A Secret Alpha Mate
Chapter 114

(Isla)

I was up before the first light of dawn the day of our pack joining ceremony. Jackson promised me that there usually wasn't this many ceremonies, or memorials, at once. After this one things would calm down until I decided I wanted to throw a party or get-together, but I couldn't see that happening for a while.

I was excited and nervous, this was the first time that I did most of it on my own. Well, my own being with a lot of help from Abigail, Lucas, and Jackson after Gianna helped us initially plan it. I hoped everything would be perfect, it was our first official celebration as a joint pack and we had to put our best foot forward.

Gianna showed up last night and helped soothe some of my nerves, she double checked everything and assured me that her vendors were nothing if not reliable.

I managed to sneak out of bed without Jackson waking up and quickly got ready, pulling on some leggings and a sweater and throwing my hair into a high ponytail. I needed some strong coffee and then I would be as ready as I could be.

I was surprised to see some omegas in the kitchen already, I thought I would be the first one down here. We had most of the food ordered out so that most of the omegas could join in tonight, but there were still a few things we opted to do in-house because there would be a lot of mouths to feed.

Everyone was set to arrive in the morning or early afternoon and the ceremony would take place this evening. The dining room would be set with fruit, sandwiches, pastries, coffee, and juices so that when members arrived they could grab some food before dinner. "There you are." Gianna comes to me holding out a mug of coffee, I raise an eyebrow, how did she know I would be here? "Well, I just poured it for myself, take it, I'll get some more for me." She answers my question and ushers me into a chair.

"Goodmorning, Luna." Dawn says with a smile, "The buzz of excitement is already in the air, can you feel it?" I nod, the only buzz I felt was my internal anxiety, "What would you like for breakfast?" She asks smiling wide. "Uh, I'm not sure if I could stomach anything."

"Some scrambled eggs, whole grain toast, and some fruit will do us both fine. Thank you, Dawn." Gianna takes the seat next to me at the island, "You'll need to keep those energy levels up today." She says to me, "I was so nervous the first time I threw anything, I couldn't eat a thing all day." She takes a sip of her coffee, "Almost fainted before dinner." She gives me a knowing look and I gulp. Eat. Got it.

Abigail comes in looking exhausted, her dark hair in a messy bun that made her streaks of gray look like highlights, her eyes clouded with sleep. She gives us a brief smile when she sees us and slumps in the chair next to me.

"Dawn, make that three plates, would you dear?" Dawn smiles and nods at Gianna and takes a quick look at Abigail before placing a large cup of coffee in front of her.

"You have pampered me, I'm spoiled now, I'm not used to waking up before the sun anymore." Abigail complains taking a long sip of her coffee.

"You could have slept in," I laughed.

"Believe me, I tried." Gianna looks down into her coffee, "This one was in my head for an hour already." Abigail nods towards Gianna.

"I wanted Isla to get her beauty rest and I had questions." Gianna replies guiltily, "Besides, now we all get to share breakfast together before the madness ensues." Abigial brightens up after she drains her first cup of coffee and breakfast is placed in front of us. As soon as I force a few bites into me an omega comes up, "Luna?"

I turn around with my mouth full, "Y-yes." She smiles at me.

"There's someone with a ton of flowers here wanting to know where to put them." Abigail groans and stands up,

"I got this, you finish your breakfast, love. Just bring me a large, and I mean a large, cup of coffee when you guys come out."

Gianna was right, as usual. The vendors were all reliable and they brought everything when they said they would and helped set it up where we directed them. It was a clear night but we ordered a large tent just in case. Before people started to arrive we already had the backyard and ballroom set up with the tables, chairs, flowers, and decorations.

The smaller details would be done this afternoon with the help of the omegas, and the dining room would be transformed once everyone had a chance to grab some lunch.

"My Luna, my previous Luna, and my sweet Abigial, how can I be of service?" Lucas does a low bow coming up to us in the dining room. Cam knocks him to the floor mid bow and bounces back behind Jackson for protection.

"Dude, I can't save you." Jackson steps out of the way as Lucas brushes himself off.

"Guys, please, take it outside if you must, but no where near the decorations, we just got everything perfect." I cut in before they start an all out brawl here, even as a joke they could do some damage. Gianna comes up and puts her arm around me. "The perfect Luna, isn't she?" Gianna beams down at me, "She's learning so fast." I can't help but smile at that.

Even though Gianna and William welcomed me the moment they met me, I still wanted to show her that I could live up to her expectations. Not just as Jackson's mate but at the Luna of Moonstone.

I walked to Jackson who looked as handsome as ever in black slacks and a light blue button down and wrapped my arms around him, inhaling the scent of pine and cloves and letting the calmness that it brought wash over me.

"Guests are starting to arrive if you want to get changed." I took a quick look at myself and realized that I had dirt on my shirt from moving a potted flower arrangement and my hair was halfway out of my ponytail. "Oops." I felt my cheeks get hot and Jackson kissed one of them.

"You're adorable." He whispered.

"I'll be down in ten, I'll just get changed and brush my hair." Abigail follows my lead and heads back to her cottage to get dressed for the day, Gianna showed up this morning looking perfect and not a hair was out of place so she stayed back with the boys. Jackson and I welcomed as many people as we could personally, we spent the better part of the late morning and afternoon at the front doors. Thankfully, we had a lot of omegas around to help show them to their rooms and the houses they were staying at. As the sun got higher in the sky I got more nervous, feeling like I should be doing something but I knew that Gianna and Abigial had it under control. I felt guilty for just standing at the front welcoming people, but I knew that was a part of the Luna's job, my job. As soon as the time came I took my opportunity to rush upstairs, Abigial, Gianna and I were getting ready in my room and Jackson was banned to go get ready with Lucas and Cam. Gianna's decision not mine.

"It's not like we're getting married." I protested, "He can see me."

"Oh, it's not because of that, it's because we will have more fun just us girls." Gianna pulls out a large bottle of champagne and Abigial squeals. I head to the shower and leave my two mother figures laughing and chatting to each other.

Gianna helped Abigial with her hair and makeup, before she helped me. She brought new matching robes for the three of us, which I thought was a bit excessive but once I put it on I couldn't complain.

Gianna put Abigial's hair up in an elaborate bun with a thick braid winding around it, she curled mine and pulled half of my hair away from my face in some birds nest twist with small braids that I couldn't see but Abigial told me I looked like something out of a fairytale.

I was glad we had some time to relax after our hair and makeup was done, if only for half an hour. Sitting next to Gianna and Abigal, listening to them talk about vendors and the flowers we chose, saying that they were glad they pulled it off, it was calming. Bouncing off of each other, keeping the conversation going. They were fast friends, and I couldn't help but smile watching them. I had my doubts, I could finally admit to myself that I wasa bit worried. Gianna was a born Luna, from a long line of ranked blood, Abigial was an omega.

I knew that some people would still take a background like that and be apprehensive. Gianna surprised me, she didn't even think about rank, she liked people for who they were. A true Luna. I didn't think I could thrive in this pack without them both getting along at the very least. In the little time I spent with Gianna she meant so much to me.

"Knock knock." Jackson says as he walks in the door, Gianna rolls her eyes affectionately.

"My husband does that all the time, I'm sorry but I think he got that from my William." She whispers to me smiling

"May I have the pleasure of escorting my ladies down to yet another ceremony?" He asks and then scans us, "Um, so you're wearing robes still, were you aware of that?"

"We are not going to wrinkle our perfectly pressed dressed." Gianna comes up to him, half his size but somehow more imposing in the moment, "Now stand outside, gather our men, and we will be out in ten."

Jackson gives her a knowing look, "Fine, fine, fifteen tops." She shoos him out the door. Gianna opted for a light blue one with half of a cape, trailing down to the top of her waist, there were similar silver embroidery on the cape to mine and Abigial's, but the rest of the dress was a silky blue.

She looked absolutely striking, as always. Jackson comes back in once I call him, this time I have a chance to fully appreciate his outfit.

Another black suit, as if I would ever get sick of seeing him in one. The white shirt under it fit perfectly so his muscles rippled with every movement, straining against his crisp shirt.

I shook my head, pulling myself together, handing him my phone, "Can you take a photo of us?" I ask, "Maybe in the hallway actually." I made a mental note to hire a photographer for the next event, I realized I had very few photos of myself and Jackson, all selfies pretty much, and I don't think I ever managed to get a photo with Abigial or Gianna.

With our similar but different dresses, and us glammed up before hours of sweating, talking to people, and emotions caught up to us. I wanted a picture of this, to have something to look back on. I knew by now how hectic and fast these events went. You barely had time to have a full conversation with anyone before being whisked away.

Jackson snapped a few photos of us in the hallway, Gianna checked them and gave her approval. I slipped my phone in my purse and took his hand. Ready to officially become the Luna of the pack the Moon Goddess herself gave my ancestors.

Stepping out in my gown, I felt more confident than ever. No, it wasn't all confidence. More comfortable, that was it.

I was finally going to become Luna of my birthright. This was natural. This was what I was born to do, born to become.