This work is not being beta'd, be mindful of grammar mistakes that might slip through the cracks.

Disclaimer:I do not own any of the original characters or places found in Twilight which belongs to Stephanie Meyer.

"Emmett, I know you're about to go through one of the most important moments of your life. I know you're going to be led to find your mate tonight. Your wife. The woman you'll spend the rest of your lifetime with and in the Spirit realm when you get there. I know you're stressed and anxious, wondering if you'll make a good husband and leader. But Emmett... I want you to shag me."

Selene groaned at the disgusting sounds of her own words. She let her face fall to her hands. She mumbled to herself, "What Alpha wouldn't want that? To sacrifice their first mating with a lowly human?"

She had been trying to come up with the right words for hours. While she brushed her teeth. While she sat at the table eating breakfast with the Moila. While she brushed out Artemis and gave her her breakfast. And now while she looked at the dirty broken mirror in the barn that hung above her workstation. Dirty and broken. Just like her.

What were the right words to use when trying to convince the leader of your village to have sex with you hours before he marries his soulmate?

Was shag too dirty? Would sex be better?

She ran her fingers through her hair and sat back to look at her reflection again. Honestly, it wasn't that she was hideous to look at. Sure her hair needed a good oil mask to reduce some of the frizzing. And maybe she could try some of that colored paint that Lilith applied to her lips to make them appear more plump. But whoever her parents were they didn't make a grotesque creature.

Just a human. A fragile human that could never outlive a wolf and could never be soulmate to them.

Mates were arranged by the Spirits. Two beings brought together which would make the village stronger. Which would make each other stronger. They would produce the best offspring. They would be compatible in all the necessary ways. It didn't guarantee a perfect relationship, but it guaranteed a lifelong companion who would always be fiercely loyal to you.

No one had ever rejected a mate. No one had ever opted out of finding a mate either. It was unnatural.

It was natural that some might not find their mates during their first Bonding Ceremony. They might have a mate that recedes in another pack. And most years the Bonding Ceremony was an affair that all eligible people attended across the tribes. But whenever a future Alpha was participating only the females came from the other packs.

Maybe it was to keep the males in check. Alphas tended to be very protective and territorial of their own, especially their mates.

During the majority of the day, all the females would be preparing for their chance with the Alpha. They would all come to the Ceremony looking identical to each other. Their bodies painted in gold paints hiding the colors of their skin. Their faces and hairs hidden beneath a large headpiece that resembled a golden wolf. All wearing layers of fabrics embroidered with semiprecious stones and beads wrapped around their waists. As well as semitransparent tops with fringes that would reveal their stomachs. Along with anklets, bracelets, and garlands around their necks made entirely of local fauna.

They were all to look unrecognizable from each other.

As a group they would dance in front of the entire village. The same dance had been performed for ages. It was in dedication and honoring of the Spirits, the land, and their people. They would be accompanied by the sounds of drums and the chants of words passed down from generation to generation.

Only one would dance in such a way that would call to the soul and spirit of their beloved. It wasn't based on talents or looks or previous relationships. It was based on how one soul would called to another. And that was facilitated by dance and the guidance of the Spirits.

Although Selene could not participate, Estelle had gone to great lengths to make sure she knew every step, every chant, every movement of the dance.

"Just because you're different, doesn't mean you shouldn't learn," Estelle had said as she moved her hands fluidly from above her head to her ankles in a slight bow.

Selene tried to copy the movement but it never felt as fluid and effortless as she wanted, "I'm never going to use this."

In mid dance step Estelle reached out and gave her a swift slap to the arm. Selene hissed rubbing her arm. "Focus, young one. And stop complaining."

Selene felt her eyes sting with unshed tears at the memory. They were residing just behind her eyes. She was forcing them to stay at bay until the day was finished with. She had to be there to witness the whole thing, they all did. And it would seem rather suspicious if she started sobbing uncontrollably when he finally picked his mate.

"You idiot. You shouldn't have gotten involved," she chastised herself slamming her hands on the wooden table.

"You're one hundred percent correct."

She whipped her head around to find Amada standing at the entrance. Her arms were crossed and her mouth was turned in a slight smirk.

Selene narrowed her eyes at her, "How long have you been standing there?"

Amada pressed a finger to her chin seemingly in deep thought, "Right around 'Emmett please shag me until dawn and forget your stupid mate and your stupid village and your stupid rules.'"

A bitter laugh escaped her, "I never said until dawn."

"Would you be opposed to it?"

She got up from her station and walked towards where her bow was hanging. She wouldn't deny it. Running away with Emmett and making love endlessly did not sound like a bad idea.

"Where do you think you're going?" Amada stepped forward, eyes darting between Selene and the bow. "You can't be serious."

Selene slung the bow behind her along with her arrows, "I need to get out and get some fresh air."

Amada put one hand on the strap, "You can get air here. No need to leave."

She stared at her confused. Something about the desperation of her voice set off alarms in her head. "Amada, what's going on?"

She chuffed nervously; Selene could tell by the way she tucked her arms beneath each other, "I was just hoping you'd be around today. You know. In case I need help with something."

"In case you need help getting ready to dance for my boyfriend?"

It came out more bitterly and resentful than she meant to. They had never discussed this. Neither one of them wanted to discuss the trial their friendship could go through. Discussed the possibility Amada could be Emmett's mate.

Her odds were the same as any other female. Well, higher than the female she called best friend.

The words seemed to physically strike Amada. Her lip shook slightly, a tall-tell sign tears were about to flow. But she bit it hard and looked at their feet. "You know I don't want to be up there as much as you rather be."

Selene sighed and reached out to squeeze her shoulder apologetically. Despite everything that would happen she didn't need to push her best friend away because of her fears, "I'm sorry. I'm just... I'm not in a good head space right now."

"I know, I'm feeling close to the same," Amada looked up and gave her a sad smile.

Selene recalled then that if Amada was Emmett's mate she would lose Timoteo. A relationship built on longer than Selene's.

The corners of Amada's lips slowly twisted into something else. An all too familiar glint shining in her emerald eyes.

Trouble.

Selene's hands recoiled quickly like she had encountered a snake. Amada's hands simultaneously grabbed both of her shoulders to keep her in place.

"Whatever you're thinking, not today, please," Selene tried wiggling out of her grasp but failed miserably.

Curse the fates that made her best friend a powerful super-human creature.

"I think I just came up with a way to save our friendship," Amada's smile only widened with the fear she was striking in Selene.

The warning bells were back. Except now they seemed to sound more like canons in her head.

"What is it?"

"Selene, sweetie pie, how well do you think you'll look painted in gold?"

Spirits no.

Thank you for taking the time to leave comments, faves, ect. I look forward to any conversation we might have. Especially since I'd like as much feedback as possible for my first story.

xo
lovelynaranja