DARK MOON

CHAPTER THREE

was going to get mated to Rowan today.

We’d been engaged for six months and had never met till two days ago. I’d been afraid that it was all going to be a disaster but had trusted that my parents wouldn’t pick an asshole for me. I’d been right. Rowan and I had kicked things off immediately and I no longer feared that I was going to be mated to someone I couldn’t stand.

I could do more than stand Rowan. My face flushed with the memories of how our first night meeting had ended. I’d ended up with a big bite on my neck and when my mother saw it, she had bursted out in tears. I’d been worried at first but she told me it was tears of joy. I guess I wasn’t the only one relieved that Rowan wasn’t a douchebag.

He was the Alpha of the Dark Moon pack, the pack neighboring ours. There have been incidents of rogue k********g and murders over the past decades and our mating was going to strengthen both packs and make our barrier one big impenetrable one.

The pack had been bustling with preparations from the day Rowan and his people had gotten here. I was in my room with Celia, Jace and Scenda. Jace had gone outside the pack for business and she got back yesterday. She was equivalent to my right hand woman and she and Celia were my best friends.

Scenda was fussing over how I looked but I wasn’t that worried. I’d end up without clothes at the end of the night. The mating ceremony was to bind us together in the presence of the moon goddess and when we entered into the pool of blessed water, we had to go before her the same way we came into the world. Naked.

I hadn’t known that Scenda had been nervous that when I left, she was going to get left behind. I’d had to calm her worries that she was coming with me. After the mating ceremony, I was going to go with Rowan back to Mind Prey pack. I was going to be Luna. If I let myself think about it too much, I was going to lose my mind. So I didn’t. But I was not going somewhere new alone. Jace, Celia, Force and Scenda were coming with me. I was sad that I was going to uproot their lives but selfish enough to know that I needed them.

“So, what happened when you ran off with Rowan that night?” Jace said and I blushed. All three of them burst out laughing and I attempted to scowl at them but couldn’t hold it.

“I told him to catch me. And he did.” Celia and Jace turned to me with wide eyes and even Scenda paused.

“He caught you? Whoa. That's pretty insane. You’re stupid fast. And you’ve always fantasized that your mate would be fast enough to catch you. Guess you got your wish.” Celia said with a squeaky voice.

“He definitely did more than catch her. There’s literally a big bite on her neck. Big enough to suggest that a big wolf did it,” Jace muttered and I smiled. I told them what had happened.

Rowan had bitten me before he had shifted and done more wicked things to me. It had been mind-blowing and we hadn’t even taken that much time. How much better would it be when we had so much time? Just from thinking of it, I was getting aroused and had to push the thought away. Wolves had very sharp scents and I didn’t want my friends scenting my arousal.

Scenda finally finished dolling me up and she went to drag the big mirror close. She never dressed me with a mirror close because I spent the time picking everything apart till we ran very late. So she did her thing with me and only allowed me to see the end result after she was done with me.

I was wearing a sheer silk gown that left nothing to the imagination. It hugged my curves and stuck to me like second skin. Scenda had layered gold accessories all over the clothing so that the jewelry gave an illusion of covering. She had curled my hair in ringlets that fell softly over my face and back. A little ceremonial tiara sat on my head. There was little makeup on my face and the most prominent one was the shimmery gold on my eyelid and my cheek. I looked magnificent. Like a queen. And that was exactly what we were going for.

Tears pooled in my eyes and wordlessly, Jace handed me a paper towel. Don’t ruin Scenda’s hard work with your tears. She said with her eyes and smiled at me.

“Our little Anna is all grown up,” Celia didn’t even bother to contain her tears and we didn’t try to make her contain it. She could cry for both of us. The three of us had our girl moment and then my mother entered and joined us. Her and Celia sobbed loudly and it was all Jace and I could do to hold them.

We spent the rest of the time reminiscing and sharing memories and then the sun set. And then it was time. My mother had left to go get dressed and Jace and Celia both got dressed in my room. A fancier version of their guard uniform but it suited them. They had allowed Scenda to make their hairs prettier and she’d almost burst with joy. She’d been trying to lay her hands on their hair for ages but I guess a mating ceremony was all she needed.

Then they all left and I was in the room alone.

I was going to be leaving all I’d known for twenty eight years behind to start somewhere new. I knew I was strong. Stronger than many female wolves. I had been training with the enforcers from the moment I could. I was gifted with healing and had learned all there was to learn under Marian. I had collected knowledge from all council members. Was it going to be enough? If I allowed myself to go down that path, I was going to make myself miserable. So I didn’t.

I took a deep breath and walked out of my room. My mother and father were waiting outside for me. Dad was in his ceremonial Alpha garb with a crown on his head and mom was dressed up to the nines with a matching crown on her head. We seldom pulled out the crowns unless it was important and this was important.

I walked to them and held their arms.

Cara was standing by the side in attire that was equal to her getting dressed up. She held a bowl of water in her hands and I walked towards her.

“Anna-May, daughter of Dark moon pack, daughter of the moon, beloved of the goddess. We give you away today in Joy. We give you away in Peace. We give you away in Strength. We give you away in Love. May the goddess shine her light upon you and illuminate dark paths you tour. You hold her strength and her power to give life and restore. May your powers continue to grow. May you be of great importance to your new park. Anna-May of Dark moon pack, we will give you away today and may we never have to take you back.”

She sprinkled the water all over me and did the mark of the crescent on my forehead. I’d watch this same ritual be carried out for women who were mating outside the pack. It was a way of calling upon the safety and guidance of the goddess. I couldn’t explain it but I felt better. I was still anxious but it was better. I smiled at Cara and she hugged me.

The future was uncertain, but as my parents led me down towards the male that was going to change my path, I prayed that the goddess favored me.