Chapter 17 ~ Lights Out

Today is the day! To say I am excited, would be an understatement from hell! Aaron left with the guys this morning. Grandma wanted to speak with Domator about helping him find his Light again. Aedern was still being stubborn.. believing the Elves will still conquer Earth.. yeah.. that ain’t happening!

Everly and Babs are helping me prepare for tonight. Aaron’s sister is going to be here.. that’s the only low point of today. He’s not looking forward to seeing her. I guess she is somewhat of a snob.. I laughed when he said “And by no means, everrrr … pronounce her name as Deborah.. because apparently, she’s too good to have a commoners name.. she will tell you it’s pronounced De-BOR-ah” Okay! She’s weird! Got it!

Grandma braided four thin braids in the front of my hair, pulled them away from my face and clasping them in back with a comb.. My makeup is lightly done. I am not an over the top kinda girl.. I prefer natural to caked on. My hair is down.. and naturally wavy.

I step into the gown I had chosen.. it was my Grandma’s wedding dress.. ironically. Maybe we have started a new family tradition. It is a traditional Elven ceremonial gown.. scooped neck, long sleeves a-line with slits up the front to the top of my thighs. A gold filligree chain sets my hips with floral accents on the tassels…hanging nearly to my knee. Grecian style flat sandals complete the look.

Everly comes out of our closet.. holding my tiara. It’s a simple design of gold.. resembling intertwined vines and flowers. Stones of blue topaz and diamonds adorn the center of the flowers. It’s my favorite.. and appropriate for a Luna Ceremony! I look good! I hope Aaron likes it!

Grandma is garbed in a dress similar to mine.. in an emerald green. All the edges are trimmed in golden rope. Her waist chain made of the same rope with two emeralds weighting it down. She looks stunning! Her silver hair is in a side braid.. laced with flowers. I’m so glad she doesn’t hide her ears!

Everly is wearing a baby doll styled cocktail length dress in a light yellow. It is the perfect color for her auburn hair which is in a low chignon on her neck.. little ringlets frame her face. And Babs is wearing a ruby red mermaid style gown.. sequins trail the sweetheart bustier down the front to the flare of her ‘tail’. Her hair is loosely curled.. almost in beachy waves. Everyone is so beautiful!! And my excitement is building!

Grandpa walks in.. in a svelte black suit with an emerald silk tie. He grins at me and says “I remember the dress! You wear it as beautifully as your grandmother did, forty-five years ago. I have come to beg. Would you allow me to walk you down the aisle to greet your mate?” And I melted. Tears fill my eyes and all I can do is simply nod!

A knock at my door brought Andrew, Ernie and Tremaine into my room. Andrew hugged and kissed me..saying he came to claim his mate and his mother to get them seated. Then, Ernie kissed me and took Everly away. Tremaine stepped forward and handed me a tightly woven braid of flowers he had formed into a bracelet.. “In keeping with Elf tradition, please accept this handwoven token, as my gift from Mother Earth.. I love you, Shaelin. I have always loved you! You are my only family, now. And I am grateful!” I hugged him to me. This is my little brother.. the one I remember most! It’s nice the Greenleaf arrogance has skipped over him!

He leaves to find his seat. Grandpa offers me his arm and smiles “Shall we do this?” I nod, and take his elbow. We open the door, just as Gavin had raised his hand to knock.. “Oh Hi! Umm.. I was sent by DeBORah to tell you it’s time” causing me to giggle.

I walked out on Grandpa’s arm.. and all I want is to see Aaron. We walk behind the back row of guests and reach the center aisle. My eyes seek Aaron..and when I see him, my whole body comes to life! He is facing me and his face lights up. Grandpa says, laughing “I can turn you loose and you can run” I whisper “Shush! I’m excited!”

We make it down the aisle.. and I didn’t trip! Aaron takes my hand in his. He asks if I promise to love and protect the pack.. do I accept being the Luna of Silver Steele pack and I say “I do slomenly swear” and he laid the blade of the ceremonial dagger against my palm.. slicing it, before doing the same to his.. he clasped our hands together and raised them high. The pack bond snapped into place and I hear a faint voice in my head “Finally!”

Aaron turns me to face him. He smiles and whispers “Artemis feels your wolf awakening “ I gasped.. then squealed “I think she spoke to me!!” He grins “I am going to mark you now.. and I am not going to lie..it will hurt!” I nod and brace myself. He moves my hair to my right shoulder and leans down.. he kisses up and down my neck and shoulder on the left, until I felt my knees grow weak.. I moaned and as I did, he sank his canines deep into my muscle.. Two things happened.. my teeth grew and I bit him. It was purely instinctual and apparently, how it’s done. We both pulled away and licked the wounds closed.

Then it was lights out!