Chapter 20
Liora
The full moon‘ hangs high in the sky as Luke and I exit the pack house. He told me the representative from the council already initiated Miss Maya and Dan into Moonfire. Sadly, as I am still considered a rogue, I was not able to watch. Before leaving the pack house, I spied Adam, Henry, and Lace relaxing on the stairs. They will have to be initiated into the pack after
me, and I cannot wait to watch it.
“Stand up straight,” Luke whispers low enough for just me to hear. I straighten my posture as
the two of us walk down the steps and toward the willow tree. Moonfire wolves stand on
either side of a small walkway, their eyes on me as they send smiles my way. Maya and Dan stand to the right of the tree, the new alpha and Luan radiating with power. Something inside
Miss Maya has changed, and I am happy for it. She always deserved to be the leader of a
pack, and it’s about time she gets this position.
Luke and I stop just before the alpha couple, and I lower myself to my right knee as Luke takes his spot just behind Dan.
“Liora Bloodrose,” Miss Maya calls my name, the power of an alpha radiating through the
clearing. I shiver, my blood humming to accept the warmth I feel as my beta blood strains to
accept the bond that is forming.
“You kneel before me, with the intention of becoming my beta. Is this correct?” she asks, my
body humming.
“This is correct, Alpha,” I respond, my smile growing.
“Then do you promise to lead as my second, and strive for the betterment of our pack?” Miss Maya calls out.
“I promise.”
“Do you swear to uphold pack laws and protect those deemed weaker than you?”
“I swear I will.”
“Do you, Liora Bloodrose, accept me, Maya Saint, as your alpha?” The final question. My blood hums louder inside me, the power that I have gained from my ancestors reaching closer to Miss Maya. I raise my head and look to see her staring down at me, pride and love in my godmother’s eyes,
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< Chapter 20
+15 Points >
“I, Liora Bloodrose, accept you, Maya Saint, as my alpha and true leader. I will stand beside
you through the good times and bad of our pack.” My power clasps onto the power Miss Maya
radiates, and like a switch, I feel the bond click in. I close my eyes as the rush of pack magic
courses through me. I can hear everyone’s voice congratulating me through the link, and I
thank them all before shutting the pack link off for now. No need to allow them all into my mind to hear all my thoughts.
Then I feel it. A bond that wasn’t there before.
Shocked, I look to see Dan and Miss Maya staring at me, tears in their eyes. Miss Maya falls
to her knees before me and pulls me into her arms, her rose perfume surrounding me.
“You formed a familial bond with us during the ceremony,” Miss Maya states in a whisper with
a smile on her face.
“It’s because you trust us, and see us as family after all that you’ve been through. Now, no
matter what, we will always have a mind link,” she continues, wiping away tears from my eyes
I had no clue I was crying. Family. I accepted Dan, Miss Maya, and the pups as my family.
Wrapping my arms around Miss Maya, I bury my face in her shoulder and sob. I lost the
familial bond link when my parents died. There was a space in my mind, empty and blank.
Like a cellphone number that I had always called was suddenly disconnected with no
explanation. Now, I feel it. Feel the familial love that Dan, Miss Maya, and the pups have for
- me.
“Miss Ameli-”
“No more of this ‘Miss Maya‘ s**t, Liora. Call me Aunty or Maya from now on.” She pulls away
to scold me, and I laugh, feeling the love Maya has for me.
“Okay,” I concede, feeling a shift in my relationship with these two wolves.
“Thank you, Maya and Dan. Thank you for being my family, and being there for me.” Dan sniffles back his own tears and helps me and Maya to stand, reminding us that the pups need to be initiated into the pack. I move to stand beside Luke, who gives me a quick hug, and I
notice that many of the Moonfire wolves have tears in their eyes.
Adam, Henry, and Lace come filing out of the pack house with Roy’s guidance. They come to
stand before their parents, and Maya asks them similar questions to mine. Their blood hums
with the power of alpha wolves, only more subdued, as they have yet to shift. Then, there they
were inside the pack link, excitedly talking to the rest of our packmates. Dan and Maya walk
their pups through how to close each link for a moment, while we watch on. The moon has
shifted, meaning that the ceremony is almost over.
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< Chapter 20
+15 Points>
The council representative steps forward, clearing his throat to gather everyone’s attention.
“It seems the wolves of Moonfire have chosen wolves perfect to be their leaders,” he begins, his grey eyes scanning the gathered wolves.
“Now, before we conclude the ceremony, I would like to ask the wolves of Moonfire if they
want the new alpha to keep the pack name or change it, to signify a new start in life.” I smile
at this announcement. Luke, Maya, and I discussed the possibility that the pack would choose
to change the name. Moonfire was weak. Was attacked and nearly annihilated in twenty–four
hours.
“We wish for a new name!” someone calls without hesitation.
“Yes! We need a new name!”
“Moonfire is dead, give us a new name, Alpha!”
“We want to be reborn into something new!”
The crowd calls out their need for a new name. For a fresh start. Luke nudges me, and I look
to see his brows raised and a smirk on my packmate’s face. Giving him an eye roll, I ignore
him and keep my eyes on Maya. She steps forward and raises her hand, the crowd quietening
down.
“My packmates,” she begins, once she has everyone’s eyes on her.
“I hear your request, and I agree. Moonfire died the day you were attacked. Together, we have rebuilt our pack from the ground up. We changed together without hesitation, and you are right, we need a new name.” Her voice is calm and steady, as a soft smile graces her lips. She
turns back and gives me a wink.
“From now on, we will be called Ivory Fangs.”
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