Broken Souls

Kay’s POV

The warmth of my bed and the wonderfully strong arms I’m wrapped in are enough to make me want to fall back asleep. I feel Aaron move next to me and kiss my forehead.

“I know you are awake, my love.” I snuggle further into him and the blankets as he laughs at me.

“Come on. Any other day I would be more than happy to stay right here with you, but we have things to do.”

“I know. It’s just so nice right here,” I reply climbing out of his arms and stretching.

We have been home for two months. As soon as we could, we brought as many warriors as we could home. The ones that we lost, we honored with all the packs and families at Eric and Rana’s pack house. Our losses were minimal, but even one death seems too high a price. I tried to help heal those I could, but my powers are greatly diminished. In the short conversations I have had with Willow, she let me know that that was normal. Now that Hadeon is gone, and her power restored to her, I don’t have the extra power Hadeon had funneled into me. I’m no longer his battery essentially. I also can’t slip into the void like I did before, and Willow told me it was better not to try. It isn’t a place meant for the living anyway.

When Aaron and I told her what had happened, how Seth had fought Hadeon and then killed him, Willow smiled.

“You did save Seth, Kay. You brought his soul back to him. That is the only explanation. He wanted to help Serena, and that act set everything in motion. It brought all of us crashing out of the void. Seth’s soul was no longer being held captive by Hadeon, and Seth wanted to protect you, Kay,” Willow explained smiling gently at me. “The lost part of him loved you, Kay.”

I’m only glad that things seem to be slipping back to a normal rhythm, and we can start focusing on our pack and home. The warm welcome and familiar faces helped me remember what we fought for. I feel like I have spent so long holding my breath, and now I can finally breathe.

Since we’ve been back, I finally got to meet Aaron and Oriel’s mother, Luna Rose. She is just like Oriel from her looks to her nature. She is, fun, charming, and strong. I hope I can do as well at being a Luna as she has. Everyone loves her, and it’s so easy to see why: she is wonderful.

Aaron wraps his arms around me breaking my thoughts.

“I’ll go make coffee, Luna.” He kisses me softly and heads out of the room. This evening is my ceremony. The rush of nerves hits me as I get dressed and throw my hair up.

I know soon I will be invaded by a couple Lunas, Oriel, and Willow. I can’t call her Grandma any longer. With the return of her power, she retained the look of a woman no more than thirty. She is still the same person, and I know that, but I feel funny about calling her Grandma. She is Willow and as much a mother to me as my own mother was.

When I get to the kitchen, Aaron hands me my coffee. Just as I am about to take a sip, there is a knock at the door. I giggle knowing full well it will be the swarm of ladies. Aaron smirks at me.

“Ready for this?” He asks chuckling a little.

“A day of all the attention being on me? No,” I sigh

“It won’t be that bad.” Aaron kisses my cheek and goes to the door. I hear the squeals of an exited Oriel, and I take a drink of coffee. I’m going to need so much caffeine to match her energy.

“Kay, aren’t you excited? Today is the day!” Oriel beams at me, and I can’t help it; she already has me smiling and feeling more excited, or maybe it’s the rush from the hot coffee I just chugged.

“I’m working on excited; I think nervous is a better word for it,” I say taking another drink of my coffee.

“It’s going to be wonderful,” Rana chimes in smiling at me as she, Rose, and Willow join Oriel and me in the kitchen.

“Well ladies, if you will excuse me, I think I will go finish getting ready. I want to be out of your way,” Aaron says smoothly winking at me.

He minds links me: “Try and have fun today. I know you are nervous about the ceremony, but I promise it will be amazing. I know it will be wonderful because you will be there.” Aaron breaks the link as he walks into the bedroom. I do love that man so much. I must have been staring after him because Oriel nudges my arm.

Everyone is still chatting about the ceremony when Aaron comes out of the room again. He walks over to me while I’m still standing in the kitchen sipping coffee and trying to match the enthusiasm of the excited women. Aaron wraps his arms around me lifting me up and kissing me. When he finally breaks our kiss, I’m lost staring into his eyes. His warm eyes and smile make me feel relaxed for the first time since getting up this morning.

“I’ll see you soon my love,” he whispers in my ear then lets me go. I just want to stay wrapped in his arms, but all too soon he’s pulling away and starting for the door.

“Come on. Let’s get you ready Luna.” Oriel winks at me nudging me again.

I have been washed, waxed, and plucked. My hair and makeup are done, and the small army of stylists that descended on the apartment are starting to pack up after a morning and afternoon of what felt like torture to me. Oriel laughed at me a few times when I was getting fed up with all the plucking.

“How is this fun? It just hurts,” I pouted at Oriel and Willow. Rana and Rose became fast friends and spent most of the day picking out names for grand babies and discussing how many they thought was a good number. I think they finally decided that two boys first and two girls second would be perfect. I roll my eyes a little when they started talking about all the family names they think we should use. Oriel and I shared a giggle about their plans.

When the last of the stylists finishes packing up and leaves, we only have a short time until the ceremony, and I can feel my nerves bubbling up again.

“Come on my dear. Let’s get you in that dress,” Willow says getting up and taking my hand. We leave the rest in the living room and head to my room where my dress hangs in the middle of the walk-in closet freshly steamed and ready. The dress is a midnight blue ball gown that makes me feel like a princess. I am excited to wear that dress. The long sheer sleeves and bodice are covered in diamond stones that look like stairs twinkling in the sky at night.

“Kay dear, I want to thank you,” Willow tells me. I turn to look at her as a tear slips from her eye.

“I never got to thank you for what you did for my little Serena. She told me what happened in the castle. I got to hold her and tell her how much I love her thanks to you Kay. Thank you for helping her find me,” Willow says as more tears slip from her eyes.

“Oh, no don’t make me cry now. Those makeup people will be so mad. I really didn’t do anything though. I just told her the truth,” I reply as I hug Willow. She sniffles a couple of times.

“Well, you have done more for this old woman than you will ever know, Kay. I know you don’t want to call me Grandma anymore, but you have always been like a daughter to me. I love you so Kay, and I’m so proud of you dear,” Willow says hugging me tighter. I can’t help the couple of tears that spill past my lashes.

“Okay, no more crying,” Willow orders, grabbing a tissue and dabbing the tears from my eyes, so I don’t ruin my makeup more.

Willow then helps me into the dress and gasps a little as she is looking me over.

“You look so beautiful dear. I just have one thing to make it perfect. It was my mother’s so long ago, and I would like to give it to you now,” Willow says pulling a neckless box from the pocket of her robe. She opens it for me to see. It’s my turn to gasp as I look at the most breathtaking neckless I have ever seen. The large sapphire sparkles. It has two small diamonds set next to it.

“I can’t have that, Willow. It’s too much. You should keep it.” I gasp looking at her.

“Don’t be silly. I want you to have it. My mother gave it to me, and her mother gave it to her. Now, I want to give it to you. I don’t want to replace your mother, but I hope you can think of me as a second mother,” Willow explains. She smiles her warm smile at me, and I can see her gray blue eyes dancing.

“I would love to call you my mother. You have always been there for me, and I love you,” I respond hugging her again. She fastens the neckless around my neck, and the cool heavy stone sparkles with my dress.

Oriel then pops her head in the door.

“Oh Kay, you look perfect.” She beams at me walking in in her tight red gown.

“It’s almost time. Willow you should change.” Willow kisses my cheek and leaves the room to go and change.

Once we are all ready, Oriel, Willow, and I walk downstairs. The side flower garden is where the ceremony will be held. Rana and Rose planned the whole thing. I just picked colors and flower arrangements. I was more than happy to let them plan things anyway; it made them so happy to do it.

When we get outside, Oriel hugs me.

“You look beautiful Kay. I’m so happy we found you that day,” She says letting me go and rushing to take her place in the crowd to watch me walk down the long aisle to the stage that was placed in the garden.

The sun is just starting to set. I see the twinkle of lights lighting the way to the garden. The Luna ceremony in very much like a wedding in a lot of ways. I take a deep breath and look to Willow.

“Will you walk with me? Mom would have been the one to walk with me, but-” I don’t get to finish before Willow is hugging me again.

“I would love too,” she says holding back tears again.

We walk toward the garden, and I can see everyone turn to look at me. There are so many people and eyes watching me. Willow takes my hand, and we start down the aisle. When my eyes lock with the warm dark honey-colored eyes, I forget all my nerves and the fact that everyone is staring at me. I can only see him. His handsome face and auburn hair that still looks just a little messy.

Willow and I reach the stage, and Aaron holds his hand out to help me up the slight step. Willow kisses my cheek beaming at me. I take Aaron’s hand and join Eric in the middle of the stage that is filled with white roses and wildflowers. I know Eric is saying something to the crowd, but I’m too lost in Aaron’s eye to hear him.

“Do you promise to lead with Aaron and always put the pack first Kay?” Eric’s words reach me just in time.

“Yes I do,” I reply sounding more confident than I thought I would.

Eric hands a knife to Aaron. This is the last part of the ceremony: we both must make a cut on our palms and join hands. Then we will be linked together, and I will be linked to the pack. We cut our palms and join hands. I can feel the rush of pack members hitting my mind as the link forms, and the crowd erupts in cheers. Aaron pulls me close to him and kisses me deeply making the crowd cheer louder.

Eric’s voice booms over the crowd: “I give you your Alpha and Luna!” We pull apart from our embrace and look out at the crowd still howling and cheering. I’m home is all I can think. I’m really truly home.