(3rd person P. O. V)
The days leading up to the banquet blurred into a whirlwind of activity. Elena, alongside Ruth, Lisa, and Reena, immersed herself in the preparations, determined to make the event a success. Guest lists were compiled, debated, and finalized, names carefully arranged to maintain harmony among the pack’s social hierarchy. Caterers were interviewed, their menus scrutinized to ensure a delicate balance between werewolf favorites-rich, hearty meats and spiced broths-and more human-palatable offerings that wouldn’t leave Elena feeling out of place.
Meanwhile, Xavier and Oliver had become ghosts of their usual selves, their time consumed by research. Together with Oliver’s father Jason, they combed through libraries, Elder council archives, and ancient records, consulting any source that might hold an answer to why Elena had yet to manifest her wolf. They sought proof-proof of the mate bond that connected the three of them, evidence that would silence the murmurs of doubt swirling among the Elders and the pack alike.
They had even attempted to mark her, separately and together. Each time, something had interrupted them-urgent meetings, sudden disturbances, unexpected guests. Fate itself seemed to conspire against their efforts. In the end, they gave up, frustrated and restless. Without her bearing their marks and gaining her Lycan attributes, it was hard for them to prove to the Elders that the three of them were truly mates. And so, they threw themselves into their search, determined to find a way.
Decorations arrived in waves-rustic yet elegant, reflecting the pack’s connection to nature. Lanterns were chosen to line the paths leading to the clearing, their golden glow meant to create an inviting warmth against the deep forest shadows. The chosen clearing itself was transformed as the people hired by the Xavier and Oliver contribute, cleared space for bonfires, set up food stalls, and built a stage for speeches and celebrations.
Even though she was relentlessly occupied with planning and preparing for the banquet, Elena couldn’t shake the nagging worry about how the pack truly felt about her. While the key members of both packs had accepted her as their Luna and welcomed the news of their union, she knew that not everyone would share the same enthusiasm. Merging the packs because of her meant forcing many to step out of their comfort zones, forging bonds with those they had once seen as outsiders. Change was never easy, and the uncertainty of whether they would truly embrace her-or quietly resent her-gnawed at her with every passing moment.
Negative thoughts constantly plagued Elena’s mind, refusing to give her a moment’s peace. What would they think of me? Will they accept me or reject me? Will I ever be able to live up to their expectations? The uncertainty gnawed at her, each question heavier than the last. How will they react to the news of the two packs merging? Will they see it as a step forward, or will they resent the change? What if they don’t accept me at all? No matter how hard she tried to push the thoughts away, they lingered, casting a shadow over her every effort.
One day, while giving her measurements to the designer Xavier had hired, Elena caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her mind drifted back to a conversation she had with Xavier and Oliver when they were explaining their world to her. She remembered Xavier’s words vividly-how, according to Lycian customs, if a human became mates with a Lycian, her appearance would change. Her skin would glow, her eyes would sparkle, her senses would sharpen, and she would become something more.
But that wasn’t the case with her.
Her fingers absentmindedly traced her own face. No glowing eyes. No radiant skin. No heightened senses. No shifting. Just… her. Ordinary. Human.
The Elder’s words echoed in her mind, each syllable laced with doubt, feeding the insecurities she fought so hard to suppress. And the absence of Oliver and Xavier-their arms, their presence, their reassurances-only made it worse.
She longed for their presence, their reassurance. For Xavier’s steady confidence and Oliver’s warm, teasing charm. But every time she saw them, they were buried in books, in meetings, in long discussions about things she couldn’t even begin to understand.
So she bore her worries in silence. She pushed forward, focusing on the banquet, forcing smiles when Ruth and the others cheered over their progress.
Until one evening, when the weight of it all became too much.
Sitting beside Reena, going over the seating arrangements, her hand trembled as she tried to mark a name on the list. The ink blotched, spreading across the pristine page like spilled midnight. The sight of it-ruined, imperfect-sent a surge of frustration rushing through her veins.
Before she knew it, she had crumpled the paper in her fist, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
Reena turned to her instantly, concern etching her face. “Elena, what’s wrong?”
Elena shook her head, blinking away the tears that burned the back of her eyes. “It’s nothing,” she mumbled, willing her voice to stay steady.
But Reena was unmoved by the feeble excuse. Instead, she placed a hand on Elena’s shoulder, her touch warm, grounding. “Elena, you’ve been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. We’ve all noticed. You can talk to me.”
For a long moment, Elena remained silent, fighting to keep the dam of emotions from bursting open. But Reena’s kindness, her patience, became the final push that cracked through her defenses.
“I…” Her voice wavered, but she forced herself to continue. “I’m just so worried. What if they don’t accept me? What if the Elders are right, and I’m not really Xavier and Oliver’s mate? What if-” She swallowed hard. “What if I ruin everything?”
The words hung between them, raw and vulnerable.
Reena’s expression softened, but her grip on Elena’s shoulder tightened, steady and sure.
“Elena,” she said, her voice firm, unwavering. “You are so much more than your wolf. More than your mate status. More than what the Elders believe.”
Elena turned to her, hesitant.
“You are kind, generous, and you’ve poured your soul into this banquet,” Reena continued. “Everyone can see that. The pack loves you-not because of who you are supposed to be, but because of you. Because of the way you care, the way you fight to belong, even when you don’t have to.”
Elena inhaled sharply, her chest tight.
“And as for Xavier and Oliver…” Reena smiled knowingly. “There is no doubt in their hearts, Elena. None. You are theirs. And they are yours. That is something no Elder, no book, no prophecy can change.”
The words wrapped around her, settling deep into her bones. The doubts didn’t disappear, but they quieted, just a little.
She wasn’t alone in this.
Taking a deep breath, she nodded, feeling the smallest flicker of hope ignite inside her. The banquet was just around the corner. It was time to face her fears, to stand beside her pack and embrace whatever the future held.
Even if she didn’t have her wolf.
Even if the Elders doubted her.
She was Elena. And she was ready.