Second Chances:HOPE & FAITH

Luna Ceremony Part 2

I walked back to the mansion with a somber look on my face. I was not sure what was going on. Was I going crazy? I tried to remain calm but everything was getting to be too much to handle. I walked back to Aidan's bedroom and waited for him. Twenty minutes later he came in.

"You look beautiful," he said.

"You mean I look like her," I retorted. Aidan stiffened up and wouldn't face me.

"Please, don't," he said.

"Why am I dressed like this. Why is my hair straight tonight?" I asked.

"I, I thought," Aidan tried to explain but he couldn't.

"You said you needed me, ME!" I shouted. I was trying to hold back my tears. He turned around and tried to pull me into his arms but I backed away.

"Hope, let me explain," he pleaded.

"Don't lie to me," I said. He looked hurt and tried to pull me into his arms again. I moved to the other side of the room.

"HOPE," he said loudly.

" Aidan, I won't go down there looking like this," I said to him.

"Come here," he said softly. I walked towards him slowly. He reached over to hug me and took in my scent.

"I love you," he said. " Hope I need you to know all this is still hard and confusing but it is you I love. It is you who has my heart. Take everything I have. Take it all. I want only you. NOW AND FOREVER." He grabbed my hair and started to toss it in his hands. He was scrunching it and moving it around with his hands. "Now I am sure we can find you another suitable dress," he said.

"No, I want to honor Faith and her legacy, she was the Luna of this pack before me and I will not let anyone forget that. She deserves a part in this," I told him. He pulled me into another hug and kissed my forehead.

"You will be everything they could ever hope for," he said giggling at the use of my name in that sentence. We walked downstairs and made our way into the backyard. The crowd stopped all the chatter and mingling as soon as we came in. I took a deep breath and smiled at everyone. Aidan made his way to the stage with me in tow as he held on to my hand. As he stepped up to the mic he called for everyone's attention. Most of everyone's already was.

"Good evening, My fellow pack members. Tonight is a special night. We have much to celebrate and I have much to say," Aidan spoke with conviction. I was remembering the speech he gave for Faith and began to feel nervous. He was so in love and held her in high regard. What could he possibly say about me? He has only known me for a short period of time.

"First off I want to thank a newfound friend who came to my aide when I was off fighting rogues who dared to try and come into our land. Our home. This wolf came out of nowhere and helped me fight off a brutal attack and saved my life. Making it possible for me to be here tonight to stand beside my love and our Luna." I was shocked at his words and felt my heart sink at the thought of him dying.

"My good friend is here tonight to help us celebrate our victory and our welcoming of our Luna. Alaric

Redford, please step forward."  I heard the name and my heart was beating faster and louder. Aidan turned around and gave me a smile. He must have thought I was nervous about the ceremony. The man my mate called a hero finally made his way through the crowd. His eyes met mine and I couldn't breathe. I suddenly fainted. I finally woke up on the living room sofa.

"Always the drama queen," Lucas said. I was so happy to see him I immediately pulled him into a hug. I heard a growl from beside him and looked to see Aidan standing there with fear in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," I said.

"Sorry, Hope we are just worried. What happened?" Aidan said.

"She doesn't seem ill," the pack doctor said.

"Hope, this is Dr. Melissa Evans, the pack doctor," he explained.

"She knows, we met plenty of times," she said humorously.

"I'm okay," I said. Suddenly this stranger not so stranger walked in.

"Hey is she okay?" Alaric asked.

"Yes, she is fine," Aidan responded.

"Good, everyone was so worried," he spoke again. I was afraid but I didn't know what to do. I couldn't just shout out "he tried to poison me." I didn't know what to do but maybe if I did say something Aidan would believe me and kick Alaric out. The room went cold and I saw Faith flash behind the three men. I got scared but I knew she wasn't going to hurt me. She appeared again and placed her index finger on her lips. She wanted me to stay quiet. I was unsure why but she must have known something I didn't. I complied and said nothing.

"You must be overwhelmed," Alaric said.

"Kind of but I'm okay," I said. Alaric was taking me in. He looked me up and down and tried to read my emotions. Aidan was getting annoyed by his stares so he motioned the two to leave. As Alaric and Lucas left the room Aidan helped me stand up.

"Who is that guy?" I asked Aidan.

"He saved me from a direct hit by a rogue wolf who was trying to kill me," he explained. " Alaric came out of nowhere but if it wasn't for him I might not be here."

"Oh," is all I could manage to say.

"What happened out there babe?" He asked.

"I just got dizzy and fainted all of a sudden," I said.

"I bet it's all this excitement so soon. You have been through a lot. I am sorry I didn't wait a bit before putting up such a show," he said. He grabbed my hand and kissed it gently.  I grab his head and move it towards mine. I kiss him gently at first then more passionately. He responds and pushes his tongue inside my mouth. Finally, we come up for air minutes later.

"We will reschedule the ceremony so you can have time to rest and fully prepare," he says.

"No! everyone is still here, let me finish this," I pleaded.

"It's okay, we will celebrate our win today and they will come back for an even better Luna ceremony some other time, please don't worry. It will all be fine," he said. He takes my hand and leads me back outside. Everyone is still having fun, drinking and laughing. As soon as they saw me they looked at me with concern looks. Aidan walked us through the crowds and everyone started to bow in respect. I smiled and gently bowed my head in response.

"They all care for you so much," Aidan whispered to me.

"And I care for them just as much," I said. He looked at me and smiled. We danced a bit and then he went off with Perry and Alaric. They were talking and laughing.

"Don't be jealous," Lucas said creeping up behind me.

"Well, shouldn't you be," I said. He looked at me puzzled and I said: " Alaric might take your place Beta." He laughed and said, " Oh that, he can try."

"You have been distant," I said.

"Aidan is home and you are his mate, not mine," he said sternly.

"My bad, I thought we were friends but okay, got it," I said angrily. He looked at me and placed his hand on my chin. He slowly lifted my head to look up at him. He looked like he was sad and hurt.

"Growing close, too close is not good for me, you or him," he said. "But I will never be too far away, promise."

"I know," I said softly. I gave him a hug and he just wrapped his arms around me and we started to dance slowly to the soft music playing in the background. The night was amazing. Everyone partied, Aidan and I danced a lot. This pack really knew how to have a fun time. It was around 2 am and Alaric was still hanging around. I went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water and suddenly he was standing behind me.

"Hello there Luna," he said sinisterly.

"Hi," I said calmly.

"How are you?" he asked.

"I'm fine," I replied.

"Well great, that little slip was scary," he said.

"I fainted, I was exhausted," I explained.

"Of course, you have been through so much," he said.

"I have but how would you know," I said more aggressively.

"Aidan told me of course. He is worried about you," he told me.

"Right, well your still a stranger so I will not discuss things so openly with you as he has," I said.

"My apologies Luna, I felt as if I have known you for quite some time," he explained.

"We only met just tonight, correct?" I asked.

"Correct," he replied while his grin grew wider. He looked at me and my expression. He was trying to see if I was lying or plotting something. I wish I were but I still honestly have no idea what happened. I know he had something to do with it but I can't just interrogate him without any proof or help for that matter. "How do I get Aidan to see he isn't a hero?" I thought to myself.

"Well come with me Luna," he said. He let out his hand and I hesitantly took it. He led me back outside where only Lucas and Aidan remained. He went to grab three glasses and handed them to Lucas, Aidan and I. He then grabbed one for himself.

"Let's toast shall we, to new alliances, your new Luna and new opportunities," he said with a wicked grin. I hesitantly brought the glass to my lips. I saw him take the entire contents of his glass in one sip so I began to take small sips. Aidan and Lucas had barely taken small sips before getting ready to chug the remainder of the drink in their hands. I felt numb and everything was getting foggy. I remember this familiar feeling so I anxiously shouted "NO!" and reached over to drop their drinks out of their hands. Everything soon went blank and I was out like a light.

  My head felt heavy and I was a bit sore. I realized I had fallen to the ground. I started to get up and began choking. I try to catch my breath and suddenly I see Aidan and Lucas on the ground. I go over to Aidan and try to shake him and call for him to wake up. Suddenly a soft voice calls to him as well.

"Aidan, Aidan what's wrong," Faith said. I turn around and she is standing there staring in disbelief. I close my eyes repeatedly but she won't go away. She looks different than her ghostly apparition. She is the dream version who looks normal and very much alive. SHe didn't come to close to us but was very much concerned as I was. Did she remember us from last time? Does this dream pick up from last time or start over? I was concerned about all these things but I wanted to make sure Lucas and Aidan woke up first. After five long minutes, they finally woke up.

"Hope," Aidan said softly as he slowly got up. He looked at me and reached his hand out to touch my cheek but stopped as he noticed someone else staring at him. "Faith." His eyes looked like they had just been ignited by a flame. His eyes grew wider and he got up faster. He walked up to her and brushed her hair gently. I felt a small pain in my heart but drew my attention to Lucas.

"Hey, come on let's get you up," I told him. I grabbed his hands and tried to pull him up but it was mostly him doing the work. He held on to my hands and then Aidan quickly looked back at our hands then at us.

"Let go!" he shouted. Lucas dropped my hands and smiled. He turned his attention back at Faith and she looked confused.

"You guys okay?" she asked. Both Lucas and Aidan took a few steps back.

"Holy s**t," Lucas said. "It's like return of the living dead."

"Shut up," Aidan said.

"What," Faith said more confused.

"It's nothing, Faith do you know what happened?" I asked her. She placed her hand on her chin as to gesture she was thinking long about it. She really was childlike. She was so cute. Aidan looked at her with kind eyes. I think he was enjoying seeing her once more.

"I'm not sure," she finally spoke and then giggled. "It's late we should all be asleep, maybe you three were sleepwalking." I look around and there are no signs of a party or gathering. Lucas and Aidan are wearing pajama pants and a simple T-shirt. I was wearing leggings and a tank top.

"Let's go back to bed," Faith said. She started to skip back inside and Aidan followed. I stayed there standing in shock. Last time it was so much easier. Aidan didn't remember me but now he knew I was his mate too but again how can I compete with his first.

"Hey, it's going to be okay," Lucas said. He grabbed my hand and led me inside. Aidan and Faith must have already made their way upstairs since they weren't inside when we went in.

"Is there a guest room no one uses?" I asked Lucas. He looked around the house.

"Not sure, in this alternate reality I'm not sure what's what," he said. "I should confess I think I know what happened though."