Chapter 31
Ashlynn POV
It was exactly eleven when the huge grassy area behind the pack house was filled with hundreds of werewolves. A few in wolf form remained in the very back, pacing back and forth. My guess is that they were the security patrols: I looked around to see if I recognized anyone. There were a few familiar faces I’d seen the couple of times we were in town. Of course, our ranch hands and my vet techs were there. I glanced around until I set my eyes on Dawson, who threw me a mega watt grin, and instantly my nerves calmed.
My Uncle raised his hand and the crowd became silent. “Lone Wolf Pack, we are here today to welcome two new members. These members are special to me, as one is my sister Carolyn and the other is my niece Ashlynn.” There was a murmur amongst the crowd, but as soon as my uncle raised his hand, they were quiet again. “I shall hope that you all are welcoming to them, as this will now be their home, and you will be their family.”
Cody stood next to the table, facing the Alpha waiting for further instruction. At that moment, Uncle Gabe turned to Cody and nodded his head. My Uncle then turned to my mother and motioned her forward. “I, Alpha Gabe Satirri here by welcome you to the Lone Wolf Pack. Upon your pledge, your allegiance to Alpha Tobia Satirri will be no more and your allegiance will be to me. Do you, Carolyn Cane accept this pledge
to me?”
3
“I do,” she responded.
extended his own hand toward Cody and he handed him the “Please place your right hand in Beta Cody’s hand,” she did so. Alpha Gabe the knife. Alpha Gabe placed the blade against my mothers hand that was held my the Beta and swiftly cut a thin line across her palm. He then took her hand in his free hand and handed the knife back to Cody. Cody in turn, sliced my Uncles free hand. The Alpha placed his cut hand on top of my mothers so that their blood mixed. I watched as my Mother closed her eyes and hissed, like she was in pain. I heard my Uncle whisper to her, just a few seconds Carolyn and it will stop. Now I was worried about what he was talking about, and felt my anxiety peak a little. I turned my head to Dawson, who gave me a nod and a small smile. I took a deep breath and turned back to my Uncle, in time to see him release my mothers hand. Both of their cuts had healed already.
Uncle Gabe called me forward next, and we went through the same routine as he had just performed with my mother. When he placed his cut hand over mine, I instantly heard a thousand voices in my head. This must have been what made my mom hiss. Then it was like a snap in my head and it was gone. Then I heard Uncle Gabe in my head, “Just breath Ashlynn, the tether is almost complete.” I felt warmth pass through my entire body, and then peace came over me. I opened my eyes and my Uncle smiled down at me. He released my hand and motioned for my mom to come back up next to us. I felt his Alpha aura wash over me and instantly dropped to my knees and barred my neck to him. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw every wolf on the lawn do the same.
Uncle Gabe pulled his aura back in and then held out a hand to each of us. “Rise. Welcome to my newest pack members.” The crowd cheered and the wolves howled. Uncle Gabe turned to the crowd, held his hand up for silence. “I will see you all back here tomorrow night for the full moon run. You are free to go.” With that many of them turned to leave. A few stragglers stayed behind to get some face time with my Uncle and the Beta. I made my way down the steps to the lawn, and Dawson met me at the bottom. I glanced up to see my mom waiting with Cody, assuming that she was going to walk back with him. I smiled.
“How does it feel?” Dawson asked, pulling my attention back to him. “It’s an odd sensation right, feeling your tether break with your old pack and the new one form?”
I shook my head, “Yes, like a thousand voices in your head. It’s a bit overwhelming.”
“Well you’re part of us now, it’s official“, he smiled down at me. “Can I walk you back?” he asked, while he reached for my hand.
“Of course, that would be great. Then maybe you can fill me in on what to expect tomorrow night. I rarely participated back in California and I’m sure it was different from here. When I was away at school, I’d have to sneak off to the woods, usually alone. I tried only once to fight my wolf, you can imagine how that went,” I rolled my eyes. Our wolves are stubborn and on a full moon, they do not want to be contained.
Dawson chuckled at that and started to lead me down the path back to the ranch. We talked the whole way, as he filled me in on the pack run and what would happen. I was excited to be running with the pack for the first time. Now that I could mind link, it would make things more comfortable. It was another milestone in my ever changing life. I felt like I could finally breath, like something was permanent for me. I finally felt like I was safe. Like my mother was safe. I was happy.
Mating Moon
