170, A pack is born

170, A pack is born
Nash

The sun was setting over the desert as Tite and I walked out from the backyard gate. Ulf and Amber were waiting for us, and Amber gave both Tite and me a hug.

"I knew the dress would look amazing on you," Amber told Tite.

"Thank you. I love your pantsuit," Tite told her. Both women were wearing white, and Ulf had on a white shirt with a red tie and his patch, just like me.

"Good, you are all on time. Ready?" Hilda asked as she walked out of the gate. She was wearing a simple deep purple dress that was cinched in at the waist with a gold belt.

"Ready," Tite and I said in unison. She chuckled and patted us both on the cheek.

"Then follow me." She led us into the desert, toward the ceremonial place. Tite and I walked behind her, hand in hand. Ulf and Amber flanked us. We arrived just as the last rays of the sun made the desert glow in a deep red colour. Everyone was gathered inside the low stone wall. In the middle of the circle, stones had been stacked to form a table. The pack and the guests stood in a circle, creating an opening as they saw us coming. Hilda walked into the middle and around the table. We stopped in front of it. The circle of people closed behind us, and we stood a while in silence. The stars and the full moon were shining down on us, and I was struck with the enormity of this moment. This wasn't just for us; the creation of the pack would ensure generations to come had a home and a place that would be safe. I squeezed Tite's hand, and she squeezed back. I could feel she understood my emotions.

"We are gathered here in the sacred desert, under the goddess' light, to form a new pack, to swear oaths of loyalty and forge bonds that will span through time," Hilda said in a clear and steady voice. "Nash Davies and Nefertiti Groa Davies, do you accept the responsibility to guide and protect this new pack?" she asked.

"We do," Tite and I said.

"Who will vouch for Nash and Nefertiti?" Hilda asked.

"We will," Amber and Ulf said.

"A pack is bound by more than vows and friendships. A sacrifice must be freely given," Hilda told us. She held out a sturdy knife with a handle made of bone. I took it, and as she presented a wooden bowl, I cut my palm and let blood drip into it. I then handed the knife to Tite. She did the same, and my gut clenched as I saw the blood drip from her hand. Tite handed the knife back to me, and Hilda gave her the bowl. We walked up to all the adults who were to be part of the pack. I handed them the knife, they dragged it across their palm, and Tite collected a few drops of blood. We walked the entire circle, skipping only the children and the guests. Then, we walked back to Hilda, and Tite presented the bowl to her aunt.

"Our sacrifice has been made," Tite said. Hilda nodded and took the bowl. She placed it to the side on the stone table and took out a rolled-up document. She unrolled it and placed it down on the stone. It was a map with the border of the pack land drawn out. Hilda picked up the bowl.

"Goddess of the moon, Selene, we ask you to bless this sacrifice made in your name. Watch over this new pack and its members. They honour you as they go forward as one, being of one spirit, under your light," Hilda prayed as she raised the bowl. I could have sworn I saw beams of moonlight shine into the bowl. Hilda lowered it and poured the red liquid onto the map. To my surprise, it didn't form a puddle. The blood moved and aligned with the borders on the map. When all the blood had been poured, the borders on the map started to glow. "This is the sacred land of the Howlers pack. May the land protect the pack, feed it, and give it a place to rest. The pack will watch over the land and respect it. One cannot exist without the other. They are as one and will live in each other's hearts," Hilda recited, and I felt an invisible wave run through me, spreading out like circles on water. A warm, peaceful feeling spread through me, making me feel safe. Tite looked up at me and smiled. I smiled back.

"The land has accepted the connection. The pack has been created; it's time to swear loyalty," Hilda told us.

"I am Nash Davis, Alpha of the Howlers pack. I stand before my pack, under the moon, in the desert, to acknowledge my title as your Alpha and accept your loyalty. The goddess of the moon will guide me to protect and honour you as my pack, gifted to me by the goddess, for the rest of my days," I swore.

“I am Nefirtite Davis, Luna of the Howlers pack. I stand before my pack, under the moon, in the desert, to acknowledge my title as your Luna and accept your loyalty. The goddess of the moon will guide me to love and support you, as my pack, gifted to me by the goddess, for the rest of my days,” Tite promised. As one, the pack around us sank down onto one knee.

“We, the Howlers pack, kneel before our Alpha pair, under the moon, in the desert, to acknowledge Nash Davies as our Alpha and his one true mate, Nefirtite Davies, as our Luna. They will protect, guide, and watch over us. We swear our loyalty to them for as long as we live,” they all swore. I inhaled deeply as something snapped into place in my brain. I looked at Tite; she smiled at me.

‘It’s the pack bond,’ she mindlinked me. It was like a subway map with small threads leading to all the pack members.

“Howlers pack, rise and rejoice! You are now one pack under the watchful light of the moon. May she always shine her light upon you!” Hilda exclaimed, and everyone stood up and cheered. Bones walked up to me, gave me a hug, and slapped my back.

‘Not too bad, huh?’ I mindlinked him and enjoyed the shocked expression on his face.

“Fuck! That will take some getting used to,” he said. I laughed. Tite was hugging her aunt and then her family.

“It was a beautiful ceremony,” Luna Bella told me and gave me a hug.

“It was,” I agreed. She was wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, and her mate looked almost panicked as he pulled her to him.

“Don’t cry, Ellie,” he told her. The Luna chuckled.

“I’m a crier, Gray. I thought you would have gotten used to that by now,” she said.

“Never. I will never get used to your tears,” he proclaimed. All around them, people were smiling at their interaction. I thanked the moon that Tite wasn’t a crier. I didn’t think my nerves could take it.

“Ready for the run?” Tite asked me as she took my hand.

“I have been ready since we planned it,” I told her. It was true. Every major event in a pack was celebrated by a pack run. This had caused Tite some concern. Most of our pack didn’t shift and could, therefore, not be part of a traditional run. Lizzy had solved the issue by suggesting the rest of us ride our bikes. It was a brilliant idea. The bikers had been busy teaching the coven members how to ride, and those who were not comfortable doing so had been paired with bikers. I still hadn’t found a bike I wanted, but Tite had promised I could use hers.

“Then what are we waiting for?” she said with a laugh. We all walked over to where the bikes stood.