, weighted with everything she’d been waiting to hear. Today was the day. It sent another wave of nervous energy through her and she knew there was no way she'd get any sleep for a while, no matter how early it was.

Tonight, beneath the blessing of the full moon, she would participate in the Moon Blessing Ceremony, the sacred tradition every wolf anticipated from childhood. For years she had watched others reach this moment, listened to stories about it, and imagined what her own experience would be like. Now the day had finally arrived.

Tonight, she would discover her mate.

For a long moment, she remained lying in bed, staring at the ceiling as a strange mixture of excitement and fear twisted inside her stomach. She had spent years imagining this day, years wondering what it would feel like, and years dreaming about the person fate had chosen for her. Countless times, she had found herself wondering who he might be and whether reality could ever match the hopes she had quietly carried for so long.

Would he be kind? Would he look at her differently than everyone else did? Would he see her as more than the unwanted omega of Silver Moon?

The questions circled endlessly through her mind, impossible to answer. Not yet. But by tonight, they would.

A smile threatened to form on her lips, but it disappeared almost immediately when the door to her room burst open.

"Why are you still in bed?"

Helena's sharp voice sliced through the silence.

Araceli immediately sat upright. "I was just getting ready."

"You should have been ready already."

The older woman crossed her arms, her expression hard and unimpressed. "The Alpha House is full of guests arriving for tonight's ceremony. If breakfast isn't prepared on time, it'll be your responsibility."

"I'm sorry."

"Then move."

The door slammed shut, the sound echoing through the small room before silence settled once more.

Araceli released a quiet sigh and lowered her gaze. Some things never changed. Birthday or not, mate ceremony or not, she was still an omega, still a servant, still expected to work harder than everyone else. The reality of it followed her every day, woven into every task, every order, and every expectation placed upon her shoulders.

But today, it seemed hard to entirely spoil. All around her was disappointment and the familiar weight of her obligations, but hope still lived. And within her it continued, steadfast and unshaken, no matter what, hope was strong.

The sun rose above the mountains spilling golden light into the streets. The village was already a hive of activity. Bright coloured banners flapped in the breeze between buildings and fresh flowers adorned the sidewalks infusing the air with their wonderful scent. Elegant clothes, ceremonial jewellery and homemade presents were displayed on market stands where vendors arranged their wares carefully as locals walked from one stall to another. Preparations for the Moon Blessing Ceremony were happening all around Araceli. The pack was caught up in the enthusiasm, their shouts echoing easily through the streets as neighbours greeted each other and final preparations went on around them. Even the air felt lighter. Charged with expectancy and expectation.

She passed groups of young wolves, gathering around the village, carrying baskets of fresh bread from the bakery to the Alpha House. There were many of her own age, their faces radiant with enthusiasm, laughing and talking together. Tonight many would find their mates, and the prospect hung over every discussion, every smile, every hopeful gaze shared in the morning sun.

Their talks floated over the morning air, one voice after another, excitedly sharing stories, rumours and questions about the future.

"I heard the mate bond feels like lightning."

"No, my sister said it's more like fire."

"My parents recognized each other instantly."

"What if mine lives in another pack?"

"What if he's ugly?"

The gang bursts out laughing, the noise readily carries over the crowd. From a distance, Araceli listened and couldn’t help but smile. And for once their excitement equalled hers, and she knew exactly what they felt, though she was not of their group, though she was never invited to their chats. And the same excitement sparked in her, and astonishment and the boundless possibilities that appeared to spread out before her. Somewhere, beyond what she could see or fathom, a future was waiting for her, still concealed but impossible not to dream of.

As she passed another group of females near the fountain, she heard her name spoken.

"...Araceli?"

The girls glanced toward her, and their expressions shifted almost instantly. One girl snorted in amusement, drawing laughter from the others.

"Can you imagine?"

Another girl laughed. "The Moon Goddess would have to be blind."

More giggling followed.

"What if her mate rejects her immediately?"

"I would."

"Same."

Araceli looked down. The familiar sting sat heavy in her chest. Behind her the mocking laughter echoed. Sharp, unmistakable. The same judgement she had heard time and time again. She walked on without turning back, her hands clenched at her sides, as their voices faded into the distance. It didn't matter where she went, to strangers or individuals she had known all her life, the reaction was always the same.

Wherever she went, whatever she did, people looked at her as if she were inferior, unworthy, unwanted, a mistake that should never have existed. The judgement followed her everywhere, sewn into the glances others shot her and the comments that trailed her. She kept walking and didn’t utter a word, her eyes ahead as their laughing echoed down the street. Now she had learned to keep going. Stopping was only giving people more chances to hurt her, and experience had shown her there was little to be gained by giving them that chance.

By noon the Alpha House was a controlled anarchy. Carriages began to fill the grounds, nobles from the surrounding lands came, important warriors went through the hallways, servants ran from room to room with supplies. In every nook of the estate the preparations were hurried on for the celebration of the evening. Voices carried throughout the halls, doors opened and shut endlessly and the constant flow of guests meant there was always another job to do.

Araceli worked for hours cleaning guest rooms, decorating, and helping out in the kitchens whenever they needed an additional pair of hands. She moved from one duty to the next, scarcely pausing to breathe, her feet sore from the continual movement, her shoulders aching from the day's effort. Yet she barely sensed the agony. Each time she went by a window, or entered a corridor that overlooked the outside, her eyes were attracted upwards, to the sky, where the moon was beginning to emerge in the failing evening light.

She couldn’t resist the subtle excitement that pulsed through her, despite the tiredness that weighed her down. It was a reminder of what waited as the sun finally fell, a promise that the day she had waited for so long was almost here. Tonight, the wait would finally be over. This evening.

Araceli was bringing linens to the western wing when she nearly ran into another servant coming around the bend. The young woman staggered a little, then found her balance. She looked up and her face changed. For a moment her face was a picture of surprise, but when she recognised her visitor a slight frown passed over her brow. The disappointment was clear. Not important. It was merely Araceli.

"Sorry," Araceli said quickly.

The servant merely shrugged. "Whatever."

Without another glance, she continued down the corridor and disappeared around the corner. Araceli watched her leave.

A curious loneliness came over her. It wasn’t the insults that stung the worst. Moments like these, moments that reminded her no one cared enough to really know her. Nobody asked about her, what she dreamed about, or if she was smiling or trying not to cry. Sometimes it felt like she could vanish completely and the pack would just keep on marching, unaffected by her absence. The notion made her chest tighten, a dull aching spreading through her body, and she lowered her eyes, forcing herself to keep going. There was no point in brooding over it, not today.

As evening fell the training fields exploded with warriors getting their last drill before the rite. They had to prove their strength before they could take part in the Moon Blessing, a rite of passage into maturity, the last stage of their journey from youth to responsibility. The air was electric as supporters crowded the perimeter of the pitch ready to see the talent and strength on display that has been part of the event for generations.

Araceli wasn't meant to be there. Her job was easy. Deliver fresh water to the training area and go back to her chores. Nothing at all. She balanced her burden and headed for the field, planning to complete her errand without attracting attention. But before she could get away a huge roar came from the assembled audience. There were loud cheers at once, and the sound rolled like a wave over the training grounds. The enthusiasm swept through the ranks of spectators. Reluctantly Araceli moved her head and looked toward the middle of the arena.

Then she froze.

Alpha King Pierce Sencio stood on the training field, and the sight stole her breath. Everyone knew who Pierce was. He was the most powerful Alpha in the Silver Moon Alliance, the future ruler of multiple territories, and the wolf countless young women dreamed about. Araceli had seen him before, of course she had, but only from a distance, surrounded by crowds or passing through places she could never approach. Never this close, where his presence felt undeniably real and impossible to ignore.

With easy confidence, Pierce crossed the arena, his every movement exuding power and control. His dark hair shone in the afternoon sun, and his wide shoulders and presence were such that they drew the eye of anyone who looked. But it wasn’t his looks that attracted the crowd. It was the way he walked, the easy confidence of a man born to lead, born to win, born to dominate.

Pierce sidestepped effortlessly when his opponent attacked, and his avoidance of the strike was noteworthy for its ease. The movement was so fast that Araceli could scarcely keep up with it.

The instant after the warrior was flat on his back, defeated, and immediately the crowd roared. Cheers broke across the pitch as the crowd jumped to their feet and roared their delight, the feeling of victory washing over the assemblage like a tsunami. Pierce didn’t lose his cool about the result. He moved forward, offered his opponent a hand and helped him to his feet, a simple gesture made without fear or hubris that brought an even larger wave of adulation from those watching.

"He always does that," a nearby girl sighed dreamily.

"So noble."

"So handsome."

"I'd die if he were my mate."

The others laughed, their voices blending with the lingering excitement that filled the air. Araceli remained silent, her gaze fixed on the field as a small part of her understood the admiration surrounding him. Not the obsession or the fantasies, but the admiration.

Pierce was everything a leader should be. Strong, confident, respected and with every trait Araceli thought she lacked. For a while she imagined what it would be like to stand beside a person like him, someone who could make an entire roomful of people feel safe simply by being there. The thought remained but a moment and she discarded it. It was a foolish notion. Somebody like Pierce wouldn't even notice somebody like her. They lived in worlds apart, worlds split by expectations and position and circumstances that she could never bridge. But she couldn’t look away.

The training continued, and Pierce instructed the younger fighters, correcting flaws and demonstrating methods with the ease of one who had spent years refining his craft. Every motion was deliberate, each instruction exact, every movement showed why so many wolves looked up to him. The younger soldiers watched intently, eager to learn, others looked on with open respect. Even Araceli felt herself smiling to see him at work, caught up in the confidence and authority he carried so casually. Then his head turned swiftly and their eyes met. Araceli's breath caught in her throat, the noises of the training grounds fading. Pierce Sencio looked at her, not past her, not through her, but at her for one unbelievable minute. His eyes locked on hers, steady and evident, and she couldn't look away. One of the warriors spoke to him and the link lasted only a few seconds. Pierce turned to the interruption, turned aside, the moment was over as soon as it had begun.

But Araceli’s heart was still pounding. She averted her eyes hastily, hoping no one would see the rapid heat go to her cheeks. It didn't make sense and it simply made her more frustrated. It was not as if anything had happened. He'd only glanced in her direction, nothing more than a short glimpse that should have meant nothing at all. And yet it stuck in her mind, not wanting to go. The scene played itself again in maddening clarity, with a weight she couldn't define and didn't want to look at too carefully. And it felt important. Meaningful even. Though she knew it was a silly idea.

Still, it wouldn't get out of her mind.

The full moon was beginning to rise above Silver Moon territory, its pale light creeping gently across the darkening sky, high overhead. Bright and ancient, it watched the countryside in calm scrutiny as night slowly gathered about them.