Chapter 8 The ceremony

• As the day progressed, it was packed with feasts, fun and frolic. The wolves ran around their pack land and the forests, socializing and feasting with the guests. Rosalie however, kept herself busy in her pack duties to keep her mind off the impending wedding. Her wolf was restless, though not for Chris. It was like she had come to an understanding that their mate was gone.
• 'I am sorry, we can't have our mate,' Roselie, soothed her restless wolf.
• 'It's alright, we don't need him.' Her wolf replied, surprising Roselie. Though her heart still hurt, it wasn't breaking apart like before.
• "Roselie, please take these dress robes to the Alpha," her dad called her holding a tray of a neatly folded shimmering golden robe. Her heart lurched.
• "Me?" She squeaked.
• "I don't see anyone else around?" Scott smiled, "now be a good girl and take it to the Alpha, the ceremony will start soon. I have to attend to other arrangements," her dad thrust the tray in her hand and walked away.
• Roselie sighed, why me? She had been carefully avoiding Chris. But now she had no choice but to face him. The rich gold robe seemed to mock her misfortune. With a heavy heart, she walked towards his chamber. She bumped into him just at the door, he stopped in his track and stared at her. His face was expressionless. It was hard to pinpoint if he was sad, happy, or looking forward to his mating.
• "Congratulation Chris," Roselie said curtly and walked inside. She put the tray on a table. She turned to leave only to be stopped by a huge mass of muscles. She looked up at Chris and bit her lip.
• "You are ok? Roselie ?" he asked.
• She realized that he didnt call her by his favourite pet name anymore.
• "I am fine Chris," You and Grace would make a wonderful couple."
• He looked down for a moment as if itching to say something.
• "You are looking beautiful Roselie," he whispered.
• Indeed she was looking pretty, her mom had gone all out in dressing up her daughter. Her red dress contrasted with her green eyes. Her waist-length auburn hair was arranged in a chic hairdo.
• Red painted lips complemented her peach skin.
• "Thank you, you look nice as well Chris." She replied stiffly.
• "The man who'll have you is a very lucky fellow," he said suddenly.
• She looked at him accusingly and faked a bright smile.
• "Indeed he will be. You must be excited about the union tonight? I don't wnat to waste any more of your time. Goodbye, Chris." She started to move.
• He didn't say anymore. He gave a final look at her and watched her retreating figure.
• Roselie rushed out of the Alpha's suite with a hammering heart. She looked down at her feet, tears were starting to pool in her eyes. She shook her head to dispel the treacherous tears away and hurried towards the circle. The crowd and the excitement would make her feel better.
• It was almost midnight, and the ceremony was about to start. Roselie ran towards the circle to claim her position. The mating ceremony was usually not conducted for lower rank wolves. It was done only for Alphas and few other high ranking wolves. When we say mating it actually meant mating. The couple would mate and bite each other in the presence of witnesses, the pack, the elders and the Holy Moon. Nudity or public sex was not a problem for them. They were part animals after all. However, they didn't go around prancing naked all the time. It's just that they have a higher tolerance for these things compare to humans.
• By midnight, the atmosphere grew more intense and heated. Roselie reached the group of unmated betas and found Melissa. She didn't look happy.
• "What happened to you?" Roselie asked Melissa.
• "I hate her," Melissa whispered under her breath.
• "Who?"
• "Grace of course! I had the misfortune of being one of her 'hand maidens' for dressing her up. She is so full of herself." Melissa grumbled.
• "That's charming, Chris would be thrilled!" Roselie said sarcastically. She didn't care.
• "You don't realize that she is going to be our Luna, that means we could be chosen as her stand-in betas! Do you know what it means? She can order us around. Trust me you won't like that."
• Damm! Roselie hadn't thought of that possibility. When Grace would become the new Luna, she would require a back-up of female betas. There were not many young female betas among the senior ranks. There was a high probability that Rosalie would end up serving Grace. She wrinkled her nose at the thought. How would she work for Grace? What if her wolf lost control and challenged Grace? The prospect was not very heartening.
• "Shhh, the ceremony is about to start, lets take our position," Roselie whispered to Melissa.
• The pack was assembled around the circle. There was a raised flat boulder in the middle for the mating, like a stage. The unmated betas stood around that stage. The rest of the pack stood around them. After the Alpha's ceremony, all the mated wolves would follow them into the forest for the pack run. They formed the core witnesses to this union.
• Roselie kept her eyes low, refusing to look at Chris and Grace as they walked in towards the platform. Both were dressed in ceremonial gold robes. Roselie didnt meet his eyes when Chris looked at her.
• They climbed on the stage, and it was then Roselie looked at them a couple. Grace was looking more beautiful than she remembered. Her golden hair fell to her waist like a waterfall. A wreath of seasonal flower-adorned her head like a crown. Her golden robe shimmered around her curves as she moved. She wasn't wearing anything under it just like Chris. She looked like a fairy princess. Roselie stamped her pang of jealousy and looked straight.
• An ancient-looking man walked up the platform and started to read the sacred words.
• "May the moon whisper her blessing tonight, May the power of the night be with us, let the union be the start of a new life together, a love to spread, a power to hold..." he paused, instructing with his hand, "May Luna bless us."
• Cheers and growls erupted around the circle. The mated opened their robes and shifted into their wolf forms. Rosalie froze as Chris opened his robe revealing his naked body. He transformed into a big silvery wolf and Grace turned into her brown wolf. Half of the people around the circle were now transformed into different sized wolves.
• Roselie swallowed a lump. This was it. The dreaded moment when she would lose her mate forever.
• The ancient man looked up. His hands spread open. "With the power vested in me by The Council, I witness thee as mates for eternity, The Silvermoon Alpha, Christopher Reynolds and the Hanlon Alpha's daughter, Grace Anderson, I announce thee, with the holy power within me, the power of the wolves, that thee are soul mates for eternity."
• Rosalie closed her eyes as her wolf howled in agony, she could feel the bond breaking. Her heart hurt and she instinctively put her hands on her chest. She looked away and met Alex's steely gaze. He was standing across in the first row. He smiled, she tried to look away but she couldn't, it was like he had held her gaze, the pain in her chest ebbed. His stubborn gaze had somehow reduced her pain.
• Instincts overruled the wolves. In their wolf form, they were more inhibited, Chris growled as Grace beckoned him, teasing him to conquer and claim her. Melissa probably felt her pain and held Rosalie's hand. "Be strong," she whispered.
• Chris was now mounting on Grace, his forepaws on her hips; his hairy body almost overshadowed her as he speared her gently. He howled in victory as he pumped in and out. The brown wolf moaned, a mixture of pain and pleasure rising in her voice.
• They howled as the rest of the pack started to howl. The circle was filled to its brim with howling.
• The couple was now snapping their sharp teeth at each other's neck marking them.
• They slumped tiredly and sated, snuggling on the stage. The rest of the pack was ready for the run.
• Roselie's heart was broken, but it didn't hurt anymore. Why was it so? Her gaze remained locked with Alex. There was a glint in his eyes, a sort of mischievous knowing glance as he smiled at her. She couldn't blame him. The air was full of sensual energy as the moon shone brightly over the crowd.
• "Are you going for the run today?" Melissa asked.
• "No! Mom would kill me," Roselie replied.
• She watched as Chris stood up and shook his silvery body.
• "The pack run will begin now," Chris said through the mental link. Grace ran into the forest followed by the females. Without giving another look at Roselie, Chris and the other males followed after them. The forest soon rang out with the sounds of howls and rutting. Everyone was happy, Roselie felt empty. She wasn't sad or heartbroken anymore......Just empty.