I felt the link, the connection with everyone at the same time and it was beautiful, but my link with Xander felt better.

'Wow…" Jean exclaimed, '... this feels really nice."


'Yeah, it feels like a safe zone. I don't think I can ever feel lonely with this link present" Shinel, one of the omegas helping said.

The others had smiles on their faces, their eyes filled with wonder.

Apart from helping me get prepared for the ceremony, they were assisting madam Kimmy in the kitchen. After the ceremony, everyone would run. There needs to be food when they were done.


Werewolves don't deal with hunger well.

'Since we are all connected, will the conversations held using the link be private?"


'Yes. Only the person you intend to talk to will hear" I replied. Xander had explained how it worked yesterday.

Madam Kimmy glared at us, 'you can try to analyze the link later. For now, focus on the food. There is no time."

I smiled, although large scale cooking stressed her, she won't allow me or any other person to do it.

'Yes madam Kimmy."

****

‘Are you ready?' Xander asked through our link.

‘Yes…we are on our way.'

I could feel his joy and pride. When the pack accepted him, the happiness he felt almost moved me to tears.

‘I hope you didn't exhaust yourself at madam Kimmys' because you'll need your strength for the things I have planned for you."

His arousal hit me like a wave.

I blushed and missed a step.

'Are you okay?" Jean asked looking concerned.

'Yes…just a stone…"

More like a mate.

Jean nodded. I needed to work on getting a stoic expression.

We reached the gathering site. It was the edge of my forest. The light of the moon made it look different, magical.

I could feel the gaze of the pack members on me but I didn't remove my gaze from Xander's. He stared at me with so much love in his eyes.

How did I never see this?

I smiled at him and walked to him. Liam gave my hand a squeeze, we shared a look and a smile. He helped me up the podium and left.

'Hey" I said to Xander.

He smiled and placed a garland of flowers on my head, representing his commitment and love to me.

Soft music played in the background.

'In the name of the goddess, I bless this joining. It will be filled with love, joy and pups." Hera smiled at us.

'Exchange your ritual words."

The tempo of the music grew and we began to dance. He whispered his words to me, his gaze never leaving mine. The world around us faded away as we danced. My heart filled with happiness and I whispered my own words. Promising him my forever.

Xander drew me close once I finished. I could feel Hala staring at me with pride. He stroked my cheek sending shivers through my body.

'Mate…" he whispered.

I answered, '...mate."

He kissed me gently, our heart beating as one. A cool breeze carassed my body, it felt like the goddess approved.

The cheering of the pack pulled me back to the world. I blushed and hid my face in Xander's chest. He pressed a small kiss on my hair and faced the pack.

Ignoring my nerves, I faced the pack. Their cheering increased and I laughed. Xander's pride in me made the smile on my face increase.

'Congratulations Alpha, Luna" a lady from one of the couples said. Her brown hair formed ringlets around her baby face. Her big brown eyes made her look so adorable.

I smiled and hugged her.

'Congrats to you too."

'I'm Matilda and I've been meaning to say this."

'Oh?"

'I just…you are so beautiful…" she smiled.

I smiled, 'thank you. You're stunning."

'I look forward to taking care of our pups together…oh! I can already see the tea parties."

I laughed, she was going to be fun to hang out with.

'I can't wait. Can I call you Tilly?"

Her eyes fucking sparkled, 'Yes please."

She followed me to congratulate the others. By the time I came down from the podium, the three women and I had formed a group.

Xander was talking to Grey and Damien, Liam wa…

Fuck…was he kissing Hera? Since when?

'Are Liam and Hera a thing?" I asked, coming to stand beside Xander.

'Yeah. They also did the ceremony" said Grey.

'What?!"

Xander also looked shocked, 'I didn't know he'll actually do it."

'I'm in shock. Did you know about this?" I asked looking at Xander.

'I found out recently."

'I'm just surprised that I didn't notice. Well good for him. Hera is ancient so she'll know a lot of fucking tricks."

They stared at me.

'What?"

Grey started laughing hard. 'This is priceless."

Xander chuckled, 'your mind amazes me love."

'What? I'm just saying the truth."

Elder Luke walked up to us.

'Congratulations Alpha, Luna. I advice that we take a run now. They need to run out their excitement that has built up."

'Alright. I'm coming."

Grey and Damien left with him.

'Hey, what's on your mind?" Xander cupped my cheeks.

'What?"

'The run…"

Huh?... oh! Oh!!!.. I can't shift. Everyone would run together and if I don't shift they will know something is wrong with me. They will start treating me different…I can't…

'Babe…babe!"

I blinked, focusing on the man in front of me. My mate.

'Hey…come back to me."

'I'm here…I'm here."

'I know you're scared but these people love you. They won't treat you like they did."

'But…"

'Hey, trust me?"

'Of course…but, I don't want this. I want to run with you. With the pack."

'You will sit on Hala's back."

'No.. just go. I'll stay."

‘Are you sure?' he asked using the mind link.

‘No…I want to be with everyone but I can't keep you from them. You're their Alpha.'

He stared at me.

‘Aren't you dramatic?' Lea asked.

‘What?'

‘Did you think I could identify my mate and still not take control?'

My eyes widened.

‘Let me take control.'

He smiled and held me.

'You don't have to panic. If you panic, the process will be more painful, trust her."

'Okay…okay."

I felt Hera's presence behind me. She must have come when I was panicking.

'What's wrong?" she asked.

'Leila's about to shift. Lea wants to take control and she's panicking."

'Listen Leila, I'm not going to sugarcoat it for you, it's going to hurt a lot. The moon is full and you've never shifted before, but try not to dwell in the pain."

I could feel Lea, she was getting impatient.

'You have to go and say something to the park. You can't just leave them waiting without any explanation." I said to Xander.

He looked at me before nodding.

'Take care of her. Call me the moment you sense anything going wrong."

Hera nodded. After placing a sweet kiss on my lips, he left.

‘Are you okay?' Liam asked me through the mind link.

‘No…I'm trying to not freak out. I think I'm about to shift."

‘Shit!! Now? I'm happy for you but…it's not going to be easy.'

‘I know. I'm happy that it's finally happening, you know.'

‘Yeah…do you want me there?'

‘No, no…Hera's here. Don't think we won't talk about the relationship between you two.'

He laughed.

‘Whatever you say sis.'

'Hera, can you tell Xander that they can start running. I really don't want them here."

'I understand."

‘We are ready now…' Lea said, her body vibrating with excitement.

‘Let them leave first. We'll join them.'

‘Fine…only because I know how embarrassed you get.'

'Come on. Let's go into the forest."

Looking down, I ignored the questioning stares from the pack members and followed Hera.

The forest was quiet apart from the distant murmurs from the pack that echoed softly throughout the woods.

'How do you feel?"

'Excited and anxious. There's no pain yet."

'That's good. What about your wolf? How's she doing?"

'Lea is very excited."

'Look at me. Concentrate on your wolf…" her voice was calming. I closed my eyes. Trying to focus on Lea.

'... Don't just see her as the voice in your head. Look past that, see her in her true form. Look at her as the magestic being that resides in you…You are one but yet two different beings."

I submerged deeper into my subconscious, searching for the source of the voice of my familiar companion.

'Hello Leila."

Her voice sounded clearer her.

'Where are you?"

She giggled, 'silly, I'm you. You're me. I can't be separated from you."

'But I can't see you…" I whined.

'Really?"

I stared into the darkness.

'You don't have to try that hard…"

I focused on her voice, relying on my ears not my eyes.

'Boo!"

I jumped, turning to the sound, ready to scold her.

That's when I saw her. Her beautiful black eyes sparkled as she stared at me.

'I told you I was you."

I was stunned. She looked like me, like I would look if I was an enchanted me.

'Not exactly like me…it's like me as a goddess…"

Lea grinned, 'of course I'm better looking than you."

I laughed, 'I thought you would look like a wolf."

'You want to see?"

'What?"

'My other form. You want to see?"

Other form? She watched me with an amused gaze…Her wolf form!!..

'Yeah!"

'You'll have to wait. I'm itching for a run and I can smell Hala from here."

'Okay…how do I give you control?"

She stroked my cheek, 'you're already doing it. The pain will soon kick in soon…don't worry, this is the only time it'll hurt."

'What do you…"

'Fuck!!!"

I was back in the forest. The pain was bone deep.

'Hera!!...fuck!"

'Push through the pain Leila." She stood close but didn't touch me.

'I can't fucking push through this!!"

I fell to my knees. It felt like my bones were shifting, violently.

The loud crack from my spine freaked me out, the pain made me whimper. This hurts…hurts so bad.

My elbow and ankles bent at the same time. I let out a loud scream, tears ran down my face.

'I don't wanna shift anymore…" I whispered. I saw Hera's mouth move but I couldn't hear what she was saying.

Xander…another scream left my lips with the next bone shift.

Xander…

‘It's alright. I'll take it from here' Lea said.

I sighed and closed my eyes.


****

The absence of pain made me open my eyes.

I blinked. The world look brighter, clearer…I could see the entire body part of a sugar ant that was climbing a fruit tree. Amazing…

I looked up at the sky and the scents hit me.

I could smell everything…Hera smelled like herbs, cooling herbs…the scent of every fruit and tree filled my nose.

Wow…was this how the others smelt always?

'Leila…Lea is really beautiful" Hera said.

Huh?...I looked down and realized I was on all fours…

I did it!!..Lea, we did it!!

She laughed, ‘I take it that you've finished sniffing the air?'

I smiled.

'Come on. Run. Let's go see Xander."

'How is it that I'm in charge and you're still bossy?"

I laughed.

Hera shifted. Her wolf was huge with mix of black and brown fur.

She took the lead and Lea happily followed.


****


Lea

I could finally meet him. My mate. My other half.

The rush of excitement flowing through my body as I ran beside the volana wolf was indescribable. With each stride, I felt like one with the wind, the moon and the earth under my paws.

I could feel Leila's growing excitement.

'Faster…" she urged.

I nudged Hera, nipping playfully at her.

‘Race me' I said through the link.

‘It's on.'

I released a happy howl and ran faster. The scent of my mate guiding me to him. Leila whooped in my head. Finally, we won't been seen as different anymore. We had found a good mate and a better pack.

The volana was closing the gap between us. Fast.

I swished my tail under her nose and sped up.