Chapter 40 The Claim
Mia found herself clad in a very strange dress, white, long, and with pearls hanging from the different edges.
Apart from the pearl necklace hanging around her neck, she had nothing else on her body.
She still couldn’t understand why Alfred had insisted she wear nothing else apart from the long dress that wiggled as she sauntered.
Standing at the other end of the hall was the Alpha.
He was equally clad in a white piece of cloth tied firmly behind him.
Standing beside him were the seven elders, all dressed in their symbolic attire, representing the seven tribes of the Black Claw Pack.
The moonlight shone brightly upon everyone gathered in the hall, their eyes staring at the fated mate of the Alpha.
She was gracious, her golden eyes glowing as she moved.
Halfway to the Alpha, Mia was handed a glass bowl containing crystal water.
She looked at the stranger who had given her the glass bowl, her eyes demanding an explanation.
“Make sure you don’t let go of it, Mia.” The stranger warned, his eyes glittering with sobriety.
“If as much as a drop of water from this bowl spills, then you shall no longer be found worthy of being called the Luna of Black Claw Pack.”
Mia nodded, staring as the stranger walked away to the right side.
Mia sighed heavily, relieving a handful of the tension that had gripped her, simmering through her nerves.
She continued moving, her eyes staring at Russell as she held tightly to the bowl.
The warning from the Saige was buried deep inside her mind, the last words echoing like their lives depended on it.
Soon, Mia was standing before the Alpha, their eyes staring at each other without blinking.
Alfred stepped forward, standing in the middle of the Alpha and his future bride.
“Let me have that.” He said calmly, reaching for the bowl.
Mia handed him the bowl, watching as he looked into it like he was about to count how many drops of water the bowl contained.
“Welcome, Mia Hunters. Welcome to Black Claw Pack.” He paused for a while, still holding onto his smile.
“Tonight, we initiate you as the mate of the Lycan King, Russell Hamilton. May the bond of the moon goddess seal you both till eternity.”
Mia sighed, finding the entire initiation very strange.
A few seconds later, Alfred handed the bow to the Alpha who grabbed it with both hands, staring into it.
Russell took a deep breath, and then he stepped closer, covering most of the gap between him and Mia.
“You look beautiful even in this simple outfit.” He chuckled softly, and Mia could only force a smile.
“I, Russell Hamilton, Lycan King of Black Claw Pack, and the Lord of the Northern Territory stand before you, Mia Hunters of Moonstone Pack.”
Russell took a deep breath, and then he continued with a voice barely above a whisper.
“Tonight, I claim you, Mia Hunters of Moonstone Pack. To be mine to cherish and to hold dearly. May the bond of the moon goddess seal us both till eternity.”
Russell drank from the bowl, and then he handed it over to Mia.
“Your turn, Mia.” He reminded her, prompting her to take a deep breath.
Mia quickly recalled all the words Alfred had said to her before that night, holding onto the bowl.
She took a deep breath, and then she released the hot air.
She looked around, but she could barely stand the pressure from the eyes hawking at her.
She could see a lot of mixed feelings in the numerous gazes.
Some seemed to have welcomed her with open arms, others seemed skeptical about her acceptance to the most prestigious and powerful Pack in Luna City.
She exhaled sharply, and still holding onto the words she had taken several hours to memorize, she broke her lingering silence.
“I Mia Hunters of Moonstone Pack stand before you, Alpha Russell Hamilton. Lycan King of the Black Claw Pack, and the Lord and Protector of the Northern Pack.”
Silence suddenly gripped her, more like she was not ready just like she thought she was.
Her chest tightened, reminding her that she may not have been ready to give herself to the Alpha.
Her eyes still stared at the Alpha’s, her breath slowly losing its grip.
“Tonight…” She paused, turning to look at the Elders whose piercing gazes seemed more intense.
“Tonight, I accept my fate to be yours forever, and to belong to no other but you. May the bond of the moon goddess keep us sealed till eternity.”
Mia looked into the bowl, and taking a deep breath, she pushed it up to the edge of her lips.
Her heartbeat increased, and losing the courage to drink, she turned to the Alpha, reluctance glittering in her eyes.
Russell urged her with his eyes. “Go ahead. Everyone is watching, Mia.” He urged without getting rid of his smile, but even his tender words couldn’t get Mia off the sensation that had engulfed her.
She looked into the bowl again, and then at the Alpha.
Her eyes caught sight of Alfred, and the elder urged her to drink.
Mia swallowed hard, and with her entire courage, she looked into the bowl again, her eyes moving from one tiny bubble to the other.
Then she parted her lips, pushing the bowl upward with both hands.
She couldn’t tell what the bowl contained, but the uncertainty was enough to make her contort her face, expecting it to have a bitter taste.
Surprisingly, it was just water, soft to her tongue and flowing deeply down her throat.
It seemed to have been able to calm her nerves, sparkling deep through her nerves.
Mia sighed heavily, and the moment she saw Alfred’s hands, she handed the bowl back to him.
Alfred chuckled softly, and then he whispered, “You have done well, Mia. Welcome to Black Claw Pack.”
The old elder moved to the middle of the hall, and as soon as the Saige appeared, he returned and handed him the bowl, and watched as he walked away.
Alfred looked around with his evergreen smile, holding firmly to his walking staff.
He sighed heavily, and with an audible tone, he declared,
“It is done. The Alpha has claimed his bride!”