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Chapter 3

Harmony

Today I laid in bed staring at the ceiling, not bothering to look out the window to see if the sun was out yet. Today was supposed to be a girl’s dream. Harvest Moon Festival time was the moment to be ecstatic about meeting your other half… your soulmate.… but I wasn’t so sure.

I was 25 now, which didn’t matter. To a human I would look 18 or so, and that was the actual age I should have found him. However, I still hadn’t seen him. No dreams, special encounters with magical fea, or anything… That was what usually happened to guide those to their mates, or at least leave an indication as a message from the Goddess that you had one…. This was the part that worried me, because what I was experiencing was rare…. Along with not even feeling the pull to desire a mate…. My mate might not exist… I thought to myself… Everyone I knew had theirs, and every year that passed, was a year I doubted my grandpa’s words

Get up, get up! Today is special! Lummi, my wolf, wagged her tail in my mind. She was confident, but I wasn’t. I wasn’t discouraged… just realistic. I took the week off at the pack clinic just in case though, so I had nowhere I needed to be that I knew of. I turned the volume up on my phone to try and ignore her frantic excitement and yipping, if only to listen to a news podcast about something important.

The station rattled on about the volcano eruption three months ago on my birthday. It was the largest recorded in modern times, but thankfully no one was hurt. It had smoked and threw the occasional rock out it’s top since the day I was born, but last month all activity stopped after lava came down the mountainside. Seismic activity up until this point attracted curious unknowing humans…. And supernatural creatures with tributes from all over the world.

This was important… the High King slept in that mountain, and honestly… he was probably awake. That didn’t really sit well with me… because of all the stories I’d heard of the war, he was the most brutal. The only thing that stopped him was a vow to give him a mate… and he slept within it, and it would only make sense that he was presented his mate and they would live somewhere in a lavish castle away from humans already. It probably just so happened I was born on the same day and halfblooded like the promise.

But no one would tell that kind of information to me. I may have been raised knowing the old stories, but anything to do with their care or activities were heavily guarded. Even the Master had his mate, and He waited only the gods know how long for her. I know he would treat her right no matter how cruel he may have been in the past. … my inner wolf whined in my head. She felt left out.

Our mate is out there for us. She said quietly, but I wasn’t so sure.

How do you know? I questioned, but she didn’t say anything for a while.

I just know.

My alarm went off like crazy, and a loud knocking of my little cousin startled me.

“Wake up! You promised I’d do your hair this time! I had to damn near kill a wolf to get this appointment with Kiki” He growled, and I heard my dad growl back. “Sorry Uncle Caleb!” He shouted.

“Harmony go with Hank!” He yelled most likely from his office. He wouldn’t have to see anyone for another hour, but dad was always like that. Today was no different. He sounded like he was talking with someone on the phone already.

“Ugh Fine!” I yelled, rolling out of bed.

I got in a blue hoodie and some black leggings, walking out the door and getting ganged up on by my cousin and his mate. He was a quiet white furred wolf from LemonMoon, a neighboring pack. Hank was taller than dad, so anyone standing next to him would be miniature.

“I need to get you all gussied up and ready to fuck by Friday!” He yelled loud enough that I wished I was invisible, because damn near everyone heard it.

“Shut up… it IS Friday!” I screamed, slapping his chest, but he ignored me.

“It’s true! It’s my hope anyway.” he giggled, and his mate did with him.

“Lady damnit.” I grumbled, walking down the stairs and out the door. Some of the shops were open, because in the pack allot of the stores were run by family and friends. Wolves all around could pitch in and make it work, especially clothing boutiques since fabric doesn’t shift with us.

He pushed me to his Fiesta, and I sat in the back. Him and Keith held hands, messing with each other. It was mostly Hank. He was trying to play thumb war with him while driving, but his hands are too big for that. He also never let anyone win.

“Here, we’re going to buy you a nice dress, do your hair, and if you behave, you can have ice cream.” Teased Keith.

“Yes papa. I’ll make sure I hold your hands too, so I don’t get lost. I’ll just starve to death back here.” I said sarcastically. If he would have been patient, I could have made us breakfast.

I do not want to hold hands. Huffed my wolf. She’d finally been roused from the recesses of my mind, only to be sassy. She snorted, stomping her feet, and I could see her ears flop.

“Well, if that’s the case let’s eat first. We don’t need you passing out on your big night.” Said Hank smiling wide. He pulled into the shopping district, parking in front of the Café. We would park there and shop on the strip. There were streamers and balloons already out for the event. Clothes, shoes, and pretty much anything one could want was on sale in anticipation for lovers looking for, and finding their mates.

I got a black iced coffee and a bagel while my favorite cousin paid for everything… because I forgot my purse in my rush. It didn’t matter to him though; he already had a well paying job. He was a Guard Unit Captain of Horizon Prison in CharredMoon, my grandfather’s pack. He was only 24, and already stronger than his mom, but refused to take the position as Gamma.

“I hear that head of yours buzzing. Less inner monologue, more nibbles.” He smiled.

“Lady Damnit, that’s not fair! No mind reading.” I complained, but he flicked me on the forehead.

“I can’t help it…. I got my Charred powers early.” He whined. It was something the stronger purebloods in my family could do to weaker wolves passively, being of royal blood. It was something I couldn’t do, because I was half hound.

“Fair, but no comments.” I commanded, and he grinned.

“Deal. Let’s go. I want to beat the crowds.” He beamed.

Outside was packed, but people made way for Hank. He was a high ranked wolf that was taller than every person out. Honestly even though most recognized him, they were still respectful. Me on the other hand… no one was ever rude but since I was so short no one could ever see me. The average she wolf was six feet tall or better, and I was only 5’3. Hank was 6’10, about the tallest I’d ever seen a wolf besides the king, the patriarch of the family. Keith was 6’4, the height of the average Warrior… as he was. At only 23, he managed to hold rank as a Sargent.

I was just a receptionist; however I was also trained as a field medic. I had never seen action though. It was partly because in a situation where I needed to shift… I would be lacking in size, but it was still a respected profession. No one cares what you are when they’re bleeding out on the ground.

“Try this on!” Keith handed me a dress, but ultimately. I didn’t like it. It was fall; it would be too cold to wear that.

Hank and Keith shopped to their hearts content, dressing me up like a doll. We picked a nice thick dark purple sweater, and leggings that had a matching stripe down the side. I chose to go more practical then cute… because it was supposed to be 39 Fahrenheit tomorrow. Even as a half wolf, that would be too cold for a dress, and today’s nip made me wish I had on a thicker jacket once we went back outside.

Next, he got me a new pair of boots, and waited for me at the solon. He’d scheduled for my hair and nails which apparently was also my Winter Solsticemas gift too. I internally sighed with my wolf. Lummi wanted to play, but we would have to do that much later. Right now, I had to sit still and have my hair washed, dried, and I chose to have my hair down and natural. It was a little fluffy, but curly with flashy silver tips.

It was right next door, crowded, and filled with chatter from all the excitement. Walking in, I could see that Kiki was a retired warrior. Her hair still maintained the special braid, along with tattoos covering her from her neck to her hands and feet. I would ask why she retired, but I didn’t want to be rude. I shook her wrist, and sat in the chair.

“I know this year will be the year miss Harmony.” She giggled, doing my nails first so they would be done by the time we left. I decided to leave them natural, though there was still a nice coat of clear varnish placed on them. They were thick and healthy, and with them done, she moved on to my hair. I would have it down and natural as well, since it curled, fading from a dark black to an actually flashy silver. The tips of my back length hair looked like it was polished silver, and as my wolf, that showed on Lummi.

“I don’t know… I heard wolves from 12 packs were coming. There’s no way that he won’t be around here somewhere.” I grumbled.

“I agree.” Said Hank, but his face turned serious. “…but will you leave the pack Saturday morning? I mean realistically if he was Charred, Crimson, Beast or LemonMoon pack we’d have known by now.”

“Hank for you, that question is easy. You’re an Alpha, except not in title, better yet, the Seventh Prince. Your mate would go where You go… with me it’s the opposite. If he isn’t here, I’d be the one leaving.”

“It isn’t like he wasn’t considerate though Harmony. He let me decide to leave with him. I’m sure we could have made it work if I didn’t.” Protested Keith.

Hank pursed his lips; he only did that when he wanted to argue with me, but instead he asked me another question. “But is this what You want? There will be Alphas out there who just want you as a mark mate. I know you’re about to argue that ‘you’re only half wolf’… and you’re right sort of, but your Still of the Wolf King’s blood.” He worried for me, and I knew why: I was pretty much his best friend.

“Hank I’ve looked for my mate since I graduated high school, and I’ve felt… nothing. I don’t feel the mate pull, but I think that’ll change if I meet him. I’m not leaving with a mark mate tonight; it’s the one the Goddess made or nobody.” I said with a small smile.

“Fair enough… I couldn’t imagine waiting that long for Hankie.” Keith hugged his arm, but his mate grunted.

“Lady I hate that nickname. Uncle Connor calls me that now too.” He complained.

“Your grace, it’s done.” Bowed the hairstylist, and he immediately shook his head.

“Hank’s fine, and thank you. I didn’t think I’d get this sleepyhead out of bed.” He giggled shaking her wrist.

“It’s a shame you have to help Michelle in LemonMoon this year.” I said a little sadly, looking at how wonderfully she set my curls. They were perfect... I almost wanted to cry, but that would probably ruin the makeup that would be put on next. He’d went through all this trouble for me… and he wouldn’t even get to see me meet my mate if he did show this year.

“Shit! I forgot to schedule the makeup session. I’ll do it myself.” He grumbled.

“It’s 3:30, we might make it if we hurry.” Said Keith, while Hank went to pay for my hair. It was getting late, and the festival started at sundown. He had to leave for LemonMoon to help his big sister, and I still had to put on everything that he got me.

We scrambled to get home, though thankfully traffic wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t that long of a drive either; he just needed the car for later. Once we got out, we ran upstairs, shouting a quick hi to anyone who waved, and I put on my shirt in the bathroom. We covered it with a towel so nothing would get on it and got my makeup out the dresser since I never really wore it. Shifting with makeup on was terrible…. It stuck to the fur, and I figured that was part of why he insisted that I go out human formed instead of as my wolf.

“You’re welcome.” He smiled, passing me a compact mirror to see his work in better detail. My lips were reddish-purple to match the shirt and he made my eyes smokey.

“Thank you.” I said jumping up and hugging him as hard as I could.

I was tan, and the purple looked nice against my skin according to Hank. He looked so proud… but also really sad in the reflection of the mirror attached to the dresser. I think it was settling in that I would be gone tomorrow morning, possibly far away…

“You’re my smallest cousin, also my favorite. Never forget that.” He hugged, though I was completely squished.

“And you’re my impossibly giant cousin like all the rest, but my favorite.” I giggled.

“I’m going to miss you Hams.” He finally said.

“I’m not even sure it’ll happen.” I mumbled, but he patted me on the back.

“It will, if not tonight, then maybe next year.” He grinned.

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