Chapter 51: 49, The ceremony

Adina’s POV

Adina woke up with Colin’s and Sean’s arms around her. She smiled and decided to enjoy the feeling of warmth and the familiar sparks that tickled her skin where Colin touched her. It took her a minute to realise that the sparks weren’t just coming from Colin.

Adina placed her hand on Sean’s chest with a small gasp, waking him up. He gave her a sleepy smile and tightened his grip on her. But she was focused on her hand on his chest. She lifted it, looked at it and then placed it down again.

“What are you doing?” Sean smiled.

Adina felt Colin stir behind her, and he sleepily placed a kiss on her shoulder.

“Too early, Baby,” he mumbled.

“There are sparks,” she said, dumbfounded.

“Yes, baby. I would have thought you had got used to them by now,” Colin said, absentmindedly stroking his hand up and down her waist.

“Not there, here,” she said, lifting her hand and placing it on Sean’s chest again.

Sean looked at it and then at her.

“I can feel them too,” he said, surprised.

Colin got up on his elbow to look over Adina at her hand on Sean’s chest. He smiled and kissed her shoulder.

“You did mark each other last night,” he reminded them.

“That shouldn’t cause sparks. Sparks only come with the magic connection connected by the moon goddess,” Adina said. “It’s a side effect of the magic that binds two souls,” she explained.

“Chosen mates never have sparks,” she said, lifting her hand and placing it on Sean’s chest again. Sean smiled and put his hand over hers.

“I’m not a toy, baby cakes,” he told her. Colin chuckled and placed a kiss on her shoulder.

“Maybe you are special, baby. You are the chosen one,” Colin said.

“Maybe,” Adina admitted, but she didn’t sound convinced.

“Don’t worry about it; it’s not a bad thing,” Sean reassured her and placed his hand on her waist to pull her closer to kiss her.

His hand brushed up against Colins, and both men froze and stared at each other. Colin held up his hand, and Sean placed his palm against Colin’s.

“Sparkes,” they both said.

Adina had to smile. She loved that they all were connected, but she wanted to know how.

“I think we need to talk to Selene; she’s the only one that can explain things,” Adina said.

“Can we not talk about contacting a goddess like you are planning to phone an aunt from out of state,” Colin said, and Sean laughed.

“It’s not as simple as that, but I will send an invitation, and then we will just wait to see if and when she shows,” Adina said.

“What do you need? Should I send out for supplies?” Colin asked.

“For what?” Adina asked, confused.

“The ritual,” colin clarified. Sean looked at the two of them with amusement.

“To invite Selene?” Adina asked.

“Yes.”

“There is no ritual. I send an intention to speak to her and put magic into it. I did it like two minutes ago,” Adina told him.

“That’s it? No candles and herbs and circle and ritual chanting?” Sean asked.

“No, that’s how witches do it. You sound disappointed,” Adina smiled.

“Maybe a little. It feels like summoning a goddess should be more than a mental note,” he complained. Sean laughed.

“When will she be here?” he then asked.

“I don’t know. It could be anything from within the next hour to the next decade,” she smiled.

“I think we can think of things to occupy us with,” Sean smiled and started to kiss Adina.

“I approve,” Collin smirked and started kissing her neck.

They all enjoyed a week of normality, which was rare for them. Adina enjoyed having a routine. She would help Doc at the hospital when he needed a break or an extra pair of hands. It did not let her do something she loved but also allowed her to interact with pack members.

Then there were the days when she and Colin would sit and work on pack business in his office while Sean trained the warriors.

But today was not a typical day; she thought as she looked at herself in the mirror. Today was the day she officially became luna and part of the pack.

She looked at her reflection. She had a floor-length white dress with an empire waist and long sheer sleeves. White was the traditional colour for lunas to wear during official occasions. The empire waist was decorated with a deep blue ribbon to mark her position as alpha in her own right.

Her hair had been put into a romantic hair due that had most of her hair in swirls on top of her head. But soft curls framed her face and fell down her neck.

Adina took a deep breath; she could do this. The ceremony would take an hour, and then they would have a party. She was looking forward to the party. They had invited alpha Aries and his family, and Cernack was also here.

There was a knock on the door, and Adina knew who it was.

“Come in,” she said.

Sean entered the apartment, and Adina smiled. He looked very handsome in his black three-piece suit. He smiled at her.

“You look beyond beautiful, baby cake,” he said.

“Thank you, love; you look very handsome. Truly drool-worthy,” Adina said, straightening his tie.

“Well, that is good, I guess,” he laughed. “Are you ready for the big thing?” he then asked.

“I think so,” she nodded.

“Good,” he said, taking her hand and placing her arm around his.

“No regrets?” Adina asked as he escorted her out of the room and down the stairs.

“None, this feels right, and you know it,” he reassured her. She nodded.

“Relax and enjoy the evening,” he said to her and kissed her just before they walked into the large dining room that had been transformed into a ceremonial space.

In the middle of the room, there was a round stage. The base of the stage was decorated with evergreen and white ribbons. The walls were decorated in the same way, and they looked beautiful. Julia had done a fantastic job.

 In the middle of the stage, Colin stood by a small table. They were surrounding the location where the pack and the few guests they had invited. All looked at Adina and Sean as they entered the room. Adina smiled, and with a small gesture, she made white sparkling lights appear that slowly fell toward the floor. It looked like glowing snow. There was a murmur from the crowd, and Colin locked eyes with her and smiled.

Adina felt her breath hitch in her chest at his brilliant smile. Would that man ever stop taking her breath away?

She walked towards the stage with Sean, and they stepped up on it and faced Colin. Colin reached out his hand, and Adina stepped forward and placed her hand in his.

“Adina, do you accept the responsibilities as luna for the Black Moon pack?” Colin asked.

“I do,” Adina said with conviction.

“Do you swear by all that you hold sacred and by the gods to protect its members and keep its secrets?”

“I do.”

“Do you swear on your life to place the pack’s interests before your own and act on its behalf?”

“I do.”

“We, the Black Moon pack and I, alpha Colin, accept you as our luna and as a member of our pack,” Colin said. He took an ornate knife placed on the table and dragged it across his palm and then over Adina’s.

He intertwined their fingers so that their palms touched and fused the blood. Adina could feel the bond glide into place; she could feel the network of pack members expanding and solidifying. Colin smiled at her.

‘Welcome to the pack; you look amazing tonight,’ he mind linked her.

‘Thank you; you are very handsome,’ she answered.

Colin drew her into a kiss, and Adina could faintly hear the cheers and whistles from the pack.

They broke apart, and Colin handed her a damp towel to wipe away the blood from her now healed palm.

As she placed the towel back on the table, she faced Colin again.

Colin’s POV

Adina looked more beautiful than anything he had ever seen as she stood facing him with a smile. He was proud to have her as luna and mate, he didn’t know how he had earned it, but he knew he would cherish her for the rest of their life.

“Colin, do you accept the responsibilities as a member of the White Rose pack?” Adina asked him.

“I do,” he answered proudly.

“Do you swear always to obey the gods wishes and work for the good of all creatures?”

“I do.”

“Do you swear to uphold the magical balance and honour the Beloved One?”

“I do.”

“I, the Beloved One, protected by the gods and protector of magic, welcome you into our pack. I name you, my consort,” Adina said, walking up to him and placing her hand on his forehead. Colin felt something that reminded him of the sparks he felt whenever Adina touched him. But these were more intense.

Adina had explained that since they had already exchanged blood, they didn’t need to do it again. She just needed to infuse him with some of her magic.

He felt the bonds to the new pack come into place. It felt strange. The pack members felt far away, like echoes, except for the three members with him in the room. It would take some getting used to, he realised.

Adina smiled up at him, let her hand go from his forehead, and placed it on his cheek before standing on tiptoe and kissing him.

There was another approving round of cheers and whistles. Colin wished he didn’t need to let her go. He wished he could pick her up and take Sean with them, straight to their bed. But they still had one ceremony to finish, and then the party was held.

He reluctantly let go of Adina’s lips, gently took her hand, and brought her to his side. He then looked at Sean and smiled. His relationship with him deepened with each day.

Colin realised that he felt as strong of a need for Sean to be a part of the relationship as Adina did. The three of them fit together. He was pleased and grateful to welcome him into his pack.

Sean’s POV

Sean saw Colin smile at him, and next to him stood Adina. Sean couldn’t help but smile back at them as he walked the few steps to end up in front of them. He loved them both.

He was happy. He loved that Adina finally got a home; he knew she had missed it.  He was happy that she was happy, and he was happy that they had opened their relationship to let him in.

He was also enjoying that his job had gotten a lot easier now that they were staying in one place, surrounded by the same people. People he trusted.

“Sean, do you accept to become a member of the Black Moon pack?” Colin asked him.

“I do,” Sean said without hesitation.

“Do you swear by all that you hold sacred and by the gods to protect its members and keep its secrets?”

“I do.”

“Do you swear on your life to obey your alpha and luna, to obey the pack laws and to honour the pack hierarchy?”

“I do.”

“As alpha for the Black Moon pack, I welcome you and name you a protector of our luna and out mate,” Colin said, taking the knife and cutting his palm and then Sean’s.

Intertwining their hands, the same way he had done with Adina, Sean felt the sparks that still were confusing but smiled as the pack bond fell into place.

Adina stepped up to him and placed her hand on his forehead, as she had done with Colin.

“I, the Beloved One, protected by the gods and protector of magic, name you my consort,” she said, and the tingling her hand caused against his skin increased for a moment.

Adina smiled at him and kissed him. Sean smiled as they parted. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her.

He had been terrified that she would have let him go his way once she found her mate. But he should have known better. She had made sure that he still was a part of her life. He was grateful; he didn’t know what he would do if he weren’t watching her. It was where he belonged.

Adina’s POV

The party was better than she could have wished for. Everyone was happy, and laughter rivalled the music as they celebrated.

Colin had, as usual, his arm around her waist, and she leaned into him as they talked with alpha Aries and luna Joy. Adina looked over to where Jason and Sean stood. They were both surrounded by the single ladies of the pack. Adina had to smile when she saw the uncomfortable look on Sean’s face.

‘Should I rescue him?’ she asked Colin via mind link. He looked to where he saw her looking and laughed.

‘Yes, they aren’t there for him anyway; they know he is off-limits,’ he answered.

Adina watched as Sean’s face went from uncomfortable to panicked. Time for her to step in. He needed to get used to the attention from the pack. He was a part of the alpha throuple, but baby steps. She caught the attention of two boys running around and moved over to them.

“If you go over to uncle Sean over there and ask him, he will help you get an extra serving of cake,” she told them. Their eyes lit up as they ran over to Sean. After listening to the boys, Sean excused himself from the group of she-wolves and took the boys over to the buffet.

“That was brilliant thinking,” luna Joy said.

“Thank you,” Adina smiled.

Adina and Colin moved around the room, talking to different groups. Sean joined them after getting the boys some cake. His hand found Adina’s, and their fingers laced together. Adina danced with both her mates and enjoyed the food and the music. Adina wasn’t just happy; she was blissful. Friends surrounded her; she had gotten an odd little family and had Colin and Sean by her side.

“Are you tired?” Colin asked her.

“No,” she smiled. He looked disappointed. “Why did you ask?” she asked.

“I thought we would head up to the bed,” he said, sounding like a pup that didn’t get any ice cream. Adina smiled.

“I think it’s high time we go upstairs,” Sean agreed with Colin.

“I would like that, but I don’t think I can go to sleep,” Adina said. The smile Colin and Sean gave her made her laugh.

“That’s okay; I didn’t feel like sleeping either,” Colin told her and kissed her.

“We will figure something out to occupy you for a couple of hours,” Sean reassured and kissed her as well.

She was one lucky wolf, Adina thought as she walked out of the dining room with Colin and Sean. There were still things she needed to figure out in her life, but she had found her mates, and she and Sean had found their home. She couldn’t ask for more.