Chapter 36

The final chapter of the book( aside from the epilogue)

Enjoy x

~~

Lola, Ashers mother and the other female council leaders of the pack helped dress me for the Luna ceremony, a tradition in the pack which has spun more than 7 generations of Lunas before me, I was told.

I'd met all of the ladies before, however out of the 5 I had only really spoken the Ashers relatives. So as they dressed me in a flowing black Grecian style dress- one they had to tailor to fit comfortably around my bump- I took the time to talk to the other 3 ladies.

One lady particularly stood out to me, Bella. She appeared to be mid 40s and told me all about her role as the leader of warrior training, a role which I never gave a second thought to. I was shocked with how much I truly didn't know about this pack. But I suppose this ceremony would allow me time to connect with everyone, speak with members of the pack which I would be co-leading with Ash. Now the witch had been vanquished we finally had time to rebuild and seek out additional lands. The pack was confident once more.

The sun was setting beyond the trees by the time they had finished, all standing back to admire their handiwork in awe.

I peered in the mirror to see what all the fuss was about and almost gasped.

My body was adorned with paints of deep reds, yellows and blacks, spiralling around my arms and legs, through the cut out of my flowing dress. My hair was curled up, away from the back of my neck where my brand would be burned, a pack mark which all Lucas received at the ceremony, a mark of commitment to the pack and a promise to be a just Luna.

My lips were painted a dark purple, and as I looked in the mirror I couldn't help but radiate confidence. The ladies had done a magnificent job. I felt beautiful and powerful all at once. I felt like a Luna.

~~

The forest was darkening by the time we stepped out of the mansion. The ceremony was taking place at the bonfire, a large meadow in the forest used for such celebrations- with a fire pit and promenade, with a overcast wooden roof and marble floor. The trees were lit up with lanterns, framing the meadow in a gorgeous brightness. When everyone saw me and my entourage, they immediately stopped talking, singing and dancing around the bonfire and stood in ordered lines around the promenade.

As I walked down the meadow path to the promenade, the ladies holding my flowing dress out at my back, I noticed him, or rather I felt him. My skin began tingling all over with familiar sparks of desire and want and love.

I looked up and there he was, standing on the promenade shirtless, dressed only in black shorts, with body paint twirling around his body similar to mine.

I was enchanted.

Mesmerised by his utter beauty. My man was carved by the gods, and the arrogant thing knew it.

And as I walked down the path and made it up the steps to where Asher was waiting, his hand held out to grasp mine, all of my nervousness was wiped away. The look on his face was worth everything, worth killing my father, worth every injury I sustained. I could feel his glorious smile in my head, my thoughts blatantly too overwhelming to block.

I peered over my shoulder to the crowds behind and circled around our promenade, hundreds of pack members, all of them from across the large terrain joined in celebration of my becoming the pack Luna. Children I'd seen play in the park, men and women I'd fought with side by side, and the even more familiar faces of Freddy, Lola, J, Laurent, all grouped together with bright smiles on their faces.

My heart leaped.

This was soon enough my pack, governed side by side with Asher , and I knew with every ounce of my body that I would protect them and be the best Luna I could possibly be.

Ash squeezed my hand lightly, and I looked up to see him fondly smiling down at me, his hand caressing my cheek.

My heart was so full of love I thought it would burst.

Ash nodded to the man in front of us, an elderly man dressed all in black similar to Asher and I, and the ceremony began.

" today will mark the celebration of a new Luna in our pack. Rose Roberts, step forward, my dear"

I followed his instructions, a slice of fear running through me. From this point I had no clue what to really expect. Ash sensed my fear and sent a soothing caress through the mate bond. My fear almost immediately subsiding. The effect he had on me still shocked me. As my first, and last relationship, I had shared all of my first times with this man, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The elderly man proceeded for quite some time, talking of the history of the pack, how it had stretched for nearly 700 years, and was the wealthiest, strongest pack in the world.

He began talking of the Moon Goddess, and the importance of Lunas.

"Many view Lunas as the second down from Alphas. Yet Lunas have equal power. A strong alpha needs a strong Luna, and when a Luna harnesses her full strength she will become just as powerful as her Alpha."

He proceeded to lightly grab my palm, and paint on the centre a small half moon to represent the pack. He did the same then to Asher.

Our palms then met, his warmth spreading through me as My vows began.

"Rose, will you promise to be a fair and just Luna?"

I took a deep breath in.

" I do"

"Do you swear to protect the pack against threats, hardships and all that may arise in the future?"

" I swear it" I replied, my hand shaking in Ashers, his fingers kneaded against mine, no doubt rubbing and ruining the paint of our small moons, but his action bringing me comfort no less.

" Do you promise to, when necessary, override Alpha decisions if you believe them to be unjust or unfair?"

I had a small smile on my face as I agreed once more. I knew though, that as much fun as it would be to say that Ash was wrong and having the power to disregard his opinion, that I trusted what he did. Everything he'd implemented in this pack had bettered everybody's quality of life and I knew in the future Ash would continue to ensure the happiness of his, or should I say, our people.

"Now, if anyone has any sincere objections to Roses role as Luna, speak now or forever hold your peace."

My heart was now, surely beating out of my chest. The thought that the pack would refuse me had never once crossed my mind.

And yet the crowd stayed deathly silent.

" I have an objection!" A familiar voice cried from the crowd.

" I object that this takes too bloody long I'm starving when can we go and eat and dance!"

Lola.

Laughter bubbled from my chest as the rest of the field fell into eye rolls and smiles at the familiar antics of Lola.

Ash also held a fond smile on his face.

"With that," the man continued and the crowd hushed to a silence.

"Rose, bare your neck for me"

I turned around, holding up loose tendrils of hair from the back of my neck, as the elderly man retreated to the corner, hearing up the iron brand

This is gonna Hurt like hell isnt it I spoke to Asher with half hearted anger. But in all fairness, I was really quite terrified of the pain. The waiting was the worst. What felt like hours must have only been a minute at most.

I heard the burning sizzle of the hot brand before I felt it, and when it pressed into my skin I ad to bite my lil from letting out a scream of pain. I didn't want to seem like a weak Luna.

So I held in the pain until the brand left my neck, and sighed in relief as the agony was beginning to subside. Suddenly I was greeted with a cacophony of cheers from the crowd, so loud that I almost couldn't hear what the man said next.

"Welcome to the pack, Luna Rose" he had a wise old smile on his face as he bowed his head in submission,

I looked out onto the field as Asher grasped my waist, kissing my cheek and my forehead.

And all around us,

There was chanting,

"Luna! Luna!"

I let out an uncontrollable laugh.

Finally, after years of moving house to house,

And with Asher now at my side,

Friends and new family all around us,

I knew that I was home.

~~~

So

Yeah

This book is fuckin finished yall!!!!

HOWEVER I'm gonna release the epilogue in a couple of days which will mark the complete ending of My Heartless Alpha.

Stay tuned,

All my love,

Xx