Isaiah couldn’t help the trembling of his right leg as he sat down on the steps leading up to a flowered trellis. He took a deep breath before standing up to pace, rubbing his sweaty palms on his pants. It had been a while since he was this nervous. Granted, the last time this happened, he lost her to a quest that ended up saving everyone. Then she fainted and fell into a mini coma for a month before waking up as if nothing happened. Still, the pain when she left the first time was still hovering in the background. Would she do this again, he wondered, before shaking the thought from his head.
He was one second away from walking down the aisle when he heard the laughter of his son, running down the aisle with Bella chasing behind him. Some of the pack members laughed as Arias dodged Bella’s attempt to grab him. At one point, he shielded himself to keep her from grabbing him until she started her clapping routine. She got to two before he took off running toward Isaiah.
“Daddy, I’m high” Arias yelled while running away from Bella with a new Mister Giggles tucked under his arm. Isaiah laughed, scooping him up.
“Someone has been in the cookies again.” his mother said, tersely. Arias ducked his head into Isaiah’s shoulder while Bella shook her head. “Well, I’m not going to be running behind him all day, just so you know.”
“You say that every time, Mother.”
“Well, this time I mean it,” she said in a matter-of-fact way. “Anyway, are you ready?” She started to fix his clothes before he moved away from her.
“Yeah,” Isaiah said, failing to hide his nervousness, “it’s just taking her a long time. Last time she…”
His mother stopped him. “She’s coming. She dropped sauce on her dress and had to change. Who eats right before their mating ceremony? It’s not like we don’t have a reception after this.”
Isaiah laughed, grabbing his mother's hand to calm her. “I do not get in the way of Zira and food. That’s a fight I'd given up on a long time ago. I just pray we actually get through this ceremony this time around.”
Bella squeezed his hand back while giving him a kiss on his cheek before stepping to the side with Arias. The music changed to violins signifying she was near as everyone stood. Zira rounded the corner with her mother on one side and her father on the other. Isaiah’s breath hitched in the back of his throat as he watched her eyes roam his body like he was a piece of art. Everything about her was shining bright.
Instead of the traditional white dress his mother picked out, Zira went with a breathtaking stormy gray floor-length dress with a classic silhouette and a plunging sweetheart bustier. Her lace sleeves and dreamy full-circle skirt were layered with sequins that caught the light from the sky lanterns floating above them. She looked like a goddess and he began to feel those same butterflies he felt when he first saw her in the gym.
“Dress is a bit flashy,” he heard his mother say, but he knew that meant she liked it.
Zira couldn’t take her eyes off him. He was a wonderful sight, smiling at her like she was his favorite person in the world. The gaze was something familiar to her. Her parents gave her away and she joined Isaiah on the platform. The Alpha King stepped forward, looking at the two. Zira was surprised he wanted to officiate, but after saving pretty much everyone, he insisted.
“We are gathered here today to celebrate the union between the Alpha and his Luna. Before we begin, I had a special request from Luna Bella to ask if there’s anyone here who believes this woman should not be the Luna of this pack, please make it known or forever hold your tongue.”
The Alpha King’s command went over the entire pack while Isaiah and Zira looked at Luna Bella shocked, as did most of the pack members. Isaiah looked over his pack with a death stare, daring anyone to speak up while Zira punched him in the arm.
“Stop that,” she whispered, before taking his hand. “I'm bound to you already and I would still do this even if they didn’t accept me.”
Isaiah smiled before staring daggers at his mother. “Are you happy now?”
Luna Bella looked around unbothered and noticed no one saying anything. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
“What,” she asked with her head held high. “Can you blame me after what happened last time?”
A few nervous laughs went throughout the crowd. Isaiah shook his head and nodded to the Alpha King to continue the ceremony. Isaiah brought Zira’s hand to his lips, sending chills through her body. She got lost in his touch as the ceremony continued but kept her gaze on him.
Occasionally her eyes would move down to his lips, excited for what comes next. Isaiah squeezed her hands a bit and she knew that meant he was hot for her. She reciprocated the touch and watched as he bit his bottom lip before smiling. After the exchange of rings and the transfer of power, Zira and Isaiah turned to the crowd.
“I now present to you all, Alpha Isaiah Thorne and Luna Zira Thorne of the Black Moon Pack. Alpha, you may now kiss your Luna.”
Isaiah pulled Zira into a deep, passionate kiss as howls and cheers erupted through the crowd and filled the air. Zira completely disappeared in his kiss. It felt almost like she was going into heat. Her body, her soul, everything was hot for Isaiah, and she poured it into her kiss. Still dizzy from opening her mind to the pack, she could barely contain the feeling she was experiencing. She could hear everyone in her mind congratulating her and welcoming her back as their Luna. She even heard a few scream out her name until she realized it was Luna Bella and her parents.
“Zira, close your connection. Now!”
“Sweetie, everyone could feel this,” she heard her mother say.
Zira broke the kiss to look at Luna Bella and realized what had just happened. Some of the pack members were gripping the backs of chairs, breathing heavily, while others fanned themselves like it was hot. She realized she had kept the connection open between the pack members. Almost everyone could feel how she was feeling just now. She heard Isaiah and the Alpha King laugh behind her as she stood there completely dying from embarrassment.
“Wow, nice work there, Horny Luna,” Nina snickered. “We're never going to live this down.”
“I’m sorry,” Zira said to everyone. “I promise I will learn how to control it. Sorry.” Some of the pack members nodded while others could barely look at her due to embarrassment. “I think it’s a perfect time to eat. Yes?”
Isaiah laughed and grabbed her hand as they walked down the aisle toward the reception area. He could feel Zira’s excitement since she wasn’t involved in planning it. She sniffed the air, trying to guess the type of food being prepared, but there were too many and she was glad. They made it to the door and Isaiah looked at her.
“Ready,” he smiled.
She squeezed Isaiah’s hand. “Yes!”
He opened the double doors leading out to a lighted walkway decorated with Christmas lights. They walked through to the yard and Zira’s mouth dropped to the floor at the display. Zira could barely speak as she looked at the miniature winter wonderland in front of her. It was too early for snow, but the yard was covered in it with an area just for snowball fighting. There were other games spread around the yard and a sign stating a light show was going to start in a few minutes. The tables were decorated to look like ice cubes, and they were surrounded by vendors preparing all different kinds of food, from steaks to tacos to burgers to as many desserts as she could see. It was truly heaven for her.
Zed and Mary walked over with a huge box. When she opened it, there was a vintage winter dress coat inside that resembled the one her mom bought her. She screamed and gave them both a hug. She made it her mission not to cry today and, so far, she was doing well.
Isaiah helped her into the jacket as everyone moved around them to the buffet and games. Zira set her sights on the food before Isaiah stopped her from going. She glared at him, trying to figure out why he was stopping her from eating.
“Isaiah, shouldn’t we be heading towards the food,” she asked, solemnly looking at everyone else piling their plates. She could feel her stomach growling from the smell. Maybe I could command someone to bring me something, she thought to herself.
“Don’t you dare,” Isaiah glared at her teasingly. “I just have one more thing to show you.”
She relented with a sigh, pretending to drag her feet. He seemed a bit too excited and for once her curiosity peaked over her hunger. She wondered what it was and how it could beat what she had just seen. She couldn’t have been happier, she thought, as Isaiah guided her a short distance from the party, covering her eyes. Another scent tickled her nose and the smell of jasmine and apricot. She knew exactly who it was.
“Percy?”
Isaiah removed his hands and Zira gasped before covering her mouth. She told herself not to cry, but now, she couldn’t help it.
“Damn you, Isaiah,” she said as tears welled up and fell down her face like raindrops.
Zira looked between Percy, Isaiah, and the huge oak tree with red ribbons tied to them. Percy walked over and handed Zira a ribbon and a pen. Her hands shook as she took them.
“How…how did…” She struggled to speak from the tears choking her up.
“I know you missed many of these trips because of circumstances and I remember the fuss you gave me five years ago about making you stay here the last time your family went. So, I wanted to bring it back. Start a new tradition with Arias and me…” Percy coughed, and Isaiah rolled his eyes but smiled. “...and Percy. What do you think?”
After clearing her face, she took a deep breath. “I think I have nothing to write on this ribbon,” she said, placing it down on the table. Percy wrapped his arms around her waist.
“You could piggyback off of mine. I wish Alpha Isaiah could stop giving me the cold shoulder and share his bed.”
Isaiah growled at him before smiling. “Well, now that we know your wish, I guess it’ll never come true.”
“Don’t worry, Percy. We will wear him down. Together.” She grabbed both Percy's and Isaiah’s hands. “It feels strange to have everything I ever wanted and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Thank you for this. Both of you. I could die a happy wolf now."
“Don’t say that,” Isaiah groaned.
“Why would you say that,” Percy said at the same time.
Zira laughed while Isaiah and Percy walked back to the party, ignoring her. “What! Come on. Don’t tell me it’s still too early to make a death joke. Guys!”