Chapter 27 The mating ceremony
Alpha Elijah Alastair - POV
“You should have attended this bullshit without me.” I complained for the fifth time as our car drove into the territory of the Eclipse Moon pack.
“Alpha Jace wanted you here, Elijah. And I don't think we have the power to say no to him.” Zane warned me when I let out a sigh and leaned back on my seat as I stared outside. Since Alpha Alexus found his mate a week ago, the attacks on my pack have been temporarily stopped, but I know that this is nowhere close to a permanent end to a war.
The car soon stopped behind a row of luxury vehicles waiting to drop their passengers. I looked at the surrounding and I was stunned at the decorations. “Looks like they want to make this the mating ceremony of the century compared to what we did for your mating ceremony.” Zane commented when a smile appeared on my face.
The car soon stopped in front of the pack house entrance when Zane and I got out and within seconds ten warriors surrounded us. “We are here in peace.” Zane told them in a warning tone when the warriors soon parted and Beta Murphy stepped forward.
“We know. But it's always better to be safe than sorry.”
“I am not the one who waged war against your pack.” I told Beta Murphy in a monotone. “If anyone needs protection, it would be me because your alpha is hell-bent on killing me for no reason.”
“Think before you talk, Alpha Alastair. You are in our territory and…”
“Elijah!” Beta Murphy was abruptly interrupted by Alpha Jace when I turned towards the entrance to see him walk out of the house to greet me.
“How are you Alpha Jace?” I asked him as I extended my hand for a handshake.
“I am doing good. Shall we head inside?” Alpha Jace asked me when I nodded my head.
Alpha Jace and I walked inside the pack house, and soon the council guards stepped forward and led us down a hallway. “Any progress in Luna Antonella’s case?” Alpha Jace asked me whenn I shook my head.
“We thought we found a lead last week until we hit a dead end again.” I told him right as we stopped in front of a closed door.
"Didn't you try to ask your wolf if he could feel her wolf’s presence, Elijah?” Alpha Jace asked me when I get my heart to skip a beat. The bond between an alpha and his mate is considered the strongest bond among our kind, and it comes with its perks. One of which is to communicate with each other’s wolves no matter how far apart you are. But how am I supposed to do that when Antonella was never my fated mate?
“I think whoever has kidnapped her has put a blocking spell on her, Alpha Jace. I am still trying to reach her wolf.” I told him, and right then the doors opened, and suddenly my ears were filled with soft music, laughter, and conversation.
The ballroom was well decorated with tons of flowers, and there was a makeshift stage right in the center with a table for two. "Don't worry, you will find her soon. But if you need our help, do let us know.” Alpha Jace told me when I nodded my head with a smile on my face.
As we walked further into the ballroom, I realized that every Alpha, Luna, and Beta from across the country had attended the ceremony tonight, and most of them looked almost shocked to see me, yet I maintained a nonchalant look on my face and continued walking. Alpha Jace led me to the very front, and we took a seat at the table that was assigned for the elders.
Soon the soft music shifted to a more cheerful tone, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the closed double doors. The doors opened, and first beta Murphy came in, followed by gamma Arlo, and soon other important members of the Eclipse Moon pack walked in and took their places when the omegas walked in, scattering rose petals on the floor when the couple made their entrance.
Alpha Alexus had a blank look on his face, and beside him stood his mate. She looked breathtaking in a soft red dress as she clutched onto her mate’s arm. “Alpha Maximus Alexus and Luna Evangeline Malcolm," the guards announced when everyone began to clap.
The couple made their way to the center stage, and soon a serene silence descended in the room. “Thank you, everyone, for respecting my invitation and coming to my mating ceremony.” Maximus began when his eyes finally settled on me. “I am happy to announce that after many years of searching, I have finally found my mate and the Luna of the eclipse moon pack.”
“Elijah.” Zane nudged my shoulder when I turned to look at him.
“What?”
“That necklace she is wearing," he whispered when a frown appeared on my face when my eyes locked on Luna Evangeline again. She was wearing a white gold chain with a snowflake pendant on it that was encrusted with diamonds.
“What about her necklace?” I mind-linked with Zane.
“Her best friend Zuri told me in an interrogation session that Antonella received three gifts for Christmas that day. One was the letter Madison sent her, the second was your gift, and the third didn't have a recipient, but she told me that it was a white gold chain with a snowflake pendant in it.”
“It's a basic design, Zane. What does it have to do with the pendant that Luna Evangeline is wearing?” I retorted.
“I felt this bizarre feeling that she might just be our Luna when she passed by, Elijah,” he replied when I felt something shift within me.
“What do you mean?”
“I don't know if you feel it or not since you are the alpha, but I have always felt a powerful energy coming from Luna Antonella whenever I am close to her, and I have never felt that kind of energy from anyone.”