“How far do we have to walk”? I asked quietly, ''I don’t want to ruin the shoes''.
Rosemary battered my question away, saying “my dear, shoes can be wiped clean, please don’t worry about that now, okay”?
I nodded, I was so grateful to have these wonderful people by my side. “I hope you know how much I appreciate everything you have both done for me since we arrived earlier today”. I shook my head at that and mumbled, “I can’t believe I only arrived here this morning, it's gone by in such a whirlwind”. Phil was safely patting the hand under his arm, “It has been a bit on the fast side” and chuckled. Rosemary started to say that I had handled everything well when I picked up Jonas’s scent. I stopped and just sniffed the air. I was taking the scent in, deep within my lungs, I could smell the trees around us and the undergrowth of ferns. It was all mingled into a smell that I linked to Jonas.
“Just a bit further, and we will be at the edge of the clearing,” prompted Phil. “Are you having second thoughts, my dear?”
“No” I shook my head firmly, “No, I’m just trying to memorise the smell and sounds around me right now. I want to remember everything”. Smiling at me with tears glistening in her eyes, Rosemary gave me a quick hug, and just like Phil had done, prompted me forward until I was indeed at the edge of the clearing. I could hear the sound of many people talking now, funny I couldn’t hear them before. I said as much to Rosemary, and I was told the clearing had a sort of natural soundproofing, and that was why the place had been chosen. that and the fact that the moonstone is here. “This clearing is a huge part of pack life,” Phil added on when Rosemary stopped talking. “All of our official ceremonies take place in her. It is where we honour the moon goddess. It is where we feel the closest to her”. I don’t know why, but when he said the latter part, I could feel a shiver raise slowly up my back as an invisible hand stroked it. Wow, where did that thought come from? I laughed softly. Rosemary and Phil both looked at me expectantly, wanting to share the joke. But before I could tell what had made me laugh, I heard a horn blowing and the crowd of people fell silent. I squeezed Phil’s hand, looking for a bit of reassurance.
I could see a group of people now, walking out from the other side of the clearing. They were all wearing robes the colour of the moon, and they also seemed to shimmer, which was beautiful to look at. “These people are the council of elders, my dear”, said Rosemary quietly.
I looked at her shocked, “The council elders are here? Why? I thought it was just your pack present”? Phil clasped my hand tighter and assured me that they are only here because of who Jonas is, and as Jonas had found his fated mate, they were here to witness. And only witness. I let out a deep breath at that. “I was worried they would ask me questions I wouldn’t know how to answer”? I think my panic was starting to show on my face, and Rosemary tried her best to try and calm me down. But in the end, the thing that got me to stop freaking out was seeing Jonas walk out and climb up onto a large flat rock that had naturally raised itself out of the ground. “Will I have to climb up onto that rock thing?” I said, somewhat ignorant, and I could hear Phil quietly chortle, “that is the moonstone my dear, not just a rock thing”. Even though they were both smiling at me, I could feel myself blush. “Oh, my Goddess, I’m so sorry. I never wanted to offend you, either of you”, I said in a rush. “You haven't,” they both assured me. With that, I heard the horn blow again, and I knew this was the time for me to walk out into the clearing and head toward Jonas. I squared my shoulders and with a nod to both Rosemary and Phil, said “let’s do this shall we”?
I finally stepped into the clearing, hearing a lot of gasps and whispering. I knew at once that all eyes were on me, and for once in my life I thought, let them!!
As I walked past the rows of pack members and finally the elders, I was aware that everyone was bowing their heads out of respect. Of course, they would do so just because I had the former grand Alpha and Luna with me. And of course, the Alpha of Alpha standing before them. None of that mattered to me, I only had eyes for Jonas now. As I got closer, I could see him beaming with pride at the 3 of us walking towards him.
When I finally got to the edge of the moonstone, I started to wonder how I would get up onto it with the gown I was wearing when two huge werewolves came on either side of me. With a gentle grace that you’d never think either processed, lifted me up so that I only had to take a step forward to stand on the moonstone with my Jonas.
It was silent again now, Jonas held both my hands in his and smiled down at me. “My Goddess, your mesmerising, you’re so beautiful. I smiled up at him, but couldn’t speak as I held back tears. A robed man stepped up on the moonstone with us, looking at us both, and asked if we were ready. Jonas and I nodded.
“Members of the Luna shadow pack, we are all gathered here this night, the last night of the full moon, to join fated mates together and solidify your pack. Grand Alpha Jonas Quint and Genevieve Brooks you have both been granted the most special gift of the moon mother, you have both found your fated mates wishing one another. It is at times like these that we must give thanks and praise the great mother for allowing the two halves of your souls to come together”.
Everyone, including Jonas and I, said “blessed be” at this. And with our heads bowed in respect, I felt a hand on my head. I glanced up and saw that the elder had his hand on Jonas’s head too. Although Jonas had to lower himself somewhat so the elder could reach, I giggled a little at this, and Jonas gave me a quick wink. I could feel my heart starting to flutter, he always made me feel like this, and I loved it.
I loved him.
When the elder had taken his hands off us, he reached inside his robes and pulled out the most beautiful silk scarf I had ever seen. You could clearly see it was old, but it still had a vibrance. This scarf was twisted around both of our hands, and when he was finished doing that, he again reached in and pulled a small golden blade out of his robes.
My eyes widen when they saw the blade. Jonas must have seen as he lent forward and whispered it's not as scary as it looks and is over quickly. “Be brave little wolf”, he finished.
The elder held up the blade and spoke to all in the clearing. “We will now cut each hand, and they shall be held together with this scarf. This symbolic act is the first of three vows that shall be made”.
We opened our palms slightly, it was a little difficult because of the scarf, and the elder cut a small nick into Jonas’s palm and the same size nick in mine. Once this was complete, our hands were fastened tightly now. And bound by the scarf, I could feel a strange tingling starting at my palm, slowly raising up my arm and settling in my chest.
“Now we shall allow Grand Alpha Jonas to mark his mate in front of his pack, as a declaration to them that this will be their new Grand Luna”. Jonas nodded to the elder and slowly brought me into his arms, “are you ready, my little Wolf”?
“I am,” I said, hoping my voice was strong enough so the pack could hear me. Jonas turned me in his arms, so I was now standing in front of him. He had one arm around my waist, pulling my back against his chest, and the other hand had started to stroke my neck, on the spot that would bare his mark. I could feel gentle kisses being trailed down from behind my ear down the curve of my neck, and he give me one last gentle kiss before I felt his mouth on my shoulder.
Even though this was being done in front of the pack, the elders and his parents, I felt Jonas and I were the only two here. I could feel his teeth scrape my neck and knew his canines had extended. He licked the spot again and slowly bit into my shoulder. I felt like lightning had struck me, every nerve in my body seemed to wake up at the same moment. I could feel Jonas holding me up as my legs went under me when I felt the first scratch, but this feeling was pure ecstasy. I could feel the bond between us solidify as Jonas finished the bite. Every nerve cell in my body was connected to him. I could feel him inside me, beside me, all around me. I couldn’t describe it. Jonas held on to me as I tested my legs to see if they would hold me up. I stood again in front of Jonas, as the elder declared the second part of the ceremony had been completed.
The pack erupted into whoops of joy, the applause was almost deafening. I looked up into Jonas’s face, and he looked down at me, and we shared the sweetest kiss. It held all the love we felt for one another and the promise to uphold the vows we had made here today.
“Luna shadow pack, I would like to introduce you now to your new Grand Luna. May they lead with wisdom”. The whole pack said “Blessed be” together, and then it was Jonas’s time to talk. With me still standing in front of him, he addressed his fellow werewolves.
“Well, what can I say, but thank you to all of you for accepting this stunning woman to be your Luna? I can’t tell you how proud I am of you. We will be strengthened as a pack. With Genevieve standing by me, I know we will only go from strength to strength”. The crowd again erupted into cheers and shouts of joy.