Finding My Alpha

Let the Preparations Begin

Annie had to pry me out of Alpha Kingsley’s arms and shoo him out of the room so that we could get ready for the bonding ceremony. His reaction was completely understandable, since I knew he was well aware of my ‘one foot out the door’ disposition. Annie nor I had sworn allegiance to him as our Alpha and he never demanded it. That fact never changed how the members of the Evermoon pack treated us. They accepted us fully and raised us with love. As it turns out I was walking on eggshells with this pack all this time for no reason. Me showing my submission was my way of telling him I was ready to become an actual member of the pack. 

Annie hugged me and smiled softly, her right eye shifting from an orangey-red to a pale blue. A clear signal she’d fully calmed down and was satisfied with the turnout. The issue with Haylee had set us back a few hours, but we still had plenty of time. The ceremony would take place when the full moon was the highest in the sky and the sun was still out. The preparation for the ceremony would be very lengthy as there were many steps in the process, however none of the steps could be completed without the rest of my luurstililies. 

Luurstililies are what we Ahroun called the she-wolves that assisted the bound-to-be she-wolf the entire duration of the ceremony. They would tend to me all the way up until it was time for me to perform the goddess warrior dance and then here and there afterwards. Annie assured me that she went over the entire process with the she-wolves who would be participating. There was Annie, of course, and the rest of the she-wolves were Haylee, Casey’s two younger sisters Amari and Gibbenly, and Luna Misha. A Luna must always take part as she heads the whole process from start to finish.

“I feel so lost, I wish you would’ve told me that we were going to have a traditional Ahroun ceremony so I could’ve been better prepared,” I complained as we waited.

“That would defeat the purpose of this being a surprise. Just chill out and let me handle it. You’ve been taking care of me since I can remember, let me do this for you. If there’s one thing I remembered well, it’s how our bonding ceremonies were performed. Your Luurstililies will be here soon enough and we can get this shindig started,” Annie said, trying to soothe my frayed nerves.

“We’re here! Sorry we’re a bit late, I was told to let Haylee have some time to fully recuperate,” Luna Misha said as she flung our door open as if on queue.

“It’s ok Luna Misha -,” I started but she cut me off.

“I’ve already told you to call me momma Misha, Annie does it why are you so hard-headed?” she said exasperated.

“Don’t worry momma Misha, after tonight she’ll have no choice,” Annie said with a sly smile.

“Come come girls we’ve got a lot to do and supposedly enough time to do it all. I’ve brought all the robes and the flowers are already at the lake. Gibbenly is holding the oils and herbs in that basket…. We’ll have to leave out the back since the Gammas and Omegas are prepping the town center for the ceremony. And you’re sure we have to walk? I mean we can have one of the Delta warriors drop us off,” Luna Misha said as she checked over the items in her hands.

“No, we have to walk. Annie has to sing the song of the moon goddess’s favor,” I said.

“What’s that?” Amari asked as she moved her soft brown curls out of her face. 

She was a small pup for her age, at twelve years old she should’ve been at least six inches taller, but instead she was closer in height to her eight year old younger sister Gibbenly. You’d think the two were twins as they were nearly identical. They looked more alike than Annie and I. 

“The song of the moon goddess’s favor is sung when a she-wolf is about to have her bonding ceremony. That’s what Annie is going to do. She’s a great singer, you’ll like it,” I explained.

“We don’t have a song like that to sing. Have we been doing it wrong?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

“No sugar plum, you’re all doing just fine. This is something that was done in the pack me and Annie lived with before we came here.”

“Ah so it’s different, not wrong?”

“That’s right, it’s just different. The result will still be the same.”

Amari smiled and hugged me. “I’m so happy you’re going to be my real sister Nettie.”

A comfortable silence fell over the room as we all took in this moment Amari and I were sharing. There was so much love around me that I couldn’t believe I’d never noticed it before. These women cared about me and it felt amazing. I never thought I’d feel this kind of love again since our pack was destroyed. I wrapped my arms tighter around Amari’s little shoulders and allowed a few tears to trail down my cheeks. This was my family now.

“Whelp since you two are already hugging let’s get started,” Annie said as she wrapped her arms around me and Amari. Luna Misha, Haylee, and Gibbenly followed suit.