Chapter 34 LUNA CEREMONY
SIANNA'S POV
In Vance's room at the Packhouse, I was getting ready for the ceremony. Usually Alpha's and their Beta and Gamma lived at the pack house. This is the housing for visitors like other Alphas and guests. But Vance hated too much interference so he built his house ten minutes from here to have privacy.
I liked it too because it kept us away from the hustling drama that arose when living with others. All members of the pack had access to the pack house and there were bedrooms to accommodate them. It was like a five-story hotel. Vance loved a lavish lifestyle and this was his way of sharing that with his pack.
Vance's room on the fifth floor was vast and had a small kitchenette, two walk-in closets, and a spacious elegant bathroom inclusive of a hot tub. Duke occupied the fourth floor with his mate, Keisha and together they oversee the operations of the pack house.
Blayne would naturally occupy the third floor but he lived in an apartment away from here to facilitate his wild lifestyle. We knew he would settle down once he found his mate. Maybe then he will move back to the pack house. The first and second-floor bedrooms were for the visitors and other pack members.
Hailey, mom, and Vance's mother were helping me to get ready for the Luna Ceremony. It was 6 pm and we only had one hour left. I have been emotional all day. Dreading in nervousness and excitement both at the same time.
Hailey and Rionna did all the decorations, while mom and our dads helped with the rest of the preparations. Vance refused to let me do anything, even when I tried, I had to hide or pretend to be observing so that he wouldn't see me helping. Everyone had been busy and lending their hands to assist with whatever they could do.
The spotlight is not to my liking. Perhaps that is why I am nervous. I kept picturing standing in front of the entire pack and it was stressing me.
"Stop fidgeting," Hailey scolded for the tenth time. "I am trying to get your makeup done perfectly." Sensing my nerves, she hugs me around the shoulders from behind and kissed my cheek. "I'm happy for you. Vance loves you and would move mountains for you, so trust in your mate and the bond to get through tonight."
With her words of encouragement, I placed more effort to stay still. "Sorry, I am trying." I yawned and it seemed that I felt tired from the emotional distress. These three have not left me alone since morning. They fed me, ensured that I slept and took care of the dress, pretty much coordinating everything.
Mom chuckled, "It's normal that you are nervous but try to stay still. We have to make you pretty for the photos and portrait shots."
"Hailey is doing a great job." Rionna smiled, "Your dress is ready. Are you sure about wearing heels instead of flats?"
"Uh-huh," I nodded. Vance won't like that. I haven't seen Vance all day. He was busy with Victor, his dad, and I missed him terribly. It's remarkable how much one could miss their mate. I thought about him nonstop today. What was he doing? Who was he with? Where was he? Did he have breakfast or lunch?
"Babe, what are you doing?" My heart fluttered as his voice popped into my head. It was like all the stress faded in an instant. Wow, he mind-linked me just when I was thinking about him.
"I'm missing you and thinking about you. I can't get my handsome mate out of my head." I told him and he let out a chuckle. I loved teasing him. "I wish that we were home, together." Since getting pregnant, I turned into a whiny emotional woman. His scent and presence were my addiction, and every time he left me at home, I pestered him through the mind-link. Though, he never complained.
"I miss you too, Firecat." He replied and my chest filled with warmth. I loved his alias for me. He was so sweet but then he did the indecent thing and sent me images of him between my legs and licking my core. The mate bond was a magical thing for sure.
"Mm mm." I tried to stifle the moan and choked to hide it, hoping to block out his images but not successfully. I hope that wasn't out loud. “Behave, Vance, I am with our moms and they will smell my arousal."
He chuckled again. "I am going to spend a whole week with you alone, once all this is over." The idea enlivened me.
"Alright. See you later. I love you so much." The link closed.
Rionna gazed at me. "You two are so in love. I am happy that my son gets to have his own family." I knew what she meant because not every wolf got to be with their mates. Sometimes a mate could die without meeting their other half. Shit happens sometimes.
I was blessed. Hailey stopped all her applications and examined my face, pleased with the results of her hard work. "All done."
Rionna helped me to stand up from the vanity and led me to the dress that mom held up. It was a sleeveless ombre sequin gown that went all the way to the floor. I removed my robe and got dressed.
Rionna secured an antique gold moon headband necklace with red ruby gemstones into my hair so that the stones landed on my forehead. She wore it for her ceremony and said that it should be passed down to our line of Lunas. After a few minutes, we each took one last look over and decided that we were ready to go. We hopped in the elevator and went to the first floor.
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"We are gathered here tonight to have the union of our Alpha, Vance Wolverson to Lady Sianna Stone, the future Luna of the Dark Wolverson Pack. It is with great honor to preside this union under the blue moon where the goddess will bestow her greatest blessing of love, bliss, and prosperity." Elder Jacob addressed the pack, and cleared his throat before turning his face towards me and my alpha.
"I hereby request the Alpha and the Future Luna to pledge their love and loyalty to each other as I, on behalf of the goddess bind you together for life."
I turned to the side to face Vance, slowly raising my head where my eyes met his. Even without us touching I could feel the sparks and tingles that spread through me whenever he was around. I averted my eyes now to watch Vance as he took my hand and held it to his while Elder Jacob started to bind our wrists together with a black rope, which symbolized the color of the pack. My heart stopped when I found his eyes on mine. He was always handsome but nothing match how his face shone at this moment, underneath the fluorescent moonlight. He never missed a day in telling me how much he loved me, but his emotions and expression were raw tonight. It was a clear picture to everyone that he truly loved me. And it was more than my heart could handle.
Vance began with his vow which I must repeat and follow. "I, Alpha Vance Wolverson, take you, Sianna Stone as my mate and as my Luna, and commit myself to you and this bond. I will let no one, come between us to destroy the love blessed by the moon for as long as I live. This is my sincere vow, in front of our people and in front of the moon goddess."
The words of my vows followed closely behind his, repeating the same but flipping the names around. Just as we finished, Elder Jacob snapped the black rope and melted it on the fire crackling on the table beside him. This symbolized maintaining the fire of love to burn for eternity, never to quell.
Vance took my hands into his and lifted my wrist closer to his mouth as his fangs elongated. Sparks and tingles traveled through my whole body at his action that had me frozen in my spot before I felt him squeeze my wrist gently. I retaliated and did the same. With our eyes locked, we slowly bit into each other's wrists and drink from each other's blood.
Subconsciously, a soft moan of pleasure came out of me as I felt the rippling effect of the tingles over my body at the act, wanting more of him. It never occurred that drinking his blood would send sensations over my body, or taste so good. Elder Jacob cleared his throat again, "That should be enough. You can do that again later in the bedroom." Our parents on the side of the stage chuckled as the elder winked at me. The crowd stood up and offered loud applause mixed with a few "woo hoos" and whistle-blowing.
My cheeks blushed as Vance put his arms around me and crashed his lips into mine. It was fierce, passionate, and hungrily done in front of the crowd. After parting our faces, our eyes locked intensely.
"Shall we have the rings?" the elder looked at Vance, who turned to look at his dad. I wasn't aware that rings were a part of the ceremony. Neither mom nor Rionna mentioned this part when they spoke to me about what we had to do during the ceremony.
Victor stepped forward and gave the elder two ring case boxes that were on a cyan pillow. He gave Vance the first one, he opened it and took out a ring with the biggest diamond in the center. Vance gave a foxy grin as I realized what was taking place.
He took the princess-cut diamond ring and sliding onto my finger he uttered, "My heart beats only for you, Sianna. I claim you not just as my Luna but also as my wife and queen. I will celebrate you every day and show you how much you mean to me. I love
you."
The elder gave me the matching emerald-cut diamond ring and sliding it onto his finger I uttered, "You'll always have me as your mate and queen. Your love is phenomenal beyond words. I will stay by your side through the thick and thin, through the good times and the difficult ones. I'm your little, Firecat. Only yours. I love you, infinity plus."
Elder Jacob concluded, "I present to you, the Alpha and Luna of the Dark Wolverson Pack..... Alpha Vance Wolverson and Luna Sianna Wolverson." The crowd cheered louder. "Who are now as I pronounce them to be, husband and wife."
Vance landed another intense kiss on my swollen lips. When Vance pulled out from the kiss his eyes never left mine, the flame burning bright in his glowing red iris and pupil. Then they dilated into full obsidian black showing me a glimpse of his wolf before returning to his normal deep green shade.
Vance turned to the crowd, "It is with great pleasure that I share with you that our Luna is pregnant." A wave of happiness floated into me as I felt the joy of the pack. He kissed my forehead. "Please join us in our first run as your Alpha and Luna. When we return the celebrations can begin." We both shifted first, and bore through the crowd to lead our first pack run. Usually, other alphas and lunas alongside their betas would be present, but in light of the rogue situation, Vance decided that the presence of the werewolf council alone would be enough. For fear that their absence to attend the ceremony might encourage rogues to launch an attack. We decided to make complimentary gifts to send to each pack. Our tech team also created a web page where everyone could visit and congratulate us and view the uploaded videos and photos of the grand night celebration.
CURTIS POV
They looked vastly happy as they recited their vows to each other. With each word that she said to him, my heart sank. I haven't seen her in weeks since I returned from Crimson Hyde. She looked amazing, she held the grace and nobility of a queen. Green with jealousy, I stood at the back of the crowd while everyone else was genuinely happy.
Pregnant? My hand curled into a fist. That child should have been mine. Even when I was with Jasmine I still thought of Sianna. The mate bond was extraordinary and I felt like I was starting to love Jasmine, so why can't I accept Sianna belonging to him? My heartache won't heal. I pretend that I am fine now but inside I am like a dying man. We could have been together if she rejected him. I think that he forced her to accept him. She wouldn't have jilted me the way that she did if he hadn't forced her to. I shifted like the others did but it was not to enjoy the run.
Just as I moved closer to them, as they parted through the crowd, I heard the best opportunity presenting itself.
"Rogue Attack! Rogues at the border!"