We ascended the stage, joining our mates as Mother Maty unlinked our arms and went to stand beside Leal. I gazed up at the man I’d come to adore as an easy smile spread across his face.
His eyes sparkled with pride, but I sensed a hint of mischief in them as they roamed appreciatively down my form. He reached out for my hand and placed a chaste kiss across my knuckles.
“Hello, my love,” he offered with a grin.
“Hello,” I replied sweetly. “I’ve missed you.”
“And I’ve missed you more than you will ever know,” he admitted with a sigh. “Are you ready to become my luna?”
“Absolutely,” I asserted with a firm nod.
“Great,” he murmured, leaning down to kiss me on the cheek. “Let’s get this over with so I can get you alone,” he whispered inmy ear.
I shook my head at him, unable to stop the blissful smile that crossed my lips as he turned to face the crowd.
“Today, we gather under the light of the full moon and with the blessing of the Goddess to name our new luna,” he announced. “Harvest Moon has had many amazing lunas since our founding, and I have no doubt that she will continue to carry on this legacy.”
The gathered wolves clapped and cheered in agreement before quieting down. Caelan faced me again, looking directly into my eyes.
“Please state your name for all the pack members present as well as the Goddess above,” he said.
“Shade Kendrick, zeta, Harvest Moon Pack,” I replied.
“And you have come to us of your own free will to take on the role of luna? Swearing yourself in fealty to Harvest Moon as its leader and the equal of their alpha?”
“I have.”
“Do you, Shade Kendrick, swear to uphold the office of luna with respect for all pack members? Do you promise to be a symbol of wisdom and courage for others to follow? Will you swear to only use your influence for good, always acting within the best interest of the pack?”
“I do,” I affirmed without hesitation.
“Do you, Shade Kendrick, promise to always uphold the laws of the wolves, acting in accordance with the guidelines set forth bythe Goddess of the moon herself and abiding by her will in all things?”
“I do.”
“Please hold out your right hand,” he bade, holding out his own.
I placed my hand in his as he pulled out the same dagger that had been used for my pack initiation.
He leaned in, his soft lips pressing against mine as the tip of the blade bit into my skin. I sighed, melting into his kiss, completely distracted from the pain.
He moved back, motioning for his mother to step forward as he made a similar cut across her right palm. Mother Maty and I joined hands, allowing our blood to mingle and symbolizing the transfer of power and responsibility from the old luna to the new.
“I, Shade Kendrick, swear to do all that I can to honor the title of luna and strive to live up to your inspiring example,” I promised.
“I would expect nothing less,” Mother Maty agreed with a bright smile and a twinkle in her eye.
She placed her free hand on the back of my head, pulling me in until our foreheads touched. This symbolized the passage of one luna’s wisdom to the other. We remained that way for several moments, our eyes closed as we allowed the energy to flow between us.
The luna was the beating heart of the pack. If she was ineffective, then the pack would be as well.
“Your heart is pure, and the honor of passing my title to you is all mine,” Mother Maty announced loudly for all to hear as she pulled away and released my hand.
She bowed her head to me in a sign of great respect. I was flabbergasted for a moment, but I gathered myself enough to return the action with my own, causing her to chuckle.
Caelan gently took my hand, holding it carefully as he turned us both to face the pack.
“Harvest Moon, I present to you, Shade Kendrick, your new luna!” he announced proudly.
