4 A Ceremonial Mating

Jump back to the day of the funeral.

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James stood in the back of the clearing, he had arrived late because he'd stopped at his mate's gravesite.

He felt a responsibility to be present at Beta's funeral, maybe it was loyalty, or duty. But he wanted to be there.

He listened to the Alpha's voice as he spoke of Beta's many acts of bravery. James nodded his head when he mentioned the Shapeshifter battle in 1920. James had only been a pup then and Beta had saved his life.

His eyes strayed from Alpha to a small figure standing at the back of the stage, her head bowed as Alpha spoke. If he wasn't mistaken, he recognized her scent as Beta's mate. He frowned, she was probably crying her eyes out. He scoffed, pathetic.

When Alpha's speech ended the Lycans began to filter out of the clearing, as James left through the cedars he spotted the human and her face was… emotionless. His brows furrowed as he walked back through the snowy field filled with gravestones.

Did she not care about her mate? Had she no sense of who he was, or had been? He shook his head in disgust for the human.

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TWO MONTHS LATER…

James walked up the paved road that led to the Alpha's house along with the Beta's and Gamma's.

The gatekeeper opened the gate for him and waved genially at him.

His eyes went to the three massive houses that were otherwise hidden by the forest. He'd been to the Alpha's house many times but it never ceased to amaze him.

His heart darkened when he remembered his mate running ahead of him, her beautiful blue eyes brimming with happiness. He swallowed his dark emotions and knocked on the door.

Luna answered the door with a smile and pointed to a brown door upstairs, "You can go in there. It should be open. Alpha will be with you in just a moment."

He nodded curtly and walked up the steps, he narrowed his eyes when he recognized the scent that was lingering in the entryway, it was Beta's mate.

He sighed and opened the door silently. He saw a small figure, no doubt the human, sitting in one of the arm chairs in front of the desk. Her short brown hair covered her face which he knew was a deathly pale colour. She was wearing a dark grey sweater and matching sweatpants.

'How dare she not wear something appropriate to Alpha's house.' He thought angrily and grunted to announce his arrival.

Her head turned slowly and he saw her eyes widen and heard her heartbeat quicken in fear.

He sighed and sat down in the armchair next to her. People fearing him was a typical reaction with his seven foot height and his large frame.

Her heart rate slowed back to normal and her eyes moved to remain glued to the view outside.

He picked up Gamma and Alpha's scent and heard footsteps, "Ah, James. You're already here. Now we can begin." Alpha said and James nodded.

Alpha walked to sit in his chair behind the desk and Gamma propped himself up against the wall.

"You're all here because we have lost our Beta." Alpha began and James looked at the human still in the room, her dead looking eyes still aimed at the Alpha. He looked back when Alpha continued, "Thomas will be appointed as Beta, as per tradition and the fact that he is able to fill the role. James," He paused and James stilled, "Is to be appointed as the new Gamma."

His chest swelled with pride and an immense feeling of honour, only to be crushed by the fact that Lilla, his mate, wasn't there to share in it. His chest then constricted in pain for her loss.

Alpha inhaled and James looked up to hear him say, "Now, since we have that dealt with there is something else I have to say." James nodded, and waited to listen, "In order to keep you alive-" Alpha looked at the human, "I am pairing you and James together. You two will become mates."

He stopped breathing. When he found his breath he nearly choked.

"No."

He turned to look at the human. How dare she say no to the Alpha, but… he also didn't want this. He wanted anything but this. Maybe he could leave and… he abandoned those thoughts immediately.

Alpha looked at the human coldly and with a brow raised he said, "Thomas, why don't you take James to the study."

Gamma nodded to James and he stood to follow him.

"No, Thresh. You can't do that." He heard her say in a weak voice. He nearly growled in outrage at her use of Alpha's name. Had she no respect?

Gamma silenced him with a glare. They continued down the steps and into the study.

It was a small room and held a dead fireplace, even though it was January. The curtains were drawn to reveal the Alpha and Luna's large backyard snow covered grass and trees. Daylight poured into the room and allowed him to see the strange decor of the room. Many knick knacks and weapons lined the shelves and mantle.

His attention on the room was broken when the Gamma cleared his throat, "You may sit."

James sat on the couch across from where the Gamma sat and waited for him to speak. Meanwhile, James's mind was running through what on earth Alpha could mean.

"You will be mates."

'How could he do that?! He had no mate, she was dead. And he wanted him to take that pathetic, blank, lifeless human as his mate? No!' He ground his teeth in anger and his chest burned in intense aggravation. But at the same time he knew he had to obey Alpha. He groaned internally at how his life had changed in just a matter of seconds.

He looked up when Gamma still remained silent, "What?"

"So, what do you think?" He asked casually.

James grunted and looked at the empty fireplace. What did he think? He scoffed mentally and looked back at Gamma, "What should I think? Alpha is forcing me to mate with a human."

Gamma's gold eyes darkened as he watched him, "You will not be mates in the physical sense, just in a ceremonial sense." He said in a deadly tone. James had never seen Gamma-Beta like this.

"A ceremonial sense? That goes against the mate bond. And I doubt that human could ever withstand a mate bond."

Gam-Beta growled, "She has withstood one before, she can withstand one again."

James bowed his head when he realized his mistake, but his blood burned at the injustice of the situation, how could Alpha do this?

The new Beta was watching him in silence, "So, will you accept it?"