Major Time Lapse! 2 Years Later
Skylar
"It's got to be perfect, Skylar!" Lish exclaimed, holding another dress against me then grimacing and throwing it on the floor behind her.
"It's not my wedding dress Lish! I know it has to be pretty but gosh this is the Luna ceremony." I argued. "Let's not go overboard."
"We already have your Luna ceremony dress! It's in the back!" Chloe argued.
Renee popped up from behind three huge dresses. "News flash, Skylar we are searching for your wedding dress! He proposed last week! And everyone knows they always get married after the Luna ceremony."
I felt as if I was about to explode. I was a walking bundle of nerves. "Today is the Luna Ceremony!" I said, exasperated.
"And tomorrow's the wedding!" Maggie and Gracie yelled at the same time throwing some dresses at Lish.
"What?" I exclaimed.
Anna came up to me and held up a few fabrics against my arm. "In the tradition of the wolves, Skylar," she began, spurning the calmest out of all of us. She smiled at a pretty ivory colored fabric and handed it to Lish. "Go find something like that Lish, it would look great on her."
Lish took the fabric and rushed off, Renee, Chloe, Maggie, and Gracie on her heels.
"As I was saying, when a new Alpha is appointed he had a certain amount of time to find his Luna." She said pushing me down into a chair and pulling one up for herself. "Once he had found his Luna she will be appointed Luna of the pack at age 18. If she is any younger, like in your case, they will wait until she had come of age. Typically the two are joined in marriage and then are bonded through the mating process soon after. And soon to werewolves, is the day after."
I hadn't caught any of that. I shook my head, feeling dizzy with information. I knew I had to wait until I was 18 to become Luna but the rest was a complete blur. "Wait what?"
Anna laughed. "Don't worry about it Skylar. And don't even think to start stressing over the wedding, either. Part of the tradition is to have the pack to handle all of the details and for the Luna to focus on becoming Luna."
"I can't let you guys do that." I replied. "That's unfair to both you and the rest of the pack. It's my wedding so why do you have to plan it? Wouldn't that be a burden on you guys then?"
"Trust me. It's an honor every single member of the pack would die to have." Anna said. "And it's far from a burden. The pack's record for planning a wedding is two hours."
"Wow." I said, breathless. "Why didn't anyone tell me? Just a minute ago I thought we were just shopping for the dress for the ceremony."
"Like Chloe said we already have that dress handled. Right now all of our focus is to find your perfect dress for the best day of your life." Anna smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back. She was right. There wasn't a need to worry. Not when I had friends like these.
"Wait." I said. "Why is the Luna ceremony a bigger deal then an Alpha being appointed?"
"Because although Alpha is the highest rank in a pack, the Luna is the most important member." Maggie said, walking towards me holding two dresses.
"The Luna is the rock." Renee followed, holding two dresses as well.
"She keeps the pack together." Chloe came out with two dresses. How many dresses are there?
"Keeps us steady." Gracie came out with two dresses as well.
"She's the moon and the stars while the Alpha is the Sun." Lish came out, the only one holding just a single dress. "Being the Luna has got to be the greatest honor a werewolf could have and serving the Luna is even greater. A pack is nothing without a Luna. If there wasn't an Alpha and their were none in line to success the previous one, the Beta would take over and that would be that."
"But the Luna is what binds us all together. She's the mother to all the pups." Anna laughed at my face and added. "Figuratively speaking of course. She's a role model to young she wolves."
"That is why the Luna ceremony is a bigger deal than the appointing of an Alpha." Renee said, a wide smile on her face.
"Now." Chloe said and all the girls held up the dresses high for me to see. "These are all the dresses in that ivory color. Do you like any of them?"
I looked over all of them, my eyes landing on a particular one in Gracie's hand. I smiled widely, instantly knowing that was my dress. I pointed at it. "That one."
.
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.
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Now to say I was nervous was an understatement. I was just a bundle of nerves and everything else. I was excited to technically be the Luna of the pack though I already was before, and of course that my title will officially be Luna of the River Hollows pack. (And mate to Ryan Lancaster) I added that last part mentally, because you know, Ryan's just that awesome. But don't tell him I said that. He's way too egotistical as it is.
At this moment I was standing in my room in front of a mirror. I had my Luna Ceremony dress on which, by the way, I was in love with. It was fairly simple and seemed like just a normal dress but I loved it. It was white, of course, and went to just above my feet. My toes barely poked out from the bottom. It had a sweetheart neckline with thin straps. I couldn't wear a bra with it, but thankfully it didn't look too bad. And of course the fact that I could spin in it and magically look like a princess was a plus.
Lish had told me that it'd be fine if I went barefoot because I personally thought it looked better without shoes. Maggie had tied a portion of my hair back in a simple up-do, with the rest cascading down my back. I looked elegant but simple, which I guess was the whole point.
I was currently waiting for my cue. Now I know what you're thinking, and no it's not some huge ceremony. It's bigger than an Alpha ceremony but it's smaller than a wedding. Which reminds me. My wedding was tomorrow. Oh my gods.
"Skylar!" A voice harshly whispered from the doorway.
I glanced over. Renee had her head poked through the door frame, glaring at me. "What?"
"Stop thinking about your wedding. Focus on the ceremony. You know what you have to say and when you have to say it right?" She asked.
I gave her a panicked look. She sighed and walked in the room. "I mean it's not the end of the world. You just have to say I Do like twenty billion times then repeat a vow back to the pack at the end and then we celebrate. Just, don't hesitate okay? That's important."
"Since when did you become an expert on all this?" I asked incredulously, giving her a look.
She scowled at me. "Since I became part of a pack with a new Luna. All wolves are supposed to be informed of theses ceremonies."
"Except the actual Luna." I said flatly.
"Right." Renee smiled. "At least you got that right."
I rolled my eyes. "How much longer?"
"We're almost ready for you." With that she ran out of the room.
I blew out a breath and leaned heavily against the vanity mirror. This was going to be a long day.
***
When I stepped out of the house, there was no life in any direction. The only thing that gave me the slightest idea of where to go were the white flower petals placed in the shape of a walkway, leading around the house.
I let my toes sink into the grass and walked down the path. Once I got a ways from the house, the path lead into the forest, the canopy of trees above me adorned with white and blue blossoms. Wow. The sight was utterly breathtaking. I stopped at the arch leading into the woods and immediately knew this was it. This path would lead straight down to the ceremony. I needed or be ready. To be prepared.
I closed my eyes and breathed in everything around me before letting it all out slowly. I felt completely at peace once I opened my eyes. I straightened my shoulders and began my journey through the maze of blossoms and trees.
The path weaved left and right, up and down, through a ravine and into a nice sized clearing where the entire pack was seated in plastic folding chairs. And my only thought was, Damn. That must've taken forever.
I walked through the isle made by the separation of the two sets of chairs. Down the isle was another arch where Ryan, his parents and my parents were waiting for me with smiles. It looked so much like a wedding, the difference being, I wasn't in a wedding dress and Ryan wasn't in a suit. He had a nice blue collared shirt and dark jeans on. He was barefoot as well.
Why does it look so much like a wedding ceremony? I couldn't help but ask Ryan.
He smiled. That's because for werewolves, this is the wedding. It's the Luna ceremony and the mating ceremony. He laughed at my face. And no, we don't mate right here in front of everyone. That's after the ceremony, and if you would prefer after tomorrow's wedding, than that's when it shall be.
I blushed at his words. Mating with Ryan. The phrase sent goose bumps up and down my arms, a shiver down my back.
I walked calmly and quietly up to the makeshift altar and stood in front of Ryan, beside his father and mother. I smiled at Ryan who returned it with a warm smile.
"Today we gather here to witness a special occasion." Ryan's father began to speak. His voice echoed through the clearing and off the trees. "My son, and your Alpha, has found his mate, the love of his life, his one and only, and your Luna. We celebrate this momentous occasion as it is a great time for any pack when their Luna is found. But first, the Luna must accept her place and her duties to the pack."
He turned to me. "Skylar Nightly, by decree of the moon goddess, you were born to be the Luna of the River Hollows pack, born to be Ryan's mate, but matter does it not whether you were born a Luna, for you must vow to be the Luna and uphold the pack with the strength and might bestowed upon you by the moon goddess herself."
"Do you, Skylar Nightly, promise to take the responsibilities of any Luna and make them your own?" Ryan's father asked with a smile.
"I Do." I answered, loud and clear. No hesitating. Good. I promoted myself.
"Do you promise to watch over the pack and care for them as if they were your own pups?"
"I Do."
"Do you promise that no matter what, you will never abandon or give up on your pack until the day you die?"
"I Do."
"Now repeat after me," he said and held up his right hand. I did the same and copied his words as he relayed them out to me.
"I, Skylar Nightly Luna of the River Hollows pack, vow to protect them with my life, defend them with my life, and love and cherish them with all my heart." I spoke loud and clear, a beaming smile on my face. "And I shall never harm any member of the pack. I vow to be compassionate and understanding, but firm. I vow to be willing to take in any pup no matter what has happened in its past. And I vow to never, ever let my pack lose their hope in the face of danger."
I let my hand fall and all of the pack members burst into cheers and clapped so loud the sound reverberated through the trees. Everyone stood from their seats and the smile on my face couldn't have gotten any bigger. Ryan was beaming at me and I felt like my heart was swelling with love and happiness at the moment.
"And now." Ryan's father boomed. The pack settled down, smiles on their faces, even Serena's, and sat back in their seats. "For the Mating Ceremony. The Blood Rites."
Excuse me? My eyes widened and I could feel my face pale. "Um I'm sorry, but," I said quietly, turning to Ryan's dad. "What is that?"
He chuckled slightly and so did Ryan's mom. I saw my parents beaming while my dad was wiping a stray tear away. "Blood Rites is part of what bonds mates together as a whole. There's the Blood Rites, then the mating."
A heated blush crept up my neck and flushed over my cheeks. I knew he meant by that. I swallowed as he continued. "The Blood Rites is when the two mates exchange blood and the male puts his mark on the female, indicating to other males, she is taken."
"And the mark is....?" I questioned, turning to Ryan.
He smiled slightly. "Don't worry, it's just a bite."
"Just a bite." I restated. "Oh......okay....yeah that's...just a bite. Gotcha."
Ryan laughed, a clear melodic sound to my ears and my nerves were gone, a warm smile lighting up my face. "Don't worry about it, Skylar. Just come here."
I walked forward and he met me halfway in the middle of the altar. His arm snaked around my waist, pulling me close, his other arm brushing back my hair on my left shoulder. He leaned down and kissed a spot right at the end of my collar bone and at the beginning of my shoulder. I shivered. "This is where my mark shall be." He whispered to me. "Are you ready? This might hurt just a little bit."
I nodded, not trusting my voice. He kissed the spot once more before nibbling slightly. Next thing I knew, I felt his fangs elongate in his mouth and all logical sense flooded panic through me but I didn't move, just leaned my head against his shoulder.
Ryan's teeth sunk into my skin, drawing blood almost instantly. I winced slightly but the pain quickly faded into an indescribable pleasure that spread throughout my body, warming my insides and making me feel giddy.
He licked the wound, sending a another wave of pleasure through me and pulled back, licking his lips before smiling at me. "Now it's your turn."
"Wait I'm supposed to bite you too?" I asked quietly, shock leaking into my voice.
He smiled wider. "Yes."
"But how?" I muttered, meeting his gaze. "I don't have any werewolf fangs."
"Just trust your instincts, Skylar." He murmured in my ear.
Okay. I thought. Here goes nothing.
I leaned up on my tippy toes and opened my mouth, prepared to bite him. Right before my teeth came in contact with his skin, I felt my teeth elongate into fangs, sending massive waves of shock and panic through me, but I ignored them, trusting my instincts and letting my newly found fangs sink into his skin.
His blood seeped into my mouth and I found that it tasted quite lovely. It sent a different kind of pleasure through me. Completing the Blood Rites, I suppose. Exchanging blood. I licked his wound, happy to see him shiver slightly and leaned back, smiling at him.
I could barely register the roar of the clapping from the rest of the pack and just focused on Ryan. Ryan and his hair and his eyes and his smile. All of it was mine. And all of me was his.
Lack of inspiration overflow. I totally bailed out on you guys for a few days sorry! Hope you guys enjoyed it! I enjoyed writing the Blood Rites and I think that's just a good part! I hadn't even originally planned for that to be there but it's there!
There's only two more chapters after this!!!! DX but again don't worry! If I didn't tell you last chapter, then I'm telling you now. There will be a sequel so fear not faithful readers! For Skylar's story as not yet come to an end XD
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-dropsofargent