I held my head high as I continued down the hall and up the stairs. Nothing she said mattered to me any longer. She had made her choices, and now she would have to live with them, for better or for worse.
Epilogue
SHADE
SIX MONTHS LATER
“How are you feeling, Shade? Nervous at all?” Mother Maty asked as I turned in the mirror.
“Surprisingly, no,” I answered honestly. “The time feels right. I feel like I’m ready.”
Tonight, under the light of the full moon, I would finally become the official luna of the Harvest Moon Pack.
“I’m very glad to hear that, dear. You are going to make a wonderful luna. I’m certain of it,” she assured. “And you look beautiful!”
“Doesn’t she though?” Taffy added. “Caelan is going to lose his mind when he sees you. He’s been away for two weeks. His eyes are going to fall out of his head when he catches sight of you looking like this. I’ll be surprised if he can keep his hands to himself long enough to get through the ceremony.”
“Oh, shush,” I scolded playfully.
I looked into the mirror one last time. I had to admit I felt good about myself. My makeup was simple like I usually preferred,but we had added gold highlights over my eyes and along my cheeks, giving me this effervescent kind of glow.
Taffy had styled my hair in a Dutch braid, weaving red ribbons throughout it to complement the colors of my dress.
The gown I had chosen for tonight was quite similar to the one I had worn at our second marking ceremony. But where that one had had a white bodice and black skirt, this dress had a black bodice with a dark-red skirt.
I’d finished off the look with a pair of dark strappy heels and a pendant necklace featuring a real leaf preserved in gold. It had been a gift from Mother Maty.
“Are you ready, sweetheart?” Mother Maty asked, looking over my shoulder with a smile as her reflection joined mine in the mirror.
“Yes,” I replied without hesitation.
“Then I better get out there,” Taffy declared, leaning in to give me a quick hug. “You’re going to be great, Shade. Don’t worry about a thing.” “Come on, dear,” Mother Maty said, offering me her arm. “Let’s hurry before Leal thinks I’ve changed my mind. I swear he’s more excited about my retirement than I am.”
As was tradition, the outgoing luna would walk the incoming luna down the aisle, signifying the transfer of power from one luna to the other.
We made our way downstairs, heading toward the same grassy side yard where I had been initially sworn in as a member of Harvest Moon. The trees that surrounded the space hadbeen decorated with the same dark-red ribbons that had been hanging on them that night.
My smile was wide as I took in the sight before me. Just as it had been during my initiation ceremony, the aisle was lined with wolves, all eager to see their new luna assume her role. It felt so wonderful to be embraced so completely by this pack.
These amazing wolves had taken me in as their own, no questions asked. They had accepted everything about me with grace. And tonight, they honored me by coming here to welcome me again, this time as their luna and leader.
My eyes finally landed on Caelan, who stood on the stage at the far end, his father waiting stoically beside him. He’d been away on pack business, and seeing him now was like a breath of fresh air. I suddenly found myself filled with the desire to run into his arms.
He was dressed in black slacks with a dark-red button-up shirt, looking more muscular than I remembered. I saw him shift as he gazed at me, the heat in his eyes entirely inappropriate for this setting.
We shouldn’t have planned it this way. I want to rip his clothes off, not stand before our whole pack and get sworn in. I’ve gotta get a grip on myself. That can wait. The whole pack is here, and I know that Leal and Mother Maty have been patiently waiting for this day.
I shivered, my grip on Mother Maty’s arm tightening as I stared at my mate.It’s just a matter of willpower. We have all the time in the world for that after.
“Are you all right, dear?” Mother Maty asked quietly.
“Of course,” I replied, giving her a tense smile as I tried to keep myself from getting too flustered.
I thought about how far I had come as Maty and I started down the aisle.
I was an omega such a short time ago. The pack pariah with no hope of a better life. Now everything has changed. I have a wonderful mate who cherishes and loves me. A mother in Maty, a father in Leal, a sister in Taffy, and brothers in Dillon and Oliver. And this magnificent pack filled with such wonderful wolves.
I smiled. My future was bright where it had once seemed dark, and I actually found myself excited about whatever came next for once. I’d never felt that way before.
