Servants delivered our meals while the rest of the wolves gathered around the buffet with their own plates.
It felt awkward being served when no one else was, but as forward-thinking as Harvest Moon was, they were still a pack deeply steeped in certain traditions, like serving the highest-ranking wolves at formal events.
Caelan waited patiently while everyone filled their plates and found a table. Once everyone was seated, they turned toward him as was expected. The alpha wasn’t always present for pack meals, but when he was, he always had to take the first bite before anyone else could eat.
Caelan turned, gesturing toward my plate. I knew what he wanted, picking up my fork and twirling a bit of pasta on the tines before slipping it between my lips.
The air in the room changed instantly, the pack’s curiosity buzzing as they watched me chew.
Caelan had officially announced me as his mate by allowing me to take the first bite.
He smiled as he ate some of his own meal, not bothering to explain himself.
The pack eventually turned back to their own plates, murmuring as they enjoyed their dinners. I could hear the questions being whispered all around me.
They wanted to know what was happening, but for reasons I couldn’t understand, Caelan was waiting to make his proclamation.
I forced down the rest of my dinner, my nerves building as Ilistened to the wolves around me speculate.
***
As we neared the end of our meal, Caelan suddenly stood and cleared his throat, commanding everyone’s attention again. They quickly put down their utensils and turned to face him, eager to hear what he had to say after so much buildup.
“My loyal wolves of Harvest Moon,” Caelan called. “You’ve joined us on an auspicious occasion. For tonight, we are not only welcoming a new member to our ranks, but we are also welcoming my mate. Not a chosen one as you all expected, but my true mate, fated to me by the Goddess herself. Your future luna, Shade Mallory.”
He encouraged me to stand beside him.
I reluctantly rose from my seat, trying to hide the nervous tremor in my hands. I didn’t want them to see that. A luna wasn’t scared in front of her pack.
I looked out over the crowd as I clutched Caelan’s hand. If I was going to do this, I needed his strength beside me as if it were my own.
They watched me in silence, and I gulped.Are they disappointed? Excited? Reluctant? Relieved?
The entire room suddenly exploded into cheers. Some wolves jumped out of their chairs with enthusiasm while others whistled or clapped. But every single person was celebrating this announcement with joy.
I could feel my heart about to burst at the seams as I stared in awe at them all. It had never felt so full.
Caelan pulled me against him and planted a kiss on my cheek.
“I told you there was nothing to worry about. I love you and my pack will too,” he whispered in my ear before raising our clasped hands to the cheering crowd.
My face went blank, completely and utterly shocked at his words.Caelan just told me he loved me.
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“Zeta, huh?” Shade asked with a smile, playfully bumping her shoulder against mine as we walked back toward our rooms.
“Well, I would’ve said luna,” I teased. “But I knew you weren’t ready for that, so I figured this was the next best thing.”
“I could’ve just remained an omega,” she shrugged.
“No,” I asserted. “You were never meant to be an omega. You were born the daughter of an alpha. Your father demoting you was an injustice. I was simply righting a wrong.”
She nodded as we continued up the stairs in comfortable silence.
I sighed happily, taking her hand. She was finally a member of the Harvest Moon Pack. It felt right. Like something had been missing from the pack all along, but now it was finally complete.
