Chapter 47: Anti-Prom Night

Rose’s POV

This last week flew by so quickly. It’s finally Saturday and I’m super nervous considering I’m meeting all the pack tonight. Originally anti-prom sounded like a good idea, but maybe I should’ve taken Joel’s original suggestion of waiting before meeting the pack. It just felt right to do it all on one night. Not only that but I will be completing the mating ceremony. Looking like I’m 6 months pregnant, I put on the white princess gown that Sophie helped me pick out. The top part is interwoven with small red and clear crystals while the bottom flares out so that my babies aren’t squished. I truly look like I’m having a shotgun wedding at this point but I don’t care. Sophie helps me finish putting on the gown and then sits me down to do my hair and makeup. She makes large, loose curls with my hair and puts it up in a high ponytail with a few tendrils framing my face. I’m wearing light purple eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, mascara and highlighter along with some reddish-mauve colored lipstick. The outfit is complete with some custom crystal flats that Sophie had made specially for this dress. A pregnant woman walking in heels sounded like a tragedy waiting to happen.

“You’re absolutely stunning!” Sophie gushed when she finished putting the final touches on my face. I can’t help the nervous smile that I shoot her way.

“Stop! They will all love you! So, we are getting the ceremony out of the way first so that you’re free to dance and mingle with the pack members afterwards. You got this girl, all you have to do is smile and look pretty.” She reassured me. I looked over her outfit which was gorgeous. She has her hair down in loose curls, a backless red silk dress, and a pair of red stilettos to match.

*knock knock knock*

“Are you ladies decent?” I hear Patricia on the other side of the door.

“Yes! Come in Pat!” I hollered out.

She entered the bedroom and her eyes grew comically wide.

“Oh my god you’re the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen!” She praised me. I blushed like crazy at her compliment.

“Oh look at the time! Girls we need to head downstairs. Everyone has arrived and are waiting. Are you ready?” She asked me. I nodded and took her outstretched hand. Sophie stood on the other side of me and grabbed my other hand. I felt like a toddler being led by two adults, but hey I was nervous as fuck!

We approached the staircase that led to the grand hall and I looked down to see the room filled with all kinds of men, women and children. The party seemed to be going in full swing with waiters delivering trays of appetizers and beverages and people in small groups chatting amongst themselves. My eyes settled on the bottom of the staircase where Joel stood waiting. His hair was swept back with gel and he was wearing a black suit, red tie, white shirt and shiny black dress shoes. He looked absolutely scrumptious. When his eyes met mine I could see the adoration shining in them. He shot me a breath-taking smile and then turned towards the crowd that started to gather around and cleared his throat.

“Good evening! As you all know I have found my mate, let me introduce Miss Rosalie Canto!” Joel spoke out a few words and then I was met with cheers, applause and smiles. I slowly padded down the stairs trailed by Patricia and Sophie. When I reached the bottom Joel took my hand and raised it to his mouth to give the back a kiss. I beamed up at him and took his arm so that we could walk towards the throne room. Sebastian was kind enough to let us use this room for our ceremony. Since Joel and I have already marked and mated, all that was left to do was a blood oath and be inducted into the pack. With the power of the full moon tonight, it was the perfect night to hold this ceremony. I can’t believe I’m about to be a luna. I honestly have no idea what I’m doing or what I’m supposed to do. Joel pulled me out of my thoughts by squeezing my hand. We walked into the throne room and my other mates were already in there along with Sebastian, Mason and Kat. Sophie immediately left my side to join Sebastian and I looked behind us at the closed door.

“Do the pack members need to be here for this part?” I asked.

“No. I felt you’d be more comfortable with just us here.” Joel answered. I was grateful for his consideration and I felt more at ease. At the center of the room was a golden bowl with vine-like edging, next to it was a small plain silver knife. Joel led me to the podium holding the items and took my hands in his. He turned to face me and spoke, “Rose, I’m so grateful that you came into my life. Before you I wasn’t truly living. It’s a great honor to call you mate and after tonight, luna. Do you accept the Fire Moon Pack as yours? Do you swear to always be my mate and luna?” Joel asked me.

“Yes Joel. I accept the Fire Moon Pack as my own and I swear to always be your mate and luna. I love you so much and can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.” I answered honestly. I felt a few tears reach the corners of my eyes and I worked to hurriedly wipe them away. He beamed at me and leaned down to give me a heated kiss. I had to work hard to stop myself from taking things too far. We still have one more step. After one last peck on the lips, Joel grabbed the simple silver knife and cut his palm. He reached for my hand and gave a small cut on the palm and took his hand in mine, holding the bleeding hands above the bowl to collect our blood. With the scent of blood in the air I started to get thirsty. After Joel released my hand I grabbed his and licked it clean, moaning a little, before licking and cleaning my own.

“Ooof that’s it? No blood trials? No hunger games?” I questioned. He chuckled at my questions, “that’s it baby. Now let’s get you off your feet for a few minutes before we rejoin the party. It would be a shame to have a prom and not dance.”

“Anti-prom,” I corrected. He shook his head and a corner of his lip quirked up like he was trying to keep from laughing.

He led me over to the throne and I plopped my ass down to take a quick break. Max walked up and gave me a peck before getting down on one knee in front of me. He took off one of my shoes and started to rub my feet. “Urngh. That feels so good.” I told him.

I let him rub my feet for a few minutes before I decided we didn’t need to keep hiding and we needed to join the party. Damien helped me up while Colten brought me a glass of blood to quench my earlier thirst.

“Hey Joel, I thought I would hear a bunch of voices when I became luna of the pack. Was I mistaken?” I asked.

“No sweetheart, they won’t project their thoughts unless they’re trying to. It’s like with us as mates. We can communicate also, but we don’t use it often.” That makes sense I guess. It would be annoying as hell to try and block out so many voices at once.

We entered the grand hall and walked to the adjoining ballroom to begin dancing the night away. In between dances I was stopped by several pack members who wanted to greet me. I did notice a few envious glares from some of the younger women but I didn’t care. Yes that’s right bitches, he’s mine. Joel in alpha mode was super sexy. I just loved how he conversed with his pack and seemed to genuinely care about their concerns.

After my second dance with Brent I felt tingles as someone else pulled me away. I looked up to see Damien. “He was hogging you so I had to whisk you away love.” He whispered in my ear. I shivered at the feel of his warm breath on my neck.

“Do you think that the pack thinks badly of me for having so many mates or being pregnant already?” I asked, nervously.

“No babe. The god’s will is absolute, regardless of personal opinion they know that having more than one mate occurs sometime. As far as being pregnant, they are thrilled that their luna will be giving birth soon. The more offspring in packs, the better. If we all lived in a pack house you’d see how the women would be all over you to try and take care of you and the babies.”

I appreciated his assurances that I was just overthinking things. After my dance with Damien, I was whirled away by Colten and he spun me around the floor like an expert ballroom dancer.

“Damn you’re so good at this.” I complimented him. The tips of his ears tinged with red at my statement.

All of a sudden, the lights went out and you could hear the screech of a violin as the music came to a sudden halt. The room was eerie quiet, save for the sounds of hearts beating and labored breathing from the unknown.

“Oh!” I squeaked out when I was squeezed around the waist. I felt a hand try to cover my mouth and I bit down, drawing the blood of my assailant.

“Fuck!” A melodious voice said. I didn’t recognize it at all. I heard the sound of something ripping and then feel something sticky on my lips, he taped my mouth shut. I began to thrash around trying to loosen myself.

“Help!” I called to my men through the mind-link. I was met with radio silence. Dammit why isn’t this working.

I’m met with a deep chuckle. “Don’t worry, they’re all temporarily frozen. I only came for you, fallen.”

Shit. Fuck. Shit. I can’t help but cuss over and over in my head. I’m concerned about what will happen to my babies and me if we are dragged out of here.

All of a sudden, I am pulled a different direction and hear a voice in my ear, “don’t worry I’m here.” The reassuring sound of Max’s voice made me feel much safer.

“I thought everyone was frozen,” I whispered back.

“I don’t know why I wasn’t. But I got you baby.” He answered.

He squeezed my waist and began to run until suddenly the lights came back on. I looked around and notice the perplexed look on the pack’s and my mates’ faces.

“What the hell happened?” Sebastian came into the room and roared.