Chapter 14
I woke up and found Xander staring at me. His eyes were so soft and full of love that my heart fluttered. He smiled tenderly at me, and I smiled back.
“Good morning, Luna,” he whispered softly, reaching over to push a lock of hair behind my face.
“Luna?” I whispered softly.
Xander nodded, his smile widening. “Today, you officially become the Luna of the Blackstone Pack. Are you ready?”
A feeling of excitement and worry filled my heart. “I… I’m not certain,” I confessed. “Everything is moving quickly.”
Xander’s face softened. He put his arms around me in an encouraging embrace. “I know this is a lot to learn,” he said, his voice deep and soothing. “But you’ve already earned the pack’s esteem and praise.” They support you, Aurora. We all do.
His words calmed some of my worries, but I still had questions. Just as I was about to ask, a knock at the door stopped us. Xander called for them to enter, and Selene and Zara burst in, their arms laden with bags and boxes.
“Time to get ready, Luna!” Selene sang out, her excitement palpable.
When they led me into the bathroom to start changing me, I felt worried and said, “What if I’m not prepared for this? What if I let everyone down?”
Zara paused in her task of arranging cosmetics, her eyes meeting mine in the mirror. “Aurora, you’ve already proven yourself a hundred times over. The pack loves you. This ceremony is just a formality.”
Selene nodded in agreement. “Besides,” she added with a wink, “wait until you see the dress we’ve picked out. You’ll knock ’em dead.”
Their confidence was contagious, and I started to feel less anxious. As they used their skills to make me look elegant and stylish, I began to think that perhaps I could handle this situation.
Right when they were adding the final details to my appearance, there was another knock on the door. This time, it was Jaxon and Marcus, who seemed unusually nervous as they came in.
“We, um, we brought you something,” Jaxon said, handing me a small, fancy box. “From the group.”
I opened the box and saw a silver necklace of a crescent moon. “It’s beautiful,” I murmured.
Marcus cleared his throat. “It’s a tradition. Every Luna of this pack wears it on her ceremony day. We… we thought you should have it.”
When Selene put the necklace on me, I felt a tightness in my throat. Her actions made me feel really welcomed. Looking around at the faces of my friends – no, my family – I felt a surge of confidence. I could do this. For them, for Xander, for myself.
The walk to the pack’s gathering area seemed both endless and far too short. Xander’s hand was warm in mine, a steady anchor as we approached the assembled pack. As we appeared, the crowd fell silent. I could sense many people watching me, and for a brief moment, my past fears tried to take over.
However, Xander held my hand tightly, and when I glanced at him, the admiration and affection in his eyes removed my uncertainties. He then faced the group and spoke, his tone firm and audible.
“Today, we officially welcome Aurora as the Luna of the Blackstone Pack,” he announced. “She has proven her strength, her courage, and her devotion to our pack. I present to you, your Luna.”
Before I could process what was happening, Xander turned to me. His eyes locked with mine, asking a silent question. II nodded, knowing right away what was going to happen. Carefully, he moved my hair to the side and brought his mouth close to my neck. I felt a quick, sharp pain when his teeth broke my skin, showing that I was his partner and the leader’s wife of the pack. When he moved back, I saw a tiny, detailed picture on my skin – two wolves, wrapped around each other.
For a short time, everything was quiet. Then, to my surprise, the pack started cheering and howling with excitement. The noise surrounded me, like a big wave of being accepted, which made me tear up.
One by one, members of the pack came up to me, giving me presents and saying kind words to welcome me. Each interaction filled me with a growing sense of belonging, of rightness.
When I glanced around at the group of people enjoying themselves, I noticed someone I recognized. Lyra was standing on the side, showing a look that was both angry and full of hidden dislike. Our eyes connected for just a second before she walked off. I decided to remember to watch her closely, but I wouldn’t let her mood ruin my happiness.
The party was really going now, with lots of food, music, and people dancing. I found myself passed from partner to partner, each dance reinforcing my connection to the pack. As I spun and laughed, While I was dancing and laughing, I felt genuinely happy for the first time in a very long while.
Later on, Xander took me back, holding me tightly as a slow song started to play… “How are you feeling, Luna?” he asked, his breath warm against my ear.
“Incredible,” I replied honestly. “I’ve never felt so… accepted. So loved.”
Xander’s arms tightened around me. “You are loved, Aurora. More than you know.” He softly kissed the spot on my neck, making me shiver.
When the party was at its most lively, I suddenly felt a rush of energy inside me. It felt very much like the energy that I felt during the attack, but not quite as bad. I could hold it, but then, glancing at my hand, the same weird symbol flashed for a second and then disappeared.
Before I could think more about it, the excitement of the party started to calm down. Pack members started to retire for the night, offering final congratulations as they left. Xander and I were preparing to leave ourselves when a young pack member came running up to us, panic clear in their eyes.
“Alpha! Luna!” they gasped, exhausted. “News from the border patrol. The Silver Lake Pack… they’re gone. Completely wiped out. And there are signs… signs of those twisted wolves you fought.”
The news hit me like a physical blow. The joy and acceptance of the night evaporated instantly, replaced by a cold dread. I looked at Xander, seeing my own shock and fear mirrored in his eyes.