Finding My Alpha

Moon Goddess Bath

A light steam rose up from the clear water around us. Evidence of Annie’s powers in full effect. I could still sense a slight nagging at the forefront of my mind, but I brushed it aside. Anything forgotten or missing at this point could wait until the ceremony was over. I felt my hair lift from my back and I took that as my hint to lay back into the water. A pair of hands caught each shoulder and they guided me to a damp pillow yet soft pillow. More hands grabbed at my arms and legs and each extremity was either placed in a lap or atop a pillow. The moon goddess bath would now begin.

“Moon goddess above cleanse your daughter of all negative energies and bathe her in everlasting prosperity as she prepares her heart to accept another’s,” Luna Misha said as she and the other Luurstililies held up their large bottles of rose water to the sky.

Rose water was something used by our pack as far back as the memories I held could go. The Canidae warriors used to drink it after battles to help their already enhanced healing and Selene used it to bathe Lycas Ahroun after he was struck by lightning. Rose water was so significant to Ahroun wolves, that other packs would leave bottles of it in areas they knew we frequented. Because of its unique cleansing abilities it was also always used in our bonding ceremonies. If there were times a ceremony was held and there wasn’t a body of water large enough to use for the moon goddess bath, a large hole would be dug and filled to the brim with rose water. 

Luna Misha grabbed a small wicker basket and each Luurstilily grabbed a handful of moonflowers from within. They then slowly poured the rose water over my body and crushed the flowers before washing my skin with them. This process was more so meant for wolves who were not of Ahrouni descent because it allowed them to mentally prepare themselves to join our pack. The bath was meant to wash away insecurities and doubts by having your Luurstililies, who would essentially be the she-wolves closest to you, tend you in a way that made you feel loved, welcomed and accepted. 

The same applied to the he-wolves, although according to my memories, their process wasn't as intimate. I could only hope Casey was faring well with his Fuurstibrothen. His Fuurstibrothen were like my Luurstililies. They were the he-wolves closest to him, but in this instance Beta Markus was likely standing in for Alpha Kingsley since we had extra guests arriving. He-wolves could be assholes during a regular bonding ceremony, but with an Ahroun ceremony each step needed to be taken seriously. I was certain Annie had given Casey and his Fuurstibrothen all the tools needed in order to complete the ceremony on their end. I did catch wind of an occasional frantic mind link from Ibben and Ashton, Casey’s best friends, being sent to Annie from time to time, but nothing that was worth additional attention. 

I took a few deep slow breaths and tried to quiet my mind. Since I was very young when I performed the responsibilities of a Luurstilily I didn’t understand how deep the meaning behind my actions really were. How much simple gestures could remove days worth of anxiety and fear. It was freeing. With my hair now fully saturated Luna Misha and Annie helped me back into a sitting position. They washed and detangled my long mass of white coils before braiding the top half of my hair into intricately designed cornrows. Annie then used her heat to dry the remaining loose hair and used her fingers to comb through and fluff it. Luna Misha took that time to wash my back and stomach. 

They helped me to my feet and we made our way back to the dry lake shore where Annie helped to dry us off. My body was rubbed down with rose oil before they helped me into my dress. Haylee held my dress up as I slid each arm carefully into the long delicate sleeves and Annie hitched together ten small clasps in the front before adding the corset. Amari and Gibbenly grabbed the train and pulled it out as far as it could go before Luna Misha hissed at them for almost stretching it too far. They all oo-ed and ah-ed as I did a small twirl at the water’s edge. The reflection there wasn’t the best, but it still allowed me to get a good look at myself. They each then put on their own floor length white maxi dresses.

“You look just like momma nahnicci,” Annie said tearfully.

“So will you on your bonding day tahinicci, I will see to it. Because I know if you did all this for me, you would have been planning the same for yourself, am I right?” I asked.

“You found me out!” she exclaimed

“Of course I did. The moment you told me Alpha Kingsley agreed, I knew you’d already spoken with the Theurge’s Alpha to do the same,” I said.

“Speaking of the Theurge’s, Kingsley reached out to me while we were coming through the forest and they’ve already arrived,” Luna Misha said.

“That means James is here?” Annie asked excitedly.

“Yes, their envoy arrived right when we left the pack house. Kingsley thought it’d be better to let me know later so that I didn’t have to worry over my traditional Luna duties. Since tonight is such an important night,” Luna Misha said as she looked at me with nothing but love in her eyes.

“If they’re here that means we don’t have to wait here much longer?” Haylee asked.

“I’m waiting for an update now. All of the other preparations have been completed. Nettie, you’re going to love it,” Luna Misha said as her eyes glazed over just slightly. “Hmm, it seems there was a bit of trouble on the road, one of their SUV’s caught a flat. That car plus another that stayed behind to help still aren’t here yet. Kingsley has sent two of our own vehicles out to help out, but we’ve been given the go ahead to continue with the ceremony. Are you ready, Nettie?”

“Yes, let’s do this,” I managed to get out after several deep breaths.

“Okay ladies, just like we practiced,” Annie said. 

My Luurstililies formed a circle around me with a wide enough berth to accommodate the heftiness of my train and the Delta warriors formed a slightly larger circle around them. Luna Misha suggested, in order to avoid any trips or falls, that we walk slowly since everyone’s dresses were low to the ground. We walked slowly and silently, I was so shocked by how well the Deltas performed their duty that I could’ve mistaken them for Ahroun Deltas. Everything was going so well and the best part was yet to come.