The Secrets of the Panther
Chapter 161

IZZY

ALPHA AND LUNA CEREMONY

(PART ONE)

I sat by the desk, looking at myself in the mirror.

Today was the day I become the Luna of the pack with Blake as Alpha.

Last night was lovely. Once Allie fell asleep with Archer by her side. I mind-linked Alice that the children were in bed, and she told me they were heading down to me.

I used the bedroom next door for everyone to meet. I wasn’t planning on doing anything, but I knew the girls wanted to hold something for me. I asked some omegas to make some food for us.

As I walked into the bedroom, there was a table set up by the side of the wall with loads of finger food and drinks.

Everyone arrived, and we all had fun. Everyone was there. Eve was sitting on the edge of the bed with Kat and Alice on either side of her. Luna Lauren was seated opposite, with Lena and Charley sitting on either side of her. Kacey told me she was going out with the boys but would be back soon to see me.

Alice and I asked Eve many questions about what she had been doing and what had happened. Eve looked more like Kat, but something about her was familiar. She seemed like someone I had met somewhere, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I know she hasn’t got the features of Clara, but there was something about her. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

The night wasn’t long, and everyone left after a few hours. I was in bed for an hour when Blake mind linked drunk, telling me he loved me and couldn’t wait to see me. He sounded clearly drunk, but I guess he had a good night too.

Puna heard from Axel too, which had her in a fit of giggles, trying to understand the slurring dog. I woke up earlier than planned, but the baby had other ideas. I vomited twice already, and all I seem to want to do is freak out at everything.

I was still staring in the mirror, but my eyes wandered to the dress hanging up in the wardrobe. Luna Lauren designed the dress, which would be my first time seeing it. She had my size as she had someone come in a few times to take my measurements.

There was knocking on the door to the joining room, and I glanced over at it as I heard the door handle being moved down.

When the door opened, in walked Allie and Archer. Archer smiled, but Allie was staring at me. I turned around in my seat and stared at them. “Did you both have a good sleep?” I asked. “Today is going to be long.”

Archer nodded, but Allie stood rooted to the spot. I watched her, but she sighed. “I want Daddy,” she says. A tear slips from her eyes.

I got up off the chair and walked over to her. I knelt before her, placing my hands on her little ones. “Allie, we will get ready and see Daddy soon,” I said. “Auntie Kat, Alice and Grandma are coming to help us get ready.”

Allie pulls a face. “I want to see Daddy,” she says.

I sighed. She has seen Blake as much as me, not a lot, as he has been busy working in the office.

I looked at her, “how about I ask Uncle Dale to come and get you so that you can see Daddy for a little while, and then you can come back and get ready,” I said.

I looked at her and could tell she was thinking about the idea. But taking a chance at her changing her mind, I had a little thought.

“Allie, I bought you something that I think you may like,” I said, pulling her from her thoughts. Her eyes roamed over my face. “A sister?” she asked.

I stared at her, but I said nothing. I got up from the position and moved to the closet.

Kat and I were looking for a dress that would be perfect for Allie, and I found it at the local store here in the town. The she-wolf there was super friendly and even altered some features of the dress to make it more Allie.

I walked into the closet and picked up the dress, which had a cover to keep it from getting dirty.

I walked back out of the closet and headed toward the bed, placing the dress on the bed. I could feel movement by the side of me.

I glanced down, and Allie was touching the cover. But she looked up at me, “what is it, mummy?” she asked.

I smiled. “Open it.”

With that, Allie moved to the side while I moved the dress so she could take the cover off. Once she undid the zip, she moved it down, and I removed the cover to reveal her dress.

Allie’s eyes were enormous, and her mouth was gaping open.

“Do you like it?” I asked.

“Mummy,” she whispers, then looks at me. “It’s like Elsa’s dress, but it’s for me.”

I smiled and nodded.

“Yes, angel,” I said.

“Can I put that on and show Daddy?” she asked.

I nodded. “You need a bath and need to make sure….” I said, but Allie had turned around and ran to the bathroom. “Hurry, mummy,” she says. “I want a bath so I can put the dress on.”

I smiled. I looked at Archer, who was frowning. “I don’t have to wear something like Kristoff, do I?” he asked.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “No, but you have a stunning suit to put on. Paul and Alice will take you back to the house to get ready with the lads,” I said.

Archer smiled. “Thank you,” he said. He looked to the bathroom. “I want Allie to be my mate.”

My eyebrows shot up; what the hell?

Archer looked at me and smiled. “I think we will be,” he said. “But I will love Allie every day, even if she’s not.”

I wanted to cry, these damn stupid hormones. I shook my head and cleared my throat. I was about to speak when a knock came at the door and Alice walked in. She looks at Archer and me. She was about to speak when Allie bolts out of the bathroom and nearly knocks Alice off her feet. “Auntie Alice, look, I got an Elsa dress,” she shouts.

Alice looks over at me and smiles. “I know, peanut,” she said. “Now, is it ok if I take Archer to the house to get him ready, and I will come back and get you ready? I will make you look prettier than Elsa.”

Allie jumps up and down but looks over at me. “Can I go with Alice? I come back,” she says.

I nodded.

Alice got both kids ready and walked out of the room with them as she closed the door.

Kat and Luna Lauren walked in a few seconds later.

I smiled.

“You are awake; I thought I would have to get you up,” says Luna Lauren.

I said nothing.

I looked to see what Puna was doing, but she was still asleep in my head. Her purring was soft, but never vibrated around my head. This pregnancy is doing wonders for us. Puna sleeps a lot, and I vomit every chance I get. There is no winning this.

“Izzy, you ok?” asks Kat.

I looked over at her, and she had her dress in her hand. I couldn’t help but look at the door. “Where is Eve?” I asked. Kat looked at me and smiled. “Eve is still sleeping in my room. I thought she should rest more, but she will be in here later to help get you ready,” she says.

I nodded.

“Shall we get you started?” asked Luna Lauren. But she glanced around but looked at me with concern. “Where is Allie?” she asked. I told them that Alice had her and would be back to get ready soon when she returned.

“Did she like the dress?” asked Kat as I walked toward the bathroom.

I stopped and looked over my shoulder at her with a smile. “She loved it; she thinks it looks like Elsa’s dress,” I said.

Kat beamed, and Luna Lauren placed Allie’s dress in the wardrobe next to mine.

I quickly went into the shower and got myself sorted. I even vomited in the bath; nerves are also kicking in, as well as this pregnancy.

Once I was done, I wrapped myself up with a towel around my chest and hair. I walked out and headed over to the chair. Kat stared at me, but she opened a mind link. “You ok?” she asked. “I heard you being sick in there.”

I stared at her, but my eyes darted to Luna Lauren, who was over by the telephone. “Don’t worry, she was on the phone,” Kat said, guessing what I was thinking.

“This morning sickness is kicking my ass, and Puna is still asleep,” I said.

Kat nodded, but said nothing.

“I guess you can’t eat anything,” she blurts out.

“Nope, everything makes me sick,” I said.

Kat looked at Luna Lauren, who was now staring at us. “You know I can tell what’s going on,” she said. Luna Lauren focused on me and smiled. “I won’t tell Blake.”

I stared at her, trying to figure out what she was talking about.

“Izzy, you’re pregnant, aren’t you?” she asked.

I nodded, not saying anything.

Luna Lauren smiled and walked over to me.

Kat stared at me, but was smiling. Luna Lauren stops behind and removes my towel from my hair. “I guess you have had terrible morning sickness and can’t eat,” she says.

I nodded. “I can’t eat or sleep,” I said. “I have tried to tell Blake, and even Puna has tried telling Axel, but we seem to miss each other over the last three weeks.”

Luna Lauren touches my shoulder and gently smoothes her thumb over my skin. “Izzy, I know what it is like to be with an alpha. They are so busy that they sometimes forget about their mates and what’s around them.”

I smiled.

“I will not announce it at the ceremony,” I said as some vomit came up my throat. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing.

Once the feeling of being sick passed, I opened my eyes and stared at both women. “I want this to be about us,” I said. “Blake and I are going to the cabin with Allie tomorrow. And I think it is the best thing to do is to announce to both of them together.”

Luna Lauren and Kat both beamed. “That will be a brilliant idea,” Kat said. “We will keep our mouths shut till you get back, and also, we can help you out tonight.”

I nodded. I looked at Luna Lauren, “shall we get me ready now?” I asked.

Luna Lauren nodded and smiled. I knew this would take a few hours to get me ready, which is why Charley, Kacey and Lena were coming to help. Alice was going to get Allie ready.

*************************

Three hours and fifteen minutes later, I was ready. I was staring back at the floor-length mirror in complete shock.

I was in my dress, and it looked stunning. The dress was all laced and had a low back. The lace-covered my arms and chest perfectly. The bottom half was laced on top, but I couldn’t make out the material underneath. You would have thought I was getting married, but the lace was a rose gold color. It brought out my eye color and black hair more.

I had little make-up on and my hair was in waves, but it was half up and half down. I looked at Luna Lauren and Kat, who had tears. “You look so beautiful, Izzy,” says Kat. “Your parents would be so proud.”

I said nothing, but stared at myself. I was stunned at how well everything had turned out. I noticed Luna Lauren move toward me and me something. I looked down, and it was a photograph of my mother and father.

My eyes never leave the photograph. “That was your mother and father, the night they found each other,” she said. “I knew I had the photograph and had to dig it up, as I wanted something to give you.”

“Your mum was a gorgeous woman, and I knew if I could make something that looked like hers, I would.” I looked over at her as a tear slid down my face. Her finger catches my tear before it touches my cheek as she looks at me.

I stared at her, but my eyes landed on the dress my mother was wearing. The material may have been different, but the color and shape were identical. Luna Lauren tried to make the dress my mother had in this photograph.

I could feel Puna stir in my head, and I looked back to replace her yawning. She stares at me and nods. “You look beautiful, Izzy,” she says. “Mate won’t be able to keep his hand off you.”

I groan.

Luna Lauren looked at me, confused. I shook my head. “Puna is awake, and her head went straight to the gutter,” I said, making everyone laugh.

All the others left, except for Allie and Alice. They were in the bedroom getting Allie done.

The joining room door opens, and I see my gorgeous sweetheart looking at me with wide eyes. “Mummy, you look so pretty,” she says as she walks in. Her eyes were big and bright. “Daddy will like it.”

“So will my sister,” she said.

Alice looks at me, confused. But I keep my mouth shut. How the hell does Allie know? I shook my head and looked at everyone.

“Are we ready to leave?” I asked.

Alice was muttering to Kat, but I tried not to pay attention.

Allie walks to me and places her little hand in mine.

“I want to walk with you,” she says.

I smiled. I looked at Luna Lauren, who had a blank expression on her face. She comes back and smiles at me. “Izzy, it’s time.”

I nodded.

Everyone left first, with Luna Lauren and Kat behind me. Alice smiled and hugged me. “I know, but I won’t tell anyone, cousin.” I nodded and smiled at her.

We left the bedroom and headed to the grand hall, where Blake would be waiting for me outside the hall doors.

As I left, I had a dry mouth as I got closer. I could feel someone stare at me. I knew who it was, as my stomach was in knots. He has that effect on me all the time.