Two Alphas, One Mate
Ritual

Diana

The song lasted forever. Damian and I stood there, silently basking in the news of my pregnancy.

“I’m guessing that was why you were sick?” He pulled me in for another hug. I held on tightly, breathing in the scent that always calmed my nerves.

“It comes and goes, its how I figured it out.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t clue in, I mean, maybe I was in denial. I never thought it would happen so quickly.” His hand brushed the side of my face as I continued looking into his eyes. He wasn’t crying, but I could see the emotion trying to push through.

“I’m so happy Damian.” I smiled and placed my hand on his.

“Di,” He planted his lips on mine, “I’m beyond happy, we will celebrate after the ceremony. I’m not even sure how I’m going to make it through the night without telling the whole world. Wait, is that what we want now?”

Damian had a good point, was tonight the best time to tell the pack of my pregnancy? Should I wait to see a doctor before spilling the beans to everyone? I wasn’t sure how far along I was, but werewolf pregnancies are typically fast - usually it would be six months as compared to a regular 9-month pregnancy for a human.

“Let’s wait until I see a doctor, I just want to be sure everything is ok before I start telling people.”

I could tell from Damian’s face he wanted to tell them, he wanted to share the news of his first child with the whole pack.

“Of course.” He replied.

By now the music has died out, and by the way some of the elders and Eric were looking at us, they wanted to start the ceremony.

“You guys ready?” Eric mind linked to us.

“Yes, lets go,” Damian grabbed my hand and brought me over to the table were the bowl sat. I peeked inside to see the contents. I was expecting some weird looking mysterious liquid, but to me, it looked like fruit punch. The colour was tangy red, and the texture was light like juice.

“If you’re wondering what that is, the answer is yes, it is juice.” Eric looked to me and chuckled.

The room was growing quiet, a circle of guests formed around us.

“Don’t worry Di, I’ll guide you ever step of the way, nothing to worry about.” Damian squeezed my hand as he looked to me with reassuring eyes.

At this point, everyone’s attention was on us. Thankfully, I spotted the girls in the crowd and they gave a small encouraging wave.

“Fenrir Warriors, I am here with news that much of you know already, but its time to make it official. For so long our pack as had Alpha Zeus, my father, that has led us into battle and claimed everyone victorious. We have liberated the outcasts; have freed the Omega slaves from their oppressors, but one thing was always missing. A new Luna. To carry on the Alpha blood line, so we can continue our victories and protect the weak from the power hungry. I never thought I would be ever giving a speech such as this…” Damian paused then looked at me and grabbed my hand. “Diana unexpectedly came into our lives, and now, I never want to look back at the days where she wasn’t here. Her beauty, her presence, her leadership, her...Her power... We are your children now, and I am forever grateful to call you our new Luna.” He got down on one knee and kept my hand his his.

A thunderous cheer followed by howls screeched through the entire room, practically vibrating my ear drum.

The howling continued until an elderly man raised his arm with a blade in the other hand. This was the part of the ceremony I was questionable about. I wonder what that blade was for?

“Alpha, here.” The white haired elder bowed and presented the shiny blade to Damian.

“What’s that for?” I mind linked Damian.

I knew I was safe, but honestly, the blade sort of freaked me out.

“My love, I would never hurt you, it’s for the ritual; it requires a bit of blood. You will heal right after, I promise. It’s not silver.” Damian reached for my trembling hand. I hadn’t realized how nervous I was until now. My heart was beating fast, but just as my nervousness caught hold of me, I looked to Damian who held the blade, waiting for me until I was ready.

“Ok,” I braced myself and tried to relax.

I slightly winced from the pain as he brought the blade to the palm of my hand, slicing in one quick motion across my skin. My blood began dripping into the bowl as Damian held me steady.

The grey-haired man standing behind us started to speak, “And now the blood of the Luna will fall.” The elder gave a small bow before dipping the cup in the bowl, “We will consume and become her children.”

One by one the pack members stood in front of the bowl, bowed, then dipped their cups in.

“See, not that bad.” Damian brought my cut hand to his mouth and softly traced his tongue over the wound.

“Yes, not that bad at all,” I looked to all the guests who all sipped on their drinks. It felt weird seeing them consume a part of me, but I knew this was their tradition, and it was a special moment for everyone.

“Just one last drink,” Damian took a cup from Eric’s hand and dipped it in like all the others, “Cheers,” He locked eyes with me as he took a drink, “Tropical punch, with a hint of Diana.” He chuckled.

I couldn’t help to burst out laughing, and thankfully, everyone else resumed their previous activities. Drinking heavily, dancing and enjoying the night off.

“Time to enjoy the rest of the night.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder as we watched the pack members celebrating the night.

“Congrats Luna!” I heard Hippolyta called out from the crowd.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Eric looking directly at her. There was something on his mind, he was quiet tonight, not his usual self and I was beginning to grow suspicious.

“You ok Eric?” I looked to him, but he was like he was in another world. It took him a few seconds to come back to reality.

“Yea, just need to talk to Hippolyta – sorry.”

Just before I could respond, he was already going to her direction. He was on a mission, and whatever it was, I hope it worked out.

Maybe he had a little crush on her?

“You know Di, I want to celebrate tonight, but I’m too damn excited to let loose. I’m already thinking of names for our pup.” Damian smiled as he peered over at the guests.

“I can’t wait.” I smiled back as we interlocked our fingers.

Suddenly, Etta and Phyllis appeared from the crowd, “Diana! I’m sorry to intrude Alpha, but we just want to say our biggest congrats with making this official.” Etta gave a small bow, followed by Phyllis. Their faces were slightly blushed from their drinks no-doubt. I could tell they were having a good time tonight.

“We can continue later,” Damian whispered in my ear, “I’m going to chat with some of the elders,”

“Love you.” I lightly squeezed his hand. I didn’t want him to leave, but at the same time, I wanted to spend some time with my new friends.

Love you Di,” Damian pecked me on the cheek and started walking over to the same grey-haired man that was now standing with the rest of the old folks of the pack.

“Thanks guys! How are you enjoying the night? And where did Hippolyta run off to?” I said.

“Oh she –” Phyllis looked around, trying to spot her in the crowd.

“She went outside to speak to Eric.” Etta replied.

“She did? She’s making this harder for herself.” Phyllis hiccupped, then tumbled backwards as she lost balance.

Etta held her steady and swatted her in the arm, “Drunken polka dotted idiot! The Luna doesn’t want to hear about the drama.”

“Well, now that you mention it, Eric was acting a little strange earlier.” I was beginning to get worried about what Hippolyta was telling me before. She said her mate was dead, so maybe she didn’t want to move on.

“I’m sure they will hash it out, move on, like usual.” Etta kept her hand on Phyllis shoulder to keep her from losing balance again.

“Luna, I hate to bother you, but do you mind? I have to use to little girls’ room,” Etta gently pushed Phyllis in my direction.

“Sure thing.”

“No, no, no, I don’t need help.” Phyllis stood tall as she looked at booth of us, her eyes were hazed, but at least she could still stand by herself.

“You always need a babysitter.” Etta scoffed as she left towards the washroom.

“Yea, yea,” Phyllis looked to me and smiled, “See how she treats me?”

I couldn’t help to laugh, seeing them interact with each was quite comical.

“Eric?” I heard Damian’s voice from across the room. He was at least 30 feet away, but when I heard Eric’s name it sparked my attention. I turned my head to see Eric stomping into the bar towards Damian, he looked pissed. His hand held his face that looked to be gushing blood.

“Phyllis, stay here!” I didn’t wait for her to reply, and I started to push my way over to Damian and Eric through the sea of people scattered everywhere.

Damian had his hand on Eric’s shoulder as they spoke lightly away from the other guests in the corner of the bar.

“Damian, Eric, what happened? Is there something wrong?” For a moment, I was scared, was this an attack?

“I fucking tried, he’s gone, and she can’t move on!” Eric’s face was red, but I could see the scratch mark that was hidden underneath his hand.

“Where is she now? I’ll go speak to her.” Damian remained focused on Eric who was having a complete melt down.

“She won’t speak to anyone now! Especially a man! She is so hung up on the past, I don’t know what to say anymore.” Eric brought his hand down and looked to the blood. His wound was almost healed.

“Sorry Di, it’s ugh...” He looked to Eric, then back to me.

“Complicated.” Eric groaned.

“I’ll speak to her then.”

“Good luck with that, she’s livid.” Eric said.

“Where is she now?”

“She’s outside now, but there no point, there is no reason in her!”

“At least I can try.” I was beginning to get frustrated with Eric’s attitude, and I was beginning to wonder what this whole situation entailed.

“Just calm him down, will you?” I looked to Damian who kept his hand on Eric’s back, trying to calm down the beast that was trying to poke through. Eric’s eyes were blackened, and his muscles were tensed.

I’ve never seen him so angry.

I was already heading towards the door. I had to see if Hippolyta was ok, for her to hit Eric was un-called for, but I’m guessing she had a reason for it. Doesn’t make it right, but I had to hear her out.

“Luna! Wait up!” I could hear Phyllis stumbling behind me, “What happened?”

“Hippolyta is outside, she hit Eric.”

“That bastard!”

“What’s with them?” We were already at the door; I could sense Hippolyta near by.

“Her and Eric, use to-” Before she could continue, the door was opened.

I could see Hippolyta sitting on the curb outside. The only people around were the guards on duty. They seemed to be focused more on scanning the area then Hippolyta, who was crying in her arms.

“Hippolyta!” Phyllis ran to her side.

“Phyllis?” She turned to her, then she looked to me, “Luna? What are you guys doing here?”

“We saw Eric’s face.”

Phyllis sat next to her, and I took a seat on the other side. The three of us were sitting on the curb, watching the deserted street. I suppose Damian closed off this entire street for tonight because there wasn’t a soul in sight.

“He – he –” Hippolyta choked up; she couldn’t get the words out. I wanted to know more, but instead, I placed my hand on her back.

“He doesn’t understand what you lost.” Phyllis grabbed her hand.

“I’m sorry Diana, I’m such an emotional wreck, I thought I could go back to him, but I don’t think I am ready.” She sobbed.

Her eyes were swollen with tears, just seeing her in this state was strange to witness. She was the strongest out of the three girls, but at the end of the day, we’ve all experienced heart break.

“Why did you hit him?”

Her eyes dropped, “He spoke about him…”

“Spoke about who?”

“My dead mate, but the way he spoke, was monstrous. He doesn’t understand the pain I feel.”

“He is a man, they don’t under-” Phyllis slurred words turned blank, then suddenly, she dropped to the pavement.

“Oh my god, Phyllis?” Hippolyta got to her knees and started shaking Phyllis who was passed out drunk on the sidewalk.

I crawled over to Phyllis who was unconscious. She was breathing, and she seemed ok, so I think it was safe to assume the alcohol got the best of her.

“She was tumbling over before, I guess she drank too much.” I placed my hands on her, but I don’t think healing drunkenness was on the list of powers I had.

“No need Luna, she’s done this before.” She turned to one of the male guards by the door, they were dressed similarly to the ones inside, all black combat suits with weapons holstered to their sides, “Will one of you go get Etta, we need to take her home.”

I looked to the guard and nodded, then one of them proceeded to go inside.

“Uh,” He shook the handle, “Is this locked?”

The other guard took his place, “Move aside, what’s wrong with you!” He started shaking the handle, but it wasn’t budging.

“Is everything ok?” Hippolyta got to her feet and started to jingle the handle. “It’s locked. That’s weird, maybe it’s a faulty handle? You’re going to have to knock this door down then boys.”

“This is reinforced steel, even if we were in our wolf form, we can’t knock this down. Damian ensured this place would be fortified tonight.”

“For Pete’s sake. I’ll contact Damian.” I sighed.

“Damian?” I mind linked directly to him as I placed Phyllis’s head on my lap.

There was no answer.

“Damian? The door is locked from outside, we think its jammed.”

Hippolyta stood by the door as she tapped her foot, “Any luck Diana?”

“No, so strange.”

“Damian, what’s going on? Hello?” I repeated myself, over and over again, but there was no response.

“I’ll try Eric” Hippolyta’s eyes went blank momentarily, then refocused back to me, “Nothing Luna, what the hell is going on?” She started to knock on the door, but there was nothing, only the loud blaring music still playing on the inside.

“Is this a sick prank? Phyllis really needs to go home; she’s beginning to feel cold. I’m not sure why.” I could feel Phyllis’s heartbeat start to slow, and I was starting to suspect that this wasn’t alcohol related.

Hippolyta ran to her side and placed her head in her lap, “Oh my god, you’re right, we have to get her to a hospital.”

I stood up and looked to the two guards as they analyzed the door.

“Don’t just stare at it, break it down!” I commanded.

Inside my head, I was starting to panic. What the hell was going on? I had to remain calm, Damian wasn’t far from me, and I could sense him inside, but nothing was getting to him.

“What the hell is that smell?” Hippolyta sniffed the air and looked to the guards who were starting to ram their large bodies into the door.

“Fire Luna!” They ran to my side, but all I could think about was everyone else that was trapped inside. “Don’t stand by me! Find a window and break it in!” I yelled as I started to pull Phyllis to safety.

“Damian?! Where the hell are you, we smell a fire!”

There was no use, it was silent, and all that we heard was the roaring music still blasting inside. I couldn’t see flames, it was probably just a small blaze now, but it would only take a matter of minutes before a building can go completely up in flames.

“Diana…” Suddenly, just as Hippolyta and I were pulling Phyllis to the road, she fell backwards, and her head smashed on the pavement hard as she lost consciousness. Blood pooled on the gravel from the impact, and she remained motionless.

“Get over here!” I yelled to the two guards still figuring out a way inside, and they immediately came to my side. “Hippolyta?! What is wrong? You there?!”

“I’m sorry Diana.” Suddenly, there was a mind link, but it wasn’t Damian.

It wasn’t anyone from this pack.

I frantically turned my head side to side, but I had to try my best to pull the two girls to safety.

“Who the fuck is that!?” I shouted into the darkness, but there was nothing.

“What’s wrong Luna?” As the guards helped me pull the two women far enough from the burning building, I ran to the door.

I had to help them, for some reason, I felt like everyone had met the same fate as Hippolyta and Phyllis. There was no time to figure out anything else.

I had to save Damian.

I had to save my pack inside.

I rammed the door, I pulled with all my strength, but there was no budging. “Isn’t there a window!?” I yelled.

“No Luna, no windows, the building was fortified.” One of them answered.

“Fuck!” I rammed by body again. I barley made a scratch on the door.

“Focus on opening this door!” I slammed myself one last time. I was out of breath, and I was beginning to feel lightheaded. “Did you hear me?!” I turned to speak to the two guards, but they were gone.

“Hello?!” I yelled out again, but there was nothing, only the pitch black and dim streetlights.

How could two large warriors just disappear? I didn’t hear a damn thing.

“Just run Diana, before they get here.” Suddenly, the same voice entered my head.

It defiantly wasn’t Fenrir.

It was Red.

I turned to see his large silhouette appearing from the shadows. He was naked, he looked the same since I last seen him, but his face was sunken in. Maybe from stress?

Or maybe from turning to the fucking dark side of Holden.

Fresh blood covered in his body. His eyes were black, but they were focused on Hippolyta who was laid unconscious on the road next to Phyllis.

“What the fuck are you doing here you bastard?! I’m going to kill you!” My hands were balled into fists, I was ready to attack, but then I thought about the fire that was getting bigger by the second.

I had to focus my attention on saving Damian.

“Diana, run out of here NOW, he’s on his way. I don’t want to do this.”

“You did it! You ratted me out to Holden, and NOW, you’re on MY TERRITORY. You deserve to DIE!” I roared.

I couldn’t contain myself, Damian was in the burning building, and now Red wanted me to run.

I wasn’t leaving.

I was going to kill anyone that would try to pass me.

“LEAVE DIANA. I ran here as fast as I could. It was too late for me to stop the plan.”

“What plan?!”

“I’m so sorry.” His face dropped, he was upset, but I wasn’t sure why.

HE DID THIS.

He led whoever was coming.

He caused this, it was all his fault!

I ran back to the door; the smell of fire was increasing. I couldn’t see flames, but I could feel the heat coming off the door.

“Damian!!” I kept pounding my fists to the door.

I was desperate.

I had to save him.

Maybe pounding my fists weren’t logical with getting through, but I was having a full blown panic attack. The thought of losing Damian was causing me to lose my mind.

“RUN!” Red screamed in my head, but I ignored his pleas.

I wasn’t going to leave my mate behind.

“No! Damian’s in there!” The tears ran down my face as I clawed at the door.

I never thought it would happen like this. I had my suspicions that one day there would be an attack, but tonight?

The night I told Damian he was going to be a father, why did it have to be tonight?

It was all crashing down, I couldn’t run away, and I wasn’t planning on going anywhere without my pack.

Without my mate.

Without my family.

This is where I was going to draw the line.