Page 80 of He Claimed Her Heart

That was our signal to walk down the aisletoward the platform. Drake walked up on the right; I walked up on the left. We met in the middle of the stage. Uncle Reese nodded as we moved into position.

“Ladiesand Gentlemen, normally this ceremony is conducted by the former Alpha of the pack, but due to circumstances, I have been asked to perform the ceremony tonight. It is my privilege to do so,” Uncle Reese continued his speech. “Alpha Drake please come forward and cut your palm with the knife. Allow your blood to flow into the chalice,” Uncle Reese instructed Drake.

Without delay, Drake picked up the knifeand opened his left hand. He sliced his left palm and let the blood drip into the chalice as directed by Uncle Reese. He was given a cloth to wrap around his hand to stop the bleeding.

Uncle Reese then turned to me and smiled. “Luna Breonna Marie Mathis, do you take this oath of your own free will?” asked Uncle Reese.

“Yes, Ido,” I stated as I looked him in the eyes.

“Will you protect and defend the Grand Forks pack against all enemies both foreign and domestic to the best of your ability including with your life if necessary?” asked Uncle Reese.

“Yes, Iwill to the best of my ability,” I answered him.

“Will you solemnly swear to govern along with Alpha Drake the packwithout prejudice, without malice or forethought, and with the best interest of the pack at heart …”

“Stop this immediately! You cannot continue! This whole ceremony is a farce,” yelled Drake’s father as he barreled his way toward the platform.

Growls could be heard as he started shouting and interrupted the ceremony.Drake took a defensive stance in front of me. Without even thinking about it, my family members moved to protect me and their mates along with their guards. The council members came to the stage as well to confront Drake’s father.

“What is the meaning of this? How dare you interrupt this ceremony!” bellowed Uncle Reese as he came to stand in front of everyone to confront Drake’s father.

“You cannot perform this ceremony. Only a former Alpha can perform this ceremony.Only if the former alpha is not available or dead can this ceremony be performed by another. Since I am neither, why are you performing the ceremony, Elder Reese?” Drake’s father demanded.

“Well, since you said you would notperform the ceremony. Drake asked the council if I could perform the ceremony since Breonna, is my niece. That is why I am performing this ceremony. We t have their permission, so what’s the problem?” Uncle Reese asked him point blank.

“The problem is you or rather your family. You seem to think you can run everything. You seem to think thatrules and laws don’t apply to you. That’s the problem here,” Alpha Alfonso stated with venom in his voice.

“Alfonso, I think you are gravely mistaken. The person whom you are referring to was my father,who is no longer with us. I took over his position and have righted many of his wrongs. I follow the rules and uphold them. As do the rest of my family. Now, what do you have against my niece? She has done nothing wrong to you? She is your son’s second chance mate. Why would you ruin her Luna Ceremony in this manner?” Uncle Reese demanded of Alpha Alfonso.

“I have nothing against Breonna except her lineage. As for her being my son’s second chance mate, how do I know that she didn’t trick him into it?” bellowed Alfonso.

At that comment, growls were heardthroughout the crowd. I started shaking and Drake turned around to calm me down. I had had enough. “Why would I trick him into anything?! I met your son at the tournament this year when I was competing. He asked me if I would consider dating him and possibly becoming his Luna. I agreed. I fell in love with him. Finding out shortly thereafter that he was my second chance mate was a bonus,” I growled out a reply to him while Drake held me in his arms as tears ran down my face.

“Says you! You are a part of a family …”

“Enough! Stop it! Right now, father! You have no right to come here and say anything. You were just as bad as her mother was. You never really cared about me or Elias. The only one you ever cared about was Michelle. You took her away from us and we haven’t seen her in almost 5 years. I asked you to perform the ceremony out of courtesy. You said you would never, ever conduct a ceremony for me or Elias as long as you lived. So, I ask you, father, why are you here?” Drake commanded in his alpha voice.

“I wanted to see who your Luna was and what she looked like. I had heard all about her. Now that I’ve seen her and had the satisfaction of ruining her ceremony. I can leave now. Everyone enjoy your evening,” Alfonso exclaimed as he tried to leave but Drake had him detained. “What is the meaning of this? I’ve had my say, let me leave.”

“No father, you will stay for a little while longer. You need to hear what’s coming up next,” Drake stated as hereleased his hold on me after he gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Elder Reese, please continue with the ceremony,” Drake softly asked him.

“Bree, are you ready to continue?” Uncle Reese asked me as Istood there looking around.

I took a deep breath andlet it out. “Yes, Uncle Reese. I am ready to finish,” I answered him in a soft voice. Out of nowhere, Aunt Sophia appeared with a mirror and a tissue. I dabbed my eyes and fixed my makeup as best I could. She gave me a hug and left the stage. I went back to my former position.

“Luna Breonna, Will you to the best of your abilitykeep the best interest of the pack in the forefront of all decisions, laws, and punishments?” Uncle Reese asked.

“Yes, I will,” I answered him truthfully.

“Will you solemnly promiseto govern and support our people according to the laws and customs of the Grand Forks Pack?” Uncle Reese asked.

“Isolemnly promise to do so,” I answered.

“Now, drink the blood of the Grand Forks Alphaand be embraced as not only pack but Luna to all Grand Forks past, present, and future,” Uncle Reese stated as he handed the chalice to me to drink.

I drank the blood from the chalice.I handed the chalice back to Uncle Reese and I began to sway a little. Drake was quick to catch me by the waist. He smiled down at me. He knew that when I drank the blood, I would instantly get the pack link. I began to hear everyone from the pack, and I smiled up at my mate.

Drake tilted his head back and let out a howl. The rest of the pack joined him as well. “Welcome, Luna Breonna. May your reign at Alpha Drake’s side be long and prosperous for your people,” Uncle Reese stated.

---