Chapter 189 Nova POV

Chapter 189 Nova POV
I grasp my sister’s hand tightly, the pack crest tattoos on our forearms freshly healed. All three of us chose the same arm, the same placement. Rage is officially the Alpha of the Red Moon Pack, and we are his Lunas. It is both exhilarating and overwhelming—we have been fully welcomed into this pack. Here, we do not have to conceal what we are. We are no longer a whispered secret or something to be hidden. We stand on the brink of completing the mating ceremony. And, selfishly, what I anticipate most is everyone leaving within the next day. I want solitude—with Rage and Ares—to step into our roles, to truly begin our lives. To build something lasting. To have pups...many of them.

Seeing Lilith with her soft, rounded belly stirred something unexpected within me. It was as though a dormant instinct had awakened—a sudden, insistent longing. I have yet to share this with Ares and Rage, though I will soon.

Large, flat stones are arranged over the sand, forming a path that leads to the raised stage, which will later serve as a dance floor. At its center stands a striking sculpture of a red moon. Elder Otto waits before it. Rows of chairs line the path, filled with nearly the entire pack. Our sisters and their mates, our new friends, Rage’s friends, his brothers—and Ingrid.

Our aunt enhances the atmosphere—the lanterns dim, a soft fog drifts across the ground, and wildflowers bloom along the aisle, larger and more vibrant than nature would allow.

Ares and I are dressed in flowing, light gray silk gowns. Mine is daringly cut, low in the front, ending just beneath my navel. A long slit along my left leg reveals it fully with each step. My Alpha stands waiting, his gaze briefly dropping to my exposed leg. He smiles—that smile that unravels me completely. Goddess, I love his smile.

My father stands beside my mother. Luna Bella is absent—there is tension there, though it is not mine to unravel. Rage’s parents stand opposite them, offering soft, measured smiles.

Ares’s gown is more modest in the front, with a sweetheart neckline, but the back is entirely bare, revealing the intricate Moon Goddess tattoo spanning her skin.

Rage extends his hands toward us. We take them and step onto the stage. Elder Otto begins the ceremony. Ares stands at one side of him, I at the other. Rage looks impeccable in his tailored gray suit. For a fleeting moment, desire overtakes me, but his fingers brush mine—a quiet grounding. I steady myself and refocus.

Otto collects small amounts of our blood, mixing it with wine in a golden goblet adorned with red rubies. One by one, we drink. We recite our vows—simple, intentional. I notice my father stiffen each time fidelity is mentioned.

A kiss follows. Cheers rise. And then, in a seamless shift, our aunt Maxine transforms the space. Round tables fill the beach, chairs appearing around them as if summoned. Our table is rectangular—set for family and those closest to us. Our parents, our aunt, his brothers, our sisters and their mates, and the Beta, Delta, and Gamma with theirs.

Food is served, drinks flow freely. Rage insists on a dance. I dislike dancing, but—for him—I concede.

Ingrid’s gaze has not left him all night. And I have been far too aware of it. Irritation coils tightly within me. I glance past Rage to Ares.

"Tell her," I say sweetly, "that if she doesn’t stop staring, I will remove her beautiful eyes from their sockets with my bare hands."

Rage’s eyes widen slightly.

He looks over just in time to see Ingrid’s face drain of color. She looks away immediately. Rage runs a hand through his silver hair, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. My father begins to laugh, Alpha August joins him, my mother mutters something distinctly werewolf in nature, and soon the entire table is laughing.

Ares rises abruptly.

"I need to go say hello to Asteria and her mate."

Our attention follows her. A witch stands nearby, Asteria, and beside her is Damian. I vaguely recall Rage mentioning him at Rose and Matt’s ceremony.

"What’s wrong?" Ares asks, noticing the shift in our sisters’ expressions.

“He was our first mate,” Rose says, with Lilith nodding in agreement.

"Water under the bridge," Ares replies lightly, as though the past holds no weight.

I observe Matt shift in his seat, while Dragon remains entirely unbothered. Asteria and Damian approach as Ares moves to greet them warmly—an unusual openness for her.

My mother leans forward slightly. "Asteria was one of the candidates to succeed Maxine. They share the same abilities. She is exceptionally powerful."

"Nova, you don’t know her?" Rose asks.

"No," I reply. "I travel frequently for work. I’m not always aware of who Ares keeps close."

They reach our table. Ares introduces Asteria to those unfamiliar—nearly everyone except our mother and aunt.

"I know this is short notice," Asteria says, "but Ares, would you come to our mating ceremony? It’s in a week."

"We’ll be there," Ares answers without hesitation, without even consulting us.

Damian stands quietly beside her, holding her hand. Her witch’s mark glows faintly at his neck, his mark visible on her as well. Her raven hair is tied into a high ponytail, her halter dress revealing sharp collarbones and an elegant frame. She is even more striking in person. The last time I saw her, she had been little more than an apparition.

"Finally found someone that wants you, huh, Damian?” Matt quips.

Rose hits his chest, but in the next instant—his mouth is gone.

Asteria places a hand on his shoulder. "If you have nothing kind to say...do you truly require a mouth?" Her gray irises swirl with red.

"Give him back his mouth, babe," Damian laughs. "My dad went without his for a week." he smiles genuinely, he is quite handsome when he smiles.

"Fine," she relents with a grin, revealing small fangs. Then she glances at me. "He does look handsome when he smiles. I agree."

My mind blanks.

Dragon bursts into laughter, rising to clap Damian on the shoulder. "Lilith can read my mind too," he says. "It’s...entertaining."

"They share more than that in common," Damian adds.

The two of them dissolve into laughter, clearly enjoying a joke the rest of us are not privy to.