Page 27 of Rejecting the Future Moon Goddess

“My room used to be in the attic.” I reminisce quietly, stopping mid-step and turning to look back in the direction of the attic entrance. I wonder what happened to my oasis away from the Blakes and the pack, where I would go and nurse my wounds from a rough day of punishment.

Did they find the stash of food I had hidden? Was it demolished and turned into something new? I want to know these answers but also want to keep the past in the past. I no longer felt hatred and fear towards this place, towards the pack. Dwelling on the past is something I decide I no longer want to do as I take one last look up the stairs and turn back to continue our descent.

Only a few Omegas are working the celebration today, volunteering to perform the jobs as cooks and servers while the rest of the pack witness Lace taking power over Hidden Claws. Itis definitely a step up from how Omegas were treated a little over a week ago, with some of the Omegas able to openly train with the rest of the pack and having gained weight from proper nutrition. It’s a step in the right direction with a new reign if you ask me. Ariven and I continue to chat about training that will take place tomorrow and which wolves will be too drunk to focus.

“Have you told them about a specific fiery tempered wolf and her husband coming to help with training?” Ariven asks as we enter the large backyard and make our way to our seats.

“Nope. I plan to leave it until last minute. Amberle wants to have some fun with this pack and see where the defenses fall short.” I answer chuckling, already picturing the chaos my friend will cause. Since becoming a mother, Amberle has had a rough time getting away from her two children and focusing more on being an Alpha and mother instead of helping to train allied packs. With Blue - her adoptive father- agreeing to take over to watch the pack and his grand-pups, Amberle jumped at the chance when I called last night before my recon mission on the Soulless to join me in training Hidden Claws.

I have a feeling the she-wolf just wants to make Mika’s life miserable for a few days and I am fine with it. Ariven chuckles as he helps me to take a seat in front of the stage, a stage set up under the ancient maple tree that has been standing on Hidden Claw’s territory since the creation of the pack, its roots buried and slinking throughout the pack lands. Mika is already sitting in his designated spot, his eyes scanning my body. I ignore him and instead turn my focus to the man beside me and happily straighten the tie he is wearing that has shifted out of place.

“I cannot wait to get out of this suit.” Arivenstates with an exasperated sigh. I roll my eyes at his pouting and snuggling close to his side, waiting for midnight, when the moon is high in the sky and the ceremony will begin. We don’t wait long as the unlit torches suddenly ignite, the flames a golden hue instead of the regular red, orange, and yellow, and Lace’s scent drifts in on the wind.

Those seated rise, turning to face the new Alpha as Lace, with her blonde hair piled atop her head and flowing dress, walks down the golden carpet. She exudes grace and power with each step, her head held high and shoulders back—a true Alpha. I look to the moon for a brief moment, sending a silent prayer for her rule to be strong and her parents to watch over her, before my attention is turned back to Lace who pauses to smile at me, a smile that I return with my own encouraging one as she continues to the stage where she bows to her brother. As the current Alpha, it is Mika’s job to pass down the title.

“Guests, you may be seated.” Mika calls out, the crowd quickly taking their seats. Mika turns to his sister, a podium with a crescent moon-shaped bowl made of gold between them filled with pink water from the lake we played in as children. Its magic is the core of Hidden Claws and is rooted deep in the maple tree.

“Today, Lace Alibaster will be transferred the title of Alpha to Hidden Claws.” Mika begins, staring at his sister with proud eyes as he takes a cup of water and hands it to her.

“Do you, Lace, promise to uphold the law of the pack and that of werewolf kind to protect and serve those we call family in Hidden Claws?” He continues. Lace smiles, looking over the crowd and to the maple tree behind her before turning back to Mika.

“I do.” She answers without hesitation, determinationin her pale green eyes.

“Please, take this cup and drink the water of the Crescent Moon Lake to show the unity of the pack and the magic that sustains it.” Mika returns, lace gingerly taking the small cup and drinking the contents inside in one quick gulp. A shimmer of rose gold surrounds her, surprising me as the magic helps to solidify and grow the power of her blood. She is strong, stronger than Mika, and with some training, would make an incredible Alpha.

“Do you, Lace, accept the responsibilities that come with caring for a pack and the land the pack owns, to abide by the natural law set by the Moon Goddess and deities themselves?” Mika asks as he takes the cup from her hand and sets it down on the podium.

“I do.” Her voice radiates her growing power. The wolves in the crowd shiver, ready to submit to the Alpha Female at a moment’s notice, and pride swells inside me.

“Then, please, slice your hand and drip your blood into the bowl with mine.” Mika states, handing a clean knife to Lace before taking his own. The siblings each hold their right hands up, taking the sharp golden blades and slicing along the inside of their palms. The iron scent of blood fills the air, one more powerful than the other, and instantly you can tell who is meant to be Alpha and who is not.

The siblings, with their cut palms facing each other, grasp one another’s hands, their grip releasing their mixed blood with gentle drops into the pink water, dying it a darker pink. My mind flashes to the night of their parents’ deaths, fear taking over as I relive the Luna and her crying, but something else catches my attention, - a pair of ice-blue eyes hidden in the shadows. A pair of ice-blue eyes I know all too well.

[Gem!] Ariven shouts into the link, draggingme from my memories and back to the present, where Mika hands Lace a gold towel to wipe her hand, the knife wound now gone and healed.

[You okay?] He asks, and I turn to look at a pair of concerned forest-green eyes. I nod, leaning closer and breathing in his scent, thinking for a moment that those eyes could not be a coincidence. Where they are, trouble is bound to follow.

[I need to call my father later.] I answer before closing the link and focusing on the ceremony before me.

“I declare Lace Alibaster the new Alpha of Hidden Claws. May her reign be strong!” Mika calls out, the wolves of Hidden Claws taking a knee as a resounding

“May her reign be strong” echoes around us. Mika steps back as he too bends a knee in submission to his sister, while Lace finishes the ceremony by taking the golden bowl and walking toward the roots of the maple tree. First, the nails on her right hand become claws, and she leaves her marks at the base, the fresh marks a contrast to all the ones left by Alphas before her. Then she takes the water from the golden cup and slowly pours it onto the fresh claw marks.

She is now the Alpha; one I could not be prouder of.

Tomorrow, we will sign an alliance treaty and continue training both the pack wolves and her as the Alpha.

“I just want to thank you all. Thank you for believing in me, for trusting me long enough to stay in our declining pack and for helping me train those in unfortunate circumstances due to the previous Betas of this pack.” Lace begins, returning the bowl to the podium and facing her pack.

“Today marks a new beginning, one where Geminie, the Future Moon Goddess, and I are friends and allies. One where Omegas have just as many rights and opportunities as the rest of the pack. One in which Hidden Claws will be on par withBlood Moon and Silver Crystal Crescent.” She pauses, taking a deep breath as she looks to the moon with a sad smile on her face that I have seen one too many times on the anniversary of her parents’ deaths.

“I will make my parents and ancestors proud and the pack so strong that no Soulless will dare to attack us.” She finishes, a look of determination on her face.

Then we hear it.

A long slow howl rings through the night and the crowd freezes. We areunder attack.

?Chapter 25 – First Attack?

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