3. Five

~ Harper’s POV ~

I wasn't averse to Natalie's condition. I was kind of surprised that she had thought of it but she had and I was glad she did. We knew that Zara had blocked all of our numbers, but still, we tried to reach her via our number. I called her twice, and so did Samantha, Natalie, Aiden, and my dad. We didn't get any answer from any of them, not that I was surprised. Zara had ignored our existence to start afresh.

But we didn't stop there. We got several burner phones and tried her number at different times. All of us tried to reach her in any way we could. We even sent emails, even though we knew she didn't check them regularly. 

I asked Aiden to swipe the phones of Zara's brother and mother, hoping at least she would answer them. We kept calling till their batteries died but we didn't get any answer from any of them. Did she drop off the face of the earth? 

We were running out of time because rogues never stood in one place. We had to attack them as soon as possible before they disappeared. Right now, we had the element of surprise on our side, we knew their location, and we could destroy them but this situation could very well change any moment if the rogues decided to randomly change their location. So far, our trackers had reassured me that the rogues were not in any mood to relocate. They were relaxed and living in the camps they had set up.

When we had exhausted all our options, my wolf howled in pain, knowing what we had to do. I excused myself from my friend's company and drove down to the hospital, hoping to talk to my dad. The doctor had advised me to not give him stress and I would try my best to not put him on edge.

I met my dad in his hospital room and talked to him and my mother. They had been aware of the threat of the rogues looming on the pack but the threat on the humans made it all the more pressing and urgent. I explained to them how I was planning to have the alpha ceremony, so I could lead the best warriors of the pack and attack and destroy the rogues. 

I didn't know if I hoped or dreaded for them to agree with me. I think it was a little bit of both. A part of me wanted my parents to tell me that I was being foolish by becoming an alpha without Zara and that another solution to this rogue problem could be possible. But the sane part of me and my wolf, both knew that there was no other way. We couldn't sit back and wait for the rogue wolves to die by themselves. If we wanted them gone, we would have to kill them ourselves. 

My parents had sad but proud smiles on their faces when they said that they would gladly give up their alpha and Luna titles to me and Natalie. They asked me twice if I was sure and I said that I was, even if there was a part of me that was afraid and felt like a lost little child, grasping onto twigs in a flood, to stay afloat.

I couldn't have my alpha ceremony without my parents anyway. Certain parts of it required them to be willing to give away the position. I felt a heavy weight settle deep into my stomach when I got the go-ahead for the ceremony.

We needed the ceremony to be quick, with none of the pomp and show attached to it. The reasons the ceremony was being held weren't celebratory but were grim. So, hours after I talked to my parents, the news was announced to the whole pack.

Me and Natalie stood in front of the whole pack and announced our alpha ceremony to be held the next day. Voice and murmurs rose from the pack, hinting at uncertainty, determination, and fear. The whispers died down as soon as they started and were replaced by a sea of howls, celebrating the crowning of their new alpha and luna, which was equivalent to the start of a new age for a pack. It was a long time coming but the circumstances couldn't diminish the enthusiasm of the pack when the news settled in. 

I had gone to sleep in my bed that night, anxious for the day to come. The day I had dreamed about for so long. Which I hoped would be exactly what I had expected it to be, even when I knew that it wouldn't. How could it be when my mate wouldn't be by my side at the ceremony?!

I had slept restless, eagerly waiting for the ceremony and dreading it at the same time. 

***

I eyed myself in the mirror, clad in a charcoal black suit. The suit was exactly the opposite color to my white wolf, a way to symbolize that I could do both good and bad, that I had both good and bad in me. Dressed from head to toe in black, I looked ready for the alpha ceremony. Even the dark bags under my eyes complimented my attire. I hadn't had a good night's sleep but it would have to do. 

In contrast to me, Natalie, I would be Luna, would be dressed in stark white, in honor of the moon goddess. Being dressed in the color of the goddess, she would promise the pack to care and nurture everyone, like a mother does to her children. 

After the ceremony, after I become the alpha and Natalie becomes the luna, we would be bound with each other and the pack. The ceremony focuses on making an undeniable bond between the alpha and Luna and between the whole pack and its leaders. 

Without thinking too much, I walk out of my room and head towards the Alpha's office, which would be mine by the end of the day. I needed to be here to remind myself of the reasons why I was doing this. If I kept thinking about the reasons why I shouldn't, I would never set foot outside this house. 

I see the huge wooden desk I have seen my father pack paperwork on. Even as a child, I knew not to disturb him when he was here, and in a few years, I would be exactly in my father's position, busy with the pack's paperwork while my son waited for me to get my work done. Shit had just got real for me.

Instead of panicking, I called out to my wolf to help me walk down the steps to the foyer of the huge pack house. The ceremony would take place in the backyard of the pack house, and the whole pack would be there to watch the transfer of power from my parents to me and Natalie.

I stood on the threshold of the backyard and watched the pack members mingle with each other. On such short notice, only the bare minimum decorations had been put up but I wasn't going to complain about that.

People were still antsy about gathering together as a pack because of the last surprise attack by the rogues but I had made sure that none of that would happen today. Before getting ready in my suit, I had taken a perimeter check of the border to make sure our best warriors were stationed and alert at the borders. Granted they wouldn't be able to attend the ceremony, but they would feel the sudden influx of energy in their bodies when the transfer of titles is completed. I wasn't going to take any chances anymore. I'd rather be late to my ceremony than risk the life of a single pack mate.

The pack must have sensed me because the chatter stopped at once and everyone bowed to me, showing respect to their leader and alpha. "Rise!" My voice bellowed in the backyard and everyone got back on their feet. I nodded to all of them and smiled to put everyone at ease. I descended the steps where Aiden was waiting for me. 

"Ready for it?" Aiden asked. He knew how much we had waited for this moment our entire lives. We had dreamt about becoming the alpha and beta of the pack since we were old enough to understand what it exactly meant. 

I shook my head, all the while making sure to look confident in front of the pack. "Not really." 

"I know how that feels." He smiled at me and guided me to the stage set up for the event. He did not know how I was feeling at the moment because he had his ceremony not too long ago. "Your dad will be here in twenty minutes and we will start the ceremony then."

I nodded. The doctor had discharged my dad from the ceremony on the condition that he would participate in it while sitting in a wheelchair. It was a blow to his ego but the doctor was adamant on this condition, so he reluctantly agreed.

"Feeling nervous, Mr. Alpha?" Samantha walked up to us and kissed Aiden on his cheek. His arm instinctively wrapped around his mate's waist and I looked away.

"He is." Aiden joked and I mock-glared at him. "Well, here comes your Luna." My gaze landed on Natalie who had adorned a simple white maxi dress for the ceremony. I didn't think she had put on any makeup because of her pregnancy glow.

"Hi." I greet Natalie, who is practically shaking in anxiety standing beside me, which is pretty understandable since she wasn't the one being brought up to be the ruler of the pack.

Aiden pointed out my dad, who was being pushed into a wheelchair by Aiden's dad, into the grounds. Mom was holding Katelyn while Aiden's mom was walking beside them. "It's time," Aiden whispered and I nodded. It was time.

My parents made their way onto the stage to greet the pack one final time as the ruling alpha and Luna. Dad stood up from the wheelchair and I rolled my eyes at his stubbornness. They thanked the pack for a wonderful time and for letting them serve the pack this long. Everyone howls in respect to let them know that their respect and determination are returned.

My father pointed at me and both me and Natalie walked up the stage, her hand in the crook of my arm. The two of us face my parents, ready to start the ceremony.

Natalie repeated the words my mother said, to always put the pack before herself, to nurture and care for the weak, and to sacrifice oneself if need be. I repeated the words after my father, to manage the pack, to house and clothe everyone and to protect them as long as I was physically capable of it.

After the words were exchanged, my mother took the silver knife sliced her palm, and handed it to Natalie who followed. The drops of blood fell into the container, mixed slowly, sizzled, and then evaporated into thin air. My father did the same, he sliced his palm and gave the knife to me. We let the blood drops mix and sizzle. This part of the ceremony transferred the power of Luna to Natalie and the power of Alpha to me. 

My body felt a rush of energy and my wolf howled at the sudden influx of power. My connection to every pack member intensified and every nerve ending stood in attention when this part of the ceremony was over.

It was now time for me to bond with Natalie. The time for the alpha to bond with the luna. Both of our palms had already healed, so we had to cut them again. My parents stepped back, their part done and over with. 

Both Natalie and I sliced our palms again and held our hands together. Our blood mixed before dripping into the container. Our blood sizzled and evaporated, binding the both of us together. The alpha ceremony was now complete. I was the alpha and Natalie was my luna.

A new energy rushed into my body which invigorated me and Natalie. The pack members bowed in front of us, on their knees, their wolves taking control and howled into the day, showing their undying loyalty to the both of us. 

My wolf was elated and basking in the submission of the pack members, and how readily they had trusted me to keep them safe and secure.  

My eyes moved over everyone, stopping every once in a while, to take in the whole scene. 

My eyes did a double take when I noticed two figures standing by the backdoor of the pack house, stunned by the sight before them. My wolf perked up at the sight of his mate, who he hadn't seen for over four months. 

Zara was standing at the backdoor and I couldn't take my eyes off of her. It was sometime later that I noticed the guy behind her.