Chapter 7

As I stepped into the center of the torchlined glade to stand by my father’s side, there was an audible gasp as the torchlight flickered and danced off the shimmery fabric of my lavender gown. The light bounced off the diamonds around my throat, casting fiery rainbows in whatever direction I turned.

My father’s eyes were a mixture of shock and something else that I couldn’t place, but I had never felt more beautiful or more powerful in my life. I could hear the tittering of some of the Pack, words like daughter and tradition, but more than that, I could feel the reluctant approval of the wolves around me. My father outstretched his hand and spun me around before pulling him to his right side. It was a symbolic place, and the Pack knew it.

A new gasp settled over the crowd, and now, there were whispers about more than just my wardrobe choice. My father had just clearly communicated his intention and decision to the pack. I looked out over the pack and gave my most demure, composed smile, waiting for my father to speak.

Omegas circled and swirled among the pack, offering glasses of champagne. Once they had been passed out, he spoke.

“Iceclaw,” my father rumbled and a silence fell over the crowd, “May the Moon Goddess bless us tonight as we honor tradition and welcome… change,” I saw my father look at me out of the corner of his eye, “under this auspicious new moon.” Everyone looked to the sky and howled, our wolves united as one.

“Tonight, we welcome a special delegation from our oldest alliance, Silverburn Pack. Alpha Damien, please come join us.” This was it, I thought. No turning back now.

Damien walked up the torch lined path and the crowd parted to let him through. He passed a champagne flute to me then and stood behind me, placing his hand on my shoulders. I could feel the warmth coming through his tailored suit along the V of skin exposed on my back.

As our skin made contact, the space he touched on my shoulder buzzed with electricity, he leaned down to my ear and purred, “Good girl,” and I felt him smile in appreciation as he straightened behind me. Chills ran down my spine, through my gloved arms through my fingers, and down through my body.I felt my heart swell and beat fast, and joy like running through a damp earthy forest filled me. I felt that tightening knot from earlier, anticipation, and my breath caught. I felt a warmth spreading to the triangle where my legs meet and wetness seeping from within me. “We are his!” my wolf gasped.

I shook off the feeling, looked back to my father. “My Luna and I are overjoyed to announce the engagement of our daughter, Katla, to Alpha Damien of Silverburn. They will unite under the upcoming Mating Moon, securing our alliance for generations to come.” Howls filled the air once more.

My father put up his hand to quiet the crowd and continued, “But before we toast to the happy couple, it seems our family has another cause to celebrate under this new moon. Will my son, Viti, join us.”

Viti, carrying two glasses of champagne, strode through the crowd, shot me a quick look of smugness, and passed my father a glass and joined his left side then flashed his brightest toothiest grin and brushed his floppy golden hair back from his eyes. Viti, by all accounts, was attractive, and he had a regular rotation of women that he snuck from his room at all hours.

“The fuck?!” I screamed in my head, and of course all of the she-wolves were grinning back, hungry for more than the banquet back at the Packhouse.

“As you know, when my Katla was born, in the same Lunar Cycle, my son Viti and their friend Hekla also joined our pack. They were pups together. This evening, Viti and Hekla have brought us some delightful news!”

“No, there’s no way,” my wolf and I thought in unison as Hekla, in a modest white gown with a red ribbon tied around her waist, walked through the crowd.Red?! She’s mated?” I thought. I tried to catch her eye as she walked, but she avoided eye contact.

“Hekla?!” My mindlink called to hers and was ignored. As she came closer, glowing on the nape of her neck was a fresh bite glowed, a mark, showing that she was the fated mate of another.

Viti watched as realization spread across my face, and I gasped. I felt Damien’s hand tighten on my shoulder, anchoring me to my spot. My champagne glass shook in my hand, and my composure was beginning to slip. “Breathe,” my wolf commanded. “You are Alpha. Everyone is watching.”

“Under the next Mating Moon, not only will my daughter be married, but my son, Viti, will also be wed to Hekla Iceclaw.” Viti and Hekla joined hands and howls filled the dark sky as embers from the large bonfire and torches flickered all around us. “It seems these three are destined to share in all of our pack’s traditions together!” Laughter, smiles, howls, people clapping one another on the back, the world began to spin.

I could hear my father somewhere in the back of my mind, “Let us all raise our glasses and toast to not one, but both couples! May the Moon Goddess bless their unions.” I instinctively raised my glass and sipped the cool champagne. The bubbles tickled my throat, and I was pulled back by the steadying grip on my shoulder. I could feel Damien’s hand relaxing, and I remembered that the engagement announcements were not the purpose of tonight, my becoming Alpha-in-Waiting was. I let the news wash over me, remembering that it was I who was going to be Alpha, and I needed to act like it.

My father cleared his throat, he must have taken a large sip because his words started to run together and slur. “As-we all know, the-purpose of the-New-Moon Ceremony is to pass-the torch to-our next Alpha-in-Waiting.” The torches seemed to glow brighter and the embers from the fire licked the inky sky. “Our ancestors-may have left the-tundras to-move-to our-destined-home in the-South, looking behind-one last-time-at the-ice-and-sea, permanently-marking….all of-those who…descended-with-ice in our eyes, but the-tenacity, -resilience, and will to protect-and-survive lives on in-Ice…claw. It has-been promised-to us that in each-generation, a direct-descendant-will…rise up to lead, and….tonight, we are gathered….to-honor our-next Alpha-in-Waiting, pledging-loyalty forevermore. I am-eternally-bound by-ancient….decree to-our next Alpha-in-Waiting —”

“Katla, run!” my father mindlinked me.

Then in a blur, my fathers eyes opened wide, and he gasped, “Viti?” collapsing on the spot. ”Viti,”my wolf snarled, and my world, the faces, the flickering fire swirled as one in my head and went black.

Before I slipped out of consciousness, I swear I heard Viti say, “Checkmate, Bitch” in my ear.