Eero’s perspective
At the mating ceremony the next day.
I breathe deeply, clutching my bridal flowers. It felt like I was running out of breath.
“Are you okay?” Soleil asked. She was fixing the trail of my wedding gown. Staring at the man waiting for me in the ceremonial arc, I nodded my head at Soleil.
“That is your cue, Luna,” Soleil mumbled as the moon started to pass between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow that fully blocked the sun's light.
While everyone was enticed by the solar eclipse, looking up at it, I was only looking at Claudius and he was doing the same thing.
“You are beautiful, wife,” he said through mind link. “Are you really walking slow, or is the world just in slow motion?”
After this day, I would be officially his wife and Luna of the Blood Moon Pack.
I stopped a step away from the ceremonial arc. It was his cue to walk towards me, offering his hand for mine to take.
“Is that your heart beating so loudly that I can hear it?” I asked in a low voice as we walked to the ceremonial arc.
“Eero, can you do me a favor?”
“Huh? What is it?” I asked. We turned to face each other. On our side was the master who would guide us in our mating ceremony.
“Please act like you cannot hear my heart. You're making me more nervous that I already am.” My hold of his hand loosened, but he held me even more, not wanting to let go.
I pressed my lips together, suppressing a smile.
“The cruel Alpha who has conquered numerous packs is now feeling nervous at his mating ceremony?” I teased.
“I love you,” he said, something unexpected, which made me shut my lips. The playful smile on my lips vanished.
“Alpha… Eero,” said the master. I looked at him. In his hand was the ceremonial dagger. The blade of the dagger was resting on the top of Claudius’ palm.
Claudius took the dagger in his hand.
Silence fell in the atmosphere as I watched him make a small cut in his palm.
The master handed him a small cup carved from a stone. Claudius squeezed the wound on his palm for more blood to drip into the cup.
“I, Claudius Cormac, from Luzeres Cormac's bloodline, Alpha of Blood Moon Pack, take you, Eero Zacreus, as my chosen fated mate, future mother of my children and the only Luna of my pack,” he said while looking straight into my eyes.
After finishing his vows, Claudius dipped the tip of his finger on the cup where his blood was, and then stained my forehead with it.
I swallowed a lump in my throat as the master gave the ceremonial dagger to me.
The corners of my lips quivered at the pain when I slashed my palm. The pain further intensified as I let the blood flow from the wound to another cup.
I smiled at Claudius and breathed deeply.
“I, Eero Zacreuus, the only descendant of Pierce and Florence Zacreus, take Claudius Cormac as my fated mate. I promise to stay by the Alpha's side, upholding both our family and the pack until I take the last breath of mine.”
Claudius closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of my blood as I brushed my finger on his forehead.
“You may now hold each other's hand to bind your bloods,” said by the Masters. Claudius and I once again closed our eyes as we pressed our wounded palm against each other.
I felt him hold my cheeks with his other hand, and then he pulled me closer to him, kissing me on the lips.
Celebratory uproar filled our ears. Everyone was shouting our names and clapping their hand.
As we pulled away from each other's lips, the moon slowly moved away in between the Sun and Earth, a brighten the whole place with its light.
“Luna Eero!” I heard Soleil panicking again when she saw the wound in my palm. “I think you cut yourself too deep.”
I smiled at her, checking the wound myself.
“My wolf wanted to cut me deeper. I had managed to stop her, otherwise my bones would be showing through my flesh right now,” I said. It may sound like I was only joking, but I was telling the truth.
Soleil placed medicinal herbs on my wound, and then wrapped it with a bandage.
“Was it because Alpha Claudius came from Regulus, and you had the traditional Regulus mating ceremony?” She asked curiously.
“I was caught off-guard and felt scared when I got to know how lycans in the Regulus do their mating ceremony.” I moved my head to her.
Soleil remained silent, all ears on me.
“But it wasn't so bad. This ceremony feels way more intimate.”
“Intimate? You cut yourselves in front of everyone in the pack. And you brushed blood on each other. It's weird!” Not only did Soleil’s jaw drop at what I said, her eyes bulging out too.
“Soleil… we may be close, almost like sisters, but still, you need to be careful with your choice of words around me,” I reminded her, somehow offended by Soleil’s remarks.
“I’m sorry, Luna. It won’t happen again,” she said and then bowed before taking a step back and leaving my room.
Later, a knock on the door sounded. It was Cielo.
“Everyone is looking for you at the reception, Luna Eero,” She said to me.
“I know. I’ll be right back.”
“And you know that the Alpha will be here any moment from now if you don't go back down, right?” She asked.
“Yes, I do.” I offered her my hand, asking her to go down with me.
“Luna, have I mentioned that your hair resembles the icy blonde hair of the female Xerxes?”