The Scarlet Witch

Chapter Fourteen - The Luna Induction

Standing in front of the mirror gave Amaranth flashbacks to her wedding. Once again, she was standing in front of a mirror, in a white dress, missing her mother now more than ever. But there were things that are different in the present moment. There wasn't that feeling of dread that she had on her wedding day, that fear of the unknown. She stood in front of this mirror, putting on the same necklace that Margaret gave her on her wedding day. She wore a white strapless ballgown that had a skirt that wasn't too puffy. She was able to wear a ballgown since Dimitri made her promise to not wear any sort of cloak for her Luna Induction. He had picked up on the thread that she wore cloaks more as an added layer of defense, shielding and protecting her from wondering eyes. Helping her with being invisible.

Tonight is not a night where you need to be invisible. I want you to be seen. Were his exact words.

Amaranth took a deep breath, turning around and being met by the dogs, lying on the bed and watching her. She smiled as she walked over to them, giving them kisses on their heads. She moved into the bathroom, with the dogs following behind her. Taking a seat on the stool, she picked up a tube of mascara, applying it to her eyelashes. She shaded her eyebrows a tad before applying some red lipstick. Amaranth then turned to the dogs, who had been patiently waiting and watching her movements. Grabbing their collars off the countertop, she put a black collar with black pearls on Bella, and a white bow tie collar on Bruce. She leaned back to make sure that the collars were on properly and not bothering the dogs. They looked happy, their tails wagging, each with their mouths open as if they are sporting grins. It was as if they could tell how happy Amaranth was to finally be having this ceremony.

Amaranth stepped out of the bathroom just as Sophia came into the bedroom. They both stopped in their steps, taking in each others' appearance. Amaranth in her gown and Sophia in her lilac cocktail dress. Sophia had her black hair up in a sock bun, silver hoop earrings, and silver ballerina slippers. The girls smiled at one another, as Amaranth moved over to the foot of the bed where her gold ballerina slippers were. Amaranth watched, while putting on her shoes, Sophia bent down to greet and admire Bella and Bruce.

"So, are you ready?" Sophia asked, as Amaranth stood up.

"Yeah, I think so. I'm dressed, the dogs are dressed. Is everything outside ready?"

"Yes! Everything outside looks amazing. We have really outdone ourselves!" Sophia smiled.

"So is it time?" Amaranth asked, making her way out of the bedroom and into the lounge area of the suite.

Sophia nodded, with a smile on her face that she couldn't seem to get rid of. And Amaranth didn't want that smile to go away. That smile was another thing that contrasted this event with her wedding. Although Sophia did smile at the wedding, the one that she sported now felt more natural, more contagious. While the smile at the wedding felt more like she was trying her best to provide comfort during an uncomfortable first meeting. The girls locked arms as they walked downstairs. As they made their way towards the packhouse backdoor, they took a few detours. They walked through the dining room, where omegas and warriors were having their meals before their next shifts. As they walked into the room, everyone noticed them immediately. Everyone got up to greet Amaranth, shaking her hand, and apologizing for not being able to be at the ceremony, not realizing that she was there because she knew that they had to work. The girls then made their way to the kitchen area, checking in with the staff as well as give them an opportunity to see Amaranth in a casual setting, not working and serving her a meal.

Walking out the back door of the pack house, Amaranth gasped as she took in the scenery. The sun was beginning to set, leaving the sky purple, red, and orange. The trees had green leaves on them, some beginning to sprout flowers. Everything about the back yard looked lovely, Amaranth's garden coming along nicely, adding to the beauty. Amaranth and Sophia made their way down the path that led to the ceremonial arch that the Scarlet Moon Pack used for all of their important ceremonies, from Luna or Alpha Inductions to swearing in warriors. Amaranth walked, with Bella and Bruce trailing behind her, looking around and not really paying attention to what was in front of her. It wasn't until Sophia grabbed hold of her hand that Amaranth released that they had arrived. She turned her attention to Sophia, who was smiling at her. Amaranth smiled back as Sophia pulled her into a hug. Sophia pulled away, kissed Amaranth on the cheek, and went to take her seat next to her parents.

Amaranth waited, looking at Alpha Damon and Alpha Dimitri, who weren't facing her, until she was queued. She walked down the path that was laid leading her to the archway. Glancing around at all of the pack members that were present for the ceremony. They all sent her smiles and grins, which she sent back. She looked around and made eye contact with Margaret, who sent her a wink. She found where Amanda, Stephan, and Alexander were seated, joined by Sophia and Beta Cody. All had smiles on their faces, all just as happy to see Amaranth being named Luna as the pack members were. Turning her gaze back to what was in front of her, Amaranth realized that the alphas were standing next to each other in the archway. Alpha Damon was further in the archway, while Alpha Dimitri was standing in the entrance, waiting for her. The two were now sporting smiles like everyone else as they watched Amaranth make her way towards them.

As Amaranth approached Dimitri she saw something that she remembered from her wedding, something that was exactly as it was then now. A look in his eyes, a soft expression on his face when he turned to look at her that she knew she'd seen before. For a moment, she thought that she wasn't going to be able to breathe, wasn't going to be able to make it all the way to the arch. Thinking about what he told her the first night after she arrived at the Scarlet Moon Pack, seeing this look again confirmed what she first thought about it when they said their "I Do"s. He loves me.

Amaranth didn't realize that she had in fact made it to the arch when she felt Dimitri take hold of her hand. Dimitri guided Amaranth into position at the center of the arch. He didn't take his eyes off of her for a second, as he did. He took in her small, shy smile, how lovely she looked in her gown, the ruby necklace that he remembers her wearing at their wedding. The feel of her hand in his, the intimacy of this small moment made him think about their wedding. How the nerves felt that day is nonexistent now. Standing with her in this archway, in front of his pack, in front of his family, their family. The moment, the event, the night just felt ten times more special than how he initially thought it would feel.

"Tonight, tonight is a special night. Because this is the first Luna Induction ceremony that the Scarlet Moon Pack has had in over fifty years. And although I am not the acting alpha of this pack, I am honored to be standing in this arch, witnessing this moment," Alpha Damon announced, his smile never leaving his face. "Now I will allow the current alpha of the Scarlet Moon Pack, Alpha Dimitri, to take over."

"Thank you grandfather," Dimitri said, clearing his throat. "Tonight is indeed special. Most of the members of this pack have known me since I was born. Some have even grown up with me. And most know of the struggle that I found myself in after a visit to the oracle. So tonight, I am sure that everyone can feel the positive and loving energy in the air."

Dimitri turned, grabbed the ceremonial dagger from Damon, then turned to face Amaranth. He signaled her to raise her left hand as he raised both of his. "With this dagger, I will be spilling the blood of generations of Scarlet Moon Pack Alphas, of Scarlet Moon Pack Lunas. The blood of leaders, of fighters, of those loved by those who followed them. Trusted them to guide them. And with this dagger, I shall spill the blood of someone new, someone willing to make the commitment to the pack that all of those before her made. Are you, Amaranth Solace, ready to make that vow, that commitment, to be the Luna of the Scarlet Moon Pack?"

"Yes," Amaranth answered, without a moment's hesitation.

Dimitri smiled, made a quick cut on his left palm and did the same on Amaranth's left palm. The two brought their hands together, a tingling sensation vibrated up Amaranth's arm. She could hear a faint murmur of voices, but pushed that noise to the back of her mind as she took in the eruption of cheers from those around her. She looked out at the audience of pack members as they got up from their seats, clapping and cheering and hugging one another, celebrating the new Luna. Damon wrapped Amaranth's hand in a bandage to help stop the bleeding.

As Damon finished wrapping her hand, Amaranth turned to look up at Dimitri. The two smiled sweetly at one another. Amaranth threw her hands around Dimitri's neck and he met her with a kiss. The cheers from the pack members got even louder.