Chapter 179 Under the Gaze of the Moon
The following evening, the Blackwood pack house was a divided fortress of nerves. On the north wing, Sarah was a trembling bundle of anxiety, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. On the south wing, Toby was pacing a literal trench into the floorboards, his wolf pacing internally in perfect, restless synchronization.
In the Luna’s suite, Leela and Ginny were the calm anchors in Sarah's storm. Though they were only a few years older than the bride-to-be, the lives they had lived—the battles fought and the mates they had claimed—gave them an aura of ancient wisdom.
"Deep breaths, Sarah," Ginny said, her voice soothing as she pinned a stray golden curl. "If I could survive Jax growling 'mine' at me while smelling like a bargain bin, you can survive a beautiful walk through a clearing."
They helped her into the cornflower-blue silk, the fabric whispering against her skin. On the floor, the twins provided the much-needed comic relief. Caspian had discovered the long, sheer veil draped over a chair. He grabbed the gossamer fabric and pressed it against his face, his green eyes peering through the mesh. Suddenly, he’d yank it down, shouting "BOO!" before dissolving into a cackle louder than a banty hen trying to lay an ostrich egg. Briar, not to be outdone, began trying to "help" by bringing Sarah her barefoot beads, one at a time, with the solemnity of a high priestess.
In the corner, a trio of matriarchs watched the scene with misty eyes. Martha, Daisy (Toby’s mother), and Elana sat in a row of armchairs, a living timeline of the pack’s history. Elana watched Leela with a fierce, quiet pride; the girl had stepped into the Luna role with a grace that felt ancestral. Then her gaze shifted to Ginny. Who would have thought, Elana mused, that a human would become such a vital, beating part of our pack’s heart?
On the other side of the house, the "advice" being given to Toby was of a much more rugged variety. Fennigan and Jax were leaning against the mahogany dresser, watching Toby struggle with his collar.
"You're shaking like a leaf, kid," Jax teased, a smirk playing on his lips. "If you trip during the exchange, the Moon might think you're trying to bow."
"Leave him be, Jax," Fennigan chuckled, though his eyes were full of a knowing, brotherly warmth. He stepped forward and straightened Toby's shoulders. "Listen, Toby. Here’s the truth of it: from tonight on, you’ll want to lasso the moon for her just to see her smile. And some nights, you’ll bring it to her, and she’ll look at it, tilt her head, and say, 'Never mind, I think I'll take the stars instead.'"
Toby looked up, wide-eyed. "What do I do then?"
Fennigan clapped him on the back, a heavy, grounding weight. "You start building a ladder to the stars, son. That’s what being a mate is. It’s the constant work of making her world beautiful, even when she changes her mind about what 'beautiful' looks like."
Jax nodded in agreement. "And you do it because the look in her eyes when you succeed is better than any territory or title we could ever give you."
Toby took a deep, shuddering breath, the teasing finally settling into his bones as a foundation of support. He wasn't just a boy following Sarah anymore. He was a man prepared to build ladders to the stars.The air in the clearing was crisp, scented with pine and the electric hum of a thousand expectant hearts. The moon, a massive silver coin, hung suspended in the ink-black sky, illuminating the path like a natural spotlight.
"Are you ready, Sarah?" Leela’s voice was a soft anchor. She didn't wait for an answer, instead gently taking the younger girl’s arm and leading her out of the shadows of the pack house and toward the sacred ground.
The seating was already a sea of familiar faces. Elana had moved with a quiet efficiency, guiding Martha and Daisy to the very front row, where the scent of the earth was strongest. Damon, Jax, and Toby’s father, Macon, followed suit, their presence a solid wall of paternal and warrior pride. Even the twins seemed to sense the gravity of the moment; Caspian and Briar sat with a rare, wide-eyed stillness, their tiny blue outfits glowing in the moonlight.
As they reached the base of the wooden structure, Leela stepped forward. She placed her palm against the rough-hewn timber of the arch. For a heartbeat, there was only silence. Then, a low vibration thrummed through the grass.
Small, vibrant buds began to erupt from the wood, unfurling with supernatural speed. Within seconds, the entire arch was a cascading waterfall of blue tea roses, their petals shimmering with a faint, elemental dew. The fragrance hit the front row like a wave of peace. Briar let out a delighted squeal and clapped her chubby hands together, the sound echoing through the hushed clearing.
With a satisfied nod, Leela retreated, stepping back to take Briar into her lap. Nearby, Jax held a squirming but silent Caspian, keeping the boy settled so Leela could rest her weary body.
Then, all eyes turned to the center.
Sarah was breathtaking—the blue flowers in her hair, the barefoot beads sparkling against the grass, and the silver necklace catching the moonlight. Toby stood waiting for her, looking every bit the handsome protector, even if his stiff collar and the weight of a hundred gazes made him look like he was bracing for a gale-force wind.
Fennigan stepped into place behind them, his silhouette tall and commanding against the floral backdrop. He raised his hands, his voice dropping into the ancient, resonant tone of an Alpha presiding over his kin.
"We are gathered under the gaze of the Moon," Fennigan began, his eyes locking onto the young couple with a fierce, paternal warmth. "To witness a bond that began in childhood and has grown strong enough to weather any storm."