Page 79

79

Lucas

Sitting at the vanity in my room that Kaylee had placed here, I watch as she slips on the pure white dress Amelia and her had bought in town. It’s been seven days since we took back Oak Fur from Ramos and Marilyn. Seven days of executing traitors that sided with those vile wolves. Seven days of restructuring the pack and working with Simon, Evette, and Royce to learn everyone’s strengths, weaknesses, and what ranks would suit them the most. We were surprised by how many omegas should have been hunters or warriors. Those wolves would be promoted during the initiation ceremony.

“Can you help zip this dress up?” Kaylee calls out, her blue eyes meeting mine in the mirror. I smile, standing from the seat and moving behind her. I carefully zip up her dress, feeling Kaylee shiver as my knuckles graze her skin. With a chuckle, I bend down to kiss the mark that graces her neck, getting a surprised gasp from her.

“Behave,” she chastises me, turning to slap my chest gently.

“I have been behaving,” I muse, sneaking my arms around her waist and pulling her back against my body. My hands rest on her stomach, the slight bump making me grin from ear to ear. Kaylee fought hard a week ago and still kept our pup safe. My mate is strong, and I’m glad I left Oak Fur to find her.

“Tonight, I want to repeat what we did all those months ago on your birthday,” I whisper into Kaylee’s ear, nibbling on the sensitive skin. I can smell her arousal for me grow, and I grin. Kaylee’s hormones have grown with each passing day due to her pregnancy, and it’s incredibly easy to turn my mate on.

“If you don’t stop teasing me, you’ll be sleeping in your office,” she growls gently, wiggling free from my arms and walking towards the door. I laugh at her flustered reaction, watching Kaylee flip me the middle finger as she leaves our room.

I know she’s embarrassed by her reaction to my teasing, know that she is trying hard not to think of all the things I will do to her body tonight, and can’t help but feel amused. Kaylee has always been easy to tease, but only when she feels comfortable with the person teasing her.

“Hurry up, the ceremony is about to start,” she yells, her voice sounding a little far away. She must be near the steps by now.

With another deep laugh, I follow her steps, closing the door on my way out. Kaylee and I will be initiated into Oak Fur as their alphas in twenty minutes when midnight strikes and the moon is high in the sky. It will be the event that starts our journey as leaders.

Unfortunately, Aunt Amelia, Uncle David, Titus, and Daisy won’t be here to witness this. Aunt Amelia left two days ago, stating that Ivory Fangs needed her and Uncle David back. Titus and Daisy left the day before after breakfast to return to their own pack. It soon became quiet, with everyone gone except our own wolves.

Reaching the steps, I find Kaylee waiting for me. The moonlight coming in through the window makes me freeze where I stand. She looks like an angel, her blonde curly hair hanging loosely around her shoulders as she stares outside.

“You know, after the rejection, I never thought we would end up here again,” she muses, gazing at me. “But here we are, ready to take over the pack like the Goddess intended.”

I smile at her words, my eyes tearing up slightly as a sense of nostalgia runs through me. With a startled look, Kaylee takes a few steps, her hand moving to cup my cheek.

“Are you okay?” she asks, her blue eyes staring into my gray ones.

“I am. I’m just happy to be here with you,” I whisper, my voice full of emotion. She smiles, her eyes also filling with tears as she stands on her toes to kiss my lips softly.

“I’m happy too,” she whispers once the kiss has ended. “Now, let’s go greet our pack.”

With that, Kaylee takes my hand in hers and leads me down the stairs. Memories of us as pups running up and down these stairs play through my mind. How she would toddle after me, her blond hair in pigtails. How she would call my name to come outside and play soccer with her and the other pups when she was nine, a tooth missing from her cheeky smile. Her calling me an idiot for tripping over a bag I’d left in the middle of the staircase and scolding me when I stated an omega should have picked it up.

We reached the doors to the packhouse in no time. The two large wooden doors were open, allowing the early fall breeze into the foyer. The soft sound of music played as the excited chatter of our soon-to-be pack reached our ears. The ceremony is about to start, and they can’t wait for the new beginning that Kaylee and I will bring.

“It’s time for you two to walk outside,” a soft voice calls behind us, making me jump, and Kaylee snickers at my reaction.

“Sorry, Alpha Lucas,” Sarah calls out, an amused smile on her face. I smile at her and take a deep breath. Someone must have linked her to come get us.

Kaylee tugs at my hand, pulling me forward and closer to the open doors.

“Let’s go,” she whispers with a smile, her eyes shining under the chandelier’s light. I nod, this time being the one to lead her out the doors and down the steps.

Kaylee and I had chosen the large pine tree that towers over the packhouse as our site for today’s ceremony. From what my aunt had told us, this pine has been growing alongside the pack since its creation. It has seen everything that has happened, and tonight, it will watch us usher in a new chapter for the pack.

A white carpet has been rolled out, starting from the base of the stairs towards the large pine tree. On either side, members of Oak Fur watch as Kaylee and I take slow, measured steps toward Amos, who stands under the leaves of the pine tree. His white ceremonial robes sway in the soft breeze. Just behind him, to the right, stands Nox, the man wearing a fitted black suit. Although he’s smiling, I get a sense of foreboding watching him. It seems his easygoing nature is one he only displays to those he trusts.

The day we met, Nox told Kaylee and me he was the inside spy for the Council and Aunt Amelia. He’d pretended to ally his pack with Ramos, gaining as much information as he could through him on Blood Oath. From there, he passed all the information he could to both Amos and my aunt. That was how we were able to proceed with the plan smoothly.

Tomorrow, Nox will sign a treaty with Kaylee and me. Our packs, along with Ivory Fangs and Growling Heart, will schedule yearly training taking place two weeks in the summer. We’ll take turns hosting these events to strengthen our pack ties. This is something Kaylee and I are looking forward to in the future. If there’s any opportunity to help our wolves grow, we will take it.

Kaylee pulling on my hand brings me from my thoughts. It seems we’ve reached the end of the carpet and now stand before Amos. He looks at Kaylee and me in turn, his lips set in a soft smile.

“Welcome, wolves of Oak Fur, to the initiation of your new alphas,” Amos calls out, his voice steadily carrying over the crowd. “Tonight, under the full moon, we welcome Kaylee Kingsley and Lucas Rider to kneel in front of this great pine and ask the spirits guarding this pack to accept them as the leaders for those still living.”

The crowd cheers, their words of encouragement and welcome making me smile.

“Kaylee Kingsley and Lucas Rider, are you ready to take your place amongst the great leaders and fulfill your destiny as alphas?” Amos asks, directing his words to us.

“Yes.”

“We are.”

Kaylee and I voice our readiness at the same time. My smile widens as she squeezes my hands, her excitement and worry slinking through our mate bond.

[You okay?] I ask her through our link.

[Just nervous,] she admits. I know no words will help settle her mind, so I send her all my love and support through the bond.

“Seeing as you two are ready to accept the responsibility of leaders, I ask that you please kneel before me,” Amos continues to watch us, his soft smile calming Kaylee and me.

Taking a deep breath, Kaylee and I kneel on the carpet before Amos. We bow our heads when he places a hand on our shoulders. A hum of power radiates from the man before us, his eyes closing softly.

“Do you, Kaylee and Lucas, vow to lead your pack with honesty and fair judgment?” Amos asks, his words sounding lyrical.

I peeked under my lashes, my eyes widening when I noticed a white light surrounding him. It extends to Kaylee and past her, most likely moving to surround our packmates.

“Yes,” Kaylee answers. I fumble momentarily, amazed by the aura I am seeing, but manage to compose myself before the magic begins to waver.

“Yes,” I reply, closing my eyes and blocking my view of the white light. I need to focus on the ceremony.

“Do you promise to govern your people and lead them on the path of light so that the Goddess may bless them?”

“I promise.” This time, Kaylee and I answer simultaneously, the magic from Amos growing stronger. It’s warm and inviting, the light I felt earlier beckoning me like a moth to a flame—a flame surrounded by other lights, lights I recognize as the members of Oak Fur behind me.

“Finally, do you, Kaylee Kingsley and Lucas Rider, swear to uphold the laws set forth by the Council of Werewolves, to keep our secrets safe and protect each wolf, no matter their status?” The final question is asked, the lights of the others behind us becoming so close. All we need to do is answer.

“I, Lucas Rider, swear to uphold the laws set forth by the Council of Werewolves. To keep our secrets safe and protect each wolf no matter their status.”

“I, Kaylee Kingsley, swear to uphold the laws set forth by the Council of Werewolves. To keep our secrets safe and protect each wolf no matter their status.”

Magic flows into my body, and the warmth and acceptance from those behind Kaylee and I take my breath away. I feel each connection snap into place and hear the thoughts of each new wolf who falls under my care as alpha. It boosts my power as an alpha, and beside me, I can feel the same sensation happening to Kaylee.

Silence settles over us, the only sound coming from the rustling of the wind through the pine tree. And then the feeling is gone. I take a moment to process what just happened and make a note to ask Kaylee if she felt and saw the same things I did or if it is just part of the powers I inherited from my mother.

When I feel like I’m ready, I open my eyes to see that the pine tree is glowing slightly. Its light is warm and welcoming and reminds me of my mother. I hope she’s watching over us now and seeing the wolf I have become.

“Rise, Kaylee Kingsley, and Lucas Rider,” Amos calls out, taking a step back and grinning widely.

“Rise and face your people as alphas of your new pack, Gilded Moon.”