Chapter 44 - Preparations and Promises
1054 Words
*Raiden – pov*
The packhouse felt alive again.
Not peaceful exactly.
Too much had happened for peace.
But lighter.
The oppressive tension hanging over the pack after Lucien’s disappearance and Elara’s grief had finally started easing. Patrols still doubled along the borders, elders still whispered in corners, and half the pack still looked at me like I was either their salvation or their downfall.
But for the first time in weeks, there was hope.
And surprisingly…most of that hope wore platinum blonde hair and terrified the elders without even trying.
I stood at the front of the council hall watching members of the pack gather while Rafe and Jake flanked either side of me.
“Elara coming?” Jake asked quietly.
I shook my head once.
“She’s with Airena.”
Learning.
Healing.
Slowly finding herself again.
The bond between us had settled into something deeper over the past week. Stronger. Quieter. Like we no longer needed constant reassurance the other was there.
I could feel her now even from here.
She was still sad, still grieving, but alive again. She smiled more and wasn’t as tired.
That mattered.
The elders finally settled enough for me to speak.
I straightened slightly.
“One month from today,” I announced evenly, “Golden Moon Pack will hold a formal mating ceremony.”
The room erupted instantly.
Questions.
Excitement.
Shock.
Some of the older wolves looked emotional.
Others looked relieved.
A few still looked uncertain about Elara.
Too bad.
She was already their Luna whether they approved it yet or not.
Jake smirked beside me.
“Well,” he muttered, “you definitely know how to start chaos.”
Rafe sighed heavily.
“You just doomed us all to wedding planning.”
Very accurate.
Before I could answer, Mara appeared.
She has been the Head omega, pack chef and mother to Golden Moon for as long as I could remember.
Some would also describe her as a professional emotional hurricane.
She has been the closest thing I’d had to a mother after mine died.
Her eyes immediately filled with tears.
“Oh my boy…”
I barely had time to brace myself before she pulled me into a fierce hug.
The entire council pretended not to notice.
“Mara,” I warned lightly.
“You’re finally happy,” she whispered fiercely. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for this?”
Longer than anyone realized.
She pulled back only to immediately launch into organizational warfare.
“We need flowers.”
“And seating.”
“And proper food.”
“And music.”
Jake leaned toward Rafe.
“We should run.”
“Already considering it.”
Mara rounded on me sharply.
“What flowers does Elara like?”
I blinked once.
No idea.
“What colors does she want?”
“What traditions are you including?”
“Will she wear silver or diamonds?”
I stared at her.
Completely blank.
Mara gasped in horror.
“You haven’t discussed any of this?”
“I’ve been slightly distracted by attempted murders and supernatural politics.”
“That is not an excuse.”
Jake outright laughed.
Rafe betrayed me by smirking.
Mara pointed directly at me.
“That settles it. You are bringing Elara here for dinner.”
My wolf immediately perked up at the idea.
“She needs proper meals and someone has to make sure you don’t ruin this by pretending romance is just intense staring.”
The council hall went suspiciously quiet.
Traitors.
Mara folded her arms decisively.
“One dinner. Tomorrow evening.”
Then softer—
“She deserves happiness too, Raiden.”
The words hit harder than expected.
Because she did.
After everything, Elara deserved softness.
Warmth.
Family.
Not just war and grief and destiny.
I exhaled slowly.
“Fine.”
Mara beamed triumphantly.
“Wonderful.”
Then immediately started shouting instructions at nearby omegas before storming out of the room like a tiny terrifying general preparing for battle.
Jake snorted.
“You’re doomed.”
Probably.
But strangely—
I didn’t mind.
---
*Rafe – POV*
I was absolutely losing my mind.
Mate.
Mine.
Claire Hart was my mate.
The thought repeated nonstop in my head for the last couple of days.
Usually wolves found comfort after meeting their mate.
I found anxiety.
Not because of Claire herself.
Goddess no.
Claire was brilliant.
Sharp-tongued.
Fearless.
Beautiful in a way that caught you off guard because she carried herself like she belonged anywhere she stood.
And for some reason, she liked me too, which remained deeply suspicious.
No.
The problem was everything else.
I leaned against the back porch railing outside the packhouse watching dusk settle across the forest while unease twisted low in my chest.
She’ll eat you alive if you keep brooding.
Ezrin, my wolf said in my head.
“Go away.”
He grinned.
No. Can’t do. Where is my sassy mate?
Annoying.
I exhaled heavily.
“She’s human.”
Your point?
“Claire doesn’t have hidden wolf blood or ancient magic. She is human and fragile by wolf standards.”
I will never hurt mate.
“I know Ez, but what if she doesn’t survive the marking?”
We have always been told that humans were too weak to survive the marking and mating ceremony or carrying wolf pups.
Mate is strong. I can feel it.
Legends claimed sometimes the Moon Goddess transformed human mates after marking.
Not immediately.
Not predictably.
But enough wolves believed it possible.
“She needs to know and decide for herself”
Okay.
The answer came with a hint of sadness.
Claire joked through danger.
Walked into supernatural chaos with terrifying confidence.
But she still didn’t fully understand our world yet.
And marking—
That was permanent.
Sacred.
Life changing.
I stared out toward the darkening woods.
“I just found her.”
“I don’t want to ruin it.”
You’re overthinking.
That shut me up immediately.
Because, maybe I was.
Every instinct inside me recognized her.
Wanted her close.
Mine.
“You’re a headache.”
You should’ve seen your face when she called you mountain wolf Batman.
I groaned.
“She cannot keep saying things like that in front of the others.”
She absolutely will.
Accurate.
Completely accurate.
And despite everything, a smile finally tugged at my mouth.
- Writer
