The Forgotten Twin

Chapter 9: Luna Ceremony

I sighed as I got ready for the Luna ceremony, Cillian had Alpha business to do, so I was getting ready alone. I put on some makeup which I hadn't done since Cillian's Alpha ceremony nearly 2 and a half years ago. I put a little silver eye-shadow on my eyelids, then I applied eyeliner on my lid in a simple line, then applied some mascara. I pulled my hair into a low bun with a small braid on the left side of my head. I walked to the closet and pulled out the dress Cillian had Terrance bring me during the day. It was Crimson floor length lace A-line gown with what looked like silver branches crawling up the bottom. I put on crimson lip matte before I put on the wolf pendent necklace and small diamond studs in my ears. I found a leather wristband of Cillian's and I placed it on my left wrist. I pulled the wedgie the g-string was giving me before I put on the silver cut-out heels. I had practiced walking in the heels so I didn't break my legs while walking, and embarrass myself and Cillian. There was a knock on the door, I opened it to see Terrance smiling down at me.

"Time to go Luna." He said tapping his watch. He was wearing a royal blue suit. (The pack colors are Crimson and royal blue) I grabbed his arm and steadied myself as I walked in the most uncomfortable shoes ever made. We walked to the pack house where Ellie was waiting for us, I smiled shyly as I let go of her mate.

"I practiced all day and I still can't walk properly." I said making her giggle. Her brown hair was straightened and fell to her shoulders. Her amber eyes were shining as she held her and Terrance's daughter, she had her eyes and Terrance's light brown hair.

"I hate heels, which is why I stuck with flats." I looked at her royal blue sparkling, skin tight cocktail dress and looked down at her silver flats in jealousy. 

"I didn't get a choice." I huffed while crossing my arms, with a smirk. "Terrance brought the stuff." He gasped and put his hands in the air.

"Heeyy now, Cillian chose everything, I just delivered it." He said throwing my mate under the bus.

"Perfect, I know how to punish him." I said with an evil smirk. Terrance and Ellie both chuckled and their little one reached out to her dad. He took her in his arms and kissed her noggin before his eyes clouded over. 

"Time to go Luna." He smiled at me. I took Ellie's arm and we walked out of the back of the pack-house and walked past the pack up to the small stage where Cillian was waiting for us. He smiled at me and I would've tripped if Ellie hadn't been there. We laughed lightly at my clumsiness, I lifted my gown with both hands and walked up the steps, my heels were ridiculously loud in the silence. Cillian took my hand and smiled down at me, he placed a quick kiss on my temple before turning back to the pack, who was staring at me in my gown, I saw a few people I didn't know and got a little nervous.

(Ashlyn: Terrance who are the people I don't know?)

(Terrance: Those would be Alpha's from neighboring territories who you will be seeing a lot of.) 

(Ashlyn: Thanks T)

(Terrence: No prob) I zoned back into crowd to see them looking at Cillian who had begun speaking.

"......Thank you all for coming to meet my mate and Luna of my pack. Now Moon-lake this is your last chance to object to Ashlyn becoming the Luna of this pack." There was silence all around. "Good, now seeing as Ashlyn is from our pack and already has our mind-link, she will not be getting wolfsbane in the ceremony." Pack members nodded and Cillian took a golden chalice and dagger handed to him by Ed. 

"Ashlyn Blake, do you swear to protect Moon-lake pack, and every wolf welcomed within our borders?" Cillian asked starting the ceremony.

"I swear." I said looking into his eyes.

"Do you swear to be kind and fair in all calls of judgement?"

"I swear."

"Do you swear to aid me, Alpha Cillian, in leading the Moon-lake pack?"

"I swear to aid you, Alpha Cillian, for the rest of my life." He gave me a small smile before continuing.

"Should I fall, do you swear to lead this pack to the best of your ability until an heir comes of age?"

"I swear." I said as my eyes watered. 

"Do have any vows Ashlyn?" He asked me with a small smile.

"I vow to you, Alpha Cillian, to do everything in my power to keep you from death. I vow to you Moon-lake to always protect you from those who mean to cause you harm. I may not be the Luna you wanted, but I am the one you have been given by the Moon-goddess. Lastly I vow to you, Alpha's of neighboring packs and those we have alliances with, to come when you call, should you need assistance I will come and I will fight beside you, until I am unable." I finished speaking and turned back to Cillian, I had looked at each face in the crowd as I said my vow. Cillian was giving me a warm smile, he took my hand and sparks lit my arm, he cut my hand with the knife and I bled into the cup. Ed walked back over and held the chalice while Cillian cut his own hand and mixed his blood with mine. I was handed the cup and I took a swig before handing it back to Cillian. He finished the rest and I felt a slight change take over my body, I felt a tingle in my wrist and saw silver veins appear in my black moon. 

I heard the crowd gasp and I turned to them, they were all looking at me in shock and awe. I peeked at Cillian who was looking at my hair, I reached up and pulled a strand from my head and looked at the pale silver lock I held in my palm, I put my palm on my chest, touching the silver wolf, but didn't notice it until Cillian looked at my hand. I pulled my hand away quickly and saw I didn't have a mark. I touched the wolf again and nothing, no pain at all. Cillian reached up and poked it and pulled his finger away when it burned.

{Crescent, you seeing all this?}

(We are immune to silver.)

Why?

(I would sat it is because we a silver Crescent wolf and a Luna, we have reached our full potential.)

That is so f*****g cool!

(Indeed!)

I focused back on Cillian who was still looking at me in shock. I gave him a bright smile before turning back to the pack.

"Moon-lake, I believe it is time we run as a pack!" I said excitedly. I heard some cheering as I sat down and pulled off the heels. Then I walked behind Cillian and pulled off my dress, I shifted into my wolf and nudged my mate who began to strip out of his crimson attire. He shifted and the crowd gasped at his silver highlighted back. We walked towards the woods and looked back at our mostly naked pack, when everyone who could had shifted the teenagers under 15 watched the smaller kids, I howled and we took off running around the pack property. We ended up at the waterfall cave and I jumped in the water, took a long drink, the pack doing the same. I was happy, really happy for the first time in a while.

Cillian howled after a little while and we all ran back to the pack-house. I shifted back and pulled on the g-string letting Cillian get a nice view before pulling the dress back on. I reached up and pulled the bobby-pins from my hair that was keeping it up, I felt it fall down to my ass and I grabbed a handful and took a long look at it. It was a medium sliver color, the same as Crescent's fur, Cillian ran his large hand through it and kissed me softly while after he put his clothes back on.

I leaned into him, putting my arms around his waist, he wrapped me up and kissed the top of my head. I stayed wrapped around him as our pack came up one by one and blessed us. I could feel how upset Cillian was about not having his father's blessing, I held him tighter and he sighed and kissed my head again. When everyone was done they all sat back down, Cillian sighed and took a shaky breath before he spoke. 

"As much as I would like to celebrate with you all right now, there is a matter for us all to deal with." He raised his right hand which wasn't around my shoulder. Terrance and Dimitri, who was our number 4 warrior now, brought out a shackled Mike, the other Alpha's looked at Cillian in confusion. "For those of you who aren't aware, last night after I announced Ashlyn as my mate and future Luna of Moon-lake, my father pulled a gun on her." I heard growls and gasps from the Alpha's and their guests.

"Why on earth would he do such a thing?" Someone asked.

"Some of you may not be aware of this, but there was a White wolf born into our pack, Mike wanted Cillian to mate and mark her for the power she possessed, and was thoroughly disappointed when Cillian chose me over her." I said. 

"I had no idea what you were then Ashlyn." Mike said looking at me. "I apologize for the way I acted."

"It's too late for that, if you didn't see her wolf yesterday, you would still be trying to rip us apart." Cillian sneered.

"Are you aware of what she Cillian?" Mike asked looking at my mate.

"I am." He said. "Even before she told me I accepted her, i'm not as shallow as you are." 

"She knew?" He asked looking at me, I simply nodded once and blinked. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"I didn't feel the need to be used for my wolf." I said coldly. "I would rather be accepted for who I am, which Cillian has done."

"I have decided your punishment." Cillian said coolly. "I have decided to let you live, but you will spend the rest of your days on house arrest. You will be permitted to shift once a week, and four warriors will accompany you. If we have company, you will not be able to see them." I could feel the pain Cillian was feeling from doing this to his father. "Mom would hate to see the wolf you have become." I cringed at his words. When the pack lost Luna Xena, Mike had become deeply depressed, I wanted to say something to Cillian, but we were kids and I didn't know how to approach him. 

I heard Mike whimper as he looked at the ground, I put my right hand across my body to my left shoulder and intertwined my fingers with Cillian's he took a deep breath and pulled me closer to him. He shooed the guards and Mike away with his right hand and we turned to rest of the gathered people as they looked at us curiously. 

"Alpha Cillian what did he mean? What is Luna Ashlyn?" One of the other alphas asked. Cillian looked down at me and I gave him a nod and small smile.

"Luna Ashlyn is a Crescent wolf." Most of the wolves looked confused, but a few of the Alpha's looked dumbfounded.

"A Crescent Wolf!?" One of the shouted as he shot up from his seat. I nodded and showed him my wrist. 

"Can someone explain please?" A Luna said looking at us. Cillian and I explained the best we could, a few other Alpha's added a few more things. By the time everything was said and done I was ready for bed, it was nearly 10PM. 

"I apologize for cutting this off before all your questions have been, answered, but I believe all of us are exhausted and need sleep. So, lets get some rest and talk about this more at our next meeting. If any of you Alpha's have more questions feel free to email me." I said after a massive yawn. There was muttering as our pack and the alpha's dispersed. Cillian lifted me up and carried me home, I removed my makeup while Cillian brushed out my now sliver hair. I stepped out of the dress and crawled into bed, as soon as Cillian was next to me I fell fast asleep. That night I didn't have a nightmare, nor did I the night before, must be a benefit of having your mate by your side.