Chapter 216 The mating ceremony
Chapter 216
ASTERIA
The ceremony day arrived faster than I expected.
I stood in my chambers, staring at myself in the mirror whilst my maids worked around me.
The ceremonial robes were stunning—red silk that shimmered like fresh blood, black velvet trim that absorbed the light, intricate embroidery in silver thread depicting wolves and moons.
They'd dressed me like a queen.
Or a sacrifice.
One of the maids placed a black veil over my face, the sheer fabric obscuring my features whilst still allowing me to see.
"You look beautiful, Luna," she whispered.
I didn't feel beautiful.
I felt terrified.
The maids led me out of my chambers and through the corridors toward the great hall.
I could hear the noise before we even reached the doors—hundreds of voices, the sound of a massive crowd gathered.
The doors opened.
The great hall was absolutely packed.
Wolves from multiple packs filled every available space. They're standing along the walls, crowding the aisles, pressed shoulder to shoulder.
I recognized the different pack symbols on their clothing.
Eastfang. Lightclaw. Ironpaw. Silvermane.
All enemies of Mooncrest.
All here to witness my mating to Austin.
The crowd fell silent as I entered, every eye turning to watch me.
I walked slowly down the centre aisle, my heart pounding so hard I thought everyone must be able to hear it.
At the front of the hall, on a raised platform, stood Austin.
He was dressed in black ceremonial robes that made him look even more imposing than usual.
But when I reached the platform and looked up at him, he winked at me.
Just a quick, barely noticeable gesture.
I smiled beneath my veil, even though he couldn't see it.
That small moment of connection steadied me.
A priest stepped forward, an ancient wolf with white hair and a face marked by ritual scars.
He raised his hands, and the hall fell into complete silence.
"We are gathered here to witness the sacred union of Alpha Austin of Redfire Pack and Asteria Casmir," the priest intoned, his voice carrying across the hall. "This bond will be sealed in blood, marked in flesh, and witnessed by all."
He turned to Austin. "Alpha, do you accept this woman as your mate? To protect, to provide for, to bind yourself to for all your days?"
Austin's voice rang out clear and strong. "I do."
The priest turned to me. "Asteria, do you accept this Alpha as your mate? To honour, to support, to bind yourself to for all your days?"
My throat was tight, but I forced the words out. "I do."
The priest nodded. "Then we begin with the blood oath."
He produced a ceremonial dagger, a silver blade, and a handle carved with ancient symbols.
"Speak these words," the priest instructed. "Blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh, soul of my soul. We are bound from this moment until death."
Austin and I spoke in unison, our voices blending. "Blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh, soul of my soul. We are bound from this moment until death."
The priest handed the dagger to Austin first.
Austin took my hand gently, turning it palm up.
He pressed the blade to my thumb, cutting just deep enough to draw blood.
I didn't flinch, even though it stung.
Blood welled up, dark and red.
Austin handed the dagger back to the priest, then held out his own hand.
I took the blade with shaking fingers and cut his thumb the same way.
His blood mixed with mine as we pressed our thumbs together, the warmth of it spreading between our hands.
Then Austin lifted my thumb to his mouth and licked the blood away.
The intimacy of it made my breath catch.
I did the same, tasting copper and salt on my tongue.
The crowd murmured approval.
The priest stepped forward again. "The blood oath is sealed. Now comes the marking."
My heart hammered faster.
The priest removed my veil, exposing my face to the entire assembly.
Austin stepped closer, his eyes locked on mine.
"This will hurt," he said quietly, just for me to hear. "Don't scream."
I nodded, lifting my chin to expose my neck.
Austin's hand came up to cup the back of my head, holding me steady.
Then his mouth descended to my neck.
I felt his breath first, warm against my skin.
Then his teeth.
He bit down hard, sinking his canines deep into the flesh where my neck met my shoulder.
Pain exploded through me, so sharp, burning, overwhelming.
I gasped but didn't scream, my hands fisting in Austin's robes.
Blood ran down my neck, soaking into the red silk.
Austin held the bite for several seconds that felt like an eternity.
Then he released me, licking the wound to seal it.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
I swayed slightly, dizzy from pain and blood loss, but Austin's arm came around my waist, supporting me.
"You did well," he murmured.
The priest produced another blade—this one heated until it glowed red.
"The ceremonial scarring," he announced. "The final seal of the bond."
He turned Austin's left palm upward and pressed the heated blade to it, carving a symbol of a wolf's head surrounded by a circle.
Austin's jaw tightened, but he made no sound.
Then the priest turned to me and did the same.
The moment the heated blade touched my palm, I thought I might pass out.
The pain was excruciating, worse than the bite, worse than anything I'd ever felt.
But I didn't cry out. Or flinch or even show any weakness.
I stood perfectly still whilst the priest carved the matching symbol into my flesh.
When he finished, Austin and I pressed our scarred palms together.
And I felt it.
A bond forming between us, not just legal, not just political, but something deeper.
Something real.
My heart was his now.
The priest raised our joined hands. "The bond is complete! Alpha Austin and Luna Asteria are mated!"
The crowd roared their approval, the sound deafening.
After the ceremony, servants began setting up tables for the celebration feast.
But Austin took my hand and led me away from the main hall.
"Where are we going?" I asked quietly.
"To the real reason for this ceremony," he replied.
He led me to a smaller chamber off the main hall. A war room, I realized.
The room was already filled with wolves.
Different pack Alphas, their faces hard and scarred, their eyes calculating.
They all looked as brutal as Austin.
I recognized some of them from their pack symbols.
Alpha Kellen of Eastfang had one eye scarred shut, his face a roadmap of old battles.
Alpha Mara of Lightclaw looks so sleek and dangerous, with eyes like a predator.
Alpha Garrick of Ironpaw was a massive man , even bigger than Austin, with hands that looked like they could crush stone.
Alpha Damon of Silvermane looks older, greying, but still radiating deadly competence.
They all turned to look at us as we entered.
Austin guided me to stand beside him at the head of the table.
"Welcome," Austin said, his voice carrying easily. "And thank you for agreeing to meet on such short notice."
He paused, letting his gaze sweep across each Alpha. "I know you came for a mating ceremony. But that was just the excuse to gather you all here without raising suspicion."
Murmurs rippled through the room.
Austin continued, his voice gaining intensity. "For centuries, we've suffered under Mooncrest's dominance. Richard Pike and his family have grown fat and powerful whilst the rest of us fought for scraps."
He slammed his fist on the table. "They control trade routes, influence the Council and take what they want and crush anyone who opposes them."
Alpha Kellen nodded. "We've all bled because of their arrogance."
"Exactly," Austin agreed. "And the Council lets them do it. The council favours and protects them."
He leaned forward, his eyes blazing. "But now we have an opportunity. A chance to destroy them once and for all."
Alpha Mara leaned forward. "How?"
Austin looked at me. "My mate has provided detailed intelligence about Mooncrest's defenses. Their weaknesses and vulnerabilities."
He turned back to the assembled Alphas. "I propose a coordinated assault. Not just on Mooncrest, but on the MoonWolf herself."
The room exploded with questions.
"Is the MoonWolf real?"
"She's with Mooncrest?"
"How do we capture her?"
Austin raised his hand for silence. "Yes, she's real. And yes, she's bound to the Pike family through mating with the heir."
He pulled out maps and diagrams, spreading them across the table. "Here's what we do. We attack Mooncrest on multiple fronts, overwhelming their defenses. Whilst they're distracted, a specialized team captures the MoonWolf."
Alpha Garrick frowned. "And then what? Kill her?"
"No," Austin said firmly.
An elderly wolf from Northfang—one of their council members—stood up. "Then what do we do with the MoonWolf once we capture her?"
Austin smiled. It's so cold, calculating, terrifying.
"We use her power to control the entire supernatural world.”