Chapter 98: Letting Go

Luna ceremony in Blue Blood:

The guests arrive one by one. It is all a spectacle of wealth and elegance. Expensive cars and haute couture dresses are on display.

Blue Blood is buzzing with activity; today is a special day. The Alpha and Luna are being sworn in as mates by the Elders, after which the Luna will be installed.

Soft music emanates from the boxes as those present feast on the abundant food and drink. The invited Alphas take the opportunity to exchange ideas about the affairs of their packs, while the Lunas prepare to welcome Meg into their circle.

Crescent Moon's flashy Rolls Royce pulls up. The entire Alpha family is on board. The four of them get out and mingle with the crowd. Cliara is there too, trying to hide behind her brother. This is the first time she has appeared in public since the incident, and everyone stares at her curiously.

Some look at her with pity, others gossip in groups at the sight of the patch over her eye and the scar on one side of her face. There are so many stories about the reason for the beating the Alpha female received. It was even rumored that she was in a relationship with an already mated wolf and received a good whipping from his partner.

The official explanation for what happened is that the investigation is ongoing. But it has been months and the matter is still unresolved.

Uncomfortable under the judgmental stares, Cliara walks to the back of the packhouse. When she spots the woods, she decides to go for a walk. Tears stream down her cheeks as she walks up a path, the hatred in her heart raging in all its intensity.

"Lori, wait until I'm in Eclipse Howl next week, on Romero's birthday. Then I'll deal with you. You have scarred me for life, robbed me of my beauty," she sobs. "Who would want a mate like me? Look how ugly I've become. Just wait, I'll come for you".

She clenches her fists and punches a tree hard. After a while, she collapses to the ground, sobbing heavily in a ball of misery.

"Why wouldn't your mate want you? And who says you're ugly? To me, you are perfect". Cliara's head snapped up, she thought to be alone in the forest all this time. When her eyes meet those of the intruder, she's shocked.

'MATE! MATE!' her wolf howls. A scent more pungent than the most expensive perfume fills her nostrils. She stares at the man in disbelief, her whole body shaking.

"You won't reject me? You don't think I'm ugly?" she stutters, staring at the man hovering over her.

"It's not your looks that matter in a relationship, it's your character. So don't let your circumstances ruin the purity inside you. The fear is just the packaging, the beauty comes from within". He extends his hand to help her to her feet. His thumb wiped the tears from her cheeks.

The sparks from their touch confirmed that they were mates.

"But my character is not pure. I was just planning an attack on the person who brought me these imperfections. I want to make her life as miserable as I feel now". As the tears began to flow again, the man took a handkerchief from his pocket. Tenderly, he wiped her face.

"The real art of life is to let go. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe we wouldn't have met if all that hadn't happened. You would still have the outward beauty and would not have seen the point of being here".

A smile finally appears on the woman's face.

"Selene would have arranged our meeting differently. You would have been struck by my beauty and wanted to take me everywhere to show me off. Now you're stuck with an ugly mate. How will you face your family?"

The man frowns, looks away for a moment, and then turns back to her.

"My family has some shortcomings as well. They, too, face challenges. Some of their faults are irreparable, like your scars. Others have turned into inner sorrows that they have to let go of. So you see, everyone gets their fair share of life."

Cliara listens in awe to her mate's words. She wonders where he got this wisdom, which is rarely heard from ordinary wolves. He understands her astonishment.

"You wonder how I know all this? Well, I have just spent two years in the Human Town. The culture of the humans is many times worse than that of us werewolves. Humans covet power and money and will mow down anything and anyone standing in their way," he explains quietly. "We are pack wolves, we need each other to survive. And sometimes things just happen, we just have to forgive and forget."

And then Cliara remembers that they are both in Blue Blood, where the Luna ceremony is about to start. This stranger is walking through the forest, just like her, perhaps thinking about his difficulties too.

"And you, what is your story? Are you also here to take part in the ceremony?"

"Well, my story is not as dramatic as yours. I was away from home for too long, my wolf became restless. I need contact with other werewolves, the connection and the feeling of belonging somewhere. And I came back just in time for this important day," he answered her with a beginning glee in his voice.

"I am from Crescent Moon. My father is Alpha Kertin and my brother is Zane. Luna Megan was in the pack a few days ago to speak to me personally and present me with the invitation," she answered. "My name is Cliara. What is your name and what pack are you from?"

The stranger takes her hand and brings it to his lips.

"Alpha female Cliara, my mate. I am Hedrick, the prodigal son of the renegade Alpha Tristan and the brother of the current Alpha Alvarez. Meg is his sister-in-law. I wouldn't have missed this day for the world, and I'm here to wish them luck." ..