Half-Blooded | The Dark Child Prophecy Series [✔️]

Chapter 54: Hopeful

"So, this is basically like a wedding?" my adopted brother asked, making me inhale slowly to fight off the urge of sighing. "That's what this is, right?"

I shrugged, unsure of how to explain a Mating Ceremony to someone who wasn't a werewolf. But I wasn't totally sure of what it entailed, either. I glanced at Jason as he handed me a rocks glass of whiskey-and-blood. He'd read my mind of what I was craving.

"Sort of," my mate answered as he sat down in the armchair again. "It's a ceremony that demonstrates the bond between one wolf and another before Pack elders and the Pack alphas, like my Alphahood event... But, I have every intention of us having an actual wedding, when the time is right."

I bit down on my back teeth to keep from making a face. He'd brought it up twice since the full moon hunt at Tanière du Loup, and I had fudged on an answer both times. I didn't want to start the fuss of a wedding and a ring and a future yet. I had other responsibilities to the coven to handle first.

"And with your blessing, of course," Jason added quickly.

My mother's eyebrows rose as she sipped her red wine. The smile that filled her face when she lowered her glass was sincere. "If that's what you both want, then of course. However, I think we'd need more time than a couple weeks before the next full moon to prepare for something like that."

I took a drink of my cocktail and leaned back in my seat, smirking. "I wouldn't want an extravagant affair," I answered. "Besides, this is just a first step towards that. There will be plenty of time."

Jason nodded in agreement. He looked over at me and I smiled at him. He was still curious as to why I wanted to space out my rise to power now that I had proven I was an alpha. But he knew that I was also apprehensive with Killian Page's quiet threats still lingering in my memory. I wasn't sure how the wolves calling themselves "purists" would react to a Mating Ceremony, and then a wedding between the Mezdor and Hellmuth lines.

I wanted to give the Pack time to adjust to my heritage, my influence, and me as a person. Maybe if they learned to accept me, there would be less opposition to concern ourselves with.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves with worry, he told me silently. It will all work out.

I know, I answered, surprised by my hesitant tone.

"I always thought Seren would be an early summer or late spring bride, anyways," Jenny said as she rubbed her free hand over her baby bump, smiling at me. "Something outside with a lot of music and dancing."

I caught my mother and Marcus nodding, too.

"I'd be fine with that," Jason chuckled. "It could be arranged."

"There's plenty of time before that," I repeated to drive my point home. "How about we focus on getting me through next month first? Obviously, I'd want all of you to be there, as well as everyone else if possible."

Jason looked over at me again and nodded. "I would love for the whole family to be present, too. This is a big moment for Serenity that allows her to ascend to the Alphahood as my equal."

"Where would this take place?" Marcus asked, swirling his wine glass's contents as he listened.

"We considered here in Oregon, at Meadowlark," Jason said slowly. "Are you comfortable with that, Seren?"

I inhaled again to keep another sigh at bay. I had been trying not to focus on that option. I still felt the PTSD reaction of what had happened in the American Pack house. Jason had gone on a soliloquy of ideas for our future during the trip back to my mother's coven. He thought if we chose to be based in the States, then I could remain close to my parents and siblings, which would make it easier for me to transition. But he also thought that we could easily make Tanière du Loup our full-time home until I decided to end my job as a conflict mediator for the coven, keeping me close to Italy and my aunt.