Lunar Eclipse

7 -Joining The Pack

Flickering lanterns illuminate the way from the packhouse to the clearing. Murmured chanting from the gathered wolves sends a shudder down my spine, though the goosebumps on my arms could also be caused by the icy wind rushing over my bare skin. Despite Dante's request, I'm wearing jeans and a crop top—my payback for torturing me this morning. I didn't even bother to pin up my hair. When he came home, the rage for defying him once again spurt out at me, but it was too late to change my outfit. The whole pack was waiting and he had to save face.

The Alpha and Luna stand next to an altar that is built on a small hill in the corner of the clearing. Lance and his mate Milly have chosen their spot just below them to their right. The Beta's stare slices into me as I make my way through the midst of my future pack. When Dante and I pass them, wolves take the knee, but it's undoubtedly a sign of respect for my mate and not the insignificant female by his side. Flight is my only option to escape their strict rules, but I have no place to go. If I run, I will turn into an outcast, and the threat that the Alpha will declare war on my father before the night is up forces my legs to move forward. Staying here is the only way to keep the peace.

We reach the top of the hill and Dante grabs my hand. Turning to face the pack, we reach toward the moon. The chanting stops.

Dante's loud voice carries across the clearing. "The Moon Goddess has blessed me with this mate. Welcome her into your midst as if pack's blood flows through her veins. She is mine and will bear the Alpha heir. Vouch your loyalty to her."

The chanting restarts as everyone once again takes the knee; even Lance bows his head slightly. The whole atmosphere is creepy. I can't make out any of the mumbled words—it's more like an eerie humming—and the reaching shadows from the flickering lanterns are choking me.

The Luna kisses me on both cheeks. "Welcome to your new pack, Raelyn."

"Thanks."

"Now move behind the altar so that Dante can give you your pack tattoo."

When I step next to him, his eyes are filled with darkness, his pupils so dilated that the irises are no longer distinguishable from the rest. Add the dancing flames of the lanterns and he looks like a devil.

Pulling out a knife, he smirks. "You need to bend forward. My mom put a pillow there, so it's not too uncomfortable."

Before I even get a chance to get into the right position, long strands of my honey hair drop to the ground. I reach up to feel the damage—he just chopped off over half of the hair in the back.

"I told you to pin up your hair. That's what you get for not listening again."

"The hell, Dante. That'll take years to grow back."

"Maybe it'll be a good reminder of who is wearing the pants in this relationship. After tonight, I swear it won't be you." He smirks again and clutches the pitiful leftover fluff on the back of my head. "Now get down."

With force, he slams my face into the pillow before positioning himself strategically behind me. I ball my hands to fists when the blade scrapes over the sensitive part of my neck. Teasingly, he nicks the skin in a few places with the tip of the knife. His arousal presses against my butt cheek and my body riles. Pain is imminent, but the bastard makes a sport out of prolonging the inevitable.

When the blade finally cuts into my skin, I cry out in unexpected fear. Burning pain spreads from my neck into my shoulders before crawling down my spine. I dig my fingers into the corners of the altar and breathe into a new wave of pain. The pillow soaks up a few tears and muffles my whimpers.

Dante takes his sweet time to carve the letter S into my neck. When he's done, he bends down, his tongue lapping up the blood. His breath is heavy, his arousal as hard as a rock.