Chapter Sixty
Jay
Iwas prepared for everyone’s resistance to my new title.
Since my return to Bloodhound’s territory as Caleb’s mate two weeks ago, they’ve been nothing but welcoming. The pack has been willing to teach me their ways. Even more surprising, they’ve also been open to learning new ways. Together, we are finding our way.
Everyone is busting their tails to get things ready for the luna ceremony. Everything is being set up in the Hunter’s Quarters, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve been helping the pack train, and they’ve come such a long way.
I never want to lose this feeling. I don’t want to lose this position.
This purpose. Finally, I feel like I can contribute my trauma in a meaningful way.
It’s healing. And thanks to my renewed faith, I feel that I am worthy of such.
And if anyone wanted to try to take that from me, I’d gladly fight them for it.
While I can guarantee I won’t lose, thanks to new friends, I’ve learned to celebrate the win.
I rub the inside of my thigh, my tattoo still tender.
I’m standing in the mirror of our bedroom, and I hardly recognize the woman in front of me.
Although I’m not typically a dress person, this one is hard not to love. It’s an off-the-shoulder, floral bodice with an A-line silhouette. It’s lightweight and simple with just enough flare, and the best part? It has pockets.
I convinced the rogues to give pack life a shot. I told them the door was open and more and more each day have started trickling in. Although it has been a difficult adjustment for everyone, overall, most are getting along.
My herd, and our pack are understandably cautious of one another.
But the transactional trust—the rogues assisting in the rebuilding efforts and the pack’s sharing of food and community customs—is speeding the process along.
The rogues have come to Bloodhound, while the horde’s vampires have been invited under Vince’s leadership.
They finally received their welcome into the vampire kingdom.
There have been some minor scuffles. Mainly, they’ve come from my rogues, on edge about the new lifestyle, but the pack is learning patience and trying their hardest to give them grace. We can all coexist. It’s just a matter of time until we are operating as one pack.
There’s a knock at the door and Luna Kathy enters. She gasps. “Jay . . . you are . . .” She covers her mouth, tearing up. “. . .the most beautiful Luna I’ve ever seen.”
“Thank you, Luna Kathy.”
She walks toward me and grabs my hands. “You can call me mom if you’d like.”
I bite my lip. I have the worst timing, but here we go. “There’s something you should know. And when I say this, you might hate me forever, and I’ll completely understand—”
She holds up a hand. “I know.” But she doesn’t seem angry at me in the slightest.
“Why aren’t you angry with me?”
“I forgive you.”
She says it so simply.
And here come the tears.
“Shh . . . Don’t cry. You protected your own. That’s what a leader is supposed to do. My son and pack are now yours to defend. Now that they are, promise me you’ll take care of them above all else.”
“Always. I promise.”
She nods and hums, accepting my truth. “I have something for you.” She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a necklace.
Tiny glass balls are strung along a gold chain.
“It’s gorgeous.”
“It was mine. The flowers are from Jack’s garden. He had them encased in resin, so I could keep them forever.”
“I can’t accept this.”
“I always knew I’d pass it to my son’s future mate. I’d be honored if you would wear it.”
Tears fill my eyes.
She motions for me to spin. When I do, she clasps it around my neck, then hugs me from behind in the mirror. “Ready to join our family?”
She holds out an arm for me and walks me down the stairs, out the front door of our cabin, and to the flowered altar. It’s decorated with string lights and stands in the center of the Hunter’s Quarters, where Caleb, in a tux, awaits me under the full moon and stars.
I walk down the aisle to my mate and gaze at him. “Hi, handsome.”
He blushes and smiles at the ground before gazing back at me. “Sorry it took us so long to get here.”
I shake my head. “We’re here now. That’s all that matters.”
“Caleb Waller has prepared vows he would like to share,” the officiant says.
My eyes widen, and my head snaps to Caleb.
“Vows? You wrote vows? I didn’t prepare anything.”
“I know you didn’t. It’s not traditionally done, but I wanted to declare my vow in front of everyone.”
I melt as he pulls out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and reads, “I vow to always fight.”
We stare at each other.
I squint my eyes knowing he’s up to no good.
Where’s he going with this?
“Fight with you.”
The crowd laughs along with me.
“But mostly fight for you. When you need it, when you don’t.
The battles you know, the battles you don’t know.
I will always have your back. No matter what comes our way, we will face it together, however you need me to.
As your enforcer, your protector, your defender, your soldier. I will always be there for you.”
The officiant smiles at Caleb, then addresses the crowd. “Now would you join Mr. Caleb Waller and Ms. Jade . . . eh.” He looks to me, pleading.
“Oh . . . my last name? Um . . . Well, I don’t—”
I don’t have a last name. I’m sure I did at some point. But I’ll never know it.
Caleb chimes in. “It’s Waller.”
He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out an intact photo and hands it to me. “Jade Waller.”
I flip it over, and there it is, my name. My real one.
I clutch it to my chest, my eyes water, and my heart melts into a puddle.
The officiant nods. “Will you please join Mr. Caleb Waller and Ms. Jade Waller in prayer?”
Tears spring from my eyes.
The officiant recites a prayer in an old native tongue. Suddenly, everyone’s eyes light up gold as the pack’s mindlink opens to me.
“I now pronounce Caleb and Jade Waller as Bloodhound’s alpha and luna.”
Practically lunging for each other at the pronouncement, we share a long, passionate kiss. The entire pack cheers and howls.
When we break, I say, “You know this means you’re stuck with me, right?”
He chuckles. “Wouldn’t have it any other way, baby girl.”
After the ceremony, comes the traditional lighting of the ring. It is meant to symbolize purification and transformation as we embrace a new beginning. Together, Caleb and I release the burning arrow, and the fire ignites the ring upon impact.
I have a pack. A purpose. A mate. A family. It’s everything I could have ever prayed for and more.