Trio of Mates
Chapter 26

After what feels like hours, the meal is finally over and it is time for the ceremony. At this point, the moon had long since risen and nearing the highest point of her nightly climb into the sky. The moon is nearly full and would be by Brandon’s birthday for his ceremony. Through the large skylights in the ceiling of the dining hall, the Silver Lady’s light shone onto the dias as Zak, Charlie, Beta Carl, my father, Xander, and I stand around the pedestal. Lucille stands at the bottom of the steps to the dias, facing the rest of the pack.

Spreading her hands wide, Lucille begins the ceremony. An ethereal glow halos her, the moonlight filtering through her white hair. It is like the Goddess is inside of her again. At least, that’s what it looks like from the back. I’m sure that if her eyes were completely black again, the pack would be shitting themselves now. Regardless, the Silver Lady’s presence is with us. I could feel the warmth spread through me again, just like it did from her k!ss.

“My dearly beloved pack, today we are here to usher in the dawning of a new era in our pack: the ascendance of a new Gamma and the start of a new Delta bloodline.”

The pack breaks into cheers. Loud wolf whistles, howls, and stomping feet fill the air.

Once they have quieted down, Lucille continues. “Since the dawn of our kind, our benevolent Goddess has deemed that a pack would be led by a set of mates, born and bred to be excellent leaders. They would be chosen not only for each other, but also for the pack. Three months ago, our Alpha, Zakary Loup, ascended to his position with his Luna, Charlotte…”

At the use of her real name, Charlie gr0ans.

“Loup,” Lucille chuckles as she speaks. “Though we have the best Alpha and Luna we could for our pack, our Mother knew that the burden was too much for just two wolves to handle. Because of that, she created three advisors for the Alpha pair: the Beta, to help shoulder the burden of running the pack, the Gamma, to help with enforcement of pack law, and the Delta, to defend and train the pack. Today, Gamma Richard relinquishes his title after years of admirable and diligent servitude to their pack.”

Again, the pack breaks into applause. There are shouts of “Here, here!” and whoops and cheers.

Lucille walks to the pedestal. Taking the knife in one hand, she holds out the other to Gamma Richard. He places his hand in hers. Bringing the knife to his palm, Lucille says, “The Goddess has blessed you as part of our pack and has blessed us in return. Thank you, Gamma Richard, for all that you have done for us.” Lucille slices Former-Gamma Richard’s palm. He closes his hand into a fist and allows three drops of b***d to fall into the chalice on the pedestal.

“Your service is ended,” Lucille says. Former-Gamma Richard bows and returns to his seat to more loud applause from the pack.

Lucille turns to Zak and Charlie, holding out her hand. Zak places his hand in hers. “Alpha, Luna, you have lost two of your c0re. One has finished his service and is ready for rest. The other was our own Luna who has been sharing the load of two jobs with our Former Gamma. Though she has held both positions with grace, it is not something that she was destined to do. Those two roles will be filled tonight. We will welcome them into your core and our leadership with our hearts, our wolves, and your b***d.” Lucille slices Zak’s palm, then Charlie’s. Together, they fist their hands and allow three drops of b***d to drip into the chalice. They step back.

Lucille turns to Beta Carl, holding out her hand. He places his hand in hers and she places the blade to his palm. “Beta, your brothers have left. Their service is done. You have two new brothers to join you in your service to the pack. We will welcome them into your brotherhood and our leadership with our hearts, our wolves, and your b***d.” She slices Beta Carl’s hand and he allows three drops of b***d to fall into the chalice.

Lucille holds her hand out to Xander and he places his hand in hers. “Xander Hawthorne, you are a new and wonderful addition to our pack. We are truly blessed by the Goddess to have you among us. Your talents and Goddess-given gifts have been recognized by our Alpha and Luna as worthy of part of this brotherhood. Do you accept the responsibility, honor, and role of Delta of the Artemis Pack?”

“I do,” Xander says, his voice ringing out clear in the hall.

Lucille walks to the pedestal. Taking the knife in one hand, she holds out the other to Gamma Richard. He places his hand in hers. Bringing the knife to his palm, Lucille says, “The Goddess has blessed you as part of our pack and has blessed us in return. Thank you, Gamma Richard, for all that you have done for us.” Lucille slices Former-Gamma Richard’s palm. He closes his hand into a fist and allows three drops of b***d to fall into the chalice on the pedestal.

“We accept you as our Delta, our protector and trainer, given to us by the Goddess Selene,” Lucille says.

“We accept you as our Delta,” the pack responds.

Lucille slices Xander’s palm and he drips three drops of b***d into the chalice.

She holds her hand out to me. I step forward and give her my palm. “Devin Laoch, you were born into this pack and bred to this position. We are truly blessed by the Goddess to have you among us. Your talents and Goddess given gifts have been recognized by our Alpha and Luna as a worthy of part of this brotherhood. Do you accept the responsibility, honor, and role of Gamma of the Artemis Pack?”

“I do,” I say.

“We accept you as our Gamma, our enforcer and champion, given to us by the Goddess Selene,” Lucille says.

“We accept you as our Gamma,” the pack responds.

Lucille slices my palm and I allow three drops of b***d to flow into the chalice.

Taking the chalice into her hands, Lucille swirls the b***d within. Turning to Zak, she says, “Through the intermingling of the old guard and the new, the Alpha, Luna, Beta, Gamma, and Delta, our pack will be strengthened. Take from this chalice the b***d of your core, your brotherhood. Know that they will make and keep you strong.”

Zak takes a sip from the chalice and passes it to Charlie. The chalice goes from Charlie, to Carl, to Xander, and then to me, each of us taking a sip of its contents.

Instantly, I feel a rush of power sear through my body. I feel a deep and instantaneous connection to all four of the people who drank from the cup with me. We are bonded, deeper than mere friends, packmates, or even family. The only bond deeper is that of a mate or a parent and child. We five are connected, a bond which will only be broken through death, even after we have given over our titles.

Lucille turns around to the pack. “I give you Gamma Devin Laoch and Delta Xander Hawthorne.”

The pack erupts in applause, the pack all standing and cheering.

It is among all of this noise that I pull Xander to me. “MATE!” I yell. I pull his shirt collar aside and mark him as mine.