Arise

“In one week, our Luna and Alpha will be married. Tonight, we celebrate their union and our future as a strong pack.” Caleb’s father tipped his glass forward. His beautiful wife reached for Caleb’s arm with maternal love.

Tonight, was the first full moon I would witness. It was the night I would be integrated into the pack. We were all gathered in the backyard of the pack house. We were all on stage, standing in front of the crowd.

Everyone dressed the same tonight. The men wore loose fitted shirts and pants, while the women wore dresses or skirts. Valerie and I opted for dresses. Valerie wore a black, maxi dress that could easily be shifted out of, while I wore a dark blue wrap dress. We both kept our hair in low buns.

Caleb addressed the crowd before him. “We will also be celebrating the official joining of Rosetta Meredith Bay into the Moonrise Pack as our new Beta Female.” He stepped away from Valerie and stood in front of me. “Are you ready?”

I nodded, nerves filling up my stomach. Logan was behind me, a protective and authoritative force.

“Do you swear loyalty to this pack? Do you promise to protect this pack to the best of your limited human abilities?”

I rolled my eyes and scoffed. He eyed me and waited.

“Yes.”

“Do you swear to remain loyal and obedient to your Alpha and Luna?”

He was living in this I realized. He was enjoying every moment of this.

I lifted my chin, feeling the breeze pass my face. “Yes.”

Caleb grabbed the blade from the table and sliced his palm. He squeezed his hand, letting he blood drip, and poured it in a marble vase that beheld unfamiliar markings. He handed me the blade. I rose my eyebrows.

Logan took a step forward and whispered, “You can do this. Be brave.”

I looked at the crowd. Their curious eyes stared back. I spotted CeCe and she gave me a thumbs up. I gulped.

This was the part I was most afraid of. Logan had warned me that they were not sure how the vase would react to my human blood. The vase was blessed by the Elders of the pack and would determine my fate here. If it accepted me, then I would become Beta Female. If it rejected me, I could not be the Beta Female nor remain in this pack any longer.

Be brave, dammit.

With unsteady hands, I reached for the blade and brought it to my right palm. I could see my own doubtful expression within its reflection. I half-expected to contract some infection from using Caleb’s knife. I turned my head to Logan. He gave a reassuring smile and mouthed something I couldn’t read.

I brought the blade against my palm and winced at the feel of flesh splitting. Warm blood arose.

That shit hurt like a bitch.

I clenched my palm over the vase and let the red liquid fall drip my drip into the vase. One. Two. Three. Four. I moved my hand and Val was instantly at my side, wrapping a salved bandage over it, bringing immediate relief.

Caleb started into vase. The blood filled into the cracks and crevices of the markings. “Let your blood run red, signifying your acceptance into this pack.” He looked at me, uncertainty brimming in his eyes. “Lest it turn black.”

I prayed it did not turn black. I worried my bottom lip and let Logan grab my other hand to bring it to his lips.

They all stared at the vase. The silence was deafening.

Moments later, Caleb looked at me, impressed. “Moonrise!” he roared.

“Moonrise!” The crowd broke out into cheers and hollers, raising their arms and clapping.

I turned to Logan for confirmation. He gave me a broad smile, showing the dimple I loved. I squealed, wrapping my arms around his neck. He lifted me off the ground, swinging me in a circle. I giggled and kissed him with fervor. I was Beta Female.

I let go to hug Val as Logan shouted, “let’s celebrate!”

Many people, ranging from children to adults, approached me with praise and happiness. They waited long for the arrival of a Beta Female. Some even thanked me for choosing to be Logan’s mate and moving here. It was odd but amazing. The pack had been very patient with me and I was glad to stay here.

After talking to a group of teenagers, I spotted Logan idling by the stage, watching me. I was about to walk over to Logan when I saw Caleb got to him. I stopped in my tracks and turned around, choosing to go to the snack table instead.

The snack table wasn’t for everyone. It was for the children who had yet to shift or were too old to shift. It was also for me because I was human.

I poured some punch into a plastic cup and stared at Logan and Caleb. Caleb and I had made no progression in our complicated relationship. He was no more my friend than the pack’s head chef. We had stayed clear of each other since the day I arrived. The only interactions I had had with him were when he introduced me to the pack and at the pack dinners we occasionally attended. He still hated my very existence, but I was willing to look the other way. He was marrying my best friend after all.

Still, it was way too awkward and uncomfortable to even be called friends. As long as he made Val happy, I was fine with whatever it was that we were.

“Are you excited?” I turned around and came face to face with Sebastian Hale.

Sebastian was over six feet tall and had perfectly sculpted muscles. He had smooth dark brown skin and black hair braided against his scalp. Sebastian was cocky but uncharacteristically smart. He knew almost everything and anything. Smart enough to be one of Caleb’s spies.

“Yes! I only saw Logan and Caleb shift once and I nearly fainted.”

“Hopefully seeing an entire pack transform into wolves won’t cause that to happen.” He opened a bag of chips and began eating. “When have you decided to turn?”

A blush heated my cheeks. I shook my head and stuttered, “We aren’t at that stage to discuss matters like that.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll happen.”

I gave a half-hearted chuckle, wanting to leave this conversation. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go see my mate.” I put my water down and practically ran to Logan. Unfortunately, he was still talking to Caleb.

“Hey, doll.” He wrapped an arm behind my back and kissed my forehead.

“Find somewhere to sit. The shift is about to begin.” My eyes narrowed at his tone.

“I was told there was another half hour, Alpha.” My tone condescending.

“What did I say about disrespecting me? Just because you’re my Beta’s mate—”

“I’ve heard enough.” Val interrupted. “The both of you need to work this out. Both of you are going to continue to be important people in my life. I need you guys to stop acting like this.”

I pouted and looked away just as Caleb did the same. She wasn’t necessarily wrong per say. I eyed him with disgust. I stuck my hand out to him. “Truce?”

He didn’t budge and raised his eyebrow. Val smacked his arm, and he groaned before placing his hand in mine. “Truce.”

Val and Caleb walked away to talk to his parents.

Logan slid into my view, hands resting on my waist. “Mate.”

“It’s Beta Female now.” I winked.

He gently placed his loving hands on my cheek, thumbs caressing the skin underneath my eyes. “You are incredible.”

Doubt had settled in me. I wasn’t incredible. I was scared. I asked in a low voice, “what would’ve happened if my blood turned black?

“It didn’t.”

“But what if it did? Would you have let me go?”

His lips touched min briefly before he looked at me and said, “You have allowed me to feel in way I have never felt. After my parents died, I was lost. I left the pack thinking it would help me. It did but I had always felt a gaping hole here,” he guided my hand to his steady heart. “You might not see it, but you’re changing me. So, would I let you go? Never. Day by day, remember?”

I couldn’t find the words to say. Couldn’t respond with a good enough reply, so I stood up on my toes and kissed him, the taste of mint on my tongue. Even in the spring, he smelled like the winter, but warm and inviting. I let it overtake my senses. Let him kiss me into forever.

I sat on the stage that the ceremony had taken place just hours ago. Beside me were children Bracing my hands on the edge of the stage, I peered at the pack. When the full moon reached its height, a howl sounded from the front. Caleb and Valerie were the first to shift into their wolves. My lips parted in awe. I had already been familiar with Caleb’s wolf, but had never seen Val’s. Her wolf was white. Pure white.

Everyone followed in their shifts soon after. I heard bones cracking and reform, but the change was graceful, painless for most. Those who had just started shifting took longer to transform. It was an incredible sight to see. The wolves all stared at Caleb for his signal.

He stood straight and made his way across the forest, Val by his side. They disappeared into the woods, heading for the creek CeCe had shown me earlier before hunting.

The rise of the full moon made the air colder. I shivered as I buttoned up my coat, then I reached for my guitar and adjusted the strings. The moment I ran my thumb against the strings, little kids ran up to me and formed a circled. I promised the children I would play for them while their parents were hunting. I let the music take control until Caleb and Val arrived an hour later.

“Alright kid, go find your parents. I’ll see you soon.” I set the guitar back in its case and grabbed Logan’s clothes as more wolves returned from the woods.

I hopped off the stage and my jaw dropped at the sight in front of me. Everyone was completely and utterly naked as they arrived. Thankfully, most had started putting their clothes on.

I willed my cheeks to return to their normal tan color as I tried to find Logan through the haze of people. I walked forward letting my feet guide me to my mate. He stared up at me with a lazy smile, making his way to me.

His hair was unruly, most likely from running around. His eyes vibrant and body relaxed, shifting had relieved him of any tension in his body.

We met halfway.

I stared at him, fully aware that he was naked and if my eyes lowered I would be playing a dangerous game.

I scanned the people around me and tilted my head. Mates were helping each other put their clothes one, as if on a routine of tradition. I focused my attention on Logan and handed him his shorts. I kept my head up as he bent down to put his legs through his shorts, pulling them up but letting them hang loose on his hips. I gulped. A very dangerous game.

He reached for his hoodie, but I shook my head. I went behind him and guided his arms through the sleeves, pulling the hoodie up over his shoulders. I came around him and latched the zipper, slowly dragging it up his abdomen, but letting his chest show.

I smiled as I stared up at him. Gold danced in his eyes, conveying so many emotions, but gratitude being the strongest. Resting, both my hands over his chest, I leaned forward and pressed my lips briefly against his.

Wrapping my arms around his torso, I basked in his warmth inhaling his scent. I felt the weight of his chin on my head, as he held me. I closed my eye, completely content to stay like this forever.

No words were spoken, but a lot was said.