Blood Moon: Lunar Eclipse

Ariella

The day of the Alpha ceremony was filled with frantic busybodies rushing to finalise the details of the day. Everything had to be perfect. It’s not every day your pack has a new Alpha.

Logan said he would be around the pack house, so if I needed him, I could mind-link him. That and he wanted to stay close in case the heat came.

I had just finished breakfast when I was ushered back to my room on request of the Luna. I had no idea why she summoned me, but I didn’t dare question.

Our Luna has been known to be a kind and generous person. She’s the backbone and mother figure of the pack. Living up to those standards was daunting enough. I was the type of girl who preferred to play fight with the boys and challenge them in sparring matches.

I was a fighter, not a lover.

I entered my room to see Luna Vera sitting on one of the leather seats.

“Ah, there you are,” she spoke softly, then rose from the chair.

“Come, let’s get you ready,” she took my hand and guided me to the door in the bedroom, which I hadn’t yet snooped.

She opened the door to reveal a spacious wardrobe that could almost be mistaken for a bedroom. A stunning silver and white wooden vanity was situated at the centre of the room, immediately catching my eye. A matching bedroom bench was placed in front of the vanity, boasting enough space to accommodate at least three individuals.

The wardrobe was adorned with an impressive array of clothes and shoes meticulously organised by colour and occasion. A body-length mirror was thoughtfully placed at the end of the long room, providing a perfect view of any outfit from head to toe.

“I had this ready for you the day after Logan found you. I hope you like it?” she asked modestly.

“It’s stunning. Thank you, Luna, you really didn’t have to,” I replied. I was never the girly type, but that didn’t mean I never liked to dress up when the right occasion called.

“Of course I did,” she held my hands in hers, “I will not have our future Luna go without. Besides, you’ll be needing these in the years to come. You just don’t know it yet.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I already picked a dress for tonight. If you don’t like it, feel free to change it,” she gestured for me to sit on the bench in front of the vanity.

Luna Vera meticulously curled my hair into tight ringlets before fashioning them into a half-up, half-down style. Two delicate strands framed my face, adding a touch of elegance. Then came the pièce de resistance - she adorned my locks with small amber and ruby red gemstones, which made my hair gleam like flickering fire.

As she handed me a dress to change into, Luna Vera left me alone in the wardrobe. Once I was ready, I hardly recognised myself in the body-length mirror.

My hair now effortlessly flowed down my back in a cascade of fiery red, the gemstones sparkling like flames in a campfire.

The dress she had chosen was simply breathtaking and matched perfectly for the occasion. It was a light shade of scarlet red, perfectly matched to my hair, and streamed down to the floor gracefully with slits on either side of my thighs, almost reaching my hip.

The bottom of the dress was embellished with tiny black emeralds, which blended seamlessly into the red fabric as it moved up the length of the dress. It had a sharp v-neckline and a singular black silk ribbon at the waist, which hugged my curves in all the right places. The straps, slinking off my shoulders with effortless grace, made me look like a true Luna.

I felt a cold draft hit my back. That’s when I noticed my mark was on complete display. Looking at it now, I didn’t feel ashamed or enraged. If anything, it made me seem fiercer. It made me feel more confident, knowing that no one would ever hold the same mark as me. It was unique—one of a kind.

I heard a gasp from behind me as Luna Vera entered. She had tears in her tender turquoise eyes.

“Please tell me you like it?” she pleaded.

“Its… It’s perfect,” I said in barely a whisper.

I looked the part; I looked strong yet gentle, powerful yet modest. But I didn’t feel like I belonged.

I sank into the seat and looked back at myself through the vanity.

This wasn’t me.

I felt two soft hands warm my shoulders. Luna Vera crouched behind me and looked at me through the mirror.

“Once I knew I was mated to the Alpha, I was so close to running for the hills and never turning back,” she chuckled before continuing.

“I never thought I could live up to the title of Luna. I thought I wasn’t good enough. That I would not only let my mate down but, worse, my pack. Regardless, no matter how I felt, I fought to stay and live up to the role I was made to lead.

“Being a Luna can be seen as an equally, if not more, important role to an Alpha. You become not only the motherly role model or the backbone, but you also become the heart and soul of the pack,” she finished.

I felt as though I could talk to her. She made it seem as though whatever I said, she would genuinely listen. So I did. I asked the one question that had been eating at the back of my mind since I found out I was mated to Logan.

“What if I’m not good enough,” I muttered.

“Even the bravest warriors need a shoulder to cry on.

“The moon goddess chose you for a reason Ariella. Believe and trust in your instincts. You might even surprise yourself,” Luna Vera smiled warmly.

Unknowingly, that little pep talk was just what I needed. I was never one to shy away from a challenge, so why start now?

I am a fighter, not someone who runs away because they fear the unknown.

Luna Vera held her arm out for me to take. I gladly accepted it as we made our way down to the Alpha ceremony and my mate.

Logan

A woman with fiery red hair and a magnetic red dress adorned with black gemstones walked into the room, my mother by her side.

Ariella.

She stood out from the crowd, like a rare star that can only be seen once in a millennia. All eyes focused on her. I could feel my wolf grow agitated at the attention my mate was receiving until I noticed her fiery amber orbs were concentrating on me.

I could have sworn a light blush decorated her cheeks as she walked towards me. Before I could say anything, my father began speaking in the centre of the room, grabbing everyone’s attention.

But not mine…

I was far too focused on my mate to hear a single word my father spoke until I felt an arm nudge my elbow from behind.

Hailey and Ethan stood behind me, gesturing for me to join my father. I cleared my throat and joined him just as my mother and Ariella joined my two potential Betas.

My father continued his speech as I fought to keep my eyes on the crowd, “If anyone wishes to challenge or rebuke Alpha Logan Kratos, speak now or prove your loyalty.”

The usually bustling room was silent until the sound of knees connecting with the ground echoed around the room. Every wolf was now on their knee and bearing their neck, the highest form of respect. No one wished to challenge me. Everyone accepted me as their new Alpha.

I felt a new surge of energy flow through me as every member of my pack accepted me. I felt the Alpha blood in me bristle with excitement, and my wolf grew in satisfaction. I was officially the Alpha of the Blood Moon pack.

I turned to the crowd, gesturing for them to stand. My father patted my back and removed himself from the stage. He was now my Gamma, as was my mother.

“It is tradition to choose a Beta based on skill, loyalty, and strength.

“I have wavered from normality and now announce your two new Beta’s. Hailey Quinn and Ethan Fox.”

In the end, I couldn’t decide whom to pick. Then I thought, who decided I could only have one Beta? Yes, it was customary only to have one, but when I have two of the most loyal friends beside me, whom I consider family, why choose?

I turned to face Ariella; her gaze automatically fixed on mine. Her chest began moving a little faster as she realised what was next.

I held out my hand for her to take. She did with a deep breath and held her head high. She certainly acted like a Luna. However, the biggest question was, was she capable of the duties that came with it?

“Now I introduce to you my mate, your future Luna,” I felt Ariella stiffen beside me. I wrapped my arm around her waist and gave her a gentle squeeze. She looked up at me through her long lashes and gave me a small smile.

“Now, let’s feast!” I spoke loudly and watched as everyone entered the spacious banqueting room.

Ariella

The Alpha authority that now radiated off of Logan was electrifying and overwhelming. Once he had been accepted into the pack, his wolf had ascended, and his true Alpha capabilities were now fully unlocked.

Yet no matter how much his aura had changed, I knew, deep down, that he was still the same person. He may have grown in power and strength, but Logan was still Logan. His wolf was the same as when I first met him.

I was guided towards a table at the far end of the banqueting hall. In the centre of our table sat Logan and me. On our table sat the newly appointed Gammas; Enzo and Vera sat a seat away from Logan, and Michael and Nikki sat a seat away from me. Beside Logan was a man whom I came to know as Ethan, one of his Betas, whilst a woman named Hailey sat beside me, his other Beta.

Throughout the meal, I could feel my wolf itching to be released. Thankfully, it was still early, so there was plenty of time to run.

I felt a gentle nudge from beside me. I turned to face Hailey, a woman with wild ginger hair who had a beaming smile of curiosity on her lips.

“I have been dying to meet our future Luna,” Hailey spoke enthusiastically. “Alpha says you want to start training?”

“I’ve been training since I was a child. Just because I’ll soon be Luna doesn’t mean I want to give it all up. I want to get stronger and maybe even one day surpass the Alpha,” I teased. I felt Logan chuckle from beside me. Little did he know that made me all the more determined.

“That’s what I like to hear,” she responded, “I think me and you will be good friends.”

The rest of the meal went surprisingly well. It felt like an ordinary lunch, just one with an extra few hundred people.

Hailey and I had a lot in common. She trained hard, fought her way to the top and transcends men and women alike. It’s a shame I never met her before now.

Just as I finished my meal, I felt a bristle of hot breath against my ear. I shivered, instantly aware of who it was.

“You ready?” was all Logan said before dismissing us from the feast.

To say I was nervous was an understatement. I was about to run with Logan for the first time. But my main concern was what my wolf would do. She didn’t have the same resolve as I did.

“You want to run dressed in this?” I asked as we edged closer to the forest.

“Hailey will bring spare clothes for you. I could feel your wolf’s anxiousness the whole meal. She’s really excited to run with me,” he teased with a grin. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

Logan took me further into the forest than expected until we stopped by a large tree.

“Why so far out?” I asked.

“I won’t have my mate spotted naked by another pack member,” he replied bitterly.

I stood behind the large trunk and began to tug my dress down, but something was preventing it from falling. I struggled for a few minutes until I decided to give in and ask for help.

“Erm… Logan,” I called, “I think I need your help.”

He didn’t hesitate as I heard movement behind me. I pointed to my dress at the back where it was stuck, “It’s not coming off. I think it’s caught.”

I heard him clear his throat from behind, and then warm hands caressed my back. The electric sparks pulsed through me, causing me to shudder. I felt a light tug of my hair then the dress pooled at my feet. I turned my head to see his eyes were darker than before. I failed to realise I only wore a thin black thong, as any other underwear would have been apparent beneath the tight-fitted dress.

I faced forward and bunched my hair so my neck was displayed. “Do you mind?” I asked, hinting at my necklace. After a few moments of silence, the same warm hands removed my necklace.

“Can you… turn around,” I stuttered, my back still facing him.

He silently turned around, so I swiftly wrapped my necklace around my ankle and removed my underwear. I didn’t hesitate to shift; my wolf couldn’t wait any longer.

I heard a low growl behind me. When I turned around, I saw the most enormous wolf I had ever laid eyes on. It was Logan’s wolf, and I could see that his coat was long, thick, and had a unique combination of ash and charcoal colours. His eyes were strikingly grey, almost white, which was a significant change from the turquoise specks that he usually had.

As his wolf approached me, my wolf whined excitedly. Logan’s wolf brought his head down and nuzzled my wolf, who snuggled further into him, inhaling his scent as if to savour the moment. I felt a lick against my cheek as Logan gestured for me to run.

So I did.