CHAPTER 5: Romantic Gestures

It's time.

Tonight's the official mating ceremony of Kratos and Eris. Our future Alpha and Luna. I winced at the latter word, leaving a bitter thought at the back of my mind. Yesterday, I would've said I don't deserve to be a Luna. That I don't deserve to be Kratos' mate because I'm just an Omega.

But then Atlas happened. And boy, are we in for a treat.

Since Phoebe is somewhere having a run in the forest with her wolf, I've only got myself to tame my hair. Besides being angry at me for using my second chance mate to get back to my soul mate, she's in a very emotional state right now considering her situation. I understand how she feels right now. If Kratos ever had pups with Eris, I think I'll have to kill someone.

Way to ruin the mood, Dione, my wolf rolled her eyes at me at the back of my mind.

But deep down, I knew that there's a possibility that that would happen. A huge one at that, too. If Atlas and I won't do this right, then we're both officially done for. Might as well be roommates with Atlas in a mental institution where we'll spend the last moments of our lives being depressed, thinking how we're never good enough.

I was just about to tie my hair up, since I don't really know much about hairstyles unlike Phoebe who's upset with me right now, when I heard something. My head snapped at my glass window where a small stone was thrown. I frowned as I stood up and went to check it out.

The glass made a loud thud as another rock was thrown. My frown got deeper as I slid the window pane open and stuck my head out to check who it was. Automatically, my head landed on Atlas with a permanent scowl on his face. His eyes were pure black, signalling that his wolf is just on the surface probably because tonight's the night his soul mate is going to mate with her chosen.

I smiled down at him sweetly, "Trying to be Romeo, eh? Didn't know you had it in you."

I didn't know he had another extra small rock in his hand until he threw one at me. With a little mutter of thanks for my werewolf reflexes, I immediately caught it smoothly. However, Atlas didn't seem to appreciate that fact because he only huffed.

I rolled my eyes at him, "That's really romantic of you, Atlas." I sarcastically added, my wolf somehow liking how Atlas' name rolled off my tongue. I inwardly frowned at that, but quickly recovered.

Without a word, Atlas climbed up to my window using his werewolf strength. My eyes went wide as I immediately stepped away from the window and watch him fit himself through it. I just hope he won't break it, because that will cost me a whole lot. He smoothly landed on the carpeted floor and his presence immediately filled the room.

I looked at him from head to foot, nodding to myself in satisfaction at his choice of clothes. "You clean up well."

He didn't say the same thing about me.

Atlas only stared at me with an irritated expression on his face like a school assignment he just can't answer, "Hurry up," he snapped.

I smirked at him. This guy. "Pick you up at seven," I mimicked his voice earlier this morning, "Is this how you pick your women up?"

"Glad you're not my woman, then."

Okay, so there are three types of mates: soul mates, second chance mates, and chosen mates.

My soul mate, who is Kratos, is a moon given blessing. The moon goddess pairs werewolves to others who she thinks complements one another. Who she thinks they deserve one another. But then, we still have our free will to accept that mate or not. When one of them chose the latter, that's when second chance mate appears.

My second chance mate, who is Atlas, is another moon given blessing. Only, this was given after a wolf has been rejected by his or her soul mate. If your soul mates accepts you, then you don't have a second chance mate. Only the rejects have this.

My chosen mate, who might be the random guy staring at me right now, is not a moon given blessing. It comes with the package of our free will. This is the most hated type of mates, since this is the sole reason why soul mates reject one another. It's sad how some wolves don't trust their lives to the moon goddess.

I mean, if we all just accept each other we'd only have one type of mates and we'll all live happily ever after.

But really, that random guy is really staring weirdly at me. Atlas must've felt my sudden discomfort, because he snaked his arm around my waist and let out a warning growl at the guy who immediately paled. I'm guessing the guy was also an omega. No sane high ranking, egotistical werewolf would let an omega growl at him, so yeah.

"We've all gathered here to witness the official mating ceremony of the future leaders of our pack," Alpha Ares' voice boomed at the whole pack that circled Kratos and Eris, "Without further ado, let us begin."

As any other mating ceremony, we all have to stand below a full moon. We only have approximately ten minutes before the moon shows itself, and Atlas and I have to work real quick. Within those last minutes, Kratos has to make eye contact with every werewolf present.

The eye is the window of our souls, they say. Just don't let Atlas enter that window, or he'll throw a rock at it.

The point of it is for them to literally see if the pack really approves of the ceremony or if someone wants to challenge the decision. So he has to spend ten seconds to make eye contact with each and everyone, including me and Atlas. And those few seconds were enough to make a change.

I looked up at Atlas and he nodded stiffly at me. We're ready.

Kratos and Eris started looking at everyone, and it wasn't long until both their eyes landed on me with Atlas standing beside me. Both of us stared at them for three seconds before Atlas grabbed the back of my neck and turned me to face him. We only have five seconds left, so we immediately did what we have to do.

We kissed.

Not a simple peck, no. A kiss where our tongue danced beautifully, igniting sparks within my chest and dinosaurs in my stomach. It felt so good, it hurt. Even my wolf started stirring at the back of my mind, seeming to connect with Atlas' wolf. I tried to silently count the seconds we spent kissing, but I lost count the moment our lips touched.

Was it five seconds already? I have no idea. And I don't think I'll ever know because the next thing I knew, I heard a loud growl before Atlas was torn away from me. I opened my eyes only to see him on the ground, his face on the floor. After kissing me, Atlas kissed the ground. He's starting to be a really romantic person.

Another growl broke my line of thoughts, and my eyes landed on Kratos who was now standing beside me. Feeling my gaze, he snapped his head at me before he grabbed me by my waist. Atlas started standing up, looking at Kratos and I with a smirk. Kratos let out another growl that made the pups in the pack start crying in fear.

I can see how on edge Kratos' wolf is, since his eyes were pure black. If Atlas does another thing that might provoke him, I wouldn't be shocked if he started shifting. If Omegas are naturally temperamental, imagine how much more an Alpha would be. Atlas would be dinner meat if he did one wrong move and challenge Kratos.

"Mine," Kratos stated loudly for everyone to hear before he buried his face on the base of my neck, sniffing my scent.

I tried not to giggle. Goddess, it tickles!

"Kratos!" Eris' shrill scream broke my happy moment. We all snapped her head towards her only to see her crying her eyes out, showing emotions of hurt, anger, and betrayal.

Immediately, Kratos' eyes went back to normal at the sight of his chosen mate hurt. Without a second thought, he let go of me and ran towards her.

I blinked.

Kratos has rejected me before and that stung, but this time seems to hurt more. Maybe because he didn't use words to reject me, but his actions did. For the second time, I was rejected for the whole pack to witness. Everyone's eyes never left me as they silently judged me.

The omega reject.

As Kratos was too busy calming Eris down with soft voices and intimate touches, Alpha Ares stepped in with a glare at my way. "The two of you are such a disappointment in this pack. To the dungeon, the both of you!" He declared, and Luna Hera gave me a look of pity.

I don't need pity! I need Kratos!

Atlas glared at the Alpha but didn't growl. The Alpha stared back at him, challenging him. If someone stares at an alpha for a long time, it only means challenge. And challenge is something an Alpha won't back down. Atlas would be dead before he could even think of shifting.

Atlas did the smart thing and looked away at the last second. Before I could blink, we were both taken by the Pack Warriors as the whole pack watched us with mixed looks of curiosity, judgement, and pity. Even I started to pity myself as a huge Pack Warrior with a crumpled face carried me away.

Guess who'll be spending the night in the dungeons?