Chapter 253
Rebecca’s POV
The sacred grove lay at the heart of Sterling territory, a perfect circle of ancient oaks that had stood witness to countless generations of werewolf ceremonies. As we approached along the torch-lit path, I could feel the energy of the place-old, powerful, and alive in a way ! couldn’t quite explain.
Dominic walked beside me, resplendent in traditional Alpha attire-black pants and a silver-embroidered jacket that emphasized the breadth of his shoulders and the power coiled within his frame. Around us, members of the Silver Moon Shadow Pack moved silently, gathering in the clearing ahead.
*Are you nervous?” Dominic asked quietly, his hand warm against the small of my back.
I considered the question seriously. “Not nervous,” I decided. “Just… aware of the weight of this moment.”
He nodded, understanding reflected in his deep blue eyes. “You’ll be magnificent,” he said with such certainty that I couldn’t help but believe him.
We reached the edge of the clearing, and Dominic stepped ahead, approaching his father who stood in the center of the grove beside a roaring bonfire. Pack members formed concentric circles around them, their faces solemn in the flickering light.
Clint Sterling, the current Alpha, raised his hands, and the murmur of voices died away.
“For three generations, I have led the Silver Moon Shadow Pack,” he began, his voice carrying easily through the night air. “I have seen us grow stronger, more prosperous, and more united. Now, as the cycle of leadership turns, I pass the mantle to one who has proven himself worthy through both blood and deed.”
He turned to Dominic, pride evident in his bearing. From around his neck, he removed a silver amulet-a wolf’s head with eyes of blue stone-and held it aloft for all to see.
“Dominic Sterling,” he intoned formally, “do you accept the responsibility of Alpha? Do you swear to protect our pack, to uphold our laws, and to lead with strength and wisdom?”
Dominic stood tall, his shoulders squared. “I accept this honor and responsibility,” he replied, his voice deep and resonant. “I swear by the moon that witnesses this night to protect, uphold, and lead the Silver Moon Shadow Pack until my last breath.”
His father placed the amulet around Dominic’s neck, then stepped back and bowed his head in the first gesture of submission. Dominic closed his eyes, and I watched in awe as his transformation began-not the partial shift I’d seen before, but a complete and controlled transformation into his wolf form.
Where Dominic had stood moments before, a massive wolf now raised its head-fur of dark grey with undertones of silver that caught the firelight. His eyes, still that remarkable deep blue, seemed to glow with inner light as he raised his muzzle to the full moon overhead and released a howl that echoed through the grove and beyond.
One by one, the pack members around us shifted into their wolf forms, dropping to their bellies in submission to their new Alpha. The energy in the clearing was electric, a palpable force that raised goosebumps along my arms despite the warmth of the night.
As the last echoes of Dominic’s howl faded, he shifted back to human form with the same fluid grace, standing proud and powerful in the center of the circle of bowing wolves. He extended his hand toward me, and I felt the pull of our bond, drawing me forward.
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14:33 Thu, Oct 2 M
Chapter 253
I stepped into the circle, acutely aware of hundreds of eyes tracking my movement. The silver-white robe I wore seemed to capture the moonlight, making it appear as though i glowed from within as I walked toward Dominic.
Marianne moved forward from the edge of the circle, carrying a delicate silver circlet in her hands. The crown of the Luna-a symbol of authority second only to the Alpha’s amulet.
“Rebecca,” she said, her voice carrying clearly, “you come to us not through bloodline, but through the sacred bond of mates. You have proven your worth not through inheritance, but through courage, compassion, and strength.”
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14:33 Thu, Oct 2 M
Mated by Contract to the Alpha
