The Meadow That Lies Between

The Ceremony

The ceremony was about to start Lucas watched as Isobel took those last few steps towards him. The closer she got the more he wanted her and the more restless Shadow grew causing a growl to escape Lucas’ chest. The noise made Isobel shake and tremble, she didn’t know if she could do this.

The Elders of the two packs stepped forward and after tying two ribbons together they blessed them by cutting a small slit on both Lucas and Isobel’s wrists letting the blood drip on the material as they chanted

“Sanguis et Sanguinem, animam et anima animo usque ad animum” (“Blood to Blood, Soul to Soul, Mind to Mind”)

The Elders then tied the pairs wrists together so the cuts lined up. It was now their turn to say their vows Lucas went first seeing how nervous Isobel was.

“I Lucas Mortimer Delgotto, Alpha of the Black Moon Pack, King of the Tri Moon Beach Area Packs take Princess Isobel Lilly Evers to be my wife, Luna and Queen” Lucas took a slow breath he could feel Shadow pushing forward, his eyes flitted across Isobel’s face taking in every dimple, laughter line and even the scar that she had across her eyebrow, it had done the trick Shadow was too busy memorising her to fight for control.

It was Isobel’s turn, she moved slightly turning to look at her mother who gave her an encouraging look. “I Isobel Lilly Evers...” she stopped her voice was shaky and her breathing quickened then she heard her.

Stella’s-her wolf- voice appeared in her head ‘Its okay. I’m here with you, I’m always going to be here. WE will do this together’ Isobel gave a small nod then took a deep breath but as she did so she picked up a scent unlike any other-wet grass and vanilla- she breathed in harder and a strange feeling over came her. Isobel looked around her but nothing.

Her sisters had said that when they locked eyes with their mate for the first time it was like seeing stars and tingles ran up their arms. Isobel had none of this when she looked in the eyes of every man standing around her in a circle. She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

Shadow was getting impatient, Isobel was taking too long and now she was looking around at every one in the circle. ‘Was she looking for a way out? A Way to escape?’ The thoughts swirled around Lucas’ mind, he let out another low growl making her jump. It had seemed to do the trick as now she was reciting her vows like nothing was wrong. Although her eyes never strayed from the ground.

“I Isobel Lilly Evers, daughter of Alpha Kai Evers, Princess and heir of the Sunshine Bay area Packs take King and Alpha Lucas Mortimer..” Stella laughed at his middle name using it as a distraction to try and calm Isobel “Delgotto as my husband, Alpha and King” Her eyes looked from one elder to the next then dropped back to the ground.

A small single tear made its way down her cheek as the packs cheered and howled. Now was the pack run, everyone who was old enough to transform would run together to symbolise the unity and strength that they would have now that they would be joined as one. Isobel looked around to see people going off behind trees and emerging as wolves running off into the woods-that lined the other side of the meadow-under the moon light.

Lucas looked at his new bride, this was it the first time he would see her wolf and her his; any female wolf who had seen Shadow had been impressed and Lucas and Shadow couldn’t wait for Isobel and her wolf to see, to see just how truly magnificent they were. Lucas let Shadow take over, his mind slipping into darkness as Shadows came into the light.

First his eyes turned black then his finger nails grew longer turning themselves into claws. Now he was taking off his clothes and getting on all fours as his bones and joints popped into their new positions, Black fur spread across his body.

Shadow was now fully in control, he looked around to see his mate but as he did he realised she had left to change behind a tree- this shyness of hers would have to stop he was going to see her naked soon and there would be nothing she could do about it. When his eyes focused on her instead of a girl a pure white wolf with a single patch of black in the shape of a heart on her chest emerged and ran after the rest of the packs leaving Shadow there by himself feeling baffled by her actions.

Isobel couldn’t do it as soon as she saw Lucas begin to strip she ran for cover. Finding shelter behind a large tree, she carefully removed her clothes and folded them neatly before she fully gave herself over to Stella. Emerging from behind the tree as he pure white self, Stella decided she would just run find her mum and dad and stay with them. She didn’t want to see Lucas or his wolf she was scared to see him. Isobel had heard all abut Lucas and how big his wolf was. How dominating he was and with Stella being so small she did not want to be near a monster like that.

After a good hour or so running with her family Rose-Carries wolf- walked over to Stella and through the internal link she told her that it was time for them to proceed in the rituals over at the Black Moon Pack house.

‘Sweet girl we must go and prepare’

‘Do we have to mum?’ Stella asked

‘Yes child, it is tradition.’ Rose replied

Bowing her head Stella ran back to the tree where Isobel had given her control. Getting her clothes on Isobel thought about the scent she had smelled earlier and sighed she had actually thought she had found her one chance of escape.

Isobel knew if she had found her true mate her father would not go through with the wedding that he would find another way to make allies with Lucas. Sighing once more Isobel made her way to the car where her mother was waiting.

“Are you ready for this darling” Carrie asked with a sweet smile Isobel looked at her mother as tears pricked her eyes and nodded.

‘As ready as I’ll ever be’ she thought to herself.

In the master bedroom of the Black Moon Pack house Isobel stood with her mother they had just completed the ritual and it was time for Carrie to leave but before she could Isobel grabbed her mothers hands and pulled her into the biggest hug imaginable

“Do I have to do this tonight? Can’t I just put it off?” she said through heavy sobs, Carrie pulled away so she could look her daughter in her beautiful brown eyes that had specks of blue and green dancing through them.

Giving her daughter a timid smile and wiping the falling tears from her cheeks Carrie said “If you put it off tonight it’ll just have to happen another night. I know how you feel, I was nervous my first night with your father and he was my true mate”

“Mum Ewww I don’t want to know about you and dad” Isobel laughed with a fake disgusted look on her face, Carrie smiled and laughed back, giving Isobel hug and a kiss on the forehead she left her alone in the room blowing her one last small kiss as she left.

'I love you my sweet babygirl' She said through mind link