The pack was abuzz with excitement.
Still in their hearts is the feeling of mourning; the loss of 23 pack members still fresh in their memory. The funeral pyres burned and the weeks gone by, it was time to begin to move on. And everyone was in agreement, the best way to do that was to start a new beginning.
Celeste brushed through her hair, putting in several sparkly clips she knew would fall out when she shifted later. Xavier leaned against the door frame of the bathroom, watching her with adoration filling his eyes. "Are you ready?"
She turned to face him in the mirror. "Almost."
He hummed, stepping into the bathroom and taking the brush from her and running it gently through the back of her hair, as had become their little tradition.
Zay had thrown herself into her work these past few weeks and was ready to do surgery on her shoulder in two weeks time, without Shia's help. She was still holding her frustration against her mate yet still slept in her arms at night, uncertain of their future to come. Zay was hopeful for the surgery on Celeste's arm and was hoping she'd make a full recovery. Celeste and Xavier were even more hopeful, feeling that's when they could start their next phase of life.
He moved her hair away from her mark, leaning down to press his lips to the constellation they shared upon their skin. She shuddered, leaning back into his hold and closing her eyes.
"Are you nervous?"
She shakes her head. "No, should I be?"
"Not for a second. Our pack loves you."
"Even after. . ." She couldn't help but let her thoughts drift to the attack.
"Even after," Xavier assured her. Nothing he said would make her think the attack wasn't her fault so all he could do was reassure her of the present time.
She gave a half smile, taking the brush from him and setting it on the counter. "I'm going to go meet Lycer. See you in a few hours?" He nodded, pressing his lips to the top of her head.
There was much work to be done but she was told not to fret about any of it. Today was a day for her to enjoy.
She knocked on Lycer's door, hearing a 'Come in' from the other side and pushing it open. On the bed sat a duffle bag, being filled with clothes by none other than her best friend. She stared in confusion.
"What are you packing for?"
Lycer looked over his shoulder, giving a sigh. He walked over to her, pulling her into an embrace that felt too tight and was held onto for too long.
"Oh," she said solemly. She pulled back, noticing the notebook she had given him sticking out of the duffle bag. She took it out, examing the cover with care and reluctantly tucking it gently into the bag. She took a shaky breath. "When are you leaving?"
"First thing in the morning," he spoke quietly.
They sat in the silence for several moments.
"When will you be back?" Her voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes.
His head hung down as he sat down on his bed that never really felt like his. "I don't know."
"Is it the rogues? Is it Christopher?" All of whom were still out there, though reports had stopped of attacks across the country.
"No. Celestial-"
"Then why are you leaving me?" A tear fell down her cheek. This was not how today was supposed to go.
"I need to find my dad. There's answers I need, answers I want." She nodded, though she didn't feel like she fully understood. He was safe here, loved here - if not by the others than by her. She wanted that to be enough. "Don't cry." He pulled her to sit down beside him and she leaned on his shoulder. "We'll see each other again."
"When? How many years will it be this time?"
"They'll go by."
She turned against his shoulder, her tears dampening his shirt. His heart clenched.
"But I'm here tonight. Let's make the most of that, yeah?"
"Yeah."
Together they walked the pack. They stopped by the little coffee shop, brought fresh flowers to the new memorial in the center of the town square, saw Lesa and baby Wesley. They walked side by side until the sun started to go down at which point they watched the construction of the bon fire.
"Celeste!" Xavier called from the other side of the bonfire.
She gave Lycer's hand a squeeze and left him to meet her mate. "Is it time?"
"It's time." He had a big smile on his face. He was excited, if not for himself then for her and the pack.
The stars had begun to shine brightly in the sky, the moon hanging in full up above.
The pack members filtered into the clearing, smiling faces aimed in the direction of Celeste and Xavier. As they took their places, their little family walks one by one to greet Celeste personally, pulling her into hugs and kissing her cheek.
"Thank you all for coming," Xavier spoke in a booming voice, gathering the attention of everyone and silencing the pack grounds. "We know that we've done this in a nontraditional order and I think it speaks volumes of the love we have for Celeste." She felt her cheeks burn as she grabbed onto Xavier's arm. He shot her a warm smile. "Tonight we gather to accept our Luna-to-be into her proper role in this pack. The past few months have been difficult for all of us, yet, through it all, Celeste has shown her love for the pack as you have all shown your love for her. We gather under the full moon, in order to ask for the blessings of the Goddess above upon our pack and upon our Luna." He clears his throat, turning to face Celeste and gathering her hands into his. He squeezes her hands, rubbing his thumbs in circles along her skin. "Celestial Jacobs, tonight we ask you to give your all to this pack. To join our family, both as a Vedette and as a leader of the Paramount Pack. We ask you to love and to guide and to nurture this pack above all else. We ask you - to be our Luna."
A small, nervous smile breaks out on Celeste's face. "I accept."
Cheers break out amongst the crowds, growing in size as Xavier leans down and presses his lips gently to Celeste's. He pulls back, pressing his lips to her forehead and turning behind him. "Jared, if you would."
Jared steps forward, a thin tubing of rice paper on a tray in his hands; on it is inscriptions of The Paramount Pack along with Celeste's name written in a neat cursive. Xavier takes the tray from him.
Celeste's hands shake as she picks up the lighter from the tray. She looks out at the crowd of her pack, her family. Eyes full of love and smiles full of hope shine back at her.
"Whenever you're ready," Xavier whispers gently to her.
Celeste flicks the lighter on and it shines brightly against the darkness of the night. Bringing it to the top of the paper, she lets it catch, watching as it burns down in anticipation. The flame reaches the end of the paper and it shoots up into the sky as cheers ring throughout the pack grounds.
Xavier's voice booms across the pack, "We welcome our new Luna, Celeste!"
Fin
word count: 1251