51

Aurora

There was something neither of them was telling me. As I walked with Millie to Blake and Whinnie’s home. I snaked my arm through hers. If I didn't have the comfort of Evander, at least she and I could comfort each other in our own way. She glanced down at me. She was taller than me, but her build was a bit leaner than the other women here. The hesitation was momentary before she leaned in giving the gesture of acceptance.“

“Millie,” I whispered. She looked over at me, her pace slowed to pay attention. “If she tries to fight me on this dress situation, I need you to remember one thing.” I paused, my eyes flickering. “What's that?” Millie asked. “I am not a wolf yet. I must appear as my goddess intended me. We come from different worlds, but as we sync if I am to accept the pack, they must understand I'm not just a Luna but a priestess. By welcoming me, they are inviting The Mother into their home.”

Tugging my backpack strap subconsciously. I peered up at her tugging us to stop before we hit up Whinnie's door. “I dont know how to do girl talk,” I pleaded. “Whinnie is a refreshing dose of sunshine, but I need someone from the outside to see and understand. We are two people coming together, not just a witch entering a pack.” Millie’s hazel eyes stared back at mine for a moment and nodded. I hoped she would understand what was about to happen and what we needed to do.

Whinnie had been busy. She had a spread of food across the table. Cheese sandwiches, crusty bread, and that fancy dipping sauce you see at an Italian restaurant. “What's all this?” I asked. Heavens, there was wine and cake. My mouth hung open, a bit confused as to what I just walked into. “Well, you and Evander skipped the mating announcement celebration. He said that he wanted to make that up to the pack. We don't have much reason to throw a party and this would be really important to let them get to know you more.” I sighed setting my bag down before sitting. “Ok ladies, it's time you school me in your customs so we can figure out exactly what to do for it all.”

“You need a different dress for this occasion, more casual. It's meant to be a fun way to get to know the pack and celebrate two mates, whether chosen or fated as officially joining together. There will be an announcement and there are usually vows, but since you mated already, you can skip that if you like. After that, the pack will introduce themselves to you and then we will eat and there will be music and dancing.” Millie was removing the cork from the wine, which looked a deep red color. This sounded very much like a wedding or a handfasting. I choked back the tears and took deep breaths. This was never supposed to happen to me. Millie shoved the glass in front of me and I took a long sip, my fingers trembling on the stem of the glass. I could feel Millie's observant eyes on me. She filled the glass up to nearly the brim after analyzing my reaction.

“Shit,” Whinnie blurted. “I… I should have considered talking to you before all this. I'm sorry Aurora.” She said squeezing my shoulder and plopping down next to me. “It’s ok,” I said taking another languid taste of wine. “It’s just something I never considered,” I said. “Don’t witch’s marry?” Millie asked as she also knocking back a big gulp, masking the discomfort she hid well, but I could read her energy.

“Witches do handfastings. The priest or priestess binds them with colored cords, and they remain bound throughout the festivities. It's a very beautiful tradition. Dreaming about something I couldn't have just wasn't something I wanted to weigh on my heart.” I admitted. “So you grew up not even intending on never even finding love?” Millie asked. “I couldn’t risk being that close to someone like I am with Evander. If my goddess didn’t bring me here I would have had to ignore my call to him as the risk is too great. Witches search for power and many of them abuse it. That's why getting my family's estates in order is so important. Blake and I are the last remaining heirs of our bloodline on our father's side. We are direct descendants of the last original line of witches the other 6 family’s power has been reincarnated into new lines while ours remains from the initial gift of The Mother. There is a lot that the covens or the witches' council could attain from those properties that need to remain hidden and secure.” Millie rolled her eyes downing the rest of her glass. “Give it to Dominic to fuck with things he has no idea the consequences of,” her voice sneered sarcastically. Whinnie sighed. “Maybe Evander can talk some sense into him.” She tried to placate the acidic aura wafting off Millie. Millie just poured another glass. Seeming deep in thought.

“So how different is the handfasting to a mating announcement?” Whinnie asked. “Besides the officiate to actually bind and bless the union, it's not much different. Theres the purification ceremony prior so that the couple come into the union clean of their past negativity, but it's a simple ritual.” The women looked at each other, obviously conferring with one another about something. I narrowed my eyes. “What are you two scheming?” I asked, reaching for a sandwich.

They were smiling, having decided something. “What if we include your binding with the mating ceremony?” I looked at them, stunned. “Would Evander even go for that? There's more to the process.” They both snorted, and Millie took a long drink. “Aurora Evander would give you the moon if you asked.” Whinnie chided. “Blake would have to officiate because he's the only witch here,” informed looking at Whinnie. “Consider it done.” She announced excitedly. You just need an outfit. We will confer the rest with Blake so you can keep my brother in check. I assume he knows everything he needs to. I nodded.

Looking at Millie i asked. “So how long does this hyper drive Alpha mojo last?” Whinnie snorted and about blew the tea she was drinking out her nose. Millie swallowed pouring us each a glass. “Your in for a long haul. I left mine 6 years ago, and he's only getting worse. She and Whinnie shared an uncomfortably long look before Millie tilted her glass back. “Millie! Are you serious?” Whinnie cried out in obvious turmoil in her expression. This had to be a part of her secret. “It’s not worth talking about. Apparently, he's living his best life.” She said sourly. “Y… you should have told me.” Whinnie tried. Millie took a sip of her wine. “You knowing changes nothing.” She said quietly. “My wayward mate is not why I am here tonight. We have festivities to explore and I, as much as the rest of this pack, have been waiting for this for years. Let's get over my sad story and move on to the good stuff.

Millie’s developing story troubled me. She apparently didn’t want to talk about it at the moment, but I would be getting down to the bottom of this. I was going to have a handfasting. Some repressed little girl part of me squealed with excitement from the inside. On the outside, a small smile crossed my lips, and I took another sip of wine. “So what comes after the announcement? Millie dosen’t want to talk about it and I'm not pressing her yet” I said glancing over at her pointedly. She nodded partially in appreciation but also in acknowledgement that the conversation would continue. The wine was causing me to relax, and I pulled my feet up into the chair, hugging my knees. “Well, we will do the announcement Friday in 4 days. It will be simple, like a barbeque with friends. Just let us know if there's anything specific you want.” I swirled my glass smiling. “I guess I’ll have some use for the cords I picked up at the craft store,” I said. “Whats that?” Millie asked, a little slurred. She’d been tossing back the wine like it was kool Aid.

“Don’t know why, but I had this urge to pick them up just in case things went well with us. I mean, it's been an avalanche of just everything, but something told me to get them and even if I didn’t use them, they would symbolize us coming together under The Mother and I suppose the moon goddess as well. Guess I was being hopeful.” I sighed sipping the wine again. “So what’s next?” I asked looking at the others and reaching for another cheese sandwich. They were toasted in butter in a well-seasoned cast iron with my heightened tastebuds. I grabbed 2 handing Millie one. She hadn’t touched the food, and she was drowning in wine.

“Well,” Whinnie said. “After the announcement, we will start preparing for the Luna ceremony. There is a hunt, but since you aren’t turned yet, Evander will have to provide the meat.” “Get me a bow and I will hunt as well.” I said. They both stared at me confused. “You hunt?” Millie asked. “Since I was a kid.” They looked back at each other. “So, like Blake, if you catch it and bless it, you can eat it?” Whinnie verified. “Yes, why would I be any different?” I asked. Whinnie shrugged rolling her eyes. “Not every father gives his daughter the same tools he gives his sons.” She meant more by that. This girls' evening was eye-opening.

“So I have 4 days to be announced, and about a week to hunt for the pack. Is there some sort of feast?” I asked. “Yes,” Millie said. “Mind you, urban packs don't follow these steps, so modification is possible. But once the meat is caught, you will help prepare it alongside the women of the pack and serve it to the pack showing you can and choose to provide.” Millie stated. “Sounds easy enough. What about the Luna ceremony?” I queried. “Well,” Millie said “If you want the brand, it will happen the day before the ceremony I will take you into the woods in the evening and it will take as long as it takes the night before the waxing moon-goddess will depict the design.” “I do want it,” I said with certainty. They looked at each other again. “Then what?” I asked as Millie refilled our glasses.

“You will present yourself before the pack as Luna, and they will accept you if they find you worthy. When the first sign of sunset shows, you run until your wolf emerges, or the Alpha finds you. He will hunt his mate to prove he has the ehh stamina and want to be worthy of you. He will not release his wolf until the last rays of the sun have receded from the valley. If you have not shifted before Evander finds you, he will aid your shift. The ritual jewelry will shift with you and your dress will theoretically also if you are the Luna of Lunas we aren’t certain but you can only wear them on the full moon and they will amplify your pack connection and your connection to the moon goddess.” Millie informed. I smiled setting my glass down and tossing back the last bite of another cheese sandwich. “Once he finds you, you will choose if you find him worthy of you and solidify your union by mating under the moonlight and then you will commune with the pack hunting together.” I reached for the leather-bound notebook in my bag. “Ladies, I have something to show you.” I said with a mischievous smile. “Lets cut into that cake.”