Chapter 154

Aiden’s POV

Love, fear, excitement, nervousness, adoration… those were only a few of the emotions Carol was feeling. As soon as my canines entered her body and her blood flowed into my mouth and down my throat, I felt every single emotion she was feeling. It was the most intense feeling in the world.

I knew she wasn’t going to leave her mark on me, but it didn’t matter. A female's mark on a male was only temporary and it didn’t do anything of importance. It was only symbolic; it was the male's mark on his female that mattered the most. Once the male's mark is on the female, it opens the floodgate between them. I could feel everything Carol was feeling, and I knew she could feel everything I was feeling as well.

I would also be able to read her thoughts and speak with her through a mindlink. Of course, she could block me out if she chose to take some privacy, but I hoped she would let me into her mind and keep me there just as I planned to do with her. I wanted to be a part of her just as much as I wanted her a part of me.

My wolf was on top of the world, finally being able to mark our mate and brand her as ours. I retracted my teeth from her neck and licked at her wound until it was closed, only leaving a light pink scar on the nape of her neck which would be permanent and show that she was mine in every which way. With her mark on me, she also carried my scent so every male wolf she encounters knows she is taken.

Even though she spoke the vows of not only our mating and wedding but also the Luna vows, the Luna ceremony wasn’t over yet. The rest of the Luna ceremony will be done in the ballroom during the reception. Now Carol needed to be recognized as the new Luna of the Capitol and drink the blood of her packmates. Each packmate will bleed into the cauldron and bare their necks to their new Luna. She will make her own promise to them just before she drinks the blood. Then, we will celebrate our joining.

But as of now, Carol had fallen limp in my arms, her eyes fluttering short and her breathing growing intensely heavy.

There were gasps around the room and Carol’s mother had stood to her feet, her hand covering her mouth and worry clear in her eyes.

Carol murmured something and then to my relief, her eyes fluttered open and she looked up at me. She also looked confused as she crinkled her brows together.

“W…what happened?” She asked, her voice coming out breathy.

I smiled at her as I spoke in my mind.

“We are mated.”

Her eyes grew large and her body stiffened.

“His mouth didn’t move…” she thought to herself, making me laugh.

“Nor did yours, my love,” I said through my mind to her.

She gasped and quickly got out of my arms.

“What is going on?” She asked, her body trembling. “How can we speak without actually moving our lips?”

“We are bonded now, Carol. We can read each other’s thoughts,” I told her calmly.

Her mouth nearly dropped open, and I could feel the utter shock coming from her. She was upset with me for not telling her about this.

“Damn right I’m upset you didn’t tell me,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. “So, now you are in my head all the time? My thoughts are yours.”

“You can block me out if you’d like,” I told her, not truly liking that idea. “But, Carol, I’d like it if you didn’t. I quite enjoy being in your mind and it’ll make things much easier. We won’t be able to hide anything from one another and I love the idea of an honest relationship.”

I took her hands in my mine and brought them to my lips. She was apprehensive, but she was also considering my words. She knew I was sincere and meant her no ill intentions.

She wrapped her arms around me and brought me close to her.

“I love you,” she spoke in our shared mindlink.

I smiled into the crook of her neck, kissing my mark on her. Her body shivered in delight from the sensation; I knew her marking spot was still sensitive.

“I love you too,” I told her in return.

The audience clapped, except for a select few and then everyone departed from the room.

I took Carol’s hand and guided her into the ballroom with the others. There were tables already set up and the cauldron sat in the middle of the dance floor, ready for everyone to contribute their blood.

Most everyone was already there when we arrived, and they all clapped upon our entrance. Though I noticed the King, his wife, and his daughter had yet to show up for the ballroom, I wondered where they had gone.

I announced Carol as the future Luna to the pack and everyone cheered, even if they didn’t feel like cheering, they still cheered. Carol blushed at the adoration and the attention they were giving her and I couldn’t have been prouder.

My mother and father stood at the cauldron, ready to share their blood first. My mother held the brioche of the Luna, she was about to pass it on to Carol as she gave her the new title.

…..

Carol’s POV

I wasn’t sure what to say, but they stared at me exactly, waiting for me to say something. Aiden told me through our shared mindlink that I had to make promises as a Luna to make the pack feel better about this change. I knew it was a lot for them to put their trust in me because, to them, I was nothing more than a human.

I stared at the cauldron, my stomach feeling heavy. I wasn’t exactly thrilled about having to drink from it, knowing it was about to be filled with the blood of packmates. But I knew I had to do this to become the Luna of the pack and be noticed by the Moon Goddess herself, that way she could bless me with the true powers of a Luna, and I could protect this pack with everything I had.

There wasn’t an ounce of fear in Aiden and that alone made me feel better. It was surreal being able to feel his feelings and emotions. I had no idea I’d be able to read his thoughts as well and the amount of faith he had in me filled me with a sense of pride. I beamed a smile at him as he thought all these incredible things about me, and I saw a small blush creep along his cheeks.

He hadn’t meant for me to hear those thoughts, but I was glad I did.

It gave me the confidence I needed.

I cleared my throat and spoke loudly, amplifying my voice across the ballroom.

“Thank you all for coming to this joyous occasion. I know it’s odd making me your Luna because I am a human. But just because I am a human, that doesn’t mean I am weak. I am more than capable of protecting you all with my entire life and I will prove to you every day just how much I care about this pack. This isn’t just Aiden’s pack anymore; he’s not the only one responsible for your well-being and safety. Aiden and I work together as a team; we have worked together for a while now and I’d say we work pretty well together,” I say, glancing at him and winking. He beamed with pride at me. “If you give me the chance, I promise I won’t let you down.”

I wasn’t sure what more to say, so I stepped back, waiting for their responses.

“I’d like you all to pay your respects to your new Luna by contributing your blood and bearing your necks,” Aiden ordered, motioning for the cauldron. “Starting with my parents, the former Alpha and Luna.”

At that moment, I noticed Aidne held a dagger in his hands, and he handed it to his father.

“As the former Alpha of the Capitol, I hereby give my blessing to Carol Miller-Cruz,” he said loud enough for everyone to hear. He sliced a long gash along the palm of his hand, making me wince, he held it over the cauldron. I watched as the crimson blood poured into it and then the wound healed almost immediately. I blinked in surprise; I’ll never get used to the power of wolf healing.

He handed the dagger to his wife, the former Luna.

She looked tense and she glared at me. I felt uncomfortable under her scrutiny, but I held her eye contact, refusing to let her make me break.

She cleared her throat and with a strained tone she said, “As the former Luna of the Capitol, I hereby give my blessing to Carol Miller-Cruz and pass on the title of Luna, along with this brioche, to her.”

Each word sounded strained coming from her lips, but she held up a gorgeous pendant in the shape of a paw. I stepped towards her and took the brioche from her, bowing my head in respect.

“Thank you,” I told her genuinely. “I accept.”

Aiden stepped towards me as his mother sliced a gash in her hand and bled into the cauldron. He helped me put the brioche on the upper breast of my chest, kissing me as I did so.

He stepped toward the cauldron, taking the dagger from his mother.

“As the Alpha of the Capitol, I hereby give my blessing to Carol Miller-Cruz and respect her as the Luna and my mate,” he said loudly, slicing a gash in his own hand and dripping the blood into the cauldron.

He motioned for me to step towards him, and I did so.

“Do you, Carol Miller-Cruz accept the role of Luna to the Capitol?” He asked.

I held my hand out to him and smiled.

“Yes, I accept the role of Luna,” I said loudly and clearly.

I winced as he slashed a gash in my hand, I poured the blood into the cauldron. A maid came over with a bandage for me knowing that I wouldn’t heal as quickly as the wolves, but as she was wrapping my hand, I noticed the pain subsided and the wound was closing. She hadn’t noticed though and I was almost grateful for that.

One by one, each member of the pack stepped forward and gave their blessing by baring their necks to me and having Aiden slice a gash in their hands, they bled into the cauldron and stepped away, allowing others to do the same.

Then, it was down to Katrina and a few of her friends. I knew they would cause issues, and I was surprised it waited until this very moment.

Katrina folded her arms across her chest.

“I refuse to give her my respect,” she spat, her friends nodding in agreement. “She’s a human and can’t protect this pack. She isn’t fit to be our Luna, and you are all stupid to think otherwise. I’m supposed to be the Luna of this pack. This whole thing is bullshit, and I refuse to bare my neck to a pathetic human!!”

“Yeah, she’s nothing but a human and doesn’t deserve any of this,” her friend said from behind her. “Katrina should be our Luna. She’s been here from the very beginning. We already know and trust Katrina. We know she can truly protect us. Carol doesn’t have a wolf, therefore can’t protect us.”

There were murmurs amongst us.

“That’s enough, she’s my mate and I won’t have you disrespecting her,” Aiden said, his growing aggravation evident.

“I love you Aiden, I should be the one to be your mate and Luna. Not this stupid human!” Katrina howled.

“What is the meaning of this??” A voice boomed from the entryway.

My entire body froze when I saw the King walking into the ballroom, his eyes blazing with fury as he marched forward. Everyone gasped upon seeing him and parted for him to come forward. His wife and daughter trailed behind with their arms folded across their chests.

“Is this how you treat the Luna of your pack? With such disrespect??” The King growled, his wolf nearly surging forward.

“Alpha King…” Katrina said, her body visibly trembling. “I…she’s a human!”

The King stepped beside me.

“How dare you speak to my daughter in such a way!”