Chapter 11
Looking in the mirror I was amazed at myself. I felt pretty today. The dress was so flattering and my hair was swept up elegantly aside from the fallen pieces to frame my face.
I wasn’t in make-up, just some gold shimmer, which highlighted the light of my eyes and the warmth of my skin tone. It was Melanie’s idea and it was a good one. She looked stunning herself. Her thick brown locks were down but she still had her red signature lip.
We each wore a wrist cuff that complimented the overall look and because our dresses were long we wore flat sandals for comfort. They weren’t really seen anyways.
Jasper told me he had some behind the scenes stuff to do and that I should go with Melanie to the area where the ceremony would be held. So, once we were ready we walked outside to join the others.
It was just after sunset and the sky had dimmed until it was moonlight lighting the sky. I thought we’d be going to the town square but we turned and headed for the treelines.
“Where are we going?” I asked. “You’ll see,” she smiled.
Ahead of us past the treelines was a path lit with lanterns beautifully. As we followed the path it led us to the clearing Jasper, Mel, and I frequented only this time it was lit up with candles, twinkling lights, and decorative lanterns.
There were flowers scattered and you could see where the ceremony would take place and where the people could stand. We sort of surrounded the area so that the Alpha, Beta, Delta would be in the middle of our crowd of people.
“Once the ceremony is over we start a fire and this will essentially become a dance floor” Melanie explained, pointing to different spots in the clearing.
“It’s absolutely stunning...I’ve never seen anything like this” I whispered more to myself than her. It was like being in an enchanted forest and I was mesmerized.
When an elderly man appeared in the crowd people began turning towards him. I noticed he had a ceremonial garb he was dressed in and after he’d been led into the circle everyone got quiet.
“Hello everybody” his voice croaked. We all greeted him back in unison.
“Tonight’s such a special night and I feel honored to be seeing something like this for the second time in my life. Tonight we let the Moon Goddess lead us into a new cycle. A new Alpha” he addressed the crowd and people clapped.
A guitar started playing in the distance and I guess it was a cue that the Alpha, Beta, and Delta with their families would be walking down the lantern lit path.
I grasped hands with Melanie who was standing by her parents now and we waited to see everyone appear. Sure enough the families came into view and instead of clapping everyone bowed their hands so I followed suit.
They walked up the lantern path and into the middle of the circle. The rest of us just waited and watched.
I wasn’t right up front so I didn’t have the best view but that’s okay as long as I could see Jasper in his moment. I had brought his camera with me to take pictures. Jasper tried refusing but his mother and I tag-teamed against him and he caved.
As the leading families took their places I saw Jasper looking around and didn’t realize until afterward that he was looking for me. He leaned over and said something to one of the gentlemen and when the man walked through the crowd he tapped me on the shoulder.
“Yes?” I asked, confused. “The Delta’s asked that you stand to the front since you are his plus one. You technically belong over there” he pointed to a spot with a prime view.
I felt embarrassed being that close. Everyone was looking at me so I had to do it but I could’ve strangled him for this. When I walked forward he grinned and I shot him a look.
“Wolves, tonight we honor our current Alpha and welcome a new one. Our Beta, our Delta, it has come time to pass the torch to our sons,” the old man in the garb spoke.
I quickly gathered he was leading the ceremony. From the side of the garb he pulled a ceremonial knife beautifully carved with a handle made of bone and sharp blade. Or so I was told.
From here I could see the handle was white so maybe. He stepped aside for a moment and the fathers all stood beside their sons.
“The blood of our blood” they recited in unison as Alpha Conan pricked his finger with the blade and let a drop of his blood fall into the fire. Our Beta and Delta did the same until they passed the knife on to their sons.
“With this blood we connect the old with the new, the leaders to our pack, in oath to rise into power for their people,” the old man continued.
I heard Devran’s deep voice mutter, “The blood of our blood” before slicing himself with the knife and letting some blood fall into the fire.
Diego did the same then Jasper. “The blood of our blood” he quoted and dropped a few drops of crimson into the flame. The fire flickered hard and I was almost taken back by it.
“You must walk around the fire just as the moon our goddess orbits around us” the old man instructed. The three guys started walking in a circle around the fire until they ended up right where they’d started.
“I take an oath to protect this pack, to serve our people, and to dedicate myself to our success throughout my reign. Shall we never be hungry, shall we never be poor, shall we never face fears or lose battles, we the Crescent Pack under order of me, Alpha Devran Crescent,” Devran started his oath.
“I take an oath to stand by my Alpha, to remain loyal, and to serve our people. Shall we never see our Alpha fall, shall I always remain his right hand, me, Beta Diego Crescent” Diego continued the ceremonial words.
I had snapped a few brief photos already but I raised the camera to my eye again and snapped another photo while Jasper recited his oath.
“I take an oath to stand by my Alpha, to remain loyal, and to serve our people. Shall we never see our Alpha fall, shall I always remain his left hand, me, Jasper Crescent” my best friend recited.
Everyone in unison looked up to the sky so I did too. We looked at the moon in a moment of silence. The moon honestly looked beautiful tonight as if it knew it’d be on display. The sky was clear and easily seen.
I could hear the former Alpha muttering some words and I think it was a transfer of power type thing.
We looked back down to the guys and after Alpha Conan stopped muttering Devran’s eyes glowed gold. I gasped audibly. Then Diego and Jasper’s eyes lit up too. The power was being transferred to them officially.
I snapped photos and hoped they translated well because in person this was incredible. I had been looking at Jasper so I almost didn’t realize that Devran’s glowing eyes were fixed on me, or at least it seemed that way.
I swallowed hard.
Slowly their eyes lightened back to their natural colors and the crowd started cheering wildly. I clapped along and smiled wide at Jasper who gave me a thumbs up.
I made eye contact with Devran for a second before I snapped myself out of it and looked back to Jasper. Their parents were hugging them and congratulating them, but after that my best friend walked over to me and gripped me into a tight hug spinning me around.
“Okay big guy, let’s not squish the human” I joked. I guess he was feeling stronger. With the titles came more power.
“That felt amazing. Thank you so much for coming Mira” he continued to hug me. I tucked my head into him and breathed his earthy scent.
“Always” I muttered. I really would always be here for this kid. He’s protected me since the day he’s met me. I would always do the same.
Melanie came skipping over and slapped Jasper on the back. “Hey Delta” she greeted. So much for showing respect but that was just her. I laughed.
“Oh, that’s right. I haven’t greeted you by your title” I fanned myself. “Shut up,” he rolled his eyes.
“Oh Delta, we are honored by your presence” I swooned. “I’m going to bite you,” he warned. I had a good laugh.
“Everyone, attention everyone” a voice shouted. It was the old man trying to bring order back. “Now’s the time to lay your offerings for the Moon Goddess down at the altar just to your left."
I quickly turned my head and noticed people kneeling and placing offerings to their goddess. My eyes widened.
“What?! You guys didn’t tell me I needed to bring anything” I whisper-shouted.
“You’re human, it’s fine” Jasper waved me off, but I wanted to respect their customs and do things right. I huffed and brushed past them telling them I’d be right back. They didn’t have time to question me.
I wandered further into the forest looking for something. I had no items of value, but maybe I could make her something.
I picked a long stemmed wild flower and messed with the stem to make it into a flower ring. It was childish but an offering is an offering.
By the time I made it back to the clearing people were much more spread out into the open space. It gave me an opportunity to kneel in front of their altar.
“I’m sorry I didn’t know I was meant to bring you an offering. I can only offer you this” I placed the flower ring on the ground beside items like crystals, jewelry, food, and candles. There were boxes which didn’t show what their offerings were.
When I went to stand I realized I wasn’t alone and practically jumped out of my skin.
“Goddess” I breathed. “I mean, Alpha Devran” I corrected myself and bowed my head. He looked back down at my offering then at me again but said nothing. I was about to congratulate him but he just walked away without a word.
“Okay then” I muttered to myself, walking toward the majority of the crowd to find my friends. I guess to conclude the ceremony the guys would go on a wolf run but that was the very last thing they did, it was called chasing the moon. It would be late by then.
For now it was just a great big celebration. Music was played and people were either talking or dancing.
“Why are you hiding?” I asked Jasper when I noticed he was being dodgy with someone.
“These ceremonies are like weddings when it comes to the tradition of having a dance with your mother and anyone else who wants a dance with their new leaders. Mira don’t make me go” he whispered.
I cracked up laughing. I had no idea I would get to witness this kind of torture. “Oh I know so many old ladies will be lining up to dance with you. I can’t wait” I shook him.
“So mean to me on my special day” he sighed.
“Exactly, it’s your day” I reminded him.
When his mother found him he was dragged out to the portion of the clearing where people were dancing. Luna Leslie and our Beta’s wife appeared too to dance with their sons.
People cooed in the crowd and surrounded the dance floor to watch. Well if you could consider grass and dirt a dance floor. Drinks were being passed around and food. It was an amazing night thus far.
When they announced the husbands and wives to dance and the grandparents of the new leaders to join too, Jasper started dancing with his sister so his mom could dance with his father.
Devran’s mom went to dance with Conan and he took the hand of some girl I wasn’t familiar with, a cousin I think. It took me a second to notice but I realized Gran had no one to dance with since her idiot grandson didn’t think of her and she had no living husband.
I decided to walk over to her and extend my hand playfully. She looked so happy when I did so that I knew I’d have to go through with it now.
“Oh you are just the sweetest girl” she clasped my hand and stood. Getting into form we swayed in small circles and laughed at ourselves. Conan noticed his mother dancing and chuckled, thanking me for getting her up.
“I consider you my granddaughter anyways” she laughed. That felt really nice to hear. I never had grandparents. They had disowned my mother when she became an addict.
When I felt eyes on me I knew who it was.