Chapter 9 The Luna Festival (2)
Amelia's POV
Alexander Westbrook strode into the hall alone, his presence filling the space like a physical force. He wore a dark gold suit that should have looked theatrical but instead radiated authority. A silver medallion gleamed at his throat—a stylized eye that seemed to catch the light unnaturally.
My breath caught. He was devastatingly handsome, his movements controlled and powerful. This wasn't the man who had kissed me in the woods—this was Alpha Alexander Westbrook, leader of Shadow Kingdom.
I quickly lowered my gaze, remembering Nathan's warning, but not before Alexander's eyes swept the crowd. For a heart-stopping moment, I thought he looked directly at me, but he continued his purposeful stride toward the raised platform at the front of the hall.
The ceremony began with Alexander's address to the assembled packs. His voice carried effortlessly through the hall, deep and commanding.
"Welcome, allies and friends, to this year's Luna Festival. For thousands of years, our kind has gathered under the full moon to honor our heritage and strengthen our bonds."
As he spoke of pack achievements and future plans, I found myself mesmerized by his presence. How could this powerful, composed Alpha be the same man who had looked at me with such raw hunger in the forest?
The formal portion of the ceremony concluded with a ritual led by the Elders—an ancient prayer to the moon goddess that sent shivers down my spine. When Alexander lit the central fire on a stone altar, the flames leapt unnaturally high, casting his face in golden light.
"Now," announced the eldest of the robed figures, "the time for the Moonlight Run has come."
The crowd moved as one toward the back of the house, flowing out onto a sprawling lawn that led to the forest edge. The full moon hung heavy and bright overhead, bathing everything in silver light.
"What's happening?" I whispered to the young wolf who had been explaining things.
"It's tradition," she said excitedly. "On Luna Festival night, we run as wolves under the full moon. It's supposed to bring us closer to our true nature." She hesitated, eyes sparkling. "It's also said that destined mates might find each other during the run."
My stomach tightened at her words. Destined mates. The term made my skin prickle with awareness.
At the forest edge, Alexander stepped forward. Without ceremony, he began to change. I'd never seen anything like it—where my transformation had been painful and awkward, his was fluid and graceful. In seconds, where the Alpha had stood was now a massive white wolf, its fur glowing almost silver in the moonlight.
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"A white wolf is incredibly rare," my new acquaintance whispered. "It's said to be blessed by the moon goddess herself."
The white wolf—Alexander—lifted his head and howled, the sound echoing through the night air. In response, others began to shift as well, their expensive clothes discarded without concern.
I hesitated, suddenly uncertain. I had no idea if I could even control my transformation yet.
"You don't have to run if you're not comfortable," the young wolf said, noticing my hesitation. "New wolves sometimes sit out their first Luna Festival."
But my wolf was already clawing to get out, drawn to the moonlight and the freedom it promised.
"I want to," I said, surprised by my own certainty.
She nodded, showing me to a secluded spot behind a decorative hedge where I could remove my dress. The transformation came easier this time—still painful, but quicker. When I emerged on four paws, I found myself alone, my new acquaintance already gone to join the run.
All around me, wolves paired off—mates running together, friends forming groups, some choosing to run alone. The white wolf that was Alexander stood apart, magnificent and solitary at the forest's edge.
With another commanding howl, he sprinted into the trees, and the pack followed. I ran too, exhilaration flooding through me as I wove between trees, paws pounding against the earth. The sensation was indescribable—pure freedom, pure instinct.
About halfway through the run, excited yips and howls erupted ahead. I slowed, approaching a small clearing where wolves had gathered in a circle. In the center, two wolves—one silver, one russet—stood face to face, the air around them seeming to shimmer with an ethereal light.
"Moon's blessing," a nearby wolf thought-projected, the words somehow understandable in my mind. "Destined mates, found during the run."
I watched, transfixed, as the two wolves touched noses, the connection between them almost visible. Something in my chest ached at the sight.
The run continued, but I found myself searching for a glimpse of white fur among the trees. I caught sight of Alexander several times, always running alone, always somehow apart from the others despite being their leader.
When we returned to the mansion, the transformation back felt almost reluctant. My wolf wanted to stay under the moon, free and wild. But I followed protocol, retrieving my dress and rejoining the gathering as the ceremony continued.
Inside, the mood was festive. The newly revealed mates received blessings from the Elders, while musicians played and food was served. I stayed near the wall, overwhelmed by the sensory input and social dynamics I didn't yet understand. I spotted Nathan across the room, deep in conversation with other officials.
As the night progressed, Alexander led the pack in what I later learned was called the Moon Tribute—a synchronized howl that even in human form raised goosebumps on my arms. The sound was primal and powerful, echoing through the hall until he raised a hand for silence.
"Tonight, we have one final announcement," Alexander said, his voice cutting through the lingering energy of the tribute.
The hall's lighting changed, focusing on the central altar where the Elders once again gathered. A new melody began playing—more formal, more ceremonial.
The great moon-shaped archway at the back of the hall opened, revealing a procession of wolves in deep blue attire. At their head walked a distinguished older man with salt-and-pepper hair.
"Richard Blackwell, Alpha of Eclipse Pack," someone nearby whispered.
Richard approached Alexander and clasped his forearm in what seemed to be a gesture of respect between equals.
"To celebrate this Luna Festival," Richard announced, his voice carrying through the hushed room, "Eclipse Pack brings a special gift."
