Chapter 82 - 082

Chapter 82: 082 Time went by quickly and soon it was time for the mating ceremony. The moon was at its fullest point and everyone was bathed in its glow. The clearing behind the pack house was filled with pack members and workers. The pack elders stood on the elevated ground where a table was placed. Everyone was excited and anticipating the ceremony. Among these people were those that have stood against the Alpha in the past when he remained mateless. Some were singing and hooting in happily, distance howls could be heard as the presence of the moon had increased their animalistic side. In his room, Tristan’s nerves were overworked already and he was beyond himself with worry. He was also excited and ready for the ceremony but he was unhappy that he has been unable to talk to his Alpha since last night that he left to attend something. "Are you ready?" Mariah came into his room and her eyes roamed over him before she nodded in approval. He had a haircut earlier in the day and he was a custom made outfit Alpha Mitch had prepared for them. "Yes". Tristan replied softly and nodded at her. "Let me stay here with you till it’s time for you to go out". She said and settled into the chair across him. Tristan stood up and started pacing the room, his hands tightly clasped together. "Have you seen Nita all evening today? I have been looking everywhere for her". Mariah asked, frowning as she bit the tip of her finger lost in thought. "It’s time!" The door opened and the maid peeped inside to announce. She smiled sweetly at Tristan as his face went pale white. "Let’s go!" Mariah said excitedly and led him out of the room. Because of the rules Alpha Mitch had left behind, there was no guess from other packs at all. Hence, no strange faces were in the pack house as they went down. Tristan felt his hand go cold and he did not trust his legs to carry him as they went down the stairs. They made it outside the pack house in one piece and Tristan forgot how to breathe for a second. The scene before him was like a ritual, fire lamps hung on trees illuminating the space behind them as about two hundred people surrounded the clearing where the pack elders stood. When they noticed him, everyone went quiet. Alpha Mitch stood beside the pack elders and he smiled at Tristan beckoning him forward. Tristan paused and took a second to look at him, he was wearing an identical outfit with him and he also had a haircut and his beards neatly shaved. Tristan felt like he was walking towards him full of lies because of the secret he was still hiding. "Go" Mariah whispered beside him and gently pushed him forward making him take a step towards the Alpha that stood with one hand opened in invitation. He finally hurried towards him and put his smaller hand in his larger one. The people gave a loud cheer and that made Tristan flinch as he wasn’t expecting. Alpha Mitch smiled as he gently squeezed his hand, and circled his other arm around him. "Let the ceremony begin". One of the elders announced and everyone went quiet again. Alpha Mitch turned Tristan sideways to face him, he took a step back to put some space between them. Without words, one of the elders got closer and took one of the goblets prepared and asked them to dip their hands inside, one after the other as if to cleanse them in the cold water. Tristan followed the instructions with rapt attention and curiosity until a very thin knife was pulled out of nowhere. His eyes followed the knife as the elder was about to place it in his hand, he immediately retracted his hand and stared at the Alpha with widened eyes. Alpha Mitch smiled and nodded at him, silently urging him on. Unsure of what they wanted to do, he stretched out his left hand again and he was watched in a shock silence as the Alpha’s palm was cut slightly and a few drops of his blood pooled in his palm. Tristan trembled as the same cut was made in his, he bit his lower lips to stop himself from screaming in pain. With the instructions of the elder, they held their bleeding hand together and intertwined their fingers. As if charged with a tensed energy, Tristan swayed and gripped on the Alpha to steady himself. His heart beat rapidly and his chest heaved. The Alpha moved closer and kissed him on the lips, the people shouted in approval. Alpha Mitch broke the kiss and kissed him on a spot on the side of his neck. Tristan cling on to him as everything was happening too fast and the world around him swayed Without a warning he felt a piercing pain where the Alpha had kissed him and immediately wanted to pull away as the pain travelled through his entire body but he held him back firmly as he completed the marking process. After he finished, he licked the wound to seal the mark and Tristan could no longer control his body and felt himself float as the piercing pain in his neck soothes slightly when he ran his tongue over it. When the Alpha lifted his head everyone screamed in excitement. They had been waiting for that moment for years. Tristan continued to lean on the Alpha as the ground beneath him swayed. "Are you okay?" The Alpha asked in a whisper in his ear. Tristan nodded but his head buzzed as the Alpha’s pheromones became more enticing than before and he leaned in closer to him. Alpha Mitch chuckled and wrapped both arms around him as felt his nervousness. "It’s done now". He cupped his face and reassured him. And backed that reassurance with a deep kiss. While they were all basked in the magic of the moment, no one noticed the pair of cold eyes that watched everything with burning hatred.