A Beta Before An Alpha
Chapter 34

Zac's Point of View

Jack, Kyle, Julien and I are hanging out in the living room in our suits, with Molly and Enzo, while the girls are getting ready. The Luna ceremony starts in a half an hour, and I'm excited for this to be official. "Lex, Babe. Enzo is getting hungry... again," Jack chuckles.

"I need 5 minutes, can you do the bouncing thing to tide him over?" she responds.

"Sure," Jack accepts, and stands up and starts rocking little Enzo, and his whining stops. It's so weird to see a very large Jack with a tiny baby in his arms.

Soon enough that will be me, and I can't wait. I wonder if we will have a little girl or boy? I know Lauren is kind of hoping for a girl, and I guess I should hope for a boy first, as an Alpha but I really don't care either way. A tiny person created with a bit of me, and hopefully a lot of Lauren... I'm dying to see what they'll look like.

"Daddee, can I howd entho?" Molly asks.

"Enzo is cranky because he needs to eat. When Mommy is done feeding him soon, you can hold him, Okay Bunny?" Jack answers her softly, and she nods. Kyle is non-stop getting up to see Sadie in the kitchen or looking into the kitchen to watch her, and I can't help but laugh. For all the s**t he's talked in the past to both Jack and me, it's funny to see him so affected by the mate bond. Jack and I never pretended to be above it, but he did, so this is particularly fun to watch.

"What are you laughing at?" Kyle asks and looks at me.

"You. I'm laughing at you! I knew the day would come when you would replace your mate, and you would be just as bad as the rest of us," I laugh.

"It's fair to say that I did some major shit-talking in the past, but I just didn't get it. I didn't know how drawn and attracted to someone I could be. She's ... everything," he beams, and he looks almost in a daze lost in thought about her.

Julien, Jack and I are all laughing at him again, but this time he's unaware.

It's mind-boggling how 8 months ago Jack, kyle and I were all single, and I was his Beta. I never thought that so much would change so quickly, but it did, and I know we're all happier for it.

Lexi comes in to grab baby Enzo to nurse him. She's in a pink long flowing skirt, with a white lace top, and her hair is down and curly, and her makeup is all done.

"You look beautiful, babe," Jack compliments Lexi. "Thank you," she says, and leans down and gives him a kiss. A good one.

"Your poor kids!" Kyle laughs.

"They're used to it," Jack chuckles.

"Their parents loving each other isn't going to scar them for life," Lexi reasons.

Then Sadie walks into the living room in a blue sparkly dress, with her hair done up with some braids in. Kyle is immediately telling her how beautiful she looks. We're just waiting on Joan and Lauren now. I turn around to take a peek at how it's coming along, and Lauren and Joan aren't in the kitchen anymore. The hair and makeup team is packing up their stuff too. It shouldn't be long now.

Joan walks in, and she's in a cream-coloured floor-length dress with some glitter. Her hair is braided, and her makeup is done. She looks beautiful, all the women do, but I can't wait to see my woman.

"You look beautiful Joan! I'm going to check on Lauren," I announce, and hop up. I'm dying to see. I haven't seen the dress yet, I don't even know what colour it is.

As I'm walking down the hallway, my beautiful woman walks out into the hallway from our bedroom.

"Wow!" I mumble and stop in my tracks. She gives me a little smile and does a spin. "You look like a f*****g Queen," I boom, and her smile reaches to her eyes.

"Thanks, Babe, and you look scrumptious in your suit," she says with black flecks dancing in her eyes. She raises her finger and makes a circular motion, signalling me to turn around. I oblige her, and her desire to see my a*s. I laugh every time she does this. She gives it a whack. "Very nice," she nods.

"You're so bad," I whisper to her, and she just smirks.

"Come with me for a second," I grab her hand and walk back to our bedroom. I take her into my closet.

"I was thinking about giving this to you on our wedding day, but you look so regal, and I think you should have it today," I explain.

She furrows her brows, "Okay?" She questions.

I reach into a drawer in my closet and grab a box. "This was my mother's, and before that, it was her mother's. Now I want you to have it," I explain.

"Aw Zac, that's so sweet," she says with a sympathetic pout. She pulls me in, "She would be so proud of you, I know it," she says, and I hope she's right.

"She would love you, that I'm sure of," I admit. When we break apart, I open the box. Inside is a gold necklace with a pearl pendant.

"It's beautiful, babe. A way to have your Mom there with us tonight," she smiles with eyes glistening. She turns around, and I put it on her.

"I feel honoured. Thank you."

"Thank YOU. I'm so proud that you are all mine, and I'm proud of the Luna you are going to be to our pack. I hope you know how lucky this pack is to have you."

"I feel like the lucky one. This pack is incredible, and so are you. The mate you are, and the Alpha you are... it's incredible, and I am so proud."

Knock knock

We look to our open bedroom door, and it's Julien. "Hey, sorry to interrupt guys, we should get going though."

"Of course," we both answered.

When we get into the dining hall, it is decorated with flowing fabric across the ceiling, with twinkly lights. There are chair covers and fancy linen for all the seating. There are beautiful flowers everywhere. It looks perfect, and the space has been transformed. The place is packed with our pack members, as well as the Alpha's from surrounding packs as well.

At our table, we have Joan, Julien, Paul, Malcolm, Jenny and Sadie. The table on the right of us has Jack's family, with his parents, Kyle, and Lev and Brit.

"Do you smell that?" What is that? It smells so good. Like brown sugar and cinnamon? What's for dessert?" Julien asks.

"Dessert is Cherry cheesecake," Lauren answers. I had no idea what she chose for tonight, but it was awfully sweet that she chose my favourite.

"You're the sweetest," I beam, and give her a kiss.

"It's not cheesecake," he groans in pleasure as he inhales deeply. Lauren looks at me wide-eyed.

"Julien, there's nothing with brown sugar or cinnamon on the menu," she assures him excitedly. His head starts shooting around quickly like he's looking for something... or someone.

"I think my mate is here," Julien answers, and he swiftly gets out of his chair, to look. He stops and I see a girl with dirty blond curly hair at Alpha's Jett table, from Cold Moon. She's standing up, and I can hear Lexi squealing from the table close to us. Julien makes his way to his mate, and she makes her way to him. "Who is she?" Lauren asks.

"She's a warrior from Alpha Jett's pack, her name is Cora."

"Oooh a warrior mate, Julien will be so thrilled," Lauren beams.

We are supposed to be starting the Luna ceremony right now, but I decide to give them 5 minutes first.

"Both of my babies have found their mate, I couldn't be happier," Joan adds and wipes a stray tear.

Finally, I need to get going with the ceremony. I stand and everyone sits and quiets down. Julien comes back to his seat, at our table, even though I can tell by his face he hates to be away from her.

"Welcome! Thank you all for coming, and a special thanks to those of you who travelled to be here tonight, it means a lot. It is such an honour and a privilege for me to be hosting this ceremony. I have to admit, I never imagined I would replace someone who would be so well suited to the role of Luna for our pack. My mate Lauren is kind, caring, gentle, hardworking, giving and she just has the biggest heart. I am proud to be able to lead this pack with her, and I know that she will be such a great partner and leader. Lauren, please join me."

Lauren moves beside me, and smiles up at me, with so much adoration in her eyes. f**k I love her.

"Lauren Crane, you have already accepted Red River as your pack, now I ask if you accept the role as Luna?"

"I accept," she smiles.

"Do you promise to always lead to the best of your ability, in the best interest of Red River?"

"I promise." Now I'm beaming with pride.

"It is my greatest honour and privilege to name you, Luna of Red River Pack. Everyone, please raise your glass in cheers to our new Luna," I beam.

We raise, and I take a drink and then place a kiss on Lauren's lips.

"Thank you so much for all being here tonight, This is such a special night for us. It means so much to me to not only be a part of this pack but to now stand with Zac, our Alpha, as his mate and Luna. I promise you all that I will always do the best that I can for each and every one of you. Please join me in raising a glass to our Alpha. I am proud to be his mate, and I am proud to be a part of this pack. He leads with strength, integrity, kindness, and a drive and passion to make us better," she says, and she raises her glass, and so does everyone else.

I pull her in closer. "Thank you, baby," I say and give her a chaste kiss. I wasn't expecting her to say anything, let alone proclaiming her love and respect for me to everyone. f**k she's sweet.

After everyone takes a drink, she continues, "And We actually have an announcement to make," she adds. She gives me a knowing nod, handing over the reins for me to announce it.

"Luna and I are thrilled and overjoyed to announce... that she is pregnant! We are going to have a pup," I admit and it's instantly chaos in applause and cheers. Everyone is so excited and it is a wonderful feeling to have the support of so many.