Raised Among Alphas

9 - Luna Ceremony

Alora POV

"My Luna, you are gorgeous," I am amazed at the woman in front of me as Leila comes out of her bathroom looking like a true goddess.

Leila wore a long sparkling gold satin dress with a V-neck and spaghetti straps. She twirled around, forcing the long skirt of her dress to dance with her. Wow. The beauty of a happy woman lights up the world.

The shine of her outfit matched her beautiful golden locks that somehow we managed to contain on a high messy bun.

Her exposed neck showed off her brand-new silver mark. I caught her staring at it several times while I was doing her hair. Naughty girl.

Leila described it to be a unique sensation, something unexplainable.

"You'll know the feeling someday... maybe sooner than you think" She said. A dark cloud of reality hit me.

"Yes, I will. One day..." I should probably pretend to be happy about it.

Being marked by Jathred intensified their bond and made her our official Luna. Now that she was marked, they could feel each other even if they were miles away. She can now mind-link our pack members, and all of our wolves recognize her authority. This ceremony was a formality to present her to the pack she would lead and a perfect opportunity for a celebration.

"Alora, do you truly believe I can do this?" Leila's demeanour changed drastically. She had been happy and enthusiastic throughout the preparations, but now only an hour before her ceremony, she looked concerned.

"Leila, you are kind, just, smart and intuitive. You have all the qualities of a great Luna. As a warrior, I can tell you I am honoured to be under your command. As someone who sees Jathred as a combo of a fatherly-brotherly figure, I am happy the Goddess matched you two. You are an impressive woman. We are all lucky to have you as our Luna." I opened my heart to Leila, hoping I could help her wash away her fears and settle her nerves.

I have only known Leila for about a week. During this time, we bonded and got to know each other better. I truly believe everything I told her because I have used our meetings to intrude into her mind. That's why I know without a doubt she is the right person for Jathred and our pack.

"As soon as the ceremony ends, I will rip that dress off you," Kasthor growled at me lustfully after intruding into the room, cutting my conversation with Leila and taking over my attention.

Kasthor walked in wearing his light brown linen suit, the one that I picked for him because it highlights his eyes.

My scent lingered on him, a consequence of our earlier rendezvous in the safe house near the training grounds after we came back from our morning patrol. The more time I spend around him, the harder it gets to keep my hands to myself. All I can think of is him, and all I look forward to is having him all alone for me.

The agile wolf had one of his hands sliding under my short ochre chiffon dress, getting a hold of my ass. I saw his pupils dilate the second he found out I wasn't wearing any underwear, and his wolf came forward with a warning growl before kissing me hard.

"Hey! I'm all in for your love but don't make me witness the private parts." Leila called out for our sense of decency. As if we had any.

"You look beautiful, Luna," Kasthor cleared his throat as he turned around to face our new Luna.

"Are you girls ready to go?" Kasthor offered his hand to Leila. Don't worry, it was his left hand, not the one he used to grip my buttcheek.

We were going to escort her to the ceremony where Jathred awaited her. It's a tradition for a Luna to be accompanied to the ceremony by the wolves picked by the Alpha, usually the ones he has the closest bond with.

It's an honour for the warriors chosen and a symbol of our acceptance and protection. This ritual represents our respect for the new Luna.

The Alpha awaited at the centre of the main plaza, flanked by our elders. All of our pack members attend the event to witness the special occasion that happens once every generation.

Kasthor and I walked down the path decorated with Asters, just a couple of steps behind Leila, guarding her. Kasthor to her right and me to the left, I could feel Silas' proud aura radiating from him as we delivered her to our Alpha.

Luna's ceremonies are unique and magical events. Everyone looks forward to the celebration. My favourite part is when our Alpha presents us with his fated mate and professes his undying love for her. He vows his eternal loyalty and protection as she takes her place as our Luna.

Throughout the ceremony, Kasthor and I held hands, standing to the left side of the happy couple. We did receive a couple of disapproving stares from some of the Elders, but nothing too stinging. We enjoyed the event until I started feeling a new fear coming from Kasthor right at the tip of my fingers. The fact that he was distracted with the ceremony and that we were holding hands helped me to intrude into his soul. I couldn't help to stay away from his mind whenever the opportunity presented itself, and if he was afraid, I felt responsible for knowing why.

As I slid into his thoughts, I saw him picturing me in Leila's place with a faceless man. Kasthor had feared the day I would find my mate, but as of today, he stressed the possibility that the man could be an alpha.

Back in the day, when we used to think I would be matted to either one of the Varon brothers, our Elders had high hopes for that union even if I wasn't the daughter of an Alpha. The Goddess matches powerful wolves together, and Alphas are usually matched with Alpha descendants. My father was a Beta, but his abilities and genetics surpassed those of many alpha wolves so my chances to mate an Alpha were high.

The size and skills of Thana are easily matched to those of great Alpha wolves and are way superior to any other she-wolf, at least from my pack. It is assumed the moon goddess will match my wolf to another one stronger than her and a wolf that powerful would have to be an alpha.

By the time I came of mating age and nothing happened, the idea I would be mated to an Alpha slowly faded away. There are very few Alphas, in the Desert there are only three and Jathred was the only unmatched at the time. In the Mountains, they have hundreds of scattered packs, but very few unmatched Alphas, even less strong Alphas. I have met some of the few single ones, and there was no magic connecting me to any of them. So, for the last two years, we have discarded the possibility of being mated to an Alpha. Although for some reason, now Kasthor seems to believe that still could happen.

He caught me staring at him and planted a kiss on my lips.

"Stay away from my fears, those are mine to fight alone." He warned me in a whisper with a sweet tone, forcing a smile that almost seemed natural, and then he blocked his mind from me.

"Kasthor, I'm yours," I assured him as I tightened my grip on his arm.

"My Alora, for now." He replied in a whisper, hiding his fears behind a sweet smile.

I wish I was reckless enough to ask him to mark me and take me as his chosen mate. How I wish I was selfish enough to convince him we didn't have to obey the Goddess and all we needed was each other. I know convincing him wouldn't be hard at all, but deep down we would both regret it. Taking away from our wolves the chance to meet their fated mates will only hurt our bonds with our wolves.

We didn't speak for the rest of the ceremony. The exchange of words between Leila and Jathred almost took a tear away from me. The elders acknowledged her as our new Luna and blessed the happy couple. The pack cheered enthusiastically and you could feel the love in the air it was almost touchable.

Us, werewolves, are very traditional beings. We rely on our rituals, culture and folklore and hold them dear to our hearts. Our Moon Goddess shapes our love lives, and she decides our destiny so is on us to celebrate her union with the respect and happiness that they bring to our world.

I still don't understand why she would allow me to love Kasthor only to punish me with the guilt of belonging to someone else. Whatever her reasons are, I must believe there is a higher purpose, and maybe one day, everything will make sense.