I looked out of the car and saw a lot of people standing there clearly waiting for Jonas to arrive. Their Alpha had been away after all. ''Goddess give me strength'' I whispered to myself, sending her a quick prayer.
Jonas gave her hand a little squeeze and said, "Ready"?? Nodding my head, but gripping Jonas’s hand even tighter, we got out of the car.
Jonas got out first and was greeted with shouts of "welcome back Alpha" and "we missed you Alpha" When I got out the Hubble and babble, all around me suddenly stopped. I was aware that everyone was staring at me, and it was starting to make me feel a little uncomfortable.
I softly tugged a little on Jonas’s sleeve and whispered into his lowered ear, "Why are they all staring at me like this, have I done something wrong?" A strong feminine voice rang out, clear and confident. 'They are staring at you because they have never seen a more beautiful woman standing before them'!
Looking up to see who had spoken these words, my eyes were drawn to an older-looking woman, she was immaculately dressed in her soft flowing dress. Her hair was pinned to the top of her head in a messy bun. Although this woman had spoken, I found myself staring back at her. For she was beautiful as well. She radiated strength and power, but with a gentleness that only the best Luna could carry off. Feeling very shy again, but wanting to show a good first impression, I smiled shyly back into this beautiful woman’s face.
Before anyone else spoke, Jonas said "Hi Mom, Hi Dad. I would like you both to meet my fated mate, Genevieve".
Jonas put his arm around my shoulder now and slowly turned me around, so the rest of the people there could also see and meet me for the first time.
The beautiful woman standing on the top of the steps started to climb down. She was so elegant and poised that she seemed to float. Stopping mere inches from Jonas, she put her arms out and Jonas received her hug. "Oh my darling boy, it's so good to have you home, the place never feels right when you are away".
Smiling up at him with so much love in her eyes, I suddenly felt emotional. So, when it was my turn to be addressed, I already had tears in my eyes.
Turning her head now so she could look at me, she stepped back slightly. Looking me over. I immediately felt I should be dressed much better than I was.
Smiling a little apprehensively at the older woman, I was waiting for her verdict. Whatever it may be like Jonas had told me on the plane I had fretted for nothing. The older woman opened her arms as she had done to her son, and brought me into a soft warm embrace.
The tears threatening to fall did spill over this time. In all my life, I had never felt so much love coming from a single hug. Tentatively hugging Jonas's Mom back, I could feel the arms around me tighten slightly before letting me go.
"Hello my dear", said the older woman gently.
"My name is Rosemary, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you for a very long time". She chuckled softly and carried on, "Now, you can of course call me Rosemary, but I would rather you call me Mom, as you’ll be my daughter in a few short hours".
Blinking rapidly, like some freak, and with a slight look of shock on my face, Rosemary tucked her arm in mine, and I was propelled forward to the huge pack house. What did Rosemary mean by “a few short hours”? i was getting anxious again. I didn't like not knowing something. I was a little confused.
We all walked into the large entrance hall with numerous doors leading off it and an enormous stairway. Rosemary gave me a soft smile of encouragement and again led the way, this time though it was into an office. She stood back and allowed her husband, Jonas, and myself in before closing the door.
"I had not intended to do any work for a few days, why are we in here and not in the lounge area?" Jonas was looking at his mother and father, and with a knowing smile now playing on his father's mouth, I could feel myself blushing as I realised what Jonas has said.
"I will only need a moment of your time, my darling boy, and then you will be as free as you wish". Holding out her hand, I gently placed my hand in her warm grip,
"Come, let us all sit for a moment", she looked at her husband and Jonas. Who followed our lead and sat down. Jonas sat down next to me, and I sank into the warmth of his body.
"You have no idea how much delight I get looking at you two sitting together. Your father and I were starting to give up hope of you ever taking a she wolf as your Luna, but to know that you are both fated mates? I honestly don’t think I could be happier for you both".
The smile on Rosemary’s face was shining as she turned to her husband, her eyes became softer, and the smile on her face, though just as brilliant, was now focused on him with gentle affection. Smiling back at his wife, Jonas's father finally started to speak. "Well now", he said in a rich deep voice.
"Will you look at the two of you? Jonas, I can't put into words how proud I am of you. We all knew you were going to be a great Alpha, but now? I think we should all expect something a bit more special". Jonas and I both looked as his father as the older man stood up and held out his hand to me, silently asking me to stand up.
I did so, and without saying another word, he hugged me gently, gave me a kiss on the cheek, and said in a slightly husky voice,
"Welcome to our family, my dear dear child. As my wife has already asked for herself", he scolded and chuckled softly
"I will ask for myself, it would be my great honour if you would call me Dad after the ceremony. You can, of course, choose to call me Phil, I just thought it would give you a choice". I smiled up at him and thanked the two of them for making me feel so welcome. It was slightly overwhelming, and I think Jonas was starting to see that.
"Mom, and Dad, thank you for always supporting my choices and accepting Genevieve, as you both have, but I'm starting to think we may have overloaded her.
As I was still standing, Jonas got up to stand next to me, and his mom did the same. While we were all standing there, I asked, with a certain amount of anxiety in my voice,
"Can I just ask you all one question?" And seeing them all smile gently at me, I said
"What will happen in a few hours? That will allow me to call you Mom and Dad. And what ceremony? Is this something I should already know about?"
Three sets of shocked eyes looked back at me, finally, Rosemary said in a quiet voice
"Surely your parents told you what would happen when you got to your new pack"? Seeing the small shake of my head, Rosemary gasped and started talking quickly
"Oh my dear child, had we known you were not prepared for the ceremony, Phil and I would never have babbled away as we did about names and ceremonies, what must you be thinking?" "Jonas"!! She said sharply, "Did you know about this? How unprepared your mate is?"
Jonas was now standing very close to me with his arms around me and said softly
"I swear Mom, I didn’t know, but I should have realised, and that is on me. What with her being adopted the way she was, I should have prepared you myself."
As he said the last part, he gave me a tighter hug and looked down at me. He lent in with a swift little kiss to the end of my nose.
"Right" Clapped Rosemary, making me jump a little, "We will sort this all out now. My dear, please sit back down while I shoo these two out of here for a few moments".
She was glaring at the two men now, and with matching contrite faces made their way to the door, and I watched them both leave. I honestly didn’t know what was going on, and I wondered what would happen next with a slightly raised anxiety level.
Rosemary sat next to me now on the large leather sofa, and taking my hands in hers, she started telling me everything I would need to know about the ceremony.