The Tortured Luna

The Beta Mating Ceremony Part 1

It's been a month since Lorna's gotten out of the hospital. She didn't lose her arm, though she did have complications from the serum's toxin. Her original dosage of the medicine to keep her alive had more than tripled, but did stabilize her. The houses that were decided on along the border were completed, and the one Beta Jack let her choose and have a say in how it was designed was ready for them to spend a few months in after their ceremony publicly declaring them mates. Lorna was sitting at their table in the Beta Quarters in the pack house when Jack came up to the table and sits down.

"Our ceremony will be in the pack garden as you requested in a few hours. Are you sure you're ready for this? We haven't truly had any time to grieve the loss of our families." he asked her with concern. Lorna looked up at him with a small smile.

"Thank-you for asking me. You're right...I'm not ready. However, I don't know if you're ready, either. But, considering the threats from Krassus, I think this is the best choice. I don't want to be the reason that so many innocents lose their lives. I'll do my part for as long as I'm able... and when you find your second chance mate, I don't want you to worry about me. All I ask is that you don't forget about me, our pups, still come around, and end things admirably with me instead of making me suffer." he was stunned into silence and couldn't help the warm feeling that washed over him. He smiled at her and kissed her for the first time, gently pushing his fingers through her loose bun and not realizing how much passion he put into that kiss.

"Thank-you for that, Lorna. I promise I'll do right by you and our pups. I'll leave you here to get ready. Do you need anything?" Jack asked her with genuine care, a huskiness to his voice he hadn't had in a long time that surprised him.

"Maybe just someone to help me with my dress. It may be simple, but I can't fully use my left arm anymore, so I can't reach the zipper right." Lorna hung her head and replied with a tear. Jack put his right pointer finger under her chin and gently lifted her to face him.

"It's alright. I understand, and that doesn't bother me. I'll send someone. Go ahead and get ready. We don't have much time left now before we'll be declared mates and start our honeymoon." Jack kissed the top of her head gently and walked out. As she stood up and headed over to her closet to get her dress, there was a knock at the door.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK

Lorna turned slightly and called out loud enough for whoever was on the other side to be able to hear her. "Come in." Immediately, a young omega woman came in with a broad smile, her shorts and spaghetti strap tank top matching the gorgeous red and yellow roses in the pack garden where their ceremony was about to take place.

"Hello, miss. I'm Olive. Beta Jack asked me to come help you with your dress. Is there anything else that I can do for you, Beta Lorna?" Lorna smiled half-heartedly and responded.

"Let's just start with my dress, if you don't mind." Lorna walked into her closet, grabbed her dress, walked out, hung the hanger on a hook on her closet door, and then unzipped the dress bag... revealing a simple yet gorgeous yellow dress with blue trim, a blue sash, two hip length slits on either side, and blue spaghetti straps to keep it held in place. She unzipped her dress, dropped her robe, and stepped into her dress. When she pulled it up and slipped it on, it hugged her in all the right places. When Lorna heard Olive gasp, she turned around with wide eyes and couldn't help but ask her the first two questions that popped up in her mind. "Olive, is everything alright? Do I look OK?"

"Beta Lorna, you look wonderful. Pack colors really suit you, and that dress is stunning. Are you ready to have me zip you up?" Olive responded. Lorna smiled softly and nodded her head in response as she turned back around, allowing Olive to zip the mid-back zipper on her dress. Once Olive did that, she asked "Would you like me to do your hair?"

"Alright. If it's not to much trouble. I don't want to keep you from the rest of your duties." Olive chuckled lightly and answered her quickly as she rushed over to the vanity desk in the right corner of the room just outside the bathroom door.

"It's not too much trouble, Beta Lorna. I'm happy to do it. Promise. Please sit, and I'll take the bun out and do your hair." As soon as Lorna sat down, Olive immediately took down her hair, "Wow! I wish my hair was this long. Is there a specific way you want your hair?"

"Not really, Olive. I just want it to look nice. As long as it looks nice, you can do whatever you'd like with it."Lorna responded with a shrug as she noticed her eyes light up with excitement.

"Ooooooo! I know the perfect style then!!! You appear to like buns, so I'm gonna high braid your hair loose enough to add flowers and put it up in a loose braided bun! I'll ask Marriannah to bring some roses from the garden." Olive's eyes glazed over for a few minutes before returning to normal as she started to brush out Lorna's hair. "She'll be up in a few minutes. She's heading to the garden to get six each of red and yellow roses with some baby breath." Just as she finished brushing out her hair, the door opened and in walked a very cheerful young lady wearing a pure yellow sundress came bouncing in the room with roses and baby breath.

"Olive, I got them! I also grabbed a few tulips, daisies, lilys, and daffodiles so we can make Beta Lorna a bouquet. Beta Lorna, Thank-you for allowing me the honor to help you with your mating ceremony. Olive, here's the roses you asked for and some baby breath. I'll get started on the bouquet." In just over an hour, Lorna's long, soft and wavy hair was in a high loose braided bun with roses and baby breath scattered throughout in the shape of a heart and she had the most gorgeous mixed flowers bouquet she'd ever seen. Suddenly, there was a gentle knock at the door and Atlas walked in.

"I see you're ready, Lorna. You look beautiful. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind if I'd escort you down to the ceremony? Luna Rose is already down there and insisted I come up for you without her."Alpha Atlas declared. Lorna couldn't help the surprise that briefly showed on her face before she smiled and answered.

"I'd be honored, Alpha. Olive, Marriannah, I'd be honored if you'd join the bridal party. You don't have to change." Their eyes lit up as they turned to the Alpha.

"Is it alright, Alpha?" they asked together as they bowed their heads in respect.

"Yes, it's alright. Go ahead and join the festivities. I'll link the pack and tell them everyone is allowed to attend if they wish." they rushed off just as Alpha Atlas' eyes briefly glazed over. When they returned to normal, he extended his arm for Lorna to take, which she did with only the slightest hesitation. "Let's get you down for the ceremony." Atlas said gently as they started walking. They were outside at the pack garden in about fifteen minutes. They walked out into a pure paradise. Additional yellow and blue roses with touches of red roses were in peace sign bouquets along each row of seats with yellow and blue organza sashes around and under them. There was a blue and yellow rose petal path leading all the way up to the altar where Beta Jack was in a blue tuxedo with yellow accents and a white shirt... a yellow and blue tie finishing off his outfit. Along the path down to the altar were real rose arches, alternating between blue and yellow. She looked up at Atlas with a shaky smile and said three simple words...

"I'm ready, Alpha." He nodded, gave the signal for the ceremony to start, and started walking her down the aisle as the violinist started playing. When they reached the altar where the Elder of the pack, Axel stood.

"Who blesses this mate union between Beta Jack and Beta Female Lorna?" Elder Axel boomed out.

"I do, Elder Axel said clearly."

"Very well. Pass Lorna's hand to Jack, Alpha, and we'll continue." Alpha Atlas nodded, complied and sat down in the front row off the left side of the aisle.