Chapter 125

Elroy POV

I confessed to myself I had gotten to the point where I really dreaded the idea of ceremonies.

I recognized the need for such things, of course. If you wanted to send out a message to thousands of wolves at once, nothing did it better than a well-documented ceremony, and if you wanted to bring a pack together, nothing did it better than a traditional rite.

But the standing around, the effort of keeping the right expressions on my face, and the tedium of the rituals made it all feel like such a colossal waste of time. It was especially true now, as I tasted my bitter distrust of Ravencrest on my tongue and so much around me seemed to be made of schemes within schemes.

Which is why I was so pleased when Olivia suggested we do this next traditional rite in our fur. I was more than pleased, actually. I was deeply impressed. I could tell Claudia was surprised by her daughter’s insight as well.

All of us stood as proud wolves in the Palace courtyard, but now as befit us there were no decorations. The shining hides of gray, brown, black, white, and rare silver wolves in the moonlight were all we needed.

Claudia, a black wolf like me but not quite as large, stood before Olivia’s silver form and howled out a recognition of her as a daughter. Olivia howled back, and then they delicately scented each other, all of which the Pack expected and recognized.

However, when Claudia stepped back slightly, Olivia nipped at her and then panted in laughter. Surprised, many wolves danced lightly on their paws, and then there were approving barks and a few short howls. It was thoroughly domestic.

Claudia looked unimpressed but then barked a few times herself. She then went to me and howled a song of fealty that was eventually taken up by all present members of the Moonshadow Pack. What would have been strictly political in our skin was a matter of family and Pack in our fur, and once again I marveled at Olivia’s savvy.

David, Alpha of Eclipse Pack, came up to the three of us then and howled out his fealty to me as well. He’d done so before, but again we avoided any political connotations by having Claudia not join in his song.

Something caught my eye, and I gazed over discreetly to spot a silver fox with brown eyes standing on the other side of the open gates. She was lovely and vaguely familiar, and she was holding herself at a disciplined attention I had to admire. It wasn’t until I saw Ravencrest Alpha Hermes and his mate Luna Danai standing near her that I realized it had to be their daughter Emma, who had been studying abroad.

I would need Olivia to greet her formally later. I was sure she would have some interesting stories to tell. I had never taken such a trip myself, and given my position it was most unlikely I ever would.

David finished his song, and for a moment I stood motionless before throwing back my own head in a howl of acceptance and recognition. When I put my head back down, I could see several Ravencrest wolves were bristling slightly, including Hermes, but there was nothing they could openly object to. This was now firmly a matter of family bonds, not Pack politics.

The rite was over, but before anyone else could move, Olivia stepped forward, her silver form glowing, and looked around at the assembled packs before tipping her head back to howl in joyous song. She included the notes of not just the three main packs, but also all the smaller ones, ending with Moon Paw.

She paused, and then everyone pointed their noses to the sky and took up the song. It ululated and rose and fell, the different packs putting their own emphasis on certain notes to create a symphony.

Elated by the sounds, I joined in, and the song continued to rise up around us. It was like being caught up in a storm, lifted by the winds as the thunder joined the beating of my heart. I felt something ancient inside me that recognized the feeling, but it felt too right to worry about it.

Then, as before, I charged forward through my pack and toward the park as we joined in a moonlight run that proclaimed our union to the Goddess. Again, I felt that new power that stretched from my high-held tail to my keen ears, to my swift paws.

Again, I knew it was because of Olivia who matched me pace for pace despite the heaviness of her body and the pup inside her.

As one, even more than before, we reached the city wall, ran up the hill, and howled again, I noticed the young gray wolf Orlando was standing near us, and the look of adoration as he gazed at my wife was unmistakable.

I had to laugh. A wolf mated to a Luna could not afford to be jealous of every upstart pup who came along. As long as he kept my distance, he could worship her all he liked.

Some wolves slipped into their skin then, but Olivia and I raced back to the Palace in our fur before changing to welcome everyone inside. Standing there, I was reminded yet again of why feasts and banquets were such an important part of wolf culture: I was starving.

The Palace staff welcomed us all to the banquet halls with tables groaning under the weight of cooked and raw meats, sharp and sweet cheeses, ripe fruits and exotic salads, fresh warm breads and fancy desserts. Still on a high from the run under the night sky, everyone laughed and ate and drank.

I stood at the head of the room and raised my glass of wine. Everyone turned and grew quietly, politely attentive.

“It’s a great night for Lunaris Pack,” I began. “I praise the Goddess for the return of Claudia, Alpha of Moonshadow Pack, who was lost to us for so long.” I raised my glass, and everyone raised theirs back dutifully, but I didn’t drink.

“And I must also praise the Goddess for my mate and Luna, Olivia, who has brought so much to Lunaris Pack and to me personally. I call for the blessing of the Goddess on our child and on all those assembled here tonight.”

I paused a beat then raised my glass a little higher. “Goddess bless Lunaris Pack!”

“Goddess bless Lunaris Pack!” everyone echoed before drinking their toast. Looking at Olivia, I could see she was pleased, which made me prouder than I had ever been before, proud enough that I willfully ignored the faint hint of a shadow in her eyes.

“Goddess bless Luna Olivia!” Orlando shouted, and though it took a second for everyone to get over their surprise, the call was taken up in good spirits, and everyone drank to her as well.

“Goddess bless Lunaris Pack and the packs and wolves who comprise it!” she called out, and everyone laughed and drank again.

It was a glorious night, and when I slept curled around my mate until well into the morning, I dreamed of a peace and prosperity I had never known before.