Gabriela narrowed his gaze at her as her body stiffened beneath him. He pulled back to find her eyes open, her face a blank expression. Someone must be mind linking her.

Amelia focused on him. He was studying her, taking in her every movement. She untangled herself from his clutches, straightening out her dress, fixing her hair. She just hoped her lips weren’t too swollen and there weren’t any visible hickeys.

“The ceremony is about to start. I have to go.” She ran her hands over the front of her dress, flattening out any creases or wrinkles and took in a deep breath before leaving the room.

She couldn’t sense him following her, which was probably for the best. She had no idea how she actually looked and the last thing she needed was for the both of them to enter the ceremony looking like they had had seven minutes in heaven. Even though she had no idea how long she’d been in that room with him, kissing him was like nothing she’d ever experienced before. She may still be a virgin but she’d had her fair share of fooling around. She’s no nun, but kissing him, the way he touched her, was addicting to say the least.

She noticed most of those present were already outside for the ceremony. The house contained the last few stragglers making their way out the back door. She blended in with the crowd making her way outside.

Their backyard was large enough to accommodate a thousand, plus people. The full moon was rising above the tree line that surrounded their property, illuminating the earth. Tiki torches were flaming around the perimeter and scattered throughout to provide enough light for everyone. There was a large stage built along the back of the house where her father, brother, and other high-ranking pack members were waiting. Since there was no longer a Luna in their pack, Amelia had volunteered to officiate the ceremony. It should have been her mother that presided over the Alpha ceremony but she knew she was there in spirit.

Amelia pushed her way through the crowd and up onto the stage. Her father’s eyebrow was raised at her as she stepped in between her father and brother.

“You’re late.” Stephan growled lowly.

“Psh. I’m right on time.” She said, ignoring her father’s looks, looking out over their pack and visitors.

What could you have possibly been doing for so long?

Amelia glared at her brother who was wiggling his eyebrows at her.

You better shut up before I cut you deeper than I need too.

Damon chuckled in response but kept silent as their father stepped forward on the stage. The crowd instantly hushed as their Alpha prepared to speak.

“Thank you all for coming here tonight. It means so much to us that you are all able to be present and witness my son take his place as Alpha of the Wandering Moon Pack. Today is my son and daughter's eighteenth birthday and tonight we will celebrate.” This earned him quite a few cheers in celebration. He smirked before gaining control once again. “But first my son will become Alpha. As descendants of Ezekial and Rhea, he will take his place in our great pack.”

The crowd cheered even louder, howls and hoots ringing through the air.

“Since we are without our Luna, my daughter will preside over the ceremony.”

Stephan stepped back from the front of the stage back over to his children. Together, Stephan, Damon and Amelia formed a triangle around a small circular table. On the table held a golden chalice with intricate scrollwork. The chalice was said to be Ezekial’s and Rhea’s wedding chalice and was the pack's prized possession. Beside the chalice was the ceremonial knife.

Amelia looked out over the crowd, smiling brilliantly. She looked up at the stars, hard to see with all the torch light, but she could still make out the one she had named after her mother. She knew the words to the ceremony by heart, she memorized them weeks ago, but she knew she had more to say.

“Tonight is a milestone in our pack. The day my brother takes over as Alpha, letting my old man here finally retire.” This earned her a few chuckles from the crowd. “Our Luna, my mother, should have been the one to perform this ceremony. I know we all feel her loss every day and even though she may no longer be here with us physically, I know she is always here with us in spirit, watching over us with our ancestors.”

She noticed her brother and father both had unshed tears, glistening in the flickering torch light. She smiled small, clearing her throat before she could make herself a blubbering mess.

“Now let’s get this shit started so we can party.” This earned her a serious eye roll from her father, a smirk from her brother and a few hollers from her friends in the crowd. “Tonight, we are here to witness the passing of Alpha from Alpha Stephan to his son Damon, reforging their bloodline to the succession of Alpha and continuance of the Wandering Moon Pack.”