Blood Moon: Lunar Eclipse
Ch9 - Mating Ceremony

Logan

As I observed Ariella’s transformation, I couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer uniqueness of her wolf. Her coat was a captivating blend of red and auburn, long and fluffy, unlike any other wolf I had ever seen. Her eyes, a striking amber-red, seemed to flicker like flames and became even more prominent in her wolf form. She was considerably larger than the average female wolf, which was a stark contrast to her petite human frame. I spotted a small white patch on her nose that extended in a crescent shape under her stomach.

I inched closer and nuzzled her neck. She responded in kind, purring in excitement.

I signalled to her to start running. Without hesitation, she took off. I trailed closely behind her, admiring the way she moved with elegance and agility, effortlessly dodging broken branches and manoeuvring around the winding paths.

I playfully nipped at her heels, goading her on for a chase. She turned her head to glance back at me and surged forward with even greater speed. I was much faster than her, but I almost struggled to keep up as she glided between the trees with ease and ran through winding twists and turns. It was as if it was a simple game to her.

I caught up to her in an extensive, overgrown green field. I leapt towards her, tackling her to the ground. We rolled over in the grass until I was on top of her. As I gazed down at her, she cocked her head to the side, her eyes locking with mine. I couldn’t help but lose focus as she playfully nipped my nose, using the opportunity to twist us over so she was on top. I quickly regained my bearings and manoeuvred us both back up to our feet, facing each other once again.

I growled, slightly annoyed my submissive mate could best me like that. However, as I watched Ariella’s wolf jump up and down in excitement, I felt my anger fading away. The sight of her enjoying herself was infectious.

We ended up lying on the overgrown field. Ariella’s wolf was a ball of energy, constantly moving, but she eventually settled down next to me, resting her head on my paws. I curled my head around her neck, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. It was then that I heard Ariella’s stomach growling; I knew she was hungry as she let out a small whimper.

“Come, it’s getting late,” I mind-linked. Ariella’s wolf didn’t even try to challenge me. She peered at me in admiration and slowly trotted back the way we came.

I spotted Hailey in the distance with a bundle of clothes in each hand. Ariella shifted and dressed in whatever Hailey had bought. I followed suit shortly after. I turned to face Ariella, who was now peering at the floor, her red hair covering her flushed cheeks. I couldn’t help but grin.

“Alpha, I need to talk to you. In private,” Hailey mind linked.

“I’ll take you to the training grounds soon. I have something to discuss with Hailey. In the meantime, get something to eat. I can hear your stomach crying,” I said to Ariella.

“If it concerns the pack, shouldn’t I be involved?” she argued.

“It’s nothing important. I won’t be long,” I answered.

She stared at me disapprovingly for a few moments until her stomach growled again. She had no leg to stand on, so she walked towards the pack house in a huff.

“What’s the matter?” I asked once Ariella was out of sight.

“It’s the rogues,” Ethan’s voice came from behind me, “They’re acting strange, stranger than usual.”

“How so?”

“Your father kept surveillance on all rogues outside the border. They had safe refuge as long as they kept to themselves and didn’t interfere with the pack,” Ethan explained.

Hailey continued, “Recently, they have been disappearing as though they were never even there. Some have been outside the border for years; then suddenly, they abandon their homes and, Kapoof, gone. What is more, they all left around the same time. Too coincidental if you ask me.”

“Double the patrols at night and make sure they keep in groups of two. I want to be informed of any rogue sightings. If any attack, keep them alive. They might have information that could be useful.

“Is that all?” I asked, looking between my two Beta’s.

“I was thinking of asking neighbouring packs if they have any strange rogue disappearances in the last few weeks,” Ethan asked.

“Even the Shadow pack?” Hailey hissed.

The Shadow pack was under the control of Alpha Fenrir Valencia, a vicious and brutal leader who showed no remorse for his actions. He was a formidable force in battle, famous for overrunning packs whenever they showed an ounce of weakness. Even now, as I have taken on the title of Alpha, he might be watching my every move.

Little does he know I have spent my entire life preparing for this moment.

“Yes, even the Shadow pack. I wouldn’t want them to think we were avoiding them. That might give Fenrir the ammunition he needs to start a war,” I answered.

The Shadow pack was a fierce group of barbaric, untamed male wolves who lived by their primal instincts and relished the fear they instilled in others. Fenrir held the belief that women were inferior and meant to be nothing more than submissive mates. Despite lacking a mate himself, which would usually be considered a weakness for an Alpha, Fenrir compensated for it by having a large number of men under his command.

Our pack, the Blood Moon, outnumbered Fenrir’s pack by a ratio of 2:1, but he was known for fighting dirty and using any means necessary to gain an advantage.

If I could prevent my pack from going to war, then so be it. My pack came above all else.

Ariella

I was a little annoyed at Logan. I should have been there as his mate. However, the second my stomach growled, I knew I wouldn’t be able to focus on anything other than food.

Luckily, there was a large pot of stew on the stove when I walked into the kitchens. I helped myself to a hefty portion and ate in silence.

I thought about calling Caroline, but since I asked her and my mother to arrange the mating ceremony, they had been dedicating any time they had to ensure everything was perfect. If I called Caroline now, she would ask me 101 questions about what flowers I preferred or where I wanted the guests to sit…

I was pulled from my thoughts as I heard footsteps approach the door, and the fresh scent of Citrus and Rainwater enveloped me.

Logan entered with his two Beta’s. Even just seeing him was making me squirm. This whole ’waiting to mate’ thing sent my senses on overdrive, thanks to the mate bond.

“You ready to show me what you’ve got?” Hailey goaded.

I finished the last mouthful of soup before standing from my chair rather dramatically.

“Bring it on,” I replied before heading towards the training grounds with the others.

We walked into a small room surrounded by light grey walls with a single mat at the centre. It looked private. I had never been in this room before.

I stood opposite Hailey in the ring, a soft mat beneath us. I usually trained on a field, and having a female opponent wasn’t something I was used to. Hailey’s stance was firm and tactical. She hid all her weak points in her stance alone.

She waited for me to make the first move, so I did. I swung my fist through the air, and she effortlessly dodged. However, I used my left leg to swipe underneath her to catch her off guard. She lost her footing and fell to the floor. As I was about to catch her in a chokehold, she smoothly transitioned back into a standing position whilst kicking her leg out and catching my jaw.

I took a few paces back, but that was all it required for Hailey to grab me in a firm chokehold. I didn’t want to give in, but I could feel my lungs restricting. Just before I passed out, I tapped.

She had won.

I don’t know how long it’s been since I lost to another woman. But I wanted to keep going. So, I resumed my stance.

I may have trained all my life, but you could tell Hailey is a considerable opponent. She beat me every time; I came close on a few occasions, but she could switch between stealth and strength exceptionally quickly, leaving me no time to react.

“You’re not too bad,” Hailey said, panting. “It’s been a while since I was given a real challenge.”

“Thanks, your pretty damn good yourself. Now, where’s the bathroom? I’m dying for a pee,” I asked, practically bouncing on the spot.

Hailey chuckled and then pointed towards a door at the far end of the room.

Logan

“She’s strong Alpha. I have high hopes for her. It’s a shame she’ll be your Luna. Otherwise, I would have trained her to become my second,” Hailey stated whilst a frantic Ariella paced to the bathroom.

She wasn’t wrong.

I watched Ariella in amazement. She pushed past her limits. Her constant fight until the end made my wolf bristle with pride. If she hadn’t mated to me, anyone could see she would have become the dominant mate based on her sheer determination and willpower. No wonder she fought so hard when we first met. No one but an Alpha would have been able to overcome her dominance.

“You can train with her once a day, in the morning. A Luna that can protect herself is far better than one that can’t,” I replied.

Hailey chuckled, “I doubt even you could stop her from training Alpha. She has a fire in her that can’t be snuffed out.”

Ariella

Upon exiting the pack house, I saw Noah in a tense match. Aleksi stood to the side, observing as though he had bet money on it. I thought about going over and introducing my mate to one of my best friends, but he seemed too focused on the fight, so I left it alone. I’ll have to ask him later what he was doing here so late.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. Logan was busy taking over from Enzo, so he was out most of the time. I had a feeling there was something he wasn’t telling me. He would go running for hours on end, patrolling the border.

If I wasn’t with Hailey at the training grounds, I was with Luna Vera, who instructed me precisely what the mating ceremony meant for the pack. A ceremony for a Luna is essentially a mating ceremony. Once we mate and mark each other to complete the mating bond, the pack will feel more powerful and united with both their Alpha and Luna.

Currently, I had my mother and Caroline fussing over my hair and makeup. I told them to keep it simple, which got a few almost convincing arguments from Caroline.

“Oh baby,” my mother sniffled, tears forming in her eyes, “you look…”

“Gorgeous,” Caroline finished.

I stood in front of the full-length mirror. My red hair was pulled back into a long braid that fell over my shoulder, decorated with delicate white flowers and sparkling gemstones. Caroline artfully left two small curls at the front, framing my face.

The off-the-shoulder neckline and the open-back design showcased my mark. Looking at it now, I didn’t want to hide it. I felt pride in displaying it to the world.

The dress flowed down to the floor, and a delicate silver ribbon tied around my waist added a touch of elegance to the simplicity. Looking at myself, I felt confident and beautiful. Caroline was right; the dress was so me, and it accentuated my best features in all the right ways.

“You ready?” my mother asked, her face still brimming with delight.

“I’ll be down in a minute,” I smiled. Caroline gave my hand a gentle squeeze before both left me alone in the room.

It was finally the day. To say my nerves were all over the place would have been a major understatement. I was fricking terrified. I would be linked to the pack as it’s Luna, and Logan and I will…

It took several deep breaths and a small pep-talk in the mirror to finally leave the room.

On my way, I failed to notice the familiar face of a friend.

“Hey, why so glum?” Noah spoke softly, causing me to focus on my surroundings.

I saw Noah yesterday; he told me Aleksi took an interest in him, so he’s training him to be the next Zeta.

“It’s just nerves. Aren’t you supposed to be in your seat?” I asked, changing the subject.

“I got lost looking for the bathroom,” Noah shrugged.

I laughed at how simple he could be sometimes but was instantly taken aback when a firm grip on my upper arm pulled me behind a large body.

Logan.

He growled at Noah, who immediately exposed his neck in submission.

I tried pulling Logan back, but his wolf was very close to taking over completely.

“He’s a friend, Logan. No need to get all dominating,” I said.

“I don’t care. He is unmated, and you are yet to be marked and mated. So unless you want my wolf to go on a rampage like I nearly did the last time, stay away from unmated males, understood?” he sneered, never once taking his eyes off Noah, who stood anxiously rubbing the back of his neck.

I was about to answer when I saw my brothers walking towards me. They must have sensed the tension. They immediately bared their necks to Logan.

“This is Denzel and Damon, my brothers,” I stated before Logan went on a rampage.

Logan’s tension seemed to lessen a smidge.

“We apologise Alpha. Noah here meant no harm, I assure you,” Denzel said reassuringly.

“We should get going with the ceremony. People are waiting,” I announced.

Noah and my brothers dismissed themselves. Logan never once removed his sight from Noah until they disappeared behind the doors.

He turned to face me.

“You feeling better now, or do you still want to murder my best friend,” I crossed my arms.

“You look beautiful,” Logan said, completely ignoring my comment.

He gently took hold of my hips and pulled me towards him. He leaned low, closed his eyes, and inhaled.

“My Luna,” I heard him growl quietly, so quiet I would have missed it if it weren’t for my wolf hearing.

After a few moments of silence, his eyes returned to their original hue. His wolf had settled.

“You ready?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I gently smiled.

I felt a thumb lightly stroke my cheek as Logan left a soft, lingering kiss on my forehead.

I then watched as he walked away towards the ceremony.

Logan

I stood on the small platform, watching as the rows of seated people awaited their new Luna to walk down the aisle and be officially united with the pack.

It was customary for the previous Alpha to officiate the ceremony, so my father stood beside me.

The second the two double doors opened, all eyes focused on my mate. I was too angered before to notice how truly stunning she looked. Her fiery hair against the pearly white dress made her seem more magnificent.

She stood before me when my father spoke a few words and placed the gold ribbon on my palm. Ariella placed her hand on mine, and electric sparks shot through me amplified more than they should be as we hadn’t completed the mating bond. It took everything in my power not to mark her there and then.

The gold ribbon wrapped around Ariella’s hand first, then my own, joining us in unity. A chorus of cheers and whistles could be heard around the room as we exited the platform and towards the ballroom, where the rest of the night would commence.

Ariella took off to be with her family, her mother, and who I assumed was her best friend, shed tears of happiness. I was glad to see the man from before, Noah, a distance away, as well as all other unmated males.

My father approached me from behind, gesturing towards a small, private room in the corner. The second the door closed, I noticed my two Beta’s were also present, both with concerning looks on their faces.

“Is this about the missing rogues?” I was the first to break the growing tension.

“No, this is about Fenrir,” my father replied.

“You received a formal invite this morning. It’s unspecific but mentioned talk of a coalition,” Hailey spat. She hated Fenrir just as much as the rest of us, but being a woman, she despised him even more.

“We should tread lightly,” Ethan added.

“There is no way I will discuss a coalition with that man. And why would he want one now? He has never shown any interest in working with other packs,” I said.

“We should gently decline the offer,” my father spoke. “We don’t intend to agree to his terms.”

“I’ll leave tonight. The sooner I tell him, the better,” I added.

“I think it’s best if I go. As Gamma and previous Alpha, I have just as good a presence as anybody.

“Plus, you should be enjoying this time with your mate. These next few weeks are important for both of you. It’s a time to get your lust and differences out of the way so you can focus on the pack sooner rather than later,” my father added.

“I should go. I am Alpha. He might take it as disrespect if I don’t,” I said.

My father walked towards me and placed a firm yet gentle hand on my shoulder. “I insist. Trust me, after tonight, everything will change. Enjoy the time you have with your Luna before your duties take over. I should know that more than anyone, trust me son,” my father said.

“Fine, but I want Michael to go with you,” I said.

“As ex-Gamma, Michael needs to help your new Beta’s fulfil their role as best they can. They may have trained for this for the last six years, but they are still new. No one would be better than Michael to guide them.

“Besides, I’ll be fine. I have handled Alpha’s like Fenrir in the past,” my father voiced.

“I want several warriors to accompany you. I am not taking no for an answer on that,” I said firmly.

My father nodded, “I’ll leave tonight”.

Ethan opened his mouth to say something until an overpowering smell of Cherry blossom and Cinnamon, mingled with arousal, filled the room. It was more potent than the night of the Blood Moon Celebration. I could feel my wolf wanting to come forth and run and tear every male who stood between me and my mate.

I managed to move towards the door. The second they swung open, my mate stood in the centre of the room. All wolves had created a circle around her to keep their distance in fear of being torn apart by me. Ariella howled in agony as she clutched her stomach, kneeling on the floor. She could barely keep her eyes open as she peered at me.

My wolf had fully taken over; he wanted his mate, and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Not this time. I wasn’t in control anymore, and neither was she.

Ariella’s heat had re-awoken, and this time…

It would be ten times worse unless we completed the mate bond.

I looked at her with prey-filled eyes and uttered the only words I could muster…

“Run.”