Damon's voice ringing in her head was like being dunked in a frozen lake in the middle of winter at the North Pole. It shocked her system, yanking her back to reality. Panic quickly settled in her bones. She wasn't ready for this. She swore she'd never let a man take over her mind let alone her common sense.

Amelia could feel his eyes on her as her body went stiff beneath him. She pulled back, resting her head against the smooth plaster of the wall to find him studying her curiously, taking in her every movement. She untangled herself from his clutches, straightening out her dress and adjusting her hair. She just hoped her lips weren't too swollen and there weren't any visible hickeys.

"The ceremony is about to start. I have to go," she ran her hands over the front of her dress, flattening out any creases or wrinkles and took in a deep breath before leaving the room.

Amelia couldn't sense him following her, which was probably for the best. She had no idea how she actually looked. The last thing she needed was for both of them to enter the ceremony looking like they had seven minutes in heaven.

Even though she had no idea how long she'd been in that room with him, kissing him was like nothing she'd ever experienced before. She may still be a virgin, but she'd had her fair share of fooling around. Kissing him, the way he touched her, was addicting to say the least.

She noticed most of those present were already outside for the ceremony. The house contained the last few stragglers making their way out the back door. She blended in with the crowd making her way outside.

Their backyard was large enough to accommodate a thousand plus people. The full moon was rising above the tree line that surrounded their property, illuminating the earth. Tiki torches were flaming around the perimeter and scattered throughout to provide enough light for everyone. A grand stage was constructed along the back of the house where her father, brother, and other high-ranking pack members were waiting.

Since there was no longer a Luna in their pack, Amelia had volunteered to officiate the ceremony. It should have been her mother that presided over the Alpha ceremony, but she believed she was there in spirit.

Amelia forced her way through the crowd and up onto the stage. Her father's eyebrow was elevated as she stepped in between her father and brother.

"You're late," Thomas growled lowly.

"Psh. I'm right on time," Amelia smirked, ignoring her father's looks, glancing out over their pack and visitors.

What could you have possibly been doing for so long?

Amelia glared at her brother. By the deep crease in his forehead to the skin stretched tight over his knuckles, he knew exactly what had distracted her. Clearly, he did not approve, and she honestly couldn't blame him. She had done exactly what she said she didn't want to do.

I know. It's not easy, Damon.

Damon rolled his eyes, huffing in annoyance, but kept silent as their father stepped forward on the stage. The crowd instantly hushed as their Alpha prepared to speak.

"Thank you all for coming here tonight. It means so much to us that you are all able to be present and witness my son take his place as the Alpha of the Wandering Moon Pack. Today is my son and daughter's eighteenth birthday, and tonight we will celebrate." This earned him quite a few cheers in celebration. He smirked before gaining control once again. "But first, my son will become Alpha. As descendants of Ezekial and Rhea, he will take his place in our great pack."

The crowd cheered even louder, howls and hoots ringing through the air.

"Since we are without our Luna, my daughter will preside over the ceremony."

Her father stepped back from the front of the stage back over to his children. Collectively, they formed a triangle around a narrow circular table, which held a golden chalice designed with intricate scrollwork. The chalice was said to be Ezekial's and Rhea's wedding cup and was the pack's prized possession. Beside it was the ceremonial knife.

Amelia looked out over the crowd, smiling brilliantly. She looked up at the stars. Hard to see with all the torchlight, but she could still make out the one she had named after her mother. She knew the words to the ceremony by heart. She memorized them weeks ago, but she knew she had more to say.

"Tonight is a milestone in our pack. The day my brother takes over as Alpha, allowing my old man here to finally retire." The crowd began to laugh. "Our Luna, my mother, should have been the one to perform this ceremony. I know we all feel her loss every day, and even though she may no longer be here with us physically, I know she is always here with us in spirit, watching over us with our ancestors."

She noted her brother and father had unshed tears, glistening in the flickering torchlight. She smiled faintly, clearing her throat before she made herself a blubbering mess.

"Now, let's get this shit started, so we can party." This warranted a serious eye roll from her father, a smirk from her brother, and a few hollers from her friends in the crowd. "Tonight, we are here to witness the passing of one Alpha to another, reforging their bloodline to the succession and continuance of the Wandering Moon Pack."

Amelia picked up the ceremonial knife off the table, holding it across both her palms. Turning to her father, she recited her lines. "Alpha Thomas, are you here of your own volition to step down as Alpha, naming your son and heir as Alpha of the Wandering Moon Pack?"

"I am," Thomas proudly announced, holding out his hand over the chalice.

Amelia took hold of the knife, pressing the blade into the pale flesh of her father's palm. She swiftly sliced into his skin. Blood instantly welled from the wound. Her father held his hand over the chalice, allowing his blood to pool in the bottom of the cup.

"Do you, Damon Smoke, son of Thomas, promise to uphold pack tradition, abide by the laws decreed to all werewolves by the Council of Elders, and perform your duties to the best of your ability?"

"I do," Damon vowed, his words ringing over the chilling silence.

"Do you swear to always put your pack first, conduct yourself with honor and integrity befitting a wolf, and lead your pack with strength and valor?"

"I do."

Damon held his hand out as well, giving his sister a slight smile before she cut into his flesh. He turned his sliced palm over, allowing his blood to mix with his fathers and pulled his hand back, his wolf already healing the cut. Amelia picked up the chalice, holding it delicately with both hands. She held it in front of her as the moon reflected off the crimson red surface.

"With the blessing of the Moon Goddess and the rights being read, Alpha Thomas and Alpha Damon will now drink from the chalice, completing the bond."

Amelia handed the cup first to her father. He took a long drink from the golden cup, blood staining his lips. He passed the cup to his son, his demeanor unphased. Damon took the chalice, raising it to his lips, and completed the ritual by consuming the remaining blood.

She tried hard not to gag as she watched her brother visibly struggle to swallow the thick, clotting blood. A concentrated metallic taste assaulted her senses as she breathed in. The smell was salty and pungent. She was even more relieved it wasn't her performing the ritual.

Amelia bowed down on her knee, the same as every other member of their pack, as she experienced a shift in their bond. It was like an audible pop, confirming his place at the top of their pack. Rey beamed proudly in her mind as their twin took his rightful place.

Damon stepped forward on the stage, signaling them all to rise. "Thank you, everyone. I promise to be the best Alpha I can be. I will bring honor and integrity to our pack in all matters. I will defend us until my dying breath."

The pack all stood up as one before they broke out in cheers. Through their bond, Amelia could hear the congratulations from the mind link, while the rest hooped and hollered, pumping their fists in the air.

"Now, we complete the ritual with a pack run!" Amelia hollered, stepping up beside her brother, clasping his hand.

The Wandering Moon Pack members began to prepare for the run. Some women stepped behind the tree line to shed their clothes, while the rest of them stripped where they stood. Nudity was no new thing in a community of werewolves. Damon and Amelia stepped off the stage, making their way to the center of the gathered pack members. Most already shifted into their wolf awaiting their Alpha's command.

Amelia could feel eyes boring a hole in her back, waiting to see what she'd do, but she could have given two craps for his opinion. Damon and Amelia quickly stripped out of their outer layer of clothes, depositing them on the floor, left only in their undergarments. She could hear a deep growl from behind her, but she disregarded it. They both simultaneously shifted into their wolves before their pack.

Amelia shook out her fur, swiveling her head around, relieved to be in her wolf form. Rey was bouncing on her feet, ready to follow her brother on their run.

She looked over to Damon. He was an annoyingly large wolf, even for an Alpha, with dark silver-grey fur. But lucky for her, she was the same size as him.

Ordinarily this wasn't typical for females. She-wolves were normally smaller than their counterparts but Rey grew as large and as tall as her twin. Large enough to rival most Alpha's. Amelia and her brother stood shoulder to shoulder, equal in size and strength. The sole difference between them was their fur coloring. Her brother was a deeper shade of grey, while she bore a silver-white coat, the moon reflecting off her smooth fur.

"Look at her coat."

"Blessed by the Moon Goddess."

"Why is it so light?"

The murmurings behind her were faint but just enough for her werewolf hearing to pick up. Only her own pack members had seen her wolf. Rey's coloring was rare. It wasn't typical for wolf colorings to be so light, but for some reason, hers was.

Amelia followed behind her brother as he took the pack's head position, directing them into the forest. The soft dirt beneath her feet was still moist from the rainfall the night before. Her claws dug into the turned earth for better grip, kicking up bits of leaves and twigs in her wake. The air smelled fresh and exhilarating, breathing new life into her lungs and invigorating her soul. She could hear the rodents scurrying to their dens as the ground vibrated with their approach. Birds flapped overhead, flying far away from the boisterous, charging pack of wolves.

Damon made sure not to run too fast to ensure the pack maintained ranks and kept together. Whether they were running fast or slow, Amelia just enjoyed the feeling of the wind pushing through her fur, the brilliant smells of the forest, and observing life through her wolf's eyes.

The run didn't last long. They were all itching to get back and start the celebration. They jogged back into the large clearing behind the Packhouse, some already shifting back and pulling back on their clothes. She had torn her undergarments when she shifted, so she knew she'd be naked when she shifted back. It didn't bother her.

Her mate suddenly appeared in front of her, holding out a large, white robe. She inclined her head at him with a glint in her eye. Her pack surrounding her were watching with interest, wondering what this new Alpha had to do with her. Her brother stood beside her, his side pressed against hers, showing he had her back. She quickly nipped his ear playfully before allowing her wolf to shift back into her human form.

Amelia stood in front of Gabriel. Her brother turned his head as he covered her back half. Gabriel stood frozen, staring at her bare-naked body.

"My eyes are up here." 

Amelia just makes me smile. She has no fear and brimming with courage.

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