CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO.

(MELIORA'S POV)

It was finally the big day of the mating ceremony. Beth's loud alarm bell startled us all awake from our slumbers.

"Ugh, what was that dreadful noise for?" Anna cried out groaning, rubbing her eyes.

"We need something loud to make sure we wake up on time," Beth said, already throwing off her blankets and hopping out of bed. "We can't oversleep on such an important day!"

Anna slowly pushed herself upright, yawning widely. "Yes, but the ceremony itself isn't until this evening. We still have many hours."

"And your daily chores start right away, no matter what festivities may follow later," a stern voice rang out.

We all turned to see Elder Abigail's hunched figure filling the doorway to our cabin, arms crossed imposingly over her chest.

"So stretch yourselves up and get out to the kitchen. That food won't prepare itself, you lazy lollygaggers!" She fixed us each with a beady glare before turning and shuffling away.

Grumbling, we began pulling on our simple day dresses and lacing up our boots. As we made our way to the kitchen and started cooking, our conversation quickly turned to the previous night's dinner eventually.

"Did you happen to notice that extremely handsome blonde man sitting opposite me at the table?" Martha asked with a dreamy sigh.

"I couldn't take my eyes off him the whole evening. I wonder where his pack's territory lies? I would be overjoyed if he chose me to take back with him as his mate."

Anna scoffed. "He was decent enough to look at, I suppose. But not nearly as striking as that tall, muscular brunette seated at the far end of the table. Now there was a prime alpha specimen - strong, silent, and incredibly well-built from what I could see."

Suzanne giggled at her friends' swoons. "Well, what about you, Liora? Do any of those visiting wolves catch your eye as particularly dashing?"

I felt my cheeks warm at her teasing question. In truth, my mind had drifted back to thoughts of another man entirely - the kind, handsome stranger with haunting amber eyes who had helped me to my feet at the hospital when my father was ill.

In my memories, no man's visage could rival his for sheer striking beauty. But that felt like a different world away, a lifetime ago even though it had merely been moons. I shook my head, forcing myself back to the present.

"I...I guess if I had to choose, I found that raven-haired hunter with the two young pups to be the most handsome of the night," I mumbled absentmindedly.

Beth's brow furrowed. "Simon? But Liora, don't you remember? The luna strictly warned that any married wolves with mates were completely off limits to us unbonded."

I sighed, rubbing my temples as we reached the kitchen building. "Yes, yes I know. But the truth is, I'm not even interested in finding a mate at this ceremony anyway. I've decided I won't be attending."

Anna stopped dead in her tracks, hands on her hips as she turned to face me fully. "You're not going? But why ever not? And please don't say you're not feeling well or some other silly excuse."

I met her searching gaze steadily. "It isn't an excuse. I...I'm just always dreadfully anxious and uncomfortable at big social events like that. Ceremonies, dances, rituals are not my scene. I don't want to cause any trouble for the pack."

The words came out in a rush, the truth I had been holding in finally spilling out. The rest of the girls all exchanged concerned looks.

"Liora, why would you possibly cause any trouble?" Suzanne asked gently, putting a hand on my arm. "You've been nothing but kind, helpful and hardworking since joining us here."

I opened my mouth, then closed it again with a shake of my head. How could I begin to explain the deep-rooted traumas that still haunted me from my former lives?

The constant scrutiny, the hushed gossip, the ever-present pressure to be perfectly composed and obedient at all times lest I bring ruination upon myself and my family?

The suppressed bitterness must have shown on my face, for Anna reached out and took my other hand in hers, giving it a comforting squeeze.

"Well, even if you're determined to avoid the actual mating ceremony itself, you simply must still come with us tonight while we prepare!" she insisted.

"Yes!" Suzanne chimed in eagerly. "We're all going to visit Madame Celestine later to let her work her magic painting and primping us into marvelous visions for the mating ceremony!"

Martha joined in as well, embellishing the tale with dramatic sweeps of her arms. "Why, after the good Madame has waved her beauty charmer's brushes over us, we'll be positively radiant fairy princesses shimmering in the moonlight! And bewitching any available male wolf brave enough to approach!"

We all laughed at her fanciful description, the tension slowly dissolving from the air around us.

I couldn't help but get swept up in their infectious excitement at the idea of being transformed into otherworldly beauties for the night. Perhaps joining them for the pampering rituals, at the very least, wouldn't be so terrible?

"Look, you can even hear the ceremonial musicians already arriving in the village to prepare their playing!" Beth exclaimed, pointing out one of the windows.

Sure enough, the distant sounds of lively flutes and drums tuning up drifted in from outside.

Suzanne grabbed my hands again, eyes sparkling happily as she caught my gaze. "Love is about to fill the air, Liora! This is always an incredibly beautiful, celebrated occasion. Please, just come with us to experience that joy, even if you still wish to sit out the actual mating ceremonies later."

I held her entreating look for a long moment, feeling the swell of her earnest excitement slowly working its magic on my own reluctant spirit.


These were not the sorts of packmates I had known before, with their petty jealousies and cloying manipulations, always judging and whispering behind painted smiles.

No, these were true friends and allies, only wanting to share in the genuine joys that life's infrequent celebrations could provide.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, I gave a small nod and smile. "Alright. I won't hide away completely. At the very least, I'll come with all of you tonight to experience the pampering and preparations for the ball, even if I stay out of the main event itself."

"That's our girl!" Anna cheered, giving my arm an affectionate squeeze. "You'll see, we'll make sure you have such a marvelous time, you won't be able to think of anything except how beautiful everything looks!"


Maybe they were right, attending the party amongst them and plenty of other females, I won't be the center of attention or feel miserable like in the past when I was Luna in Arthur's pack or princess back home in my father's pack, the silver shining moon pack.

As we turned to continue work and finish our morning's chores, the lilting strains of ceremonial music seemed to swell joyfully in the breeze - a harbinger heralding the magic and transformations yet to come.