Chapter 8: Ninety Days
AYLA
I could hear muffled voices coming from right outside the door.
I had now slipped back into the dress my mother had forced me to wear, panic clawing at my throat as I tried to listen in on the conversation going on outside.
I could faintly make out Alpha Kieran’s raised voice but asides that I could hear absolutely nothing and it was frightening.
Why did Ares stop the ritual?
It made absolutely no sense.
I was still standing there staring when the door suddenly burst open and my mother stormed inside.
The force of the door slamming against the wall made me flinch.
She looked furious.
No.
Furious was not a strong enough word.
She looked enraged.
"What did you do?" she demanded.
She crossed the room so quickly I barely had time to react.
Her fingers dug into my arm.
"What did you do?" she repeated.
Pain shot through me.
"Mother, you are hurting me."
"You stupid stupid girl." Her nails bit deeper into my skin. "I warned you, didn’t I? I warned you that if you ruined this for us, I am going to kill you."
"Get your hands off her." A voice thundered from behind my mother.
It was Ares.
My mother stepped back, her head lowering.
"I was just speaking to..."
"More like you were yelling, Eva."
The use of her name stunned me.
What was his play here? I thought.
Ares never associated with the Omegas.
Granted, he did not scorn us or mock us like Damon did but he was rarely seen around us.
To him, we did not exist so why this? All of a sudden?
The priestess walked into the room.
"I have consulted with the moon goddess" she announced. "The mating ritual will not proceed today."
"What?" My mother gasped. "I mean... you... what about the part where they all die? Surely that should make this mating business a matter of urgency?"
Ares frowned, casting a look of disgust in my mother’s direction.
She did not seem to notice but I could feel the embarrassment creep up my spine.
"Yes, it is a matter of urgency but we cannot force it. The moon goddess has granted a period of grace to the princes and your daughter."
"A period of grace?"
"Ninety days."
My breath caught in my throat.
Ninety days.
"What does this mean?" Alpha Kieran interjected.
"The bond must still be completed and the mating must happen within ninety days."
My mother looked visibly relieved.
"The consequences of failing to complete the bond within ninety days will be very severe. The curse that destroyed the ancient pack will begin again."
"If that is the case, may I suggest my daughter be moved to the princes quarters? What better way to speed up the mating process than having them all in close proximity?"
I stared in horror at my mother.
She was not even hiding how much she wanted this to happen.
If it were left to her, I would be in their beds at this very moment getting mated over and over again until she was sure the bonding had taken hold.
"That sounds like a good enough idea to me," Alpha Kieran said. "Ares?"
Ares’ green eyes flicked to me briefly. "I agree, Father."
My mother beamed at this.
Live with them?
For ninety days?
Sleep under the same roof as three Alpha Princes?
"Now," Alpha Kieran continued, his voice stern, "the mating may not have happened, but that stays between the people in this room."
His gaze swept over all of us.
"As far as the rest of the pack is concerned, Ayla is already bonded to my sons until the ritual is completed."
Everyone nodded.
"Good." Alpha Kieran clasped his hands behind his back. "Then I suggest you all retire to your quarters. Take Ayla with you"
Cassian stepped forward at the exact same moment, Ares did.
Both extended a hand toward me.
"Come with me."
The words left their mouths simultaneously.
I stood there awkwardly, looking between the two of them.
"For goddess’ sake."
Damon shoved past his brothers.
"She is coming with me."
Before I could react, he crossed the room, grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him.
A gasp escaped me.
"Damon..." Cassian started.
But he was already dragging me out of the room.
I caught a quick glimpse of Ares’ jaw tightening as I was dragged past him
Outside the door, I nearly collided with someone.
Willow.
She was standing there, her eyes red and teary, her usually perfect composure completely shattered. She looked at me with such raw hatred that I felt a chill race down my spine.
I did not have time to wonder what had happened or why she was there before Damon yanked me forward again.
He practically dragged me out of the ceremonial hall. I had to take two steps for every one of his to keep up. My bare feet slapped against the cold stone floor, and the night air bit at my exposed skin as we crossed the courtyard.
We reached a set of large wooden doors carved with wolves and crescent moons.
Damon pushed them open.
The princes’ quarters.
It was less of a hallway and more of a private wing. Three doors lined one side and a fourth sat directly across from them.
Damon led me toward the fourth door.
When he opened the door, I froze.
The room had already been prepared. Fresh linens covered the large bed and a dresser stood against one wall.
A stack of folded clothes sat neatly on top. Someone had even placed flowers on the windowsill.
"You will be staying here from now on."
His voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I turned to face him.
He hadn’t left. Instead, he stood in the doorway watching me.
For once, there was no sneer on his face.
His amber eyes swept over me slowly. I watched his gaze travel from my face, down my neck, over the curve of my shoulders where the dress hung loose. His jaw tightened.
I could feel the shift in the air between us. I saw the way his pupils dilated, darkening his amber irises.
His throat bobbed as he swallowed, taking a step back.
"Well," he said, his voice was rough. "See you tomorrow for the ceremony."
My heart skipped.
"Ceremony?" I echoed.
He looked at me like I had grown a second head.
"What do you think?" he said. "If the pack is to believe we actually mated with you, Ayla then the marking ceremony has to happen tomorrow."
My heart began to pound.
The marking ceremony... of course.
But that would mean being presented to the pack side by side with the three princes.
Every wolf in the pack would be there and so every eye would be on me.
For the first time in my life, there would be nowhere to hide.
Seeing the panic on my face, Damon smirked.
"Get some rest, little Omega. You are going to need it."