The Jaguar’s Arranged Mate

“Breathe, Miera, breathe!” Lisa was standing by her side, rubbing her back, and Helen was trying to hand her a glass of water.

Miera smiled at them and gently pushed them away. “I’m fine.”

“You look like you saw yourself.” Helen pursed her lips.

Miera frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Your doppelganger. It’s supposed to foreshadow… Ah, well, you look like you saw a ghost.” Helen placed the glass on the nightstand and fiddled with the neckline of her dress.

Doppelgangers. Seeing one meant you were likely to die and soon.

“No.” She sighed and tried to smile. “I didn’t see myself or a ghost.” Just have a really bad feeling in my gut that we’re all going to die soon. Totally not the same thing.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Lisa asked. “You went really white there for a minute. If you need to sit—”

“I’ll be fine. Let’s just go. All right?”

The two women looked at each other. They took an arm and escorted Miera out of the house and over to the warehouse. Although she had helped oversee the decorations, the finished product took her breath away. Outside, there were so many flowers and potted bushes. So full of life. Helen and Lisa had her standing to the side so no one could see her. Lisa communicated with a wave of her hand to someone, and music started. Quick as lightning, she snatched a small clumping of flowers for herself and a huge bouquet that she thrust to Miera.

“You sure you want to do this? There’s no going back.” Lisa had never sounded more serious.

Miera took a deep breath, eyes closed. She wanted to marry Beric, even if their wedding would never be for love. With time, anything could happen.

So long as they lived long enough.

Eyes open, she nodded. A smile came easily to her face for the first time today. “Yes, I’m sure.”

Lisa nodded back. “All right then.” She twirled around and started her slow procession down the aisle.

Inside, the warehouse was brimming with more flowers. All of the seated were-jaguars stood the moment Miera came into view. She had always assumed her father would be the one to walk her down the aisle, but she couldn’t see him anywhere, and she had had the nagging feeling all along that he wouldn’t walk her ever since he’d learned about her pregnancy.

On her first step, she almost stumbled, her kitten heel snagging on the green rug they’d laid on the floor to look like grass. A hand caught her elbow, and she glanced up to see her father standing beside her.

Tears sprang to her eyes.

“Don’t you dare cry,” he said gruffly. “Now isn’t the time for tears.”

“Not now,” she agreed. Not yet.

Arm-in-arm, they walked together down the aisle. Miera leaned heavily against him, the weight of everything nearly enough to crush her. She knew that the fate of everyone here rested on her shoulders, and Beric’s, and the alphas, and the council to be formed, but it felt as if she, alone, bore their fate.

“Don’t slouch.”

She glanced up at her father.

Before she could whisper anything back, he added, “How you stand affects how you project yourself, your image, and how you think. You can do this, Miera. You can help to save us.”

“You really think this can work?”

Her father couldn’t stand any straighter. He had brought her to the front by now, and he kissed her cheek. Then he shook Beric’s hand and gave her over to her future husband.

She’d been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she hadn’t even looked at Beric, but there he was, wearing a dark forest green suit that strikingly matched the floral, earthly motif. His hair was slicked back, and, best of all, he was wearing a smile.

Taking a cue from her father—standing tall—and from Beric—smiling—Miera squeezed Beric’s hand.

Love or not, they were going to be wed.

*

There couldn’t be a more troubled or beautiful bride. Watching her walk down the aisle beside her father was almost painful. From the excited whispers and smiles of the gathered guests, Beric assumed they didn’t notice the tightness of her lips, the worry in the faint lines around her eyes, and the way she clung to her father. Her dress could not be more perfect. It suited her, and it greatly concealed her condition. The flowing skirt reminded him of his dream, and he shifted slightly to look at the were-jaguar who would marry them to prevent himself from growing hard and embarrassing them both.

He quickly shook her father’s hand and held onto Miera. The ceremony itself, Beric honestly didn’t pay much attention to. He wanted it over with. He wanted his people safe. For some reason, he felt on edge, and the smile he had been wearing for Miera fell away.

The pastor finally declared them ready. This ended the first part, the human part. Now, the were-jaguar part.

For the first time since the ceremony began, Beric released his hold on Miera, and they walked to separate partitions on either side of the warehouse. Away from prying eyes—Lisa helping Miera—the couple disrobed and changed into their were-jaguar forms. They walked back toward each other, in sight of everyone. Nips and small bites and one long scratch and that was that.

A simple process, really.

“I now pronounce you were-jaguar and wife.”

Cheers erupted. Beric didn’t know what to think, how to feel. Step one was done. Now for the council—

The warehouse doors banged open, and the applause and shouts of well wishes transformed into screams. The stench of blood and death filled the air, and sprays of life liquid squirted everywhere. Beric moved to stand in front of Miera, but she was already lunging forward and engaging a foe. She was savage, ferocious even, and Beric stood there a moment, watching her fight. It was almost graceful, so powerful and dominating. There was no better fighter than a pregnant were-jaguar, he couldn’t deny that, although he wished Miera wouldn’t endanger herself.