Chapter 93 Kaden's POV
The day of the celebration arrived.
The pack house had been transformed. Decorations everywhere: flowers, lights, banners bearing the Blue Moon and Dark Moon pack symbols intertwined. Tables set with fine china and crystal. A full orchestra setting up in the main hall.
Selena had done her job well. I had to give her that, even if I resented every moment she'd spent controlling the event.
"Everything looks perfect, doesn't it?" She said, appearing beside me as I inspected the main hall. "I've worked so hard to make sure this reflects well on the Blue Moon Pack."
"It looks fine."
"Fine?" Her smile tightened.
"I think it's better than fine but I suppose that's the difference between someone who understands elegance and someone who just wants things functional."
I didn't respond, just walked away before I said something that would start an argument.
The guests began arriving around noon.
Alpha Marcus from Silver Creek came first, bringing a contingent of warriors and his Beta. Then Alpha Helena, who immediately asked about Elara and seemed relieved when I told her Elara was safe and wearing the protective necklace.
Xavier arrived with several members of his pack, including his Beta and what looked like personal guards. He found me immediately.
"Impressive setup," he said, looking around. "Selena did well."
"She's good at creating appearances."
"And you're good at seeing through them." Xavier glanced around. "Is Damian here?"
"In the medical wing preparing in case anyone needs attention during the event."
"Of course he is." Xavier's expression was complicated. "We need to talk after the celebration."
"I'm listening now."
"Not here, too many years later." He moved away before I could press for details.
More Alphas arrived at the packed house filled with important guests, all dressed formally, all watching everything with careful political eyes.
This wasn't just a celebration. It was a statement. A show of strength and unity against Erebus.
We couldn't afford any mistakes.
I was greeting Alpha Thomas from Pine Ridge when I felt it.
A pull through the bond my wolf suddenly alert and focused. I turned toward the main staircase and saw her.
Elara descended the stairs in the midnight blue dress we'd bought. It hugged her curves, accentuated the bump that was now undeniably visible.
Her hair was styled simply, falling in waves around her shoulders. Helena's necklace glinted at her throat.
She was breathtaking.
Every conversation in the entrance hall stopped, every eye turned to her.
My wolf was howling inside me.
‘Ours, our mate is beautiful.’
I crossed the room to meet her at the bottom of the stairs. "You look..." I couldn't find adequate words.
"You look incredible."
A faint blush colored her cheeks. "Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself."
I was wearing a formal Alpha attire black suit, a pack insignia, and a full ceremonial dress. But I felt underdressed compared to her radiance.
"Stay close to me tonight," I said. "Please."
"I wasn't planning on going anywhere."
I offered my arm and she took it. We walked into the main hall together, me hyperaware of every stare, every whisper, every judgment being passed.
Let them talk, let them wonder. Elara was mine and I wasn't hiding it anymore.
The formal dinner was elaborate. Six courses, each paired with wine. Speeches from various Alphas about unity and strength toasts to the new alliance between Blue Moon and Dark Moon.
Elara sat beside me at the head table, just as I had insisted. Selena sat three places down, her smile fixed but her eyes cold every time she looked our way.
"She's furious," Elara murmured during the third course.
"Good let her be furious."
"Kaden-"
"I mean it. I don't care what Selena thinks or feels. This is where you belong beside me."
Elara looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite read. "You've changed."
"How?"
"You're more certain now... present. Like you've finally decided what you want."
"I have decided I want you, I want our child. I want our future together."
I took her hand under the table. "I should have decided that months ago before the rejection. But I'm deciding now."
Her fingers tightened around mine. "I'm still not sure I can forgive what you did."
"I know but I'm going to spend the rest of my life trying to earn that forgiveness anyway."
After dinner, the dancing began.
The orchestra played while couples filled the dance floor. Alphas danced with their Lunas. Pack members celebrated the atmosphere as light, joyful, everything a celebration should be.
I watched Elara watching the dancers, longing clear on her face.
"Dance with me," I said.
She looked startled. "What?"
"Dance with me. Right now."
"Kaden, I don't know how to dance like that. I've never been to a formal event-"
"I will teach you." I stood and offered my hand. "Please."
She hesitated, then took my hand.
I led her to the dance floor, very aware of everyone watching. Of how this would look. The Alpha danced with his rejected, pregnant mate at a celebration designed to show strength and stability.
I didn't care.
I pulled Elara close, one hand at her waist, the other holding hers. Started moving to the music, guiding her through the steps.
"Just follow my lead," I said quietly. "Don't think about it."
She was stiff at first, self-conscious about all the staring. But gradually she relaxed, letting me guide her, trusting me to keep her from stumbling.
We moved together, and it felt right. Like we'd been doing this forever.
"Everyone's watching," she murmured.
"Let them watch."
"They're judging. Whispering."
"I don't care what they think."
"You should, you are an Alpha these are important political connections-"
"Elara." I pulled her even closer. "The only thing that matters right now is you, everything else is just noise."
She looked up at me, and something shifted in her expression. The walls she'd been keeping up started to crack.
"Kaden-"
I kissed her.
Right there. In the middle of the dance floor. In front of every Alpha, every pack member, every important guest.
I kissed her like I had been wanting to for months. Deeply, hungrily, pouring every ounce of regret and longing and love into it.
She stiffened for just a second then melted against me, kissing me back with equal intensity.
The room went absolutely silent.
My wolf surged forward, no longer content to just kiss. Wanting to claim, to mark, to make it absolutely clear to everyone watching that Elara was ours.
I pulled back from her lips and moved to her neck. To the place where I had bitten her once before where my faded mark still remained.
"Kaden, what are you-"
I bit down.
Not gently, not carefully with all the force of an Alpha claiming his mate.
My teeth sank into her neck, breaking skin, marking her in a way that couldn't be hidden or denied.
Elara cried out both in pain and in shock. Her hands gripped my shoulders, whether to push me away or pull me closer I couldn't tell.
The bond that had been damaged by my rejection suddenly blazed to life. Stronger than before, more intensely binding us together in a way that felt permanent and absolute.
I felt her wolf respond and felt her acceptance through the connection.
When I finally pulled back, blood was running down her necks. The mark on her throat was deep and clear, unmistakable.
The crowd was gasping, murmuring, some looked shocked, others scandalized and a few looked approving.
I didn't care about any of them.
I looked at Elara at the fresh mark on her neck. At the dazed expression on her face. On the way she was touching her own neck where I'd bitten her, like she couldn't quite believe what had just happened.
"You just marked me," She whispered. "In front of everyone."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I'm done hiding, pretending we're not mates, letting anyone including you doubt how I feel."
I pulled her close again, making sure everyone could see us together. "You're mine, Elara.
And I'm yours, let them all see it."
The orchestra, uncertain what else to do, started playing again. But the damage or the declaration was done.
I'd just publicly claimed Elara as my mate. Had marked her in front of Alphas from six different packs.
There was no taking it back now.
No more political games, no more ambiguity.
Elara was my Luna.
And everyone knew it.