Destined Love

Request To Enter

*Aurora’s Point Of View*

    Leon returned with an answer from my father, who insisted the ceremony should be held as soon as possible. Since Jonah and I wanted to accommodate my father and his pack, we did not go against his will. Jonah quickly sent Leon and some of the pack warriors to escort his mother back to the estate since she had to be present during the ceremony. Meanwhile, I had Sarah send out the formal invitations to the neighboring Alphas the same day Leon returned from Archer and in the next two days they all confirmed their attendance.

    In the upcoming days both Jonah and I were extremely busy with the preparations so we spent very little time together. I had to assign the maids all of their roles in the preparation of the banquet and I made sure all of the entertainment was reserved for the evening of the ceremony. Jonah had to give specific instructions regarding the guards in the estate and their positions during the ceremony. He wanted to make sure no one would enter or leave the grounds without being accounted for and he also had a few of the pack warriors stand guard inside the castle for our own safety. Since the neighboring Alphas and their packs would be in attendance, these measures needed to be taken in case someone plotted an attack during the ceremony. 

    When Jonah’s mother returned safely to the estate, we both greeted her before entering the castle together. We all had dinner before she retired to her bedroom, leaving Jonah and I alone. It had been a while since we had dinner together, so I was content, but something was bothering me. My father was supposed to arrive to Arcada on the day of the ceremony, but since he wanted to rest before the big day, he would be arriving tomorrow instead and would spend a night in the castle. Not only that, my stepmother and my sisters, Jennette and Janessa were arriving with him and that was making me feel very anxious. I was already thinking about tomorrow morning and how I would have to open the doors of my home to my entire family, but before I could become more stressed Jonah’s voice broke my thoughts. 

    “You’re not hungry?”

    “Um ... No not really.”

    “Is the food not to your liking?” 

    “N-no the food is delicious. I think I’m just feeling a bit overwhelmed. My father is arriving in the morning and the ceremony is the day after that. Everything is just happening so suddenly.”

    “I know that it will be hard to see your family again, but you will have to face them sooner or later and if anything happens I will be by your side. As for the ceremony, it will be over in the blink of an eye so don’t worry.” 

    “I know, but what if I’m not good enough to be the Luna.”

    “Aurora, you were born to be Luna. I have seen how you treat everyone with compassion and kindness. I know you have the strength and the spirit to be an amazing Luna, so stop thinking that you will not be enough. You are more than enough.”

    His kind words reassured me and it felt like my heart was going to burst with joy. I smiled and turned to look at him, but to my surprise, Jonah had already left his seat and was now leaning down to kiss me. It was a short and gentle kiss, but it made me understand that I was no longer alone. He was going to be by my side from now on and I would never have to face anything else alone. 

    Jonah and I woke up very early the next morning to receive my family. My father got off his horse and then helped his wife and daughters get off the carriage. I wasn’t really sure what to say so I just smiled and when Jonah saw my frozen state he took it upon himself to begin the conversation. 

    “Alpha Nahrwold, I hope you and your family made it to Arcada with no trouble.”

    “Please, call me Noel, we're family now. No trouble at all, the roads were very clean this morning. There were no signs of rogues near your borders either so allow me to praise you on a job well done.”

    “Thank you sir. I’m sure Archer is doing well too in that aspect.”

    My father nodded his head and then turned to look at me. 

    “Well Aurora, aren’t you going to greet your father, or have you already forgotten your manners?”

    “Of course not father. I am very happy to see you and I welcome all of you to our home.” 

    “Right. You should show Cassandra and your sisters around the castle. I have something to talk about with Jonah so we will catch up with all of you later.”

    Before I could say anything else my father began to talk to Jonah again and in the next few seconds they went ahead to his office. I took a deep breath and walked closer to my step mother and sisters.

    “Did you all have a good trip?”

    “Yes, but you know Aurora, if I would have known Jonah was this handsome and the owner of such an estate I would have made him marry one of daughters instead. He really is too good for you. I guess you owe me one.”

     Janessa began to giggle at the remarks made by her mother, but I decided to not let them get to me this early in the morning so I ignored them and just guided them into the castle and towards the guest room. When we all sat down I called for Sarah who had been waiting for me inside, and asked her to prepare tea and then to go and call the Luna so she could greet my family. As we waited for my father and Jonah’s return I tried my best to make small talk. 

    “So, Jennette and Janessa, how have you girls been?”

    Janessa rolled her eyes and then proceeded to speak.

    “Look Aurora, I was doing just fine until our father said he wanted to come a day early to the famously annoying ceremony. Now that I’m here though, I’m looking forward to my stay. I didn’t know there were so many fine men in Arcada. I mean I met the beta when he visited Archer and he was gorgeous, but I’m going to go ahead and state the obvious. Jonah really is on a league of his own and you know me, when I like a man he ends up at my mercy with a snap of my fingers.” 

    I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Was Janessa actually serious? I wanted to ignore her disgraceful comments, but I suddenly felt a rage of anger spur from inside me. I was going to lash out, but when I saw Sarah approach us with the tea, I held back and decided not to make a scene. 

    “What about you Jennette? Are you still painting?”

    “Yes I’m still painting. I’m currently an apprentice for a very important artist.”

    “That’s fantastic. I’m really happy for you.”

    Jennette was never nice to me, but she was never mean to me either. Out of everyone back home she was probably the only person who never offended me, but she never attempted to get close to me since it would mean she was going against her mother’s wishes. So when I said I was happy for her I really meant it. We were all drinking tea when Jonah’s mother came to greet all of us and then joined us for tea. Since the Luna was present now, my stepmother and sister stopped spitting their poison and decided that it was a good time to express how much they had missed me. I was listening to the ridiculous made-up stories from our childhood and trying my best not to roll my eyes and I was almost sure Jonah's mother did not believe a single word my stepmother was saying. 

    “You’re all still here, that's great.”

    When I heard my father’s voice I quickly turned, but my eyes searched for Jonah with anticipation. I saw him follow behind my father and then walked in my direction to sit next to me. Having him next to me made breathing much easier all of sudden and the uneasiness I had been feeling disappeared in an instant. My father and the Luna were talking about the late Alpha, when suddenly Leon appeared and announced that Corin’s Beta was requesting to enter the estate.