The Secrets of the Panther
Chapter 163

IZZY

ALPHA AND LUNA CEREMONY

(PART THREE)

I stared at the door, willing for them to open it, as I was getting more nervous by the second about doing the ceremony.

Puna and I agreed on the way down the stairs that we needed to tell Blake about the pregnancy. My sickness was getting worse, and I had to throw up twice before we came down, and one of them was in a flower pot.

Blake’s hand squeezed my hand, and I looked up at him. He smiled. “I am happy we are having a baby,” he says.

I smiled.

“Allie keeps on about having a baby sister,” I said to him. He nodded. “Well, she might have to wait. We may have a boy.”

I glanced at him. Some of the sickness I remembered when carrying Allie. I couldn’t eat certain foods like this one. But I was constantly tired with Allie, but this one, I was awake.

“I believe Allie,” says Puna. “It’s a girl.”

I stared at her with furrowed eyebrows. “Why?” I asked.

Puna looked at me and smiled. “Well, I’m getting the tiredness, not you,” she says. “I think if I were around when you had Allie, I probably would have taken that burden from you. I know I was around, but the power was blocking me from the pregnancy like it knew I needed to help you somehow.”

I nodded.

“It’s time,” says Blake, pulling me from my conversation with Puna.

The doors opened, and everyone stood up and turned to look at us. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me.

My stomach was in knots.

Blake and I walked down the middle of the hall, where people were on each side. I could hear a few murmurs, but nothing stood out.

As we came to the stage, I noticed Alpha Derek was standing there with a beaming smile on his face. Blake helped me get onto the stage and stood in the middle.

Alpha Derek clears his throat. “WELCOME EVERYONE,” he shouts.

Everyone looks at him, and all the chattering stops.

“We are gathered here today to place my son and his mate, Izzy, as the new Alpha and Luna of the pack,” he says. His eyes scan over the room.

“I am honored to be handing my pack over to my son, Blake. But as we all know, his mate Izzy, your new Luna, was the one who saved us all in the war against all wars. We owe her everything, but we also know she is one Luna that no one should mess with,” he says. “So, without distractions, let’s get down to business.”

Alpha Derek turned, and we looked at him. “Blake, repeat after me,” he says. “I, Blake, will be an alpha that will hold everything to the law. I will make sure my pack is well cared for and kept safe from every danger that will come our way. I will be the Alpha that this pack needs and also will take this pack forward into the new light that I will uphold to the best of my ability.”

Blake repeated everything, and Alpha Derek repeated the exact words to me. I repeated everything back.

Alpha Derek takes a knife and cut his hand, while Blake does the same. I glanced to the side and noticed that Tilly was in the middle of them. “Time for a fresh change in leadership,” she says. “I will now place the new alpha in line.”

The ritual didn’t take long, and Tilly said a few words. Alpha Derek and Blake joined their hands together, but I didn’t realize that Alpha Derek had a wolf tattoo on his chest; as he closed his eyes, so did Blake. The tattoo appeared on his chest of Blake as some blood slipped through onto his shirt.

“NOW, I INTRODUCE YOU TO ALPHA BLAKE AND LUNA IZZY,” shouted Tilly. I could hear loud cheering around the hall as Blake and I stepped forward.

“Now, we eat,” shouted Blake.

Everyone disappeared out of the hall and into the pack grounds. We held the rest of the celebration outside, as it was a glorious day. I looked up at Blake, who was staring down at me. They left us on our own.

“My Luna,” he said as he turned me toward him and pulled me closer. He dipped his head into the crook of my neck and breathed in my scent. “Izzy,” he says quietly.

I closed my eyes as I felt his lips go against my neck. “I love you so much,” he says. I opened my eyes and pulled back slightly. “I think we better eat,” I said.

Blake stares at me for a moment but places his hand on my flat stomach. “I can’t wait to start these new chapters with you and Allie,” he says. “And our baby.” I couldn’t help but smile.

“I can’t either,” I said. I could feel Puna purr in my head, and I leaned up to him, capturing his lips with mine. I kiss him passionately and pull back.

We smiled at each other, and Blake led the way to the grounds where the rest of the pack was.

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

BLAKE

Walking hand in hand with Izzy, my Luna was a dream come true. We may have had a long road ahead, but we are finally here with each other.

The rest of the evening went well, and everyone was dancing and singing. I avoided drinking, not just after the amount I consumed the night before, but I wanted to be there for Izzy, who I have to say was glowing.

I was surprised that she told me she was pregnant before, but I am happy to know now. We now had a baby on the way and had to run a pack. I don’t know whether I like those odds, but they are all exciting events happening soon.

I glanced around and spotted Izzy. She was dancing with Kacey, Lena, Charley, and Alice. Archer was swinging Kat around, and another woman looked like Kat had joined them. That must be Eve. I haven’t introduced myself yet to her, but I guess we have time. I could sense someone standing next to me, but I knew who it was.

“Drake,” I said, but I never took my eyes off Izzy.

“She looks stunning,” he says.

“I know,” I said.

Someone else had joined us, and I couldn’t help but glance toward the person.

“Hi,” he says. “I’m Dylan.”

I nodded.

“I’m Izzy’s friend,” he said, holding his hand out to me. I shook it. “I have been helping Izzy and your father locate the mates of those who were forced to reject their mates because of that, Elder.”

I smiled. “Thank you for your help,” I said. “Izzy told me so much about you. You saved her a few times, by all accounts.”

Dylan laughed. “Too many times to count,” he said.

The movement behind us caught my attention, and I turned around to meet with Tilly and the two men who came with her.

I smiled. “Alpha Blake,” says Tilly. “These are the elders that wanted to meet you and Luna Izzy.”

I placed my hand out and shook each of their hands. I was about to explain where Izzy was, but her scent hit me hard, and I glanced down next to me. She took my hand in hers, staring at Tilly and the two elders.

“This is Luna Izzy,” Tilly says. One of the men nodded with a smile, but the other was staring at my mate. I was not too fond of the way he was looking at her.

“So you are the panther shifter that took down a witch, a vampire, and Elder Johnson,” he says smugly. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that a cat shifter could do such a thing.”

The whole pack ground goes quiet, and a few growls slip through some members. I could feel Axel on all fours, standing at attention. I could feel Izzy’s emotions through the mate bond, but something was up.

I looked at Axel, but he smirked.

“Puna,” he mouthed. I glanced down at my mate, who had her eyes closed.

Her eyes flew open, and they were green. “I THINK YOU SHOULD KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT, OR YOU WILL HAVE THE SAME FATE AS THAT STUPID ELDER,” hisses Puna.

The Elder, whose eyes had gone so wide that they looked like they were going to fall out of their sockets, stood still and nodded. “I didn’t mean…” he says, but Puna cuts him off. “I hope not. I will tell you this once, and only once, you come at my human again. I will rip you to shreds.”

He nodded.

Izzy closes her eyes, and when she opens, her eyes return to her beautiful blue ones. I glanced at Tilly, who had a smirk on her face. “I’m going to get a drink,” says the Elder, before anyone could say anything else.

“What was his problem?” I asked her as I watched him.

“He is one elder I’m monitoring,” she says. “He came across as very interested in the process you are doing in your pack. But he has been making some snide comments about certain things.”

She glances at me. “I will place him further away from here so you will have no contact with him, but if he has any more comments like that again, he will be a lower rank member and be thrown out,” she said.

“I will keep an extra eye on him,” says the other Elder. He holds his hand out to me, and I take it. “I’m Elder Ronan.” I nodded. He shook Izzy’s hand and smiled at her. “It’s such an honor to meet you Luna,” he says.

Izzy said nothing, but she smiled.

“We won’t keep you,” says Tilly. “We will leave now. I will be in contact with you both about more shifter details.”

Both Izzy and I nodded to her.

Tilly and Elder Ronan leave and take the other Elder with him.

Izzy’s eyes never leave them until they are out of sight. I glanced around and noticed a light blue color coming toward me from the corner of my eyes. I looked at it and couldn’t help but smile.

“Allie,” I say to her, scooping her into my arms. Her arms go around my neck, and she breathes in my scent. I looked toward where she came from and noticed someone walking toward me.

“Eve,” says Izzy.

Allie’s hold on me gets tighter, but I smile at Eve.

“Eve, this is my mate, Alpha Blake,” she says. Eve smiled and held out her hand to me. “It is so nice to meet you finally,” she says. Her eyes go to Allie.

“I’m going to dance with her now,” I said.Eve smiled. And I turned around and headed to the dance floor with Allie in my arms.

As we approached, someone played, Let it go. I held onto Allie, but she pulled away and looked at me. “I want to stay with you, mummy, and my baby sister,” she said.

I smiled. “I won’t have it any other way, Allie,” I said.

She smiled.

I looked toward Izzy, who was talking to Eve.

“Do you like Eve?” I asked Allie.

Allie’s bottom lip goes into a hardline, but she says nothing. I stopped dancing and looked at her. “Allie, tell me what’s wrong?” I asked, feeling slightly worried.

Axel was close by and cocking his head to each side. He was trying to read her, but Allie wasn’t giving anything away.

Allie looked at me. “I don’t know Daddy,” she said. “She seems nice, but I don’t know.”

Allie always seemed to like everyone, but I guess some will always be slightly off to her. I looked at her. “Eve is Kat’s sister, your auntie. She is new. You might need some time to get used to her, but I promise you Allie, she won’t hurt you,” I said. I have no idea what to think, and I don’t know the woman. But I guess we all need a chance to get to know her.

Axel stared at Eve and then back at Allie. He says nothing.

“Allie, shall we keep on dancing?” I asked her.

Allie smiled.

I looked toward Izzy, who was now walking toward us. But no Eve. Izzy comes to us and smiles. “Can I dance with you both?” she asked. I nodded. I placed Allie down on the ground, and she held both of our hands as we danced together as a happy family.