A New Kind of Family #2
“You understand that by doing so, you are committing yourself in loyalty to all the members of Harvest Moon and submitting yourself to my authority as your alpha from this moment forward.”
“Yes, sir,” I confirmed with a nod, feeling a bit more confident.
“You are prepared to relinquish all ties to the Thunder Moon Pack as a member of their ranks and accept all responsibilities of joining Harvest Moon?”
“Yes.”
With that final confirmation, Caelan revealed the sacred dagger that had been used by his pack since its founding and sliced open his right palm.
“Please offer me your dominant hand,” he instructed.
I didn’t hesitate as I held it out, knowing full well what he intended to do. He grabbed hold of my hand and held the tip of the dagger to my flesh. He hesitated only for a moment, his eyes flicking to mine in silent apology before he sliced into my skin.
I winced slightly but didn’t make a sound. I’d had worse wounds than this.
We interlocked our cut palms, allowing the blood of the Harvest Moon Pack to flow within me. As my blood mixed with his, it mingled with the strength of all the former leaders that had come together to make up his DNA.
“Welcome, Shade Mallory. Harvest Moon Pack. Zeta,” he announced with pride.
I was surprised to hear him change my ranking, particularly to one as high as a zeta. Zetas were the highest ranking of the warrior wolves, and it meant a lot to earn such a title.
I smiled. I thought I would be sad to not be affiliated with Thunder Moon anymore, but it feels as though a weight has been lifted off my chest. It feels good.
I was no longer shackled by my past. No longer held by the expectations of a father that despised me. I could simply be myself, and for the first time in my life, my future seemed brighter.
Suddenly, the pack mind-link snapped into place, and their cheers rang through the air and my mind as they celebrated their newest member.
I turned, looking out over all the wolves of my new pack as they smiled, clapped, and whooped just for me. I could feel a single tear travel across my cheek. I was finally home.
Caelan grabbed my hand and linked it through his arm as we left the stage, inviting the whole pack to join us in a celebratory feast.
***
Caelan led us to the head table as soon as we entered the dining hall. Unlike the other tables around the room, this one was long and rectangular instead of round. He guided me toward the two places directly in the center, facing the great dining room.
He pulled out my chair, and I took a seat with only a moment’s hesitation. This was where the luna sat, and by placing me here, he was stating his intention toward me loud and clear. He took his own seat beside me and quickly interlaced his fingers with mine again.
“Try not to worry, baby,” he encouraged, bringing the back of my hand to his lips and leaving a soft kiss. “You’re perfect. I know you don’t see it, but I do, and they will too. Trust me.”
I took a deep breath and did my best to stay calm. Taffy is right. The pack loves and trusts Caelan. Perhaps they will trust his choice for their future luna as well.
Servants delivered our meals while the rest of the wolves gathered around the buffet with their own plates.
It felt awkward being served when no one else was, but as forward-thinking as Harvest Moon was, they were still a pack deeply steeped in certain traditions, like serving the highest-ranking wolves at formal events.
Caelan waited patiently while everyone filled their plates and found a table. Once everyone was seated, they turned toward him as was expected. The alpha wasn’t always present for pack meals, but when he was, he always had to take the first bite before anyone else could eat.
Caelan turned, gesturing toward my plate. I knew what he wanted, picking up my fork and twirling a bit of pasta on the tines before slipping it between my lips.
The air in the room changed instantly, the pack’s curiosity buzzing as they watched me chew.
Caelan had officially announced me as his mate by allowing me to take the first bite.
He smiled as he ate some of his own meal, not bothering to explain himself.
The pack eventually turned back to their own plates, murmuring as they enjoyed their dinners. I could hear the questions being whispered all around me.
They wanted to know what was happening, but for reasons I couldn’t understand, Caelan was waiting to make his proclamation.
I forced down the rest of my dinner, my nerves building as I listened to the wolves around me speculate.
***
As we neared the end of our meal, Caelan suddenly stood and cleared his throat, commanding everyone’s attention again. They quickly put down their utensils and turned to face him, eager to hear what he had to say after so much buildup.
“My loyal wolves of Harvest Moon,” Caelan called.
“You’ve joined us on an auspicious occasion.
For tonight, we are not only welcoming a new member to our ranks, but we are also welcoming my mate.
Not a chosen one as you all expected, but my true mate, fated to me by the Goddess herself. Your future luna, Shade Mallory.”
He encouraged me to stand beside him.
I reluctantly rose from my seat, trying to hide the nervous tremor in my hands. I didn’t want them to see that. A luna wasn’t scared in front of her pack.
I looked out over the crowd as I clutched Caelan’s hand. If I was going to do this, I needed his strength beside me as if it were my own.
They watched me in silence, and I gulped. Are they disappointed? Excited? Reluctant? Relieved?
The entire room suddenly exploded into cheers. Some wolves jumped out of their chairs with enthusiasm while others whistled or clapped. But every single person was celebrating this announcement with joy.
I could feel my heart about to burst at the seams as I stared in awe at them all. It had never felt so full.
Caelan pulled me against him and planted a kiss on my cheek.
“I told you there was nothing to worry about. I love you and my pack will too,” he whispered in my ear before raising our clasped hands to the cheering crowd.
My face went blank, completely and utterly shocked at his words. Caelan just told me he loved me.
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CAELAN
“Zeta, huh?” Shade asked with a smile, playfully bumping her shoulder against mine as we walked back toward our rooms.
“Well, I would’ve said luna,” I teased. “But I knew you weren’t ready for that, so I figured this was the next best thing.”
“I could’ve just remained an omega,” she shrugged.
“No,” I asserted. “You were never meant to be an omega. You were born the daughter of an alpha. Your father demoting you was an injustice. I was simply righting a wrong.”
She nodded as we continued up the stairs in comfortable silence.
I sighed happily, taking her hand. She was finally a member of the Harvest Moon Pack. It felt right. Like something had been missing from the pack all along, but now it was finally complete.
“Well, here we are,” I hummed as we reached her door. “We should both get some sleep. The pack is going to be eager to get to know their newest member tomorrow.” I reached up to brush my thumb over her cheek. “Harvest Moon is lucky to have you, Shade.”
Admittedly, I was reluctant to leave. Even though her room was just across the hall from mine, it still felt too far.
“You’re probably right,” she said, leaning into my touch. “Thank you, Caelan. I couldn’t have asked for a better welcome.”
Her eyes flicked to mine, and it felt like the world stopped. The blue within them swirled and danced, and I wanted to lose myself in those twin pools of wonder.
A blush spread across her cheeks, and that delicate pink tint on her skin did it for me. I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips to hers.
I only intended for it to be a simple good night kiss, but my resolve flew out the window the moment she groaned, parting her lips and allowing me access.
Her tongue tentatively brushed against mine, hesitant at first before growing bolder as she explored. Her fingers curled into my shirt, her desire radiating across my skin.
A low rumble vibrated through my chest as I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, my other hand weaving into her hair as I deepened the kiss.
I fumbled with the handle, somehow managing to open the door to her room, and we stumbled inside, still locked in our embrace.
She draped her arms around my neck as I lifted her, the skirt of her dress sliding up so she could wrap her legs around my waist.
My hands coasted over her incredible curves.
Goddess, I’ve never wanted someone so badly in all my life. Never craved the touch of another so completely. I could never get enough of her. She’s everything. I want her light, her darkness, every part of her. I love this woman.
I carried her across the room until my knees hit the bed, and we tumbled onto the mattress together.
I pressed myself against her, my wolf howling in delight as she pulled me closer. She moaned when I rocked my hips, and every part of me felt electric, my need for her pulsing through my veins.
Damn all these clothes. I love this dress on her, but I want nothing more than to rip it off right now.
I was about to do just that when I suddenly realized what I was doing. This wasn’t just any woman that I held in my arms. This was my mate, and I didn’t want her first time to be like this. I wanted to make it something special because she deserved that.
It took every ounce of strength I possessed to pull back, every molecule of my being screaming for me to stay. I held my body over hers, trembling as I stared at my amazing mate.
“What’s wrong, Caelan?” she panted, her chest rising with every flustered breath.
Her long, silky hair shimmered in the moonlight filtering through the window, fanning out like a silver halo around her head. Her soft lips were swollen, her cheeks flushed as she gazed at me adoringly.