Chapter 9

In the blink of an eye, it was the eighth day of the second month, and the weather was absolutely perfect.

I was munching on the honey-roasted chestnuts Kieran had brought when Elder Beatrice burst in like a whirlwind:

"Why is the bride still eating! It's time to go!"

I hurriedly stuffed the remaining half bag of chestnuts into my dress pocket and put on the bright red mating dress before getting into the ceremonial car.

The delicate silver embroidery on my veil caught the sunlight, making me want to sneeze.

When Elder Beatrice helped me down from the car, it suddenly became very quiet outside.

I couldn't help but lift a corner of my veil and saw Connor standing at the entrance of the Western Pack's ceremonial grounds.

He had lost a lot of weight and was as pale as paper, but his eyes were frighteningly red.

"Thea..." he called my name hoarsely, his voice so soft it was barely audible.

Kieran instinctively stepped in front of me.

I tugged at his sleeve and peeked out from behind him: "Connor, are you here for the mating feast?"

Connor's lips trembled violently: "I... I came to..."

"The bride can't lift her own veil!" Elder Beatrice stamped her feet anxiously and muttered under her breath, "What a silly girl."

Suddenly, Connor dropped to his knees with a "thud," startling everyone:

"Thea, I'm sorry! I lied to you, I failed you, I... I deserve to be punished."

He pulled out the wooden rabbit carving from his chest. The rabbit's ears had been carefully repaired.

"I know you hate me, but could you... give me one more chance..."

"I don't hate you," I tilted my head to look at him. "Kieran says hating someone takes a lot of energy... I'd rather save that energy for peeling honey chestnuts."

Connor was stunned, his expression like he'd been punched in the face.

I added: "Kieran also says that if you promise to be good to someone, you should keep being good to them. You promised to be good to Thea, but you didn't do it."

I looked into his eyes and said seriously, "So I can't give you another chance either."

Connor stared for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, laughing so hard that tears streamed down his face.

"You don't hate me... you actually don't hate me..."

The little rabbit slipped from his hands. He swayed as he stood up, pushing through the crowd like a drunk man.

Tommy pointed at him and shouted: "Crazy wolf! Crazy wolf!"

But he seemed not to hear, stumbling away into the distance.

I watched his unsteady figure and really couldn't understand.

"He's so strange... Isn't it good that I don't hate him?"

I tugged at Elder Beatrice's sleeve: "Elder, why doesn't he look happy at all?"

Elder Beatrice sighed and gently patted my hand: "Silly girl, sometimes not being hated hurts more than being hated."

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, "Quick, put your veil back on! Put it on!"

I quickly lowered my veil, and everything turned red again.

The ceremonial music started up again, and Kieran's warm hand gripped mine tightly.

I could feel his palm was slightly sweaty, but he still held my hand steadily as we walked toward the mating altar.

"First bow to the Moon Goddess—"

I knelt down properly, but Kieran almost tripped over his own ceremonial robes, making all the pack members laugh.

"Second bow to the pack elders—"

Dad was secretly wiping tears in his seat. I could hear him sniffling.

"Mates bow to each other—"

As I bent down, my veil slipped to one side, and I caught sight of Kieran's bright red ears.

He hurriedly reached out to fix my veil but ended up pulling it off completely.

Amid the laughter filling the ceremonial grounds, Kieran stared at me in a daze and suddenly called softly: "My mate."

I blinked and grinned: "That sounds so nice!"

Connor used to only call me little fool. So this is what it feels like to be called mate.

Kieran seemed to have found some treasure and kept calling: "My mate, my mate, my mate..."

Each time more tender than the last.

Elder Beatrice was frantically gesturing: "Oh my! Don't be in such a hurry! You haven't been escorted to the mating chamber yet!"

But Kieran had already scooped me up in his arms and was striding toward the back courtyard amid the cheering crowd.

I buried my face in his chest and heard his heart beating fast and loud, like he had a lively little rabbit in there.

In the mating chamber lit by red candles, he set me down on the bed covered with red dates and peanuts, and called again: "My mate."

This time I didn't respond, just reached out to touch his burning hot cheek.

Outside the window, Rusty was chasing his own tail in circles in the courtyard, while Dad and the pack members were still drinking and chatting in the front yard.

I suddenly remembered something and pulled out the half bag of chestnuts from my dress pocket, rustling as I peeled one open: "Do you want some chestnuts? They're so sweet!"

He smiled and shook his head, gently blowing out the red candle.

"There are more important things to do..."

His voice suddenly became as sticky-sweet as honey.

He held me tightly, and I breathed in his pleasant scent, couldn't help but snuggle deeper into his arms.

I thought to myself, I must tell him tomorrow.

Today's chestnuts were sweeter than usual.

(The End)