“Do you accept this vow?”
“Yes, Alpha,” Sean, the oldest of the group, at twelve years old, agreed with a fierce look in his hazel eyes.
Each child after that accepted our pack’s pledge. The silence grew around us as I stood and stared up at the glorious moon overhead.
“Mother Moon, I give you the next generation of my pack to watch over, protect, and guide to be the fierce leaders and defenders of our land that Nightwolfs are known to be.” Quietly, I summoned Mother Moon to be my source and strength to be the leader that these pups and my pack deserved.
When I lowered my head, my gaze connected with Reese, who stared wide eyed. My wolf howled inside of me. I got lost in the sensations that rushed through me as I eye fucked her right in front of my entire pack. I became so wrapped up in the shimmer in her eyes that I barely noticed when the newly minted shifter pups began howling. They must’ve sensed my wolf’s reaction.
“It’s time,” I told everyone, breaking away from staring at my mate.
All of the adults began chanting the ancient prayer to our goddess, Mother Moon, beckoning her protection and love for the new shifters of our pack. The children howled, and some groaned and grumbled as their wolves finally emerged.
It felt as if the moon’s light shined even brighter when all of the children shifted for the first time. Electricity flowed through me, and my wolf needed to be set free. Most of the other adults, save for the elders and Reese, shifted.
I summoned my wolf forward and let him take over. My body jolted and rippled as my muscles and bones contracted and expanded, changing into my animal form. The new wolves of our pack made their way over to me, surrounding me. I nudged them with my snout, and one by one, they bowed their heads, their wolf giving their alpha deference.
Each supermoon was special. Welcoming the newest shifters into our pack was always an honor and a privilege. But this one was an exception. I’d finally found my mate, and as I looked over at Reese, who stood among the pack of wolves smiling and clapping, I imagined her pregnant with my future pup.
The vision made my wolf howl at the moon, sending the rest of my pack into a frenzy. I laughed at the amount of howling and yelping that went on.
My wolf sauntered over to Reese and purred like a cat instead of a wolf when she kneeled to meet me. We licked the side of her face and laughed at the giggle that spilled from her lips. I stuck my snout into the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply. My wolf couldn’t get enough of her scent, and when I couldn’t take it anymore, I had to shift back into my human.
As soon as I rose, one of the elders brought me a new pair of jeans, but I waved off the shirt she handed me.
I took Reese’s hand in mine. “We’ll let the rest celebrate, but I need you,” I crooned in her ear. She visibly shuddered and gave me a sheepish look that said she wanted to come with me but felt slightly guilty for leaving the others.
Never had I left a Supermoon Ceremony so early. Even when my father reigned as alpha, I stayed around, running with the newest shifters and their parents. But I glanced over my shoulder, seeing that my betas had it under control. A twinge of guilt tightened my belly.
Pack over everything.My father’s words rang in my ear. But as I looked down at Reese’s hand in mine, the need to be alone with her superseded everything else.
“They’ll be fine,” I assured her. I pulled her to me and planted a kiss on her lips. “Tonight, I want all of you,” I said against her lips.
CHAPTER26
Reese
Tonight, I want all of you.
Chael’s words sent my heart racing in anticipation. Throughout the Supermoon Ceremony, I watched with bated breath as the entire pack quieted, soaking in every word he spoke. The amount of respect and love they had for him was unmistakable. And the amount of pride and honor he took in being their alpha was irrefutable.
“Where’re we going?” I asked, allowing him to lead me by the hand, away from the pack, deeper into the mountains that surrounded the commune.
“A place I used to come to all the time when we first set up the commune.”
The howls and sounds of the pack grew quieter the farther we walked along a pathway that dipped into an unseen valley from the field where the ceremony took place. Though it was well after sunset, the bright moon and the glimmer from the stars in the sky provided more than enough light to see our way.
“Is that water?” I asked after about fifteen minutes of walking. The sound of rushing water became clearer the deeper we walked into the mountainous range. All of a sudden, the path opened up. “Oh,” I gasped at the sight before us.
About fifty meters from us stood a waterfall that fell into a sparkling body of water below. The river below the waterfall moved languidly downstream. The river reflected the light of the stars and moon. The sounds of the howling pack strummed in the distance.
“We’re almost there,” Chael said, guiding me with my hand still in his grasp.
“This isn’t it?” I asked, astounded because this place was spectacular.
“Almost.”
I followed him a little downstream, and we came to a rocky enclave that separated a bit from the river. I could see steam rising from the water in this section of the river.
