The Moon Stone Guardian

Chapter 8

"You look so beautiful my daughter, I am so proud of you," she told me. "Thank you mom." I replied, now trying to hold back tears myself. With most eyes on us, I started up the stairs and walked to the right side of Atlas. As I did, he turned to face me and took hold of my hands, but I wanted more from him. So I leaned into him and started to kiss him in front of everyone. Atlas was grinning from ear to ear as he returned the kiss. When the kiss started to become passionate, we began to tune everyone and everything around us out. We got so caught up with our kiss that we didn't hear his throat till he did it louder and when we heard it, we finally pulled away from our kiss and I began to blush from embarrassment. Atlas chuckles at me lightly. His father approached the podium and began his speech. "Good evening everyone and thank you for coming to this special occasion. I would like to begin by saying that I am especially proud of my son and his mate for taking on the rules of your next Luna and Alpha. As you all know, Atlas and Kara have also combined their marking ceremony, which will take place after they take the oath of Luna and Alpha. Willl now start the oaths of office for Atlas and Kara. I now call the High Elder Bishop to stage he will carry out the oaths of office. There will be a dance and festivities after the ceremony. All are welcome to attend. Please, everyone enjoy the festivities." After he finished his speech, High Elder Bishop placed a bag on the solid oak table. The table was adorned with carvings of wolves and the full moon. The first item he pulled out was a gold chalice that had gems along the bottom. Kissed it and then placed it on the table. Next, he pulled out a knife that appeared to be very sharp. The blade was made of very strong steel and had the same wolf and moon etchings on the blade. The handle was made out of the same wood as the table and the end of the handle had a wolf's head carved on it. He held the knife up high in a ceremonial fashion. Then he placed the knife beside the chalice on the table. He stepped up to the podium and placed his hand up to get everyone's attention. As everyone settled down, he began the oath of office ceremony. "Good evening everyone, as Alpha Arlo said, this is a special occasion for both Atlas and Kara. They will become your new Alpha and Luna as well as having the first marking tonight during the first blue full moon of the year, which will make this marking a very special one. We will get to the details on the specialities of the marking during this moon phase after the oath of office. Alpha Arlo, Atlas, Kara, can you please approach the table?" Atlas placed his hand in mine, gently pulled it to his lips and tenderly kissed the top of my hand and we approached the table. His father was already beside it to the right of Elder Bishop and we went to the left of him. After we were at our places, the Elder Bishop continued with the ceremony. "Let's all pray to the Moon Goddess to bless this Alpha and Luna union. Mother Moon Goddess, please bless and give Atlas and Kara your blessing as they take the roles of Alpha and Luna of the Moon stone pack. May you give them guidance to be just and righteous rulers with the heart and strength of a lion to protect the pack. Mother Moon Goddess, please give Kara the ability to be a trusting and fair Luna. May she grant you two to be strong rulers together. Thank you Mother for your kindness and for your guidance. Now Atlas shall take the oath of Alpha." The Elder Bishop took the knife from the table and festered for Alpha Arlo to give him his hand when Arlo gave him his hand Elder Bishop took the knife and ran it along the palm of his hand cutting it and he allowed Arlo's blood to run into the chalic. He motioned for Atlas to do the same and the Elder Bishop cut his palm and allowed Atlas's blood to run into the chalice, mixing with his father's. Once that was done, the Elder Bishop began. "Atlas, do you swear to honor your father and mother and run the Moon stone pack to the best of your ability. To be a fair kind Alpha and respect all members of your pack. Do you swear to defend your pack with your life? Do you swear to uphold the werewolf laws and by laws?" The Elder Bishop asked Atlas. "I do", Atlas answered. After doing so, the Edler

Bishop picks up the chalice, picks it up and holds it up in the air and says, " In this chalice, it holds the blood of the old rule and the blood of the new rule Atlas, you must drink from this chalice to solidify your Alpha role." Atlas takes the chalice from Elder Bishop and takes a drink from it. The Elder Bishop ends the oath by saying, "I now announce Alpha Atlas of your next Alpha of the Moon stone pack." Everyone began to clap and cheer, but as they did, the Elder Bispoh held his hand again and everyone settled down again. "We still have the Luna ceremony to perform as well as the marking ceremony. Now it is time for the Luna ceremony. Alpha Atlas, can you please give me your hand again?" Atlas extended his right hand to Elder Bishop again and this time in the cleaned-out chalice he cut his palm of his hand again. After finishing with Atlas and cleaning the knife off, he looked at Kara and said," Kara, if you will, please give me your right hand ma'am." Kara extended her right hand out to Elder Bishop and he looked at her tenderly and ran the blade of the knife along her palm of her hand. Kara flinched in pain and, but let him finish cutting her hand. After finishing with Kara, Atlas lifted Kara's hand to his lips and licked the blood off her hand and when he did that her wound began to heel before her eyes. The elder Bishop lifted the chalice up in the air and began to place a silent prayer over it. After that, Elder Bishop began the oath of the Luna. "Kara, do you swear that you will be a giving and just Luna? Do you swear that you give your pack guidance and be their caretaker and be a shoulder if they can come to you? Do you swear that you lead the pack to the best of your ability? Do you swear that you will give your life to protect the pack if need be? Do you swear that you will follow all werewolf laws and by laws and even come to the High Elders if you are needed in situations that you can not control or need help with?" "I Swear." Kara said. "You may now drink from the chalice to set your oath in place." Elder Bishop said. I lifted the chalice to my lips and took a sip. The blood smelled like me and Atlas, but when I took a drink of the mixed blood it tasted of bitter copper. But as the blood slid down my throat, I began to feel the pack connection and when I mean connection, I mean I was also hearing their thoughts as well. I even began to feel Atlas's emotions and his feelings as well. But just out of curiosity, I tried to mind-link Atlas, which to my surprise, I was able to reach him. "Atlas?" I said. Then Atlas looked at me shocked. " Kara, how is this even possible that only a wolf can

mind-link?" "I have no idea I am just as surprised as you are." I replied. "We will look into that more later, let's finish the marking ceremony OK." He said to me and all I did was nod my head back at him. Elder Bishop finished performing the Luna ceremony by making his official announcement. "Ladies and Gentleman, I would like to officially introduce to you your new Luna, Luna Kara," Everyone began to clap and cheer and I could feel their excitement through the bond. " Alpha Arlo, you are the father, so you will be the one who will be to preforming the marking ceremony. It is only right that this be done by a relative of the male. After saying that, the Elder Bishop stepped aside and let Alpha Arlo take the stage. Alpha Arlo raised his hand to quite everyone. When everyone settled back down, it was time for the marking ceremony. "Good evening my fellow pack members and visiting pack members. I am here today to officiate my son Atlas's and Kara's marking ceremony. I am honored to have a wonderful daughter-in-law like Kara in my life. She is a kind and wonderful person who deeply loves my son. Kara and Atlas, I am so proud of you and I love and care for both of you. Welcome to the family, Kara." With that, Alpha Arlo stepped aside and Atlas took over. Atlas looked at me, smiled and began to speak. While looking deeply into my eyes, " Kara finding you at your parents' house those many weeks ago made me the happiest person in the world and when you agreed to be your mate and not reject me I was so happy. I couldn't believe that I had found you and my wolf was even over joyed. I couldn't keep you off my mind and when you finally moved in with us, my wolf finally calmed down. He wanted to mark you right then and there, but when you said that you wanted a marking ceremony. He was excited and I was as well. I am so honored to have you by my side, not only as my Luna but as my mate as well." He took Kara's hands in his and kissed the top of her hands. Kara began to speak. " I am also so honored and proud to have found you. Also, my life felt empty inside. I will even be the best Luna and mate I can be to you and for our pack. I am so happy that I have found you. You complete me Atlas., I want to be yours forever and always. I love you, Atlas." With that, he moved behind me and he moved any hair I had on my shoulder and neck to where his mark would go. I tilted my head to the side to allow him to easily to get to my neck. He leaned in and started kissing my neck where his mark would go as he was kissing. My sparks began to tingle up my body and around my marking spot. He leaned in and whispered in my ear. " This may hurt a little my Aruna, but once I start, I can not stop. Once I penetrate the skin, the bite must last a few minutes to allow the tether of the bond to become secure. He nipped my neck at my marking spot and I nodded my head at him to know that I was ready. Once again, I tilted my head to the side. Once I did, I began to feel his canines graze my marking area and I let out a soft moan and when I did, I felt his canines sink into my neck and the sparks and the heat from the bite began to erupt through my body. The world felt like it was spinning and when he was done he pulled his canines out and licked the bite, sealing the mark. When he did, the spot on my neck began to glow slightly and when the light faded there was a beautiful silver full moon with what looked like a stone. Once all this was completed, I began to kiss him deeply in front of everyone. He returned the kiss just as passionately and as we kissed I began to hear his wolf, Apollo. He was purring at me and I started to talk to Apollo and as I did, Atlas pulled away, looked at me questioningly but didn't say anything. Alpha Arlo came up on the stage and said, "I now want to introduce Kara and Atlas Moun. Alpha and Luna of the Moon Stone pack. Please enjoy the rest of tonight's festivities." Again everyone began to cheer and clap. Kara and Atlas started walking down the stage to exit the ceremony area to go to where the dance floor was and tables to get some food together. As we came to the party area, the Elder Bishop approached us and looked at me with a sly smile on his face. "I knew that you were special, Kara, but I just don't know how special just yet, but I will find out." he looked at Atlas smiled at his as well and then walked off. "What was all that all about?" I asked Atlas. "I don't know Kara but I will find out but lets enjoy the rest of the night. Shall we."