Night Flame

Ch. 11 - New Bonds

Chapter 11 – New Bonds

June of the Shadowwolves

I can't do this. I can not do this. Everyone will be looking at me. There will be hundreds of eyes, looking straight at none other than me. Just the thought of it, makes my breathing come out ragged. I'm starting to pant. I'm panicking. That hasn't happened anymore after... after... Tomas rejected me. Weeks later I stumbled upon Adam. I was scared then, too, just like I am now. But Adam and his friends helped me through that, they managed to make me feel comfortable. And it's weird how I seem to have forgotten the feeling of despair. It feels unfamiliar right in this moment, even though I know I've experienced it at least a thousand times. And now I realise how sheltered I've been, how safe I've felt.

And I know that it's the same people who're standing out there. The same people who've been nothing but loving, kind and caring towards me. So I should at least trust them in return; I'm joining their pack for crying out loud! They called me their family. Maybe it's not so much the people, but the ceremony itself that makes me feel anxious.

Okay, I've got this. One step at a time. Take a deep breath. I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I watch as my shoulders rise and fall with my breathing. I look pretty. I'm wearing a simple, navy blue dress. Joyce helped me pick it out. They told me that in former times people were obligated to wear white when joining a new pack. However that rule has been abolished, so now people get to wear what they want. At first I wanted to pick a green dress, but I really liked the shade of blue this dress possessed. Also Joyce told me it fit me perfectly.

Samantha made my eyeshadow match the dress beautifully. But the truth is, I don't feel confident. What if Adam doesn't like it? Though I do think the make up makes me prettier. I mean look at my eyelashes! They're so full and long now and I've got rosy cheeks without even blushing. Adam must like it, how can he not?

Time for the next step. Leave the bedroom. I turn my back to the mirror and take slow steps to the door. With trembling hands reaching for the doorknob. As it opens the face of Beta Aron comes into view. He is to bring me downstairs. There's a grand, empty room. Big enough to fit the entire pack, twice. It's used for special occasions only.

"You ready, June?" He asks, he's genuinely concerned. I must not do a great job on hiding my nerves. "It's okay to feel scared."

"But I shouldn't be." I answer. "This is what I wanted, what I wished for every night." We stay silent for a while and I take the time to try and control my emotions. "I get to have a new family. I get to create new bonds. I'm just afraid I'll mess up on some point." Beta Aron looks at me, a sad smile gracing his lips. "I want these new bonds to last forever, for as long as time keeps ticking. Until the sun stops shining."

"Then trust that it will." He tells me. 'Trust us to stand by your side, to be your family."

I nod my head, finally able to push away all the nerves. Three. Descend the stairs. He holds out his arm for me to take. Gently I place my hand in the crook of his elbow and we slowly make our way downstairs. Alpha Laurel is talking, and the closer we get, the clearer his words. Tonight we'll welcome our newest member; June of the Blood Hounds. His voice sounds and a lot of cheering and clapping can be heard. I softly squeeze Beta Aron's hand. "Don't worry," he smiles. And we'll welcome her by creating a blood bond with her. And she'll pledge herself by cutting all ties she may have formed to her former pack. Okay, June, don't freak out now. It's going to be okay, you know how it goes. They've talked you through it a million times.

We should enter the room now. Beta Aron opens the door. A white carpet is leading to the front of the room where Alpha Laurel is waiting. As we reach him, I notice my nerves have completely gone. I'm getting excited even! Alpha Laurel takes my hand the second Beta Aron releases me. Low humming starts and I realise the pack isn't just watching; they're part of the ceremony as well. The melody is beautiful, perfect harmonies echo through the room. It's enchanting.

In front of me is a table, impressive in its size and rare in its material; white oak. They told me there weren't much wide oaks left. So seeing a big, massive table made of the special wood is really special. Placed on the table are two big, red candles, their flames emitting just enough warmth for me to feel my cheeks heat up. Also a red bowl with clear water and another bowl filled with a red liquid. Blood. Blood of my new family.

"Standing before you is June, former member of Blood Hounds. Turned rogue when escaping Blood Hound territory, sheltered by Howling Warriors before leaving and taken in by and asking to join your pack. Shadowwolves." I say as clear as I can while turning around. The humming stops as everybody bows his head. "Yes," they speak, hundreds of voices coming together as one. "We'll accept you into our pack, June." A smile graces my lips and the humming of the people starts again.

Turning back to the table, I take one of the two red candles in my hands before facing the crowd once again. "By blowing out this flame, I break any form of ties and bonds that have remained with Blood Hounds, even after leaving them." As I blow out the candle, I feel a weight lift off my shoulders. I sigh in satisfaction, I never knew how tied down I was to Blood Hounds, still. I turn my back to the humming people and place the candle back in its old place. Alpha Laurel is standing behind the table and I quickly glance at him. He smiles encouragingly, which means I'm doing well.

As I pick up the second candle, I can still feel the effects of breaking my bonds with Blood Hounds running through my body. Even now ties are still breaking and I feel lighter by the second. Usually breaking ties with your old pack can be really painful. It's most painful when a wolf is forced to break all ties to their pack. But I'm not forced, I'm willingly distancing myself from them and therefore it's rather quick and painless. It's relieving.

I look over the crowd before continuing. "Blowing out the second flame will set me free from Howling Warriors. I'll cut all ties that may have formed by me staying there, for however short the period may have been." And then the second flame is no longer burning.

Then Beta Aron steps forwards and holds the bowl filled with water. I turn to him and smile. "By washing my hands I will let go of the person I was before I came to Shadowwolves. It purifies me of and takes away all the parts of me that may jeopardize me giving all of myself to Shadowwolves. All the grime I may have created in my rogue-days." My hands dip in the water and I close my eyes. Every grimy part of me is washing away and it's making room for the new bonds I'll create to these people, to my new pack. It's almost done. The humming gets louder as Beta Aron steps back and Alpha Laurel stands in front of me. A knife is present in his hands. It's an ancient knife and there's symbols carved in the heft.

"Now that you've cleansed yourself, June. We'll allow you into our pack by accepting your blood as our own." Alpha Laurel speaks his voice carries through the entire area. The humming turns into singing, an ancient song and I don't understand the words. But Alpha Laurel and Luna Aileen told me it was an old sort of hymn used when welcoming a new member into the pack.

Beta Aron joins us, this time holding the with red liquid filled bowl. Alpha Laurel holds out his hand for me. He holds my hand with my palm up, slowly bringing the knife to the part where my thum meets my pointy-finger. Our gazes meet for a brief second and when I nod, he puts pressure on the skin and then cutting my flesh. Red, crimson blood starts to spill and alpha Laurel guides my hand to over the bowl.

As soon as a couple drops fall into the liquid I feel my body begin to tremble. A warm feeling igniting from within me, it makes me feel hot. But it isn't a bad thing. My wolf-side is alert and becomes less dormant with the second. That part of me is forming bonds and connecting to all those people in the room who are no doubt having the same feeling right this moment.

[a/n]

So this is a bit of a shorter chapter, but she's finally joined Shadowwolves. Next chapter we'll switch back to Adam and that chapter will be longer again.

Thank you for reading! <3