18 Ceremony
Eli POV
It has been a week since Larisa was in the hospital. I don’t know that I have ever been as scared as I
was when my mother linked me that they had rushed her to the hospital. Clara was amazing and kept
me calm while we waited for her to wake up. I know Larisa is worried about the vampire she saw in her
vision. My sister is strong but she worries about what will happen to others. I’m hopeful that getting her
wolf will help her have some piece of mind. My father has been in contact with all the packs that we
have formed alliances to try and locate the coven. Every time we speak about it with Larisa I see a
sadness in her eyes I’ve never seen before. I hate that she is carrying that worry despite all my
reassurance. I push those thoughts away as today is one of happiness and not worry.
Silas and I both know that there will always be people who want to interfere in our happiness, but none
of that matters now that we have Clara. The door opens and I laugh when Micah, Mason, my father,
and Michael step inside. The boys are wearing blue suits and they look like bouncers instead of Betas.
I don’t think I have ever seen them dressed up. I’m already dressed in a black suit with a lavender tie.
I’m so ready for the ceremony to begin. I finally feel ready to take my place as Alpha of the pack. I
know that I will have my father and mother’s support in running the pack, but I’m still nervous. The
twins are smiling from ear to ear because they will take their ranked place as Betas of our pack today.
They were like teenage girls when my parents announced our ceremony last week at dinner. Despite
the nervousness I’m feeling, I won’t lie and say that I’m not excited about this change in our lives. I just
pray to the goddess that I am half the Alpha my father is.
After we all exchange bro-hugs, the twins and Michael leave my father and I alone. He begins to
straighten my tie and I can tell that he has something to say. “Eli, I can’t tell you how proud I am of you.
I have held you as a pup and watched you sleep. This tiny person that I was responsible for protecting
and teaching all the important things in life. I have watched you grow from a child into the man that
stands before me. I have had the great pleasure of being blessed to be your father. I thank the goddess
every day that she brought you to me. You are my son and the destined Alpha of the Nightfire pack.” I
fight back tears that threaten to fall. I love this man more than I could ever describe in words. He is my
father. He chose me and gave me every part of him. I pull him close and place my forehead against his.
“I am the son of Lincoln Thomas. The son of an Alpha that has taught me how to love, to be kind, to be
fair, and above all things, treat all people equally. I love you, dad.” He pulls me into a hug. There is
silence that stretches between us before he pulls back. “I love you. It’s time for you to become the next
Alpha of the Nightfire pack, Eli Thomas.” We head for the door and I can’t wait to see Clara for the first
time in the dress she picked out with Larisa and my mother’s help. Silas is bouncing around in my mind
and his happiness is contagious. I’m glad he is getting this second chance with me.
Clara POV
I take some deep breaths. When Eli and I discussed this ceremony while he held me before I fell
asleep a few nights ago, I was nervous. Now that it is actually here, I feel like I could throw up. I know
that Eli loves me and I am happy that we are now bonded, but becoming Luna is crazy. How can I be
the Luna of this pack? I know nothing of how to carry myself as a Luna. The Luna is the mother of all
the wolves in the pack and she is strong. I don’t want to embarrass Eli. “Clara, I know you are worried,
but you are stronger than you know.” “You have to say that, you’re my wolf.” She chuckles “that may be
true but Eli didn’t have to accept us. He didn’t just accept us, he wanted us. He helped us grow strong
and work through the things that happened in the past so that we would accept him. He has never
acted as if he thought we weren’t good enough. If a true Alpha thinks we are worthy, then who are we
to doubt that?” I feel the tears running down my cheeks. Before I can answer her, a knock sounds on
the bedroom door. I wipe the tears from my cheeks and take a deep breath before I tell them to come
in. The door opens and my mother walks in, followed by Amelia. Amelia walks toward me first. She
wraps her arms around me and I relax. “I am blessed to have you as part of my family and Eli is lucky
to have you. You are going to be a wonderful Luna.”
She kisses my cheek and leaves me alone with my mother. As she stands looking at me in the gown
that Larisa insisted looked amazing on me, I have no idea what she is thinking. It’s a lavender ball
gown with a beaded bodice. When I looked into the mirror when I tried it on for the first time in my life, I
felt beautiful. I start to fidget under her gaze. “Is it too much?” She looks confused at first before she
smiles. “Absolutely not. It looks like that gown was made for you. Honestly, I’m staring because my
Luna gown was the same color.” She wipes tears from her cheek and comes to take my hands in hers.
“I’m so grateful to the goddess to be here and share this moment with you and Eli. I will no longer dwell
on what I have missed. I will focus on enjoying every moment we have together. I know that all of this
can be overwhelming. I never expected to be a Luna, but I promise you that you will do an amazing job
by Eli’s side. You have a strength that I saw in your father.”
I wrap her in a hug. “I love you mom.” “I love you so much Clara. You and Cayden are my most
precious gifts.” I pull back and she wipes the tears from my cheeks. She pulls a brooch out of a pocket
in her beautiful green dress. I chuckle that a dress has pockets. “They come in handy” she says as she
shows me the brooch. “Your father gave this to me. It is a wand and a wolf that are bonded together. I
want you to have it and know that we are both proud of your strength and the woman you have
become. I know normally fathers walk their daughters down the aisle to their ceremony, but I hoped you
would allow Cayden and I to stand in for your father.” My heart squeezes in my chest and I pray he is
with us in spirit. I nod and we head for the door.
As we come down the stairs, Larisa, Lincoln, and Amelia are waiting for us. “Clara, you look amazing,”
Larisa says as she hugs me. “I love this dress, thank you for encouraging me to get it.” “That’s what
sisters do” she says before she heads out the double doors. Lincoln comes to stand in front of me.
“You look beautiful Clara. I am so happy that Eli found you and I have another daughter to love.” I can’t
even stop myself from wrapping my arms around him. He rubs my back and I have never felt more
loved than I do today. The goddess has truly blessed me. Lincoln kisses the top of my head before he
takes Amelia’s hand and heads outside. Cayden walks in and his smile is contagious and the nerves
seem to lessen. “You look amazing, Clara. Eli is very lucky.” I laugh and he wraps me in a hug. “You’re
the only reason any of this is happening. Thank you for saving me. I love you Cayden.” “I love you too,
sissy.” He pulls back and kisses my cheek. “You ready sweetie” my mother asks. I nod and we loop our
arms together.
Eli POV
We stand on the stage and butterflies dance in my belly with the anticipation of seeing Clara. When the
doors open, she takes my breath away. I have never seen anyone look so stunning. Silas growls and I
can’t help the chuckle that escapes me. My father looks at me and smiles. I meet Clara at the stairs
and take her hand, leading her up to stand next to my parents. I grip her hand in mine, needing to feel
her skin against mine. My father steps forward. “Nightfire Pack tonight is the night we change the
power of the pack from one Alpha and Luna to another. It is my great pleasure as the current Alpha to
name my successor and his Luna. Eli step forward with your mate.” We come to stand in front of my
mother and father. They both cut their hands and allow the blood to flow into the chalice. Once the cup
is filled, he hands it to me. “Eli Daniel Thomas make your vow to the pack.”
“I, Eli Daniel Thomas, vow to put the needs of the pack above my own. I will protect the pack with my
life and rule with fairness to all its members.” I drink from the chalice and immediately feel the
connection to the pack. I hand the chalice to Clara. I steady her shaking hand and she smiles at me.
My mother speaks directly to Clara, “Clara Josephine Merritt, make your vow to the pack as the future
Luna.” “I, Clara Josephine Merritt, vow to put the needs of the pack above my own. I will protect the
pack with my life and rule by my Alpha’s side. Once Mason and Micah make their vows, my father turns
to the pack. “Nightfire, welcome your new Alpha, Eli Thomas and your Luna Clara Thomas.” Hearing
my father call her with our surname makes warmth spread throughout my chest. “Your Alpha and Luna
will now lead you in a pack run.”
I take Clara’s hand and lead her down the stairs. I notice she loses her footing and I catch her before
she can fall. “Are you alright Clara?” “Yes, I think it’s all the excitement getting to me.” She smiles and I
have an uneasy feeling despite her reassurance. We both strip and our howling starts the run. We take
off and the pack is running behind us. The feeling of connection is amazing. As we run near the
southern border, I catch the scent of rotting flesh. The anger I feel at the fact that rogues may try to ruin
this night for us is tremendous. I link the guards to sweep the border for any sign of rogues. As soon as
I break the link I notice that Cora is slowing down. Silas slows and rubs against her side, but he feels it
too. Something is wrong with our mate. I link my mother and father, who were at the back of the run as
Cora lays down. A few minutes later, she shifts and I do the same. I pick her up and start to run toward
the pack hospital. She is awake but weak. “Clara, I’ve got you.” What the hell is happening to my mate
is the only thought I have as I hold her in my arms and run as fast as my legs will carry me.
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