by Bianca Griso
“No, just leave it on the bed. I’m going to hop in the shower,” Mason told me. Luckily he doesn’t take long in the shower, and when I’m in it, he can get dressed out here.
That’s what ends up happening; thankfully, we do have quite a bit of time to get ready. Once Mason gets done with his shower, I go in. A clean towel is all ready for me in there, and his shirt, pants, and tie are all ready for him.
After my shower, I curl my long brown hair, which can take a while. I have my sundress that’s a cream color on with my black wedges. I do want to stand there somewhat comfortable. A knock on the bedroom door disrupts my thoughts and doing my hair.
When I open the door, Selene, the new omega, is in the doorway. “Luna Esme, it’s almost time for the ceremony,” Selene informed me.
“Okay, I’m almost done getting ready; I will be down soon,” I tell her. She nods and leaves. I close the door and continue getting ready.
When I’m done, I head down to the Alpha’s Garden for today’s event. Wolf News is here; sadly, it’s Jessica Wolfmen that’s doing the live broadcast. When I walk out, Jessica is outside the door, getting ready for the broadcast, doing finishing touches. I walk out, and all eyes are on me. I walk up to Mason, who is standing next to Alpha Jack upfront. A microphone is all set up for everyone to hear us.
I greet Alpha Jack and thank him for doing this for us. As it means a lot to the pack and to Mason and I. Alpha Jack has always been a father figure to Mason, especially when his parents died in an accident. I hug Mason, and he kisses the top of my head.
After our hellos, the music starts. “Today is an important day for Pack Rivers, as it’s Alpha Mason and soon-to-be Luna Esme mating ceremony. Today we celebrate two people come together. The Moon Goddess gifted your Alpha a mate and gifted your pack with a Luna. As we enter dark times, we have to enjoy moments like this because we never know when we will get another chance.” Alpha Jack starts off the ceremony.
“I as Alpha Jack will mate you Esme and you Mason today. As the past Alpha is not here to do it, it is honor bringing these two beautiful souls together.” Alpha Jack says as he cuts his hand. Everyone watches the blood go into the bowl. “Alpha Mason of Pack Rivers, do you accept soon-to-be- Luna Esme, as you will be together in this life, and in the next life and for all eternity,” Alpha Jack asked Mason. Alpha Jack passes the knife to Mason.
“I accept Esme Hilltop as my mate for this life and next for all eternity,” Mason answers as he cuts his hand. The blood drips into the same bowl. Mason passes me the knife as it’s my turn.
“Soon-to-be Luna Esme Hilltop, do you accept Alpha Mason Rivers of Pack Rivers as your mate, as you will be together in this life and in the next life and for all eternity?” Alpha Jack asked.
“I accept Alpha Mason Rivers of Pack Rivers as my mate for this life and next and for all eternity,” I reply as I cut my hand. After my blood drips into the bowl, Alpha Jack takes a sip, and it passes to Mason, then me.
After we all drank it, Alpha Jack says, “I announce these two beautiful souls as one, and fully mated, congratulations Alpha Mason and Esme Hilltop!” Everyone starts to cheer. Mason pulls me closer and kisses me. The crowd is loud, and I can’t hear my own thoughts. The nice moment ends for us as we hear a high pitch scream.
We turn around, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I stare at Marisa, who is covered in blood and dirt. I run over to her, and she nearly falls. I hold her close to me as her body is reacting to something. “Marisa, talk to me. What happened?” I asked. Marisa doesn’t say anything, but her body does. She throws up wolfsbane all over along with black fluids.
“Someone help!” I yell out for help. Anna comes rushing over, and Mason gets me off the ground and pulls me close. Before Anna can really do anything to help, Marisa is gone again.
I look around, and Cassandra is crying, and so Chelsea. I just don’t understand how this could have happened. I buried my friend already. So the question is, who unburied my friend and did this? Now I have to bury my friend for the second time.
After everything that happened outside, all the Alphas, Lunas, and Betas are in the conference room. Anna is working on Marisa’s body with Elder William as to why this happened. As we wait for word, the men are coming up with their own theories.
A knock on the door settles the commotion. Mason opens the door, Anna and Elder William are on the other side. Anna and William walk in and stand in front of everyone. “We can confirm that Marisa had vampire venom in her system when she passed, and she also had wolfsbane in her system as well,” Anna states.
“Werewolf packs have been forbidden to have this plant for over a thousand years; my guess is that the exiled vampires had something to do with this,” Elder William said, clarifying everyone’s thoughts.
A rage boils in me when I hear this. Someone had to follow us, watched me bury Marisa and dug her up. Everyone looks over at me to see if I’m okay. “They won’t get away with this; we will kill all of them responsible for this. They won’t know mercy,” I tell everyone in the room. I won’t let the monsters get away with poisoning my friend.
Chapter Twenty-One
Mason
Today is bittersweet for us, as a mutated Marisa walked through. It definitely rises question for the pack members. After the meeting we had last minute, we are going through with dinner. As it will be a good distraction for Esme, Chelsea, and Cassandra. Esme and I have to go through with tonight, I have to mark her. Or we won’t be fully mated to one another.
Before we go to dinner, Esme is changing into a new dress, as the one she’s wearing is covered in black liquid and wolfbane.
I walk with Esme to our bedroom, and wait for her. Everyone else is going to meet us in the dining area. I haven’t talked to her about any of this yet. I’m lost for words, and so is everyone else. I don’t think anyone saw that coming at all.
Esme comes out of the bathroom and she’s in a purple dress sundress now. To me it doesn’t matter what she wears, she’s beautiful in everything. Before we leave I pull her in a hug, and I hold her close. She pulls away and a few tears stream down her face. She gave me a sad smile. I wipe her tears away, and kiss her soft lips. “I’m sorry that you and your friends are going through this. I can’t imagine what your going through Esme. We just have to hang in there, they will pay with their lives, they won’t get away with it,” I assure her. She nods in response. She holds my hand, and leads me out for dinner.
As we walked in the room, everyone stands up and rise there glasses. We take our seats and everyone at the table sits down. Alpha Jack stands back up and holds his glass. “I want to start tonight’s dinner, with my condolence. Esme I have no words expect I’m so sorry with what happened today. Marisa deserved better than that, and we will get ones responsible for this, to Marisa,” Alpha Jack said toasting for Esme’s friend. Everyone raises their glasses with him, as do we.
Anna stands up next with her glass in her hand. “My big brother, you been wanting and waiting for the Moon Goddess to gift you a mate. Luna of Pack Rivers, to help you lead this pack during dark times. I want to raise my glass to Esme and Mason! Welcome to the family Esme,” Anna said toasting to us. Esme gives everyone a small smile and a nod.
Dinner went good, it was quite, no one really knew what to say to us. Esme has to mourn Marisa all over again. The Alphas are staying for the funeral, and the war announcement tomorrow. “Peter I need you to plan a last minute funeral for Marisa for day after tomorrow,” I mind link Peter setting up plans for Marisa. He gets me back quickly and his response is “yes of course.”
I open the bedroom door and I let Esme in first. When I close the door, Esme wraps her arms around me with her face buried in my chest. I hold her close as she lets out some tears. There isn’t much more I can do for her, I just have to let her cry it out. “I’m Mason I know this isn’t what’s supposed to happen now,” Esme said apologizing.
“I gently lift her face so she’s looking at me, “Esme darling you have nothing to
apologize for. This wasn’t in anyone control expect for the people who did that to Marisa. This isn’t your fault,” I tell her. She looks at me with sadness in her eyes, and she nods.
“I know it’s not, but today wasn’t supposed to be like this,” Esme said. I gently hold her face, and kiss her soft lips. The kiss starts off sweet and soft, and it turns rough and raw. I pick her up, and put her on the bed. Esme has her hands in my hair and my back to hold herself steady. I hover over her on the bed, and Esme unbuttons my shirt and takes off my tie. When my shirt is off, her hands run through my abdomen and arms. I unzip her dress and pull it over her head.
Esme pulls me towards her, and she starts the kiss off raw and rough, our tongues dance for dominance. She unclips her bra, and I suck and lick her nipple. My hand plays with her other boob. With my hot mouth playing her breasts and nipples, Esme moans softly. “Mason,” Esme moans my name. My dick instantly hardens hearing my name like that from my mate.
Esme unbuttons my pants and pulls everything down. She flips us over, and she’s now on top. She goes to my jawline with kisses, and to my neck. Leaving small lovebites on my sensitive spots. Esme makes me wanting more, wanting all of her. I want to flip us over, eat her out, and her body go this insane, but instead I let her take control for a little while longer.
I pull her thong off, and now it’s wraps around her ankles, she shakes them off of her. With both of us nude, she goes down my stomach all the way down at the end of my happy trail. “Esme,” I moan my mate’s name as her hot mouth wraps around my harden dick.
Esme stops and takes and takes a breath, and that’s when I pull her up, and flip us over. I kiss her hot mouth rough and raw. I give her soft sweet kisses down her jawline down her neck, to all the way down her body. “Mason,” Esme moans my name. I smile between my kisses knowing that she will be getting louder.
I go all the way down, my mouth finds her soft dripping wet pussy. I lick and suck her clit, I moan as I taste her juices. Her once soft moans, becomes louder. Esme grips on the sheets and squeeze’s her toes. Her hips are thrusted up, closer to mouth. “Mason!” She screams my name as she gets closer to her orgasm.
Before she cums I stop and go back up. I kiss her swollen lips, and go down to her neck. As I slide into Esme, I sink my teeth into her neck and mark her completing the mating bond. I thrust into her faster, as we both get closer to an orgasm. I go faster and harder, as we both orgasm.
I kiss her as I get up to go to the bathroom. I grab some toilet paper, and clean us both off. Esme already turned over, and is sound asleep. I crawl into bed next to my mate, and I pull her close to me. I hold her close and snuggle with her. “Goodnight my beautiful mate,” I said.
The next morning Esme wakes up and she checks out her new mark. It’s all red and swollen with it being fresh. We both get dressed for the official announcement of war. Everything is going according to plan so far.
I open the front door, and the other Alphas are already here standing up front to the side. Esme stands next to me hand in hand. The podium is ready to go with the cameras here and Jessica Wolfmen standing in front of the big crowed in front of the Pack House.
“Pack Rivers this isn’t easy to say, and it’s kind of complicated to understand everything. We are at war with dangerous beings called vampires and hunters. Human hunters are killing us off without a trace, blood, and they aren’t leaving bodies. They are killing innocent people who like to be left alone. So myself, and other Alphas have came together to beat them and win, and to save our kind. As we are going to dark times, we have to have hope that we make it through this time. Please continue with the eight O’clock curfew, it’s for everyone’s safety. I’m sorry this has happened, but these hunters and group of vampires started this war, and we will finish it!” I announce to all the packs as this was a live broadcast for all the packs.
During dinner we all sat together, and I think for once we are all calm and confident we are to win this war. “So it’s offical we are in war, and our kind is in our hands,” Alpha Crimson states.
“We have to win, we have no other choice,” Alpha Ethan comments.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Esme
I have no words as to what happened. As I can’t believe it. I’m going to bury my friend for the second time today. As it’s bittersweet today, I’m a fully mated werewolf, but as my second day, I’m going to bury my friend. I crawl out of bed and get dressed. Mason is in the bathroom first, since he’s faster. I go grab coffees for the both of us.
I come back and Mason is just about done getting ready. “Thank you darling for the coffee,” Mason said kissing me on the cheek.
“Both of us need this coffee,” I remind him. He gives me a kiss and smiles at me.
After a slow morning of getting ready, and some small talk. Not much to say to one another, as we are trying to figure things out. As we sit upstairs in the office, waiting for everyone to come. We get called downstairs as everyone is ready. We all walk down to the river, which eventually goes down into the ocean. In Pack Rivers, we don’t have beaches and have a shoreline. We just have lakes and a river.
We stop and gather by Marisa’s body as we give her a proper burial that she deserves. Everyone quiets down as we start. “I want to thank everyone here for coming this morning. I know not all of you know what happened to her, or even know who she is. Marisa is a kind soul, who already gave up so much. She had to reject her mate, as the Goddess told her to do so. Marisa didn’t want to reject Daniel, but she had to for things to change so we can all survive. She passed away a few weeks ago, I had buried her. Vampires stalked and waited for me to be done burying her, to dig up her grave. So they can take her and poisoned her with vampire blood, and experimented on her body,” I explain to everyone what happened. Most of the faces out here are shocked to hear this. The truth isn’t an easy thing to say or to hear, but it needs to come out. No more lies.
“Now today we say goodbye to Marisa, as she will finally be at peace with her mate Daniel,” I continue to say as I light the canoe with her body in it. We push the boat off the shore as it floats away, Marisa and the boat ignite into flames, her soul will be at peace. No one can hurt her again.
I look to see Chelsea and Cassandra both standing up front crying with their mates, Tyler and Cassius. Mason stands next to me holding me close, helping me grieve for the second time.
The crowd grows smaller and smaller as the flames goes smaller. The six of us wait to leave until the boat is no longer in view and fire has gone out.
Dinner is quiet, even with the other Alphas here. Giving Mason and I some space, they haven’t had much to say on the matter. Everyone is in shock that this had happened in the first place. The other Alphas are staying for a few weeks, as it’s my crowning officially becoming Luna in two weeks. Peter has been planning it with me, and Elder Mary. She is helping me prepare for the role of Luna and teaching me how to be Luna of Pack Rivers. Mary is also telling Peter what needs to happen at the event, and how it happens. In two weeks, I will be a Luna of Pack Rivers officially. I have embraced my role in these dark times, I’m ready to be Luna of this pack.
After dinner, we say our goodnights as the Alphas will have longs days ahead of the planning for war. We will be ready for our enemies.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Mason
It’s been a week since the whole thing with Marisa, and the official announcement of war. In one more week, we will officially have a Luna for this pack. Pack members are taking this time to celebrate our new rank, our most important person of this pack. Esme was worried about what the pack thought of an albino wolf being Luna of the pack. She doesn’t seem to be worried anymore, I believe she finally embraced her role like the Moon Goddess wanted. The day before the event Elder Mary will help prepare and give lessons to Esme on how to be a rule a pack and be Luna.
The other Alphas and I have been talking about attacking back, but not sure where. Alpha Jack wants us to talk to the vampire clan and
get some information. We know next to nothing of the exiled vampires. We only know what Cassius told us, nothing where they could be. Jack thinks the king of Darkness knows where they might be hiding.
We all pile in my conference room and come up with a plan. “So since we are hiding Cassius and a werewolf who is pregnant with Cassius’s vampire genes, I think we need to stay away from the clan. They don’t like us, that’s a possible war in the future,” I explain my reasoning.
“So what do you think we should do instead,” Alpha Ethan injects into the conversation. I look over at him and answer, “we use our best trackers and ambushers to find their current location. I doubt they stay in one spot long. They are exiled from their clan, that’s our advantage over the group of scientists and their followers. As for the human hunters, we can put some scouts in human areas to find where they hide. Hunters come from old families who have been doing that occupation for a long time. I can see them moving with the times, they are hiding behind something. They will need money for their research and a big enough place for the bodies.”
“They would need money, especially how they are doing it. Money and a place to keep all the bodies since they haven’t been any spottings. So them using a type of corporation to hide themselves and to bring in money,” Alpha Crimson agreeing with me. Before anyone else can say anything, the door swings open.
“Pardon me, Alpha Mason Pack Meadows has been attacked. No sign of anyone,” Paul my scout informs us.