Chapter 23: Unholy

Harry

I cannot lie, I am looking forward to this.

I wish I could be all blasé about it. I wish I could say I could care less about who comes into my pack or who doesn't. I really wish I could be detached like that.

But ever since my father told me my mate was coming here with all his unmated people to the 'meet and greet', my heart skipped a beat. In fact, it has been palpitating in anticipation of seeing Landon again.

Truth is I have been miserable ever since I came back home and I've been missing him like crazy. It's like my entire being doesn't care about the fact that I flat out rejected him.

It's hard out here for a single boy.

I wish I could say I drowned out the loneliness with some unsuspecting townie, but I don't have the heart to do anything with anybody else. Feels like cheating on my mate, even though it shouldn't.

I hope he is not cheating on me either, but even if he were to be, there is no cheating between rejected mates. Anyway, that's the least of my problems. I just want him in front of me so I can scent his sweet musk.

Once I had secured the unmated crowd of my pack, it was only a question of getting their unpaired to come here. Leave it to my mate to put together a 110 people trip just to get fifteen of them mated.

After what happened last time he was here, I cannot exactly blame him. Though if anyone comes for my mate ever again, I am going to chase after them myself. And I am not stopping until they are dead beneath my wolf.

I don't care who it is. Don't fuck with my mate!

I counted the days until the date arrived, a Saturday to better accommodate people's busy schedules. I took a nice shower, put on some classy clothes and basically floated around the pack house until the afternoon when they would arrive.

I welcomed all the people I had previously contacted into the pack house, directing them to our ballroom. The unmated folks were looking nervous as hell in anticipation of the meeting.

I guess I can relate, though I was mated when I least expected, I still had to go over to their pack otherwise I would never have been mated. I get chills at the recent memory, I was NOT in a good place then.

"Welcome, folks. Please make yourselves at home. We're expecting their caravan to arrive any time now." I declared to the people present inside the ballroom.

"Are you sure about this, Harry? What if I don't like my mate?" One of the unmated women asked me, anxiously.

"If you don't like your mate, then reject him. It's your prerogative. But I warn you, it's not as easy as they make it sound. It's fucking hard!" I replied, probably more honestly than she expected of me.

I cannot lie. It's impossibly hard to resist your mate. Trust me, I know.

She gasped in shock at my response and so did everyone else. I can see they were low key planning to make an escape from here, regret sinking in.

"Trust me, people. However you may have imagined your mate, it's much worse not to know them. Not knowing who they are. The doubt is crippling." I stated, reeling at the not so distant memory.

This is so true. Even if your mate is a troll, it's much better to know who they are than to spend the rest of your life guessing. That is the real torture and they know it well at this point.

My mom popped into the room to announce:

"They're here. I'm gonna welcome them first and bring them to the ballroom." She was giddy with excitement for this event, though not nearly as excited as me.

A collective gasp escaped everyone. Ironically, I was nervous as well to see my mate after two weeks. I missed him so much.

"Oh my Goddess!"

Suddenly, eyes started to shine and people were gobsmacked inside the ballroom. As werewolves came inside the place with shining eyes, the guests marveled at the revelation.

It's funny because I have never seen so many people get mated at the same time [in the same place]. They came, they scented, they went...

"MATE!"

It's a simple, timeless word that means little to other people but it means the world to us werewolves. I congratulated the mated pairings, until finally my mate came into the room.

Why is there a hot blond boy grabbing his arm like his life depended on it? Am I missing something?

I am pretty sure he did not come here just to flaunt his new arm candy... *eye roll*

I am feeling terrible for his unmated friends, even if his colleague just said my pack was terrible. Considering she was just left still unpaired, I am not going to pile on her misery.

In the living room, Landon spends a lot of time trying to comfort his friend who was crying like a baby. I wanted to say something but there was nothing I could say to make this better.

I got them a few bottles of water, but that was all I could do for them at this point.

"I'm so sorry, Ares. I really am." He tried to comfort his friend, heartbroken.

"Can we go home now, Lan? I think this humiliation has gone for far too long." The fierce looking woman said, impatiently.

"You were NOT humiliated, Rhiannon. Come on! Do you know how many times I drove across the state to some Goddess forsaken pack, 5 to 6 hours away from Regency Falls, only to be shown 10 unmated people and be done with it? You had to know if your mate was here or not. It's better than to live in doubt." He refuted, empathizing with her but annoyed at the implication.

His friend finally broke down in tears.

"You're so stupid! I actually thought you were right! I really thought my mate was here! You were so adamant to bring me today, in my heart I thought you were only thinking of my happiness and I was just being stubborn." She collapsed on the couch, sobbing.

My heart broke for the two of them. It was not too long ago that I felt all those feelings. Tears threatened to leave my eyes as I was barely holding it together. This is all too relatable, though I am not making it about me.

"I really was thinking of your happiness, you have to know that! If I could have spared you this trip, I would. But I'm not the Goddess. I can't pinpoint where your mate is or I would personally drag him on his feet to be with you!" Landon spoke, sorrowfully.

There wasn't a dry eye inside the living room. I guess it's a good thing only a few people were here. There were two additional warriors stationed on Landon's back, but from personal experience I know for a fact that they don't leave him alone. At least, not while he is here.

The crying goes on for a long time before they can recover. After a while, they all asked to go to the restroom and came back looking a bit better.

"I'm sorry for everything. I hope both of you find your mates soon." I said, trying to make nice, as we walked back to the ballroom.

"Thank you, Harry. I do appreciate all your efforts in getting your people here." Landon replied, smiling weakly at me.

Everytime he smiles, I swoon. He has such a beautiful smile.

"It was my pleasure, mate. It was all worth it just to see the matings happening." I said in a low tone. Ares threatened to cry some more, but kept it together for now.

Rhiannon looks devastated, brooding.

"I know you want to go home, Ri. But I have a schedule to fulfill and I can't disrespect the other people here." He told her, feeling disheartened.

"I know, Lan. It's fine. Being home is not gonna make me feel any better..." She muttered, sorrowful.

"Is there a bar where I can wait?" Ares inquired and I couldn't tell if he was joking or not from his tone.

"You can't drink now, Ares. You're a warrior on duty. Wait for us to get home and I'll join you." Landon shot it down, mildly glaring at him.

"I can get you some juice, if you'd like." I offered politely.

"Not unless it comes with whiskey, Staedler." He snickered. Landon glared at him for real.

"Don't make me call your father!" Landon threatened him in a serious tone.

"I'm joking, Lan! Goddess! I'm not an alcoholic, I just need a drink." He glared at him, raising his eyebrows in annoyance.

"Trust me, Ares. You won't be alone at the bar." Rhiannon spoke emphatically.

After we returned to the ballroom, the mated couples were getting to know each other, talking. Some were even already kissing. All of us stared at the scene perplexed.

"I feel like maybe your friends should wait inside the bus..." I suggested to Landon, getting a rise out of them.

"Wow. A dozen mate pairings and not one single rejection..." Rhiannon commented in a snarky tone, sideways glaring at me.

"I know, right? Not one of them thinks they are too good for us..." Ares chimed in, piling it on.

"I never said I was too good for anyone!" I exclaimed, peeved about their remarks.

Landon turned to his side and glared daggers at his friends.

"Stop it right now. He wasn't trying to be shady. He was being considerate of your feelings." Landon snarled at them, protective of me.

I actually was being considerate, thank you very much. Both of the unmated grunted in response.

"Any chance you want to come back home with me? Your room is there waiting for you." Landon spoke after a minute, flirtatiously gazing at me.

"Please don't tempt me. Your guest bed is better than the one in my room." I blurted, then blushed after I got people staring at me.

"That's good to know. Also, my sister misses you." He made the best argument and I hated him for it.

"You bastard! I miss her too, she's so freaking adorable!" I melted at the thought of the sweet child.

Landon laughed at my reaction with a mischievous grin. I drooled at the thought of going back with him, not going to lie. The offer was tempting.

"Hey, can I speak to you alone real quick?" I proposed, agitated.

"They're not gonna let me go anywhere alone..." He replied, glancing at the tall brooding men behind him.

"There's a bathroom right over there. Do you need to go?" I inquired with a suggestive tone and expression, indicating the door across the ballroom.

"Yeah, I do." - He smiled naughtily and turned to the two warriors behind him. - "I'm gonna go over there to take a leak. Wait for me here." He ordered, sternly.

Both of his friends giggled as we walked together to the bathroom. There were a lot of eyes on us but I honestly couldn't care less about any judgment.

I barely waited for us to enter the tight space before I lunged for his lips.

I kissed Landon as if his lips were an oasis and I was in the desert. I was hungry for this kiss. We spent a good five minutes kissing.

After we finally parted, I confessed:

"I've wanted to kiss you since you arrived!" I blushed, gazing upon his sweet smile.

"Me too, but I couldn't leave my friends, especially after they didn't get mated." He explained, though I knew that much was true.

"I know. I missed your lips!" I admitted, unabashedly. I can't hold back.

"They missed you too." He grinned at me and I kissed him again. I couldn't resist it.

Ten minutes later, we exited the bathroom together and people were staring at a tall, blonde, strong man at the door.

"Regent, it's time for us to leave." He spoke to my mate, sternly.

"Yes, of course Delta." Landon agreed.

"Regency Falls pack, say your goodbyes. It's time to go home." He commanded.

There was a sentiment of sadness in the room. The newly mated couples didn't want to be parted from each other. Honestly, so relatable. Me neither.

There was a lot of kissing, touching - not inappropriately - and longing as the visitors started filling out the ballroom.

His unmated friends and us were the last ones to exit, plus his two guardians.

"I can't thank you enough for all this, Alpha, Luna." Landon told my parents later in the entrance hall.

"It was absolutely our pleasure, Regent. I'm glad it all worked out." Dad replied to him, contently.

He shook their hands, smiling at them.

"Please give my best to your siblings as well. I know why your brother isn't here and I don't blame him." Landon said to me, pained.

Yeah, that was predictable.

"He's here. He is just in his room." I replied, a bit annoyed at Aaron.

"Goodbye, mate. It was nice seeing you." He hugged me and I basked in his warmth and sweet scent.

Landon turned around and walked away with his two friends towards the indoor garage.

"I'm sorry, Lan. Can I just use the restroom real quick? It'll take but a minute." Rhiannon asked her friend, turning back around.

"Of course, Ri. I'll be here waiting." He replied promptly and off she went, leaving the seven of us in the room staring at each other.

"I meant what I said earlier. My house is always open to you, Harry. Come whenever." He reiterated, flirtatiously.

"Thanks, Landon. I really do appreciate it. You have a wonderful family." I complimented him, who smiled radiantly.

"She could have waited to pee back home. It's like 40 minutes away." Ares grunted impatiently.

"There's room in the bus, if you want." Landon shot back, annoyed at him.

This was mildly uncomfortable, but any second more with my mate is a welcome sight.

She returned shortly and said thank you to Landon. My mate waved me off and went ahead with his people towards the garage.

My parents and I had just turned around when we heard a gasp. At this moment, I am hoping it's not another attack on my mate because I am going to lose my cool if it is.

The three of us stared at the five people with their backs to us, waiting to find out what happened.

Suddenly, Landon's friend Rhiannon turned around with her eyes shining bright. All of us gasped at this in shock.

"Regent, what's the hold up?" Delta Saunders came back into the pack house. He too gasped in surprise at the sight.

"Did you leave out any unmated person, Harry? Maybe a cook?" Landon questioned me, baffled.

I am completely struck by the scene. All of us are, including my parents who are just as shocked as everyone else.

"NO! I would never do that! There's no unmated person here, I swear!" I exclaimed, gobsmacked.

"Are you okay, Ri? Is there anything I can do?" He asked her, quizzically. None of us understood why or who could she possibly be shining her eyes at.

Rhiannon seems in trance, eyes fixed, pupils dilated. She didn't respond to Landon, instead she walked ahead.

"Delta, escort the buses back home then circle back to collect me. I have to see this through!" Landon instructed the man, who looked as confused as the rest of us.

"Ares, you can go back with your father if you want. I have to stay with her." He offered, gently looking at him.

"Hell no, I need to see where she's going!" He replied, intrigued by the strange phenomenon.

Landon turned to the man by the door and gave him a poignant look. Meanwhile, all of us are puzzled as to where she is going.

She continues to walk the long corridor, the rest of us close by.

"Does your mate have unmated people stashed somewhere inside this house? Where are they?" Ares snickered, intrigued.

I glared at him, but he was not looking at me. All eyes are on Rhiannon.

"Shut up, Ares! You're not helping!" Landon snapped at him.

Why would I hold back any unpaired person? I was the one who worked towards this meeting in the first place!

Finally, we arrived in the playroom. Rhianon entered first and declared:

"MATE!"

What the fuck is happening here?!

This is impossible. This is ungodly. No, this is not real. It cannot be!

This is something else entirely. It's almost... freaking unholy.

A|N: BOOM!

Yes, I had this song in mind before I even thought of this chapter.

What happens next is unmissable.

Love,

Léo.