Born of Two

Lady in the Fire

Lochlyn POV

I held the most beautiful girl in my arms. I keep waiting to wake up in the tiny apartment back in Omaha, trying to understand how I played a part in this However, every morning I wake up, I have either woken up to her scent or her in my arm more recently. I see the necklace on her; I know it is her mother's. My parents already walked me through what role they would hope to play today.

“Thank you, mom and dad, for bringing her to me.”

“No problem, son, but remember, if you do anything to mess this up, we will choose her over you.” He gave me a wink and then one of his hugs before my mom gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek.

“Ok, we need to start heading up so that we can begin. Lochlyn, we walked her through all of this but how you walk her down that is up to you.” She gave me a pat on the arm and then walked away from us, followed by the rest of the parents. Rosalynn eyed me curiously before I interlocked my hand with hers. I gave her a kiss on the back of the hand before nodding to watch the others.

One by one, the men stepped away from the women and shifted into their wolves. I looked back at her; her eyes were huge as she watched the young women curtsey and then mount their wolf mates.

“Why?”

“It is said that men are to carry their household. To lead in strength, knowledge, and in-sync with their animal. The women lead in the opposite ways. They lead through directions, telling their mate how to proceed with their eyes on the area around them. They are to see the threats to the family and protect them mentally and emotionally, supporting them while the men strive to protect them physically. That’s why we are possessive regarding the physical, but your wolf is built to protect our emotions and mentality. Wolf and human, human and wolf combined into one perfect match.”

“I understand, and I accept. I will let you lead.”

I stepped back from her and stripped out of my clothes to change into those later. I shifted into my sandy blonde wolf and knelt for her to hop on. She did the curtsey and then got onto my back. One by one, the couples in front of us began to move through the next stretch of woods. A few minutes later, we are confronted with the entire pack.

I could feel Rosalyn shift nervously as the pack eyed her. Nothing about it was sinister, more like pride and affection, but my flower didn’t like to shine in the sun; she preferred to shine in the shadows, be the perfect wallflower. However much she loved her shadows in life, she earned her moment in the sun to be seen for the graceful, beautiful soul she is. I could feel her energy through the mate bond; she was as anxious and excited as I was. I watched as my pack members would curtsey or bow their heads, not in submission but in response to her aura and crown. They already knew she was special as most had seen her training, and the children would come home with fresh flowers from Avalon. This touched our mate deeply as she nodded back to her people. We made our way to the front, where a young woman waited patiently with my clothing. She helped Rosie dismount and, when I shifted, gave me my garments. The mates were standing in a row, and a large purple bonfire raged behind my father, the present elder.

“Northern Moon Pack, we are gathered under the light of our Goddess to honor her pairings and bless the couples who stand here today. 5 other young women were mated, but they are partaking in the mate's pack traditions. Those who stand here today, do you swear your allegiance to your mate and your pack?”

“We do,” We all said in unison.

“Do you promise to uphold our values, take your place in the pack and honor the Alpha and Luna?”

“We do.”

“Do you swear to cherish, honor and love the gift the Goddess gave you and all the future holds because of that gift?”

“We do.”

“Now wives, give yourself to your husband, and husbands love your wife as the Goddess loves the earth. This is what was asked of her children when we were created and given the gift of another half.”

I turned to my bride, my love, and kissed her. Sparks flew across our lips as the crowd behind us cheered and celebrated. I could hear Rosalynn moan lightly at the invasion of my tongue in her mouth. Her strawberry lipstick flavored each kiss.

“Ahem.”

I broke the kiss to look around and saw that everyone had only pecked their mates, and I was having a full-blown make-out session with mine. The red spreading across her cheeks was adorable as she looked around.

“Now that our Alpha claimed his mate. Let's continue with the ceremony. Each of you will come forward, slice your hand, and place it over the purple flames. Let your blood drip into the flames, and it will unite you with the pack. Welcome children of the Moon Goddess to the Northern Moon Pack, and may your forever be long and blessed.”

My dad bowed his head to each couple. My mom stepped forward with a ceremonial box and pulled out a decorative knife. She set it on a table in front of the fire, and one by one, the couples came up to it. Each guy and girl cut their palm and placed it over the fire; when the blood and flames met, the fire turned aquamarine and grew a little bit at the acceptance of the new pack member.

Finally, the last couple went, and I grabbed Rosalynn’s hand. I could feel her anxiety through her as I oped our contact would calm her. However, the closer we got to the fire, the more her uneasiness grew. My parents could sense her hesitance, and I felt my dad open up a mind link to me.

“Do you want us to do something? The poor girl looks like she is going to faint.”

“I know, but I don’t want her to be treated differently. This is something we all have to do. However, I have an idea.”

I gave Rosalynn a gentle kiss on her head and winked at her. She looks at me, confused as I pull away from her. “Ladies and gentlemen of the Northern Moon Pack. Tonight is a special night for me as I have waited a long time f r this woman to come into my world. Many of you know that she is special and gifted for a reason beyond our knowledge and understanding. The Moon Goddess has given you a Luna to protect and as well as cherish. I will take the first step to show her how much I cherish her ” I turn to face my blushing bride. “I know you never thought life would take you here. I know you wish pieces of your heart weren’t missing.” I took a de p breath as I got down on one knee. “I know we are crazy about each other but also barely know one another. So today, I promise to be your keeper, protector, and rock. I promise to adore you, support you, and love you. I promise to guard your heart. So as I make these vows to you, I give you a physical reminder of my promise.” I reach down into my pocket and pull out the little velvet box. I open it to the two rings inside, an emerald-cut moissanite ring cushioned in aquamarine stones and the black hammered ring with the aquamarine stone in the center. I watched her mouth drop as she looked at the gems in the box, and tears began to flow.

“Rosalynn Irene Moore. Will you be my wife, best friend, and mate?”

She chewed on her bottom lip as she contemplated my question. I could see her eyes begin to sparkle. Instead of nodding yes to me, she got down on her knees and grabbed my ring. “ I, Rosalynn Moore, accept you, Lochlyn Joseph Winters as my mate and Alpha. I promise to lead with you, learn to love you, and live to protect you as you protect the pack. I promise all of this and more but the most important promise I make is to guard your heart.” She leaned in a kissed me softly. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when we broke apart. I walked her to the fire, knowing she felt more confident about this moment. I picked up the knife and handed it to her.

“This is where you cut my hand, and then I will cut yours. We will hold hands and place them over the fire. No big deal, just a little blood oath.” I said, winking at her.

“Ha! Right just a little blood oath. There are no movies about how bad a blood oath can be.” She said as she ran the blade against my palm, slicing about 2 inches of it open. I took the knife and cut hers, and the tears sprang to her eyes when the blade met her delicate skin. We placed our hands together and placed them over the fire. We watched, a d a steady stream of blood came into the fire. However, unlike everyone else, the fire roared to life, flames reaching nine feet into the air. Flicking between blues, purples, and greens. I pulled Rosie into me, trying to protect her from the inferno, but the fire kept hold of her palm, magnetizing to her when a hand shape appeared in the lames and a womanly shape appeared in the fire. Her voice boom across the crowd and night air.

“The soul pure in light and dark awakens

once darkness and shadow now spring.

A peace divided shall fracture and broken

a light the darkness cannot see.

New life in death will prosper

a new hope to choose its path.

For darkness will reign in one journey

and be light to guide another’s path.

The choice is neither simple nor wayward

but one that must reign in peace. ”

The w man looked at Rosie after speaking her prophecy. “Rise Queen of the New Age, rise chosen daughter of the sun and the moon. Your destiny awaits you and the path you must choose.”

With that, the fire soared around her again, releasing Rosie of the grip and flying toward the sky, leaving nothing but smoke and ash. The crowd was standing and silent taking in what just happened. We turned around to face my parents; my mom’s jaw was on the floor. My father did something I did not expect. He nodded to Rosalynnwhile he pulled his sword, albeit decorative, and placed it in his hands, placing it outwards to her. He nodded again and began to kneel. Rosie went to protest but was stopped when my mother followed suit. The pack stood frozen at the sight of their old Alpha kneeling in offering to their new Luna. We looked out to the crowd and saw Helena, Jo, and Chase follow suit, except Chase switched to his wolf. Avalon, Molly, and Simon were also kneeling. Alpha Mark, Lucas, and the rest of the warriors followed the example. All pledging their allegiance to the new Luna. Many elders offered weapons, and the young shifted into wolf form.

“All hail the Queen of the New Age!!”

Rosie turned to me, and I gave her a quick kiss on the lips before I was the last to bow. She was my queen, and now the whole world would know. As much as it made me happy to see her be accepted, it made me concerned about spies or betrayal. Red Moon would want her now more than ever. They would either kill her or try to take her for themselves. I knew she could handle herself and fight, but my fear of losing her slowly chipped away at my own rationality. My wolf paced in my head. I soon found sparks flying across my face as I felt her fingertips rest on my cheeks. I looked up at my mate, her eyes the brightest shade of purple I had ever seen. Her dark hair now had deep streaks of purple at the ends, blowing slightly in the wind.

“Stand up, my love. You don’t bow; we are equals. If I am the queen of the new age or whatever that may mean, then you are my chosen king. The man destined to stand beside me. King of the New Age.”

I stood next to my princess and stood to face the cr wd. I pulled her to my side, just wanting one moment. Her body started weakening as the purple in her eyes faded to her natural blue. Her long sigh told me she wouldn’t make it through the whole evening. I didn’t know that the power in the fire was also joining her in that power as well. But it was clear now that her fatigue would only worsen if we didn’t get food in her. I nodded to my dad, and he cleared the area and sent everyone home to change for the party tonight. It was only about 8 pm, and the party that would start would probably go well into the morning hours. Werewolves love to party, and we have high alcohol tolerance. Meaning the longer it takes to get wasted, the longer we party. We wouldn’t stay the whole night as I have a surprise for my queen.

Once the place cleared out, I pick d up Rosie bridal style and sat in one of the chairs. My mom brought over some snacks. Rosie was barely conscious, and she took the food from my mom and sighed, placing it on her lap.

“Ros, I need you to eat, babe. We have more to do tonight, and you need your energy. This gift or force you have is incredibly draining for you, and we need to learn how to control it.”

She nodded her head. I looked at my mom for he p, and she nodded her head to the cabin in the woods. It wasn’t much or used often, but they occasionally used it as a getaway for themselves when they were younger. I picked her up and walked about 100 yards before the little cabin appeared in the woods.

The moss formed on the roof, and the pillars were probably rotting away. As I walked up the stairs, I could feel the bend under our combined weight. I backed into the door, and to my surprise, it opened immediately. I could see the wood that splintered under my body weight, and a decent layer of dust covered the room. Rosie was in and out of it in my arms, still grasping the bag of snacks my mom gave her. She was so low on energy that she didn’t even try to eat yet. I could hear the beginning of the party in the distance as I laid my mate on the dusty bed. Her little moan made my heart break for her.

“Hey, Rosie, can you sit up so I can get you to eat?”

“No, I want to sleep.”

I smiled at her scrunched-up nose at the idea of waking up for anything. “I know you want to sleep,” I said as I snuggled up behind her and pulled her back into my chest. “But we have about 200 people waiting for us. I also have the biggest surprise for you, and I can’t give it to you if you are sleeping.”

“Wow… thanks for your p***s surprise, but I think I will pass.”

OH MY GOSH! I totally didn’t realize how that sounded. No, it's not my…uh…that. I have a bigger surprise than that, but if you want….uh that… then I will gladly fill that desire.” I smiled as I growled lowly into her ear. As much as she tried to play it off, I could smell her desire from her.

“Actually,” She rolled over to face me. Her crown was lopsided, and he hair covered a portion of her face. Her bright blue eyes shone brightly as purple streaks brought out the color more. “I was hoping we could talk about that some more.”

“Some more? I remember our shower conversation and seeing your body, but I don’t remember us ever having that conversation.”

“Stop being a smartass and snuggle me while I alk.” She retorted as she pulled herself back into me. “I want to sleep with you. After everything you showed me tonight and your promise of devotion. I want to give you everything. I mean, we are man and wife now, right?”

“More or less yes.”

“Then tonight is a weird wedding night that we share with four other couples.” She looked back up at me as. When I looked at her, I wanted nothing more than to make her mine right there. “But I need to ask a question first.”

“Anything, my darling.”

“What is the name of your wolf.”

“I will make you a deal. Sit up and take five bites of the sandwich, and I will tell you.”

“You really are insistent about that sandwich.” She said, placing her thumb on my bottom lip and rolling it down towards her.

“Yes, now eat so I can ravage you later.” I attacked her neck with kisses and nibbles on her earlobes. She laughed hysterically before tapping on my back and eating what my mom gave her. Five bites later, she looked at me with determined anticipation. “His name is Langston. And he is already infatuated with you and Adira.”

“Langston.” She said, and I immediately felt the hardness forming in my pants. “Langston and Lochlyn.”

“Keep saying my name like that, and I might take you in the dusty cabin, and that would piss Josephine off with what she has done for us.”

“Ha!! Whose sister is this involved in getting them laid?”

“When your sister has been pushing us together for years and broken almost every rule possible… we call her overly outgoing.”

“Do we need to get going?”

“Unfortunately, yes. You have a costume change, and I have a pack to introduce you to, although that fire lady may have already done that. Your majesty.”

“I think it is more of a figurative queen, not a little queen.”

“Well, whatever it is, I will kiss the ground you walk on.”

“You are such a kissass!” he said, smacking me on the shoulder. “Ok, I am ready. Let's meet our pack members.”

Rosie’s POV

“This is too much, Jojo!!”

“Suck it in, girl! I still have half the corset to go.”

“Is this necessary?”

“Yep. It is a formal event, and I had this gown specifically designed to enhance your boobays…. Your tata’s… you magnificent melons!!”

“I think you like my body more than your bother, you weirdo.”

Eventually, she got the last bit of the corset done up, and I saw the dress fully. It was gorgeous. Long white chiffon fabric draped downward, leaving a large slit for my leg to pop out when I walked around the room. The bodice was slightly see-through, and you could see the boning underneath. The chest was gathered into the middle corset and light chiffon off-the-shoulder bell sleeves. It was perfect.

We made our way downstairs, where the party was in full swing. The music was blasting, and the colored lights made the room look more like a club than a pack-house. You could see so many people grinding and dancing like they were mere seconds from ripping off each other’s clothing and doing the deed right there. Even the older mated wolves were in on the party.

Jojo took me around the dance floor to the front of the room. The was a stage with a single two-person table, and then on the floor level, you could see the long table that had belongings from the other couples mating tonight. I looked around and saw my mate walking toward me. This time he was in a charcoal grey suit with a pick-stitched design on the lapel. It sculpted out his biceps, and he moved easily through the crowded room. The closer he got, the more of a high I felt between my legs. I had known what it was like to be horny and want someone badly, but this was an all-new sensation. It was like every cell in my body craved this man. t needed the beast between his legs and to feel his body colliding with man. He walked up to me and wrapped up his arm around my waist; without saying a word, he ran his nose from the base of my neck to behind my earlobe, where he lightly bit above the earring. Feeling his breath and the scent surrounding me made the room spin, and my lungs felt like we were drowning. I was lucky that his arm was around my waist. Otherwise, I would have become one of those girls who swoon and whose legs can’t support them.

I wrapped my arms around Lochlyn’s waist as he laughed lowly “My love, we are expected to make a speech, but if you need me to steal you away, I will, and no one will ever see you again. I will steal your breath, whatever innocence you have left; I will claim and take every inch of your body and soul.”

I could feel the heat spread over me as he kissed my temple. His sandy dark blonde hair tickled my forehead. “Stop seducing me, or you will have no innocence to steal.”

“My Rosie, you are my innocence.”

If the world could sparkle, it would. He grabbed my head and lead me to the middle of the dance floor. The DJ turned the lights down, and the room quieted as he turned on “All the Faces” by Cree Bratton. I smiled as he must have learned that it was one of many favorite songs. He began to sway with me slowly before spinning me around. I know we were in a room full of people, but there was no one for that song. No one to impress or serve, just Lochlyn and me in the ballroom, dancing to my song. All my life waiting for the right guy to sweep me off my feet, and this one did. He quite literally knocked me to the ground the first moment. He spun me around again, and I saw his smile. It could power a hundred cities with the power it made me feel. Jojo told me that the best part of being mated to a wolf would be knowing that his smile, heartbeat, and love were solely for me. That his heart only beats for me. It would be something that connects us every time things get hard and overwhelming. A pairing blessed and given by the Moon Goddess herself. Whoever she is, I am forever grateful for this man and the life he shares with me.

Unknown POV

I can see the packhouse lit up with lights as the party rages. I always enjoyed the mating rituals we have as werewolves. Really give us any reason to party, and we will. I have enjoyed life up until late now I have to earn my way and my brand, so now I sit here and wait. Watching the Northern Moon live in ignorance of the war that is coming. It has been shown to me that their peace-loving ways will be the downfall of our society. Our world has no place for diplomacy or peace; we are animals of war, and our territorial needs must be met.

I have often wondered if a mate would satisfy my need to be the best, the need to be seen and given what is rightfully mine, but every single one that will take me ends up running from me. Of course, none have been my fated, but the Moon Goddess is cruel, and my mate would reject the failures in my life. I stand up to stretch my legs from my hidden spot in the woods. I was told to go completely undetected as long as I could. I would play the sympathy and appeasement card if I were caught, even if it meant facing their Luna. I would have to be smoothly moving to weaken this pack. It was strong it always has been. I never understood why the enemies could not take them on. I know they have tactics like their precious underground, but the secret isn’t as much of a secret as they would like. We have broken warriors; we have spies; we have me. The secret eyes in the forest bent on destroying the pack that failed its members. Their Luna and Alpha are strong, but that is their weakness… each other.

Now to move forward, watching from the woods, ready to sink my teeth and tear this pack apart. It’s time to earn my place on the right side of the war.