‘Lylah,’ Micah calls out.
I wake as my name is being called. An alluring smell of Thyme and cedarwood drifts through my terrace and into my room. An overwhelming urge takes over my senses. I find myself subconsciously racing towards the terrace and clutching the stone rail. My body trembles with delight as I see Micah waiting eagerly below my balcony.
Our eyes instantly meet, ‘Mate!’ we say in unison. It feels as if we are the only two people that suddenly exist. Just when I thought I couldn’t love Micah any more than I already do, my body explodes internally with vast feelings of overwhelming love. An urge to never be out of Micah’s sight, an urge to always be by his side, an urge to touch him, an urge to make sweet love to him.
I feel a wholeness that I never knew needed filling. My heart beats rapidly as my eyes stare hungrily into Micah’s. As Micah steps forward to climb up my balcony, my body has other plans and cannot wait for another second, longing for Micah’s touch. I leap off the terrace, and Micah catches me with ease. Our bodies explode with tingles and heat from each other’s touch. Our mouths crash against each other’s lips, and the flame in my heart I always felt for Micah suddenly explodes into a furnace.
‘Micah,’ I moan as one of his hands finds its way up my thigh, and his other makes its way towards my breasts.
I jump up, wrapping my legs around his waist, and my fingers glide through his hair as we continue to kiss.
Suddenly I hear a commotion towards the front door of the packhouse. It’s Leo and Theo shoving each other, trying to get outside.
They hi-five each other when they see us making out in the garden. Leo turns back to the door and yells up the corridor, ‘Mum, Dad, they are definitely mates!’
Moments later, my parents and the entire packhouse, including Beth, run outside. Micah and I part and blush, embarrassed that everyone has come outside to find us making out.
My mother smiles, ‘So, it’s true? You are fated mates?’ she asks.
Micah holds his finger up, signalling for them to wait a moment. He then lifts me bridal style and runs, carrying me inside the packhouse, up the stairs of the closest tower.
‘What are you doing?’ I giggle as he gently puts me down on the terrace. Micah replies with a grin, jumps onto the stone railing, and climbs the thick vines onto the roof.
‘Micah!’ I shout, worried he may fall.
Standing proudly on the rooftop, Micah takes a deep breath before shouting, ‘The Moon Goddess has blessed me with the greatest gift in the world. She has given me Lylah as my true fated mate.’
Everyone cheers at Micah.
‘Okay, Micah, now that you have shouted from the rooftops just like you said you would, I need you to come down to me where it’s safe and maybe… kiss me,’ I laugh.
Micah smiles and carefully climbs down. He grabs my waist and tilts me backwards, kissing me.
Holding hands, we run downstairs to rejoin everyone. My mother hugs me while my Dad shakes hands with Micah. Sally, Bella, Beth then Amara pull me in for a group hug and squeal in delight.
‘I knew it, I knew it,’ Amara says, squeezing me.
‘I’m so happy for you,’ Bella says.
‘This is the best news!’ Sally says.
‘Happy eighteenth, Lylah! We are so happy Micah is your fated mate.’ Leo and Theo say in unison.
My Dad mind-links the pack with the good news and for everyone to join us in the pack’s hall for lunch.
Alex and Nathan pat Micah on the bad and congratulate him.
Pack members come running from their houses to the pack house to congratulate Micah and me and to celebrate in the hall.
I’m having the time of my life until I see Vicky and Tamara approaching. Their parents are not far behind them and look annoyed to be here. Their arms are crossed, and they walk like misbehaved children stomping their feet. I assume their parents have forced them to come since my Dad has mind-linked the entire pack to attend and celebrate.
Their parents glare at them. I can tell they are being scolded through a mind-link by the unimpressed looks on their faces.
Vicky stands in front of me with a glare and then purposely puts on her biggest fakest smile, ‘Lylah, how nice that Micah is your mate. Congratulations,’ she says through gritted teeth and storms off to the other side of the hall.
Tamara doesn’t even make eye contact. Instead, her chin tilts up high, and she speaks sarcastically, ‘Congratulations, Lylah. How wonderful,’ she says, then stomps away to rejoin Vicky.
Their parents hug me and seem genuinely happy for me.
I’m suddenly overwhelmed by half a dozen other girls around my age,
‘Has he marked you yet?’
‘I bet he is a good kisser with those lips?’
‘What does his scent smell like?’
‘He is so handsome! He doesn’t happen to have a brother by any chance?’
They all giggle and act as if they are best friends of mine when they have never really paid attention to me before. Micah can sense that I’m uncomfortable and approaches.
‘Lylah, my princess,’ he says and holds his hand out. ‘Will you dance with me?’ he asks.
I nod, taking his hand, and we begin to waltz around the hall. Everyone watches us as we gaze into each other’s eyes. His hand on my waist is sending sparks throughout my body.
‘My heart is beating so fast,’ I say.
‘Mine too,’ Micah says, twirling me around, weaving me out, and then back in so my back is against his front. We sway for a few moments, and he twirls me around again and pulls me close to his chest again but this time facing him.
‘I feel like I’m in a fairytale. You know, like the ones where the princess ends up with her knight in shining armour?’
‘Hmm, I suppose you’re right because I have ended up with my princess,’ he smirks.
Micah leans in, kisses me passionately, and then whispers in my ear, ‘I don’t think I could ever get enough of you, my sweet Lylah.’
I blush and lean against his chest as we slowly sway for the rest of the song.
Everyone applauds, and we sit and gather at the long tables. Beth has cooked up a storm. Not an inch of the table is bare. The whole table is covered with platters and trays full of food.
‘Micah,’ my Dad says,
‘Alpha Maximus,’ he replies respectfully.
My Dad stands, and the hall becomes quiet, ‘The last few years since you came into my daughter’s life have been the happiest I have ever seen Lylah, and because of the immense happiness that you have given her. I am honoured that you are fated mates and that Lylah’s dreams and prayers have been answered. I know you will make so many happy memories together,’ he holds his cup high. ‘To Micah and Lylah, fated mates, and to the Moon Goddess for making this possible!’ he shouts proudly—everyone cheers, shouts and applauds.
We all eat, drink and dance until Beth enters the hall, pushing a serving trolley with a beautiful large purple three-tiered cake on top, covered in butterflies made from fondue. Micah stands behind me and wraps his arms around my waist as everyone sings Happy Birthday. I blow out the candles, ‘Make a wish,’ Micah whispers in my ear.
‘Why make a wish when I have everything I could ever wish for right here?’ I smile.
Micah kisses my cheek, and I cut the cake. We take a slice each and playfully take a bite from each other’s slice.
‘There’s only one thing that tastes better than this chocolate cake,’ Micah says.
‘Oh? And what would that be?’ I ask.
Micah places his slice of cake down, ‘Your lips,’ he says and pulls me into his chest and kisses me.