His One and Only

The Former Luna

"We have all gathered here to welcome your new Luna, and my mate," Ethan said, his voice booming and sending a chill down my spine.

"Isabelle Reynard," he said and everyone started clapping. That was my cue.

I stepped onto the wooden stage, my shoe padding on the floor on which a few panels creaked.

The former Luna looked at me with icy eyes and an unreadable expression while Ethan's eyes didn't leave the crowd.

Me and Ethan stood on either side of the former Luna and she was handed a knife.

"Now, Isabelle Reynard will pledge her loyalty to this pack and its members," she directed this to the pack members before turning to me.

"Repeat after me," she said as she sliced her palm open and I internally panicked.

That wasn't supposed to happen yet, was it? Vanessa told me something else! I tried to keep my expression calm and my heartbeat normal as she extended the golden hilt of the dagger towards me.

I swallowed, hoping to swallow away my fear along with the saliva.

I squeezed my eyes shut as everyone stared at me and sliced open my palm. I shoved my fingers into the cut to keep it from healing and reached my hand towards the former Luna. It stung so bad as the Luna and me held hands, our blood mixing together.

I could feel her blood entering my wound which felt odd.

"I," she started, her unwavering eyes watching my every move and from the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Ethan and I significantly calmed down.

"I," I said, trying to keep my voice confident and unwavering.

"Isabelle Reynard," the former Luna said and I repeated.

"Pledge my loyalty for The Blue Moon pack," her voice boomed with authority and that was when she became kinda like a role model for me. I wanted to become a Luna like her.

"Pledge my loyalty for The Blue Moon pack," I said, trying to sound like her.

"And promise to protect its name and its people with my life, for the rest of my life," I repeated after her, my voice sure and full of promise.

We let go of each other's hands and turned to the front. Everyone cheered and clapped and I felt my heart swell.

Suddenly, a sharp pain passed through my skull and I staggered. Ethan was quick on his feet and I leaned on him.

Several voices entered my mind, whispering all at the same time as they did and the pain doubled.

Ethan guided me away and to a chair while Vanessa brought me some water. Vanessa patted my back while Ethan kneeled on the ground next to me and kept holding my hand.

I drank the water and heaved a sigh as the pain died down, making my shoulders slump.

"Feeling better?" Ethan said and I smiled at him.

***

I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to start a new day. My first day as the Luna of The Blue Moon pack.

Ethan wasn't in bed which made me pout but by his scent, I could tell that he must've left just ten minutes ago.

I shrugged it off and pulled myself to the edge of the bed. Grabbed my phone to see a message from Leah.

(Hey! 👋)
(How'd it go yesterday 🤔)
(❓❓❓)

                                                                                        (Hi!)
                                                                   (It went well 😊)

I turned off my phone and went to the bathroom with a spring in my step and a smile on my face.

I got ready and went down for breakfast. I saw Vanessa and Drake bickering, again.

"D-Don't you two e-ever stop fighting?" I said as I put some food on my plate.

"We're not fighting. We're having a conversation," Drake said to which Vanessa nodded. They agreed on something? Surprising.

"Y-Yeah yeah," I said and sat down next to Vanessa. I listened as they talked, and believe me when I say this, listening to them was better than watching T.V.

After eating, I decided to go see the former Luna. She was supposed to stay with us for a week or so. I wanted to learn and she was the only person who could actually teach me.

"Vanessa?" I said as I handed her a dish after washing and she dried it.

"Yes?" She said as she put the plate in the rack.

"C-Can you take m-me to see th-the former Luna?" I said, not completely focused on the task at hand.

"Sure," she said and I smiled at her which she returned.

We walked through endless corridors and passed by countless doors until we reached richly ornamented double doors.

They were white in color with gold flower patterns and looked like a door to a royal bedroom.

"Um, before you go in, Luna, I just wanna tell you that the former Luna is, well, unique, to say the least. So, I just hope you don't, well, lose your mind," Vanessa said with an awkward smile.

'What the hell does that mean?' Liz said as she sprinted around, making me dizzy.

'Only one way to find out,' I said.

"Thank you for the heads-up. I'll be careful," I said with a big smile which she returned and left after telling me good luck.

I thought she was making a huge deal out of nothing and she was probably just exaggerating. Well, no point dwelling over it anymore.

I knocked on the door thrice and waited until I heard an all too familiar, 'Come in'. Here goes nothing.

Going inside, I came face to face with Ethan's mom who was standing in the middle of the room with her arms crossed.

"And who are you?" She finally spoke up.

"H-Hello-," I started to say but she cut me off.

"I am Elma, Ethan's mother," she said with a smile and after waiting a moment, I started again.

"O-Oh, y-yes. I-I a-," I got cut off, again.

"You must Isabelle, Ethan's mate," she said like she didn't know what she was doing. I waited longer this time and when she didn't say anything, I started.

"Y-Yes, I c-cam-," again. I just don't learn, do I?

"You must be here to ask me about a Luna's duties? Well, what do you wanna know?" She said as she went ahead and sat down on one of the couches, motioning for me to join.

I sat down and just kept staring at her while she did the same.

"Well...?" She said and motioned her hand, telling me to say something.

"W-Well, I-I was h-hopi-."

"Let me start from the basics."

This was gonna be a loong day...