Chapter 10: Ceremony
1035 Words
I rushed around the hall, trying to keep up with everything that needed to be done. The night had to be perfect—it was Ryder's big moment, and the pressure of it all was weighing on me more than I wanted to admit. Guests filled the grand hall, laughing and chatting with drinks in hand, while the waitresses circulated with trays of food. But I couldn't shake the feeling that things weren’t quite right.
"Excuse me, could you bring out more of the ribs?" I asked one of the waitresses, who was standing by the food table looking a bit lost. She nodded quickly, scurrying off toward the kitchen.
I straightened a tablecloth that had somehow gotten wrinkled, adjusting the arrangement of flowers on the tables, checking to make sure people had enough to drink. My mother’s voice echoed in the back of my mind, reminding me to stay focused, to make sure Ryder’s night was flawless. But I couldn’t shake the tension that had settled in my chest. I felt like I was running on fumes, barely able to keep up with everything. This was supposed to be a celebration, but for me, it felt more like a test—a test I had to pass.
As I moved to help another waitress with a tray of drinks, a sudden hush fell over the hall. I turned toward the front of the room, where my father, the Alpha, stood at the head of the long table, his broad shoulders framed by the roaring fire in the hearth behind him. The flames danced, casting flickering shadows across his stern face as he lifted his hand, commanding the room’s attention.
“Good evening, everyone,” he began, his deep voice carrying easily over the crowd. “Tonight, we gather to honor our pack, our strength, and most importantly, our future. My son, Ryder, will soon take on the mantle of Alpha, and I could not be prouder. This pack is strong, resilient, and capable of great things. And under Ryder’s leadership, it will continue to thrive.”
The crowd cheered, a wave of pride and excitement rolling through them. I swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in my throat. This was it. This was the moment everything changed.
My father turned toward the fire, where a long, metal branding iron rested in the glowing embers. The symbol at the end of the iron was unmistakable—the mark of the Alpha, the symbol of power and responsibility that Ryder would soon bear.
With slow, deliberate movements, my father took the branding iron from the fire, its tip glowing red-hot. He held it up for everyone to see, then nodded toward Ryder, who stepped forward, his expression stoic, though I could sense the weight of the moment on him.
Ryder knelt before our father, his bare shoulder exposed. The crowd fell into a tense silence, waiting with bated breath.
“This mark,” my father said, his voice strong and unwavering, “symbolizes not just leadership, but sacrifice. It is a promise to protect, to serve, and to carry the weight of our pack. Ryder Thorne, do you accept this responsibility?”
Ryder’s voice was firm when he answered. “I do.”
Without hesitation, my father pressed the branding iron to Ryder’s shoulder, and the sound of sizzling flesh filled the room. Ryder gritted his teeth, not making a sound as the symbol of the Alpha burned into his skin. The crowd erupted into cheers and hollers, the excitement palpable.
Then, in a surprising move, my father handed the branding iron to Ryder. My heart pounded as I watched him take it, the weight of the moment pressing down on us all. Ryder stood, turning toward my father, his eyes locking with the older Alpha’s.
With deliberate steps, Ryder moved forward and pressed the same branding iron onto my father’s shoulder, over the old Alpha mark. The crowd gasped, but this time, the mark was burned upside down—a symbol that my father had once been Alpha, but was no longer.
The room exploded into applause, the pack roaring their approval as Ryder took his place as the new Alpha. I felt a strange mix of pride and unease swelling inside me, watching the transformation of my brother—the boy I had grown up with—into a leader before my very eyes.
Ryder raised his hands, silencing the crowd. “Let the party begin!” he declared, his voice strong and commanding. The cheers started again, louder this time, and the atmosphere shifted, turning from ceremony to celebration.
As the night wore on, the blood moon rose higher in the sky, its crimson glow casting an eerie light over the party. The tension that had gripped the pack during the ceremony began to ease, the music growing louder as everyone celebrated Ryder’s ascension.
I found myself on the dance floor with Lucian, his hand lightly resting on my waist as we moved together to the rhythm. I couldn’t help but smile up at him, momentarily forgetting the weight of the night. His flirtatious glances and playful banter had helped take the edge off, and for once, I allowed myself to enjoy it.
But then, out of nowhere, a loud, guttural growl ripped through the air, cutting through the music like a knife. I froze, my body instinctively tensing.
I turned toward the source of the sound, and my blood ran cold. Ryder, standing on the other side of the room, was stalking toward me, his eyes glowing a deep, angry red. His teeth were bared, his lips pulled back in a vicious snarl, and I could see the raw fury in every step he took.
The room fell silent, everyone’s attention drawn to him.
“Mate!” Ryder roared, his voice filled with primal, unmistakable claim.
My heart pounded in my chest as he advanced on me, his gaze locked on mine. I felt Lucian tense beside me, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Ryder.
This couldn’t be happening.
Before I could even process what was happening, Ryder was there, his presence overwhelming, his possessiveness radiating off him in waves.
- Writer
