Celebration

Embers of joy scattered around top of Maple Peak as my pack banged on drums and tambourines to celebrate the arrival of the new Alpha.

“Everything is well put together, “I said as I entered the festive display that would welcome Jamie and I as official mates.

The bright smiles and infectious laughter of my people filled my heart with butterflies as I made my way to the middle of the celebration and laid eyes on a ten-foot statue of a woman covered in wolf shaped clothing as she raised he hands to the sky.

“A fine year for our moon goddess, Luna, to bless our pack, “A largely built middle aged indigenous man with a long black beard chanted as he picked me up with glee, “

“Please stop doing that, Dad, “I said. “I’m not a little cub anymore, “

“Don’t be ridiculous, Buffy, “he said as he put me down. “You will always be my little cub, “

“Hopefully you didn’t inherit your father’s tendency to smother people, “An elderly woman chuckled as she was accompanied by her husband.

“Come now, Elsa. Our son has every right to not want his first born to grow up too fast, “

“Well just like you, Jeremiah, Bernard here doesn’t quite understand the difference between wanting something and accepting it, “

“Nani, Pop pop, “I cheered with joy. “I’m glad to see your able to stand again after last month’s incident.

“If by incident, you mean being ambushed by the Crimson …, “

“Bernard, “Nani stopped him. “Do not bring up that name. Not tonight, “

“What name? “ I asked with concern hatching in the back of my mind.

“Need it not concern you, Granddaughter, “Pop pop said. “Just know that your grandmother and I are fine, “

My dad sighed from my grandparents changing the subject. I wasn’t sure what had happened specifically that caused them to be injured and bed ridden for five weeks. But, I felt now was not the time to ask.

“They are right, Sweetheart, “My dad said. “You are now a fully blossomed woman who, if I am not mistaken, will soon be the mate to our next Alpha.

“Dad. How did you know? “

“Don’t let these white hairs in your father’s beard fool you. I’m still every bit as cutting and deductive as I was when our family chose to leave Lyconville to create the Purple Moon pack along with the Moonheart clan, “

“In other words, your mother told us, “Nani said much to my dad’s embracement.

“Momma. Not inform of the girl, “

“It’s fine, Dad, “I giggled.

“I must say that it is quite fitting the young Jamie is to be your mate considering that his grandparents, William and Margert Moonheart, helped us establish this pack after Lyconville was lost to us,”

The mystery of behind how Lyconville was destroyed always puzzled me as a small cub and it bothered me that no one in my family or the pack ever explained how the fire that killed so many of our tribe was really started.

Before we could discuss more, the echo of a large fog horn pierced the night as we all looked toward the middle of the festival.

An elderly man wearing a red and black cape with the head of a wolf on his right shoulder emerged to the podium in front of the statue of Luna as two ushers accompanied him.

“All kneel for the High Priest, John Eagleheart, “The tribe said together as we kneeled before him.

The High Priest raised his hands as Jamie and Jiah climbed on the podium before folding their warms back and facing the Priest.

“You may rise, my children, “the Priest said.

We all stood up as a tightly grabbed on to the gift that I had made for Jamie in the woods.

“The Purple Moon pack has been alive for over seventy years and each passing year brings upon new challenges and new threats to our very existence, “

My heart began to pump louder with each second as all I could think about was my beloved becoming Alpha of the pack and me his mate.

“As our way of life becomes for precious to protect from those who would seek our destruction, the need for new leadership in this strange and evolving new world has become crucial to uphold the Purple Moon legacy. Therefore, I bring you here today to welcome our new Beta and our new Alpha, “

The village cheered with excitement as my mom walked to Jiah with a grey bowl and a brush as Griffin Moonheart did the same to Jamie.

“With the blood of our ancestors and the spirit of the moon goddess, Luna, I hereby pronounce you the new Beta, “Mom said with a grin as she painted a moon on Jiah’s forehead. She pleased her hand on Jiah’s shoulder. “I am so proud of you, “

“Thanks, Mom, “Jiah said. “I won’t let you down. I promise, “

Must be nice to have mom praise you for something good. Than again, Jiah always seemed to be her favorite.

Jamie’s father did the same to his forehead as the village cheered again as Jamie looked happier than I had ever seen him.

“With the blood of our ancestors and the spirit of the moon goddess, Luna, I hereby pronounce you the new Alpha, “Griffin said.

The crowd screamed with joy with me being the most loud out of the entire village as Jamie hugged his dad.

But as they hugged, I noticed Jamie starring at a girl with long, red hair and a moon tattooed on her left cheek.

“Who is that girl? “I asked my dad.

“What girl? “Dad asked as if she didn’t exist.

As Griffin pulled away, the Priest turned to Jamie.

“Jamie Moonheart, “The High Priest said. “Now that you are of royal age and the new Alpha of the Purple Moon pack, it is your duty to choose your mate, “

Jamie walked to the edge of the podium and addressed the pack.

“My fellow wolves, “Jamie said. “I am gratefully for your faith in pronouncing me as your new leader and as so, I am proud to pronounce my true mate, “

I pushed through the crowd until I was standing right inform of the podium as Jamie looked at me from above.

“I declare that my true mate is Jennifer Blessinghawk, “

As the Jamie uttered those words, my heart felt like it was shattered into a thousand pieces as I fell to the floor.

The girl that I saw from before made her way to the top of the podium until she made her way to Jamie before kneeling to him.

Despite her shock, my mom brought the bowl she used to mark Jiah and handed it to Jamie.

“Jennifer Blessinghawk, I hereby pronounce you as my true mate, “Jamie said as she marked her forehead with a cresent moon.

“I accept, my love, “Jennifer smiled before kissing Jamie right in front of me.

The rest of the village cheered for the new couple but I was overwhelmed by my broken heart that dropped Jamie’s gift and leaped at him.

“No, “

I pounced on him with pure rage clouding my mind.

“Buffy, stop, “my mom said as she ran in to stop me. Only to be pulled back by the High Priest’s ushers before she could reach me.

“Liar, “I yelled. “How could you do this me? Do this to us? “

“Buffy. I didn’t mean to hurt you, “Jamie said. “But Jennifer is my true love, “

“How can you say that? You don’t even know here, “

“I saw it in a vision as soon as I was made Alpha, “Jamie explained it. “The minute I saw her, I knew she was my true mate, “

My tears flowed from my eyes as talons began to sprout out of my fingers. In seconds, I transformed into my she wolfs form, covered in black and blue fur.

“Sis, stop, “Jiah yelled.

“I loved you. I trusted you, “I growled as the village watched in shock.

“Beta, protect your Alpha, “Griffin told Jiah.

Jiah degradedly agreed and transformed into a white and black furred werewolf and pushed me off of Jamie.

“You can’t do this, Buffy, “Jiah said. “You know the consequences of attacking the Alpha.

“Stay out of this, Jiah, “

“Buffy, please,” My dad begged as he and my grandparents reached out to me.

Despite seeing my boyfriend cheat on me feel like the worse pain in the world, that pain felt like a papercut compared to the disappointment I brought to my family.

I quickly reverted back into my human state as Jiah did the same as my mom broke away from the ushers.

“What has gotten into you, Young lady? “

“Mom, I … “

“How dare you disgrace our family name. Have I taught you nothing? “

“She just attacked the Alpha, “Jenifer pointed out as she tended to Jamie.

The villager looked at me with aggressions as they began to transform in their beastly forms only to be interrupted by the fog horn from before.

“There will be no more violence tonight, “Jamie said. “As your new Alpha, I order all of you to stand down, “

The villagers obeyed as they remained in their human forms but many of them still held aggression for me in their stares.

“The Alpha may have forgiven your insolence, “The High Priest said. “But you, Buffy Wingfoot, must face punishment for defiling one of our pack’s oldest laws: No one may attack the Alpha without proper challenge for leadership,”

“I don’t want to lead this stupid pack, “Buffy yelled. “I know the consequences and you don’t have to banish me. Because I’m leaving, “

I ran as far as I could until I was miles away from Maple Point.

“Buffy, “My family called out but was stopped by more of the High Priest’s ushers.

“Your daughter made here choice, “Said the High Priest. “Now we must move on to preparing for our next coming threat, “

Those were the last words I could hear as I ran away from the pack. If I had known what threat that the High Priest was talking about, I might had reconsidered leaving. But as broken as my heart was, I would soon learn that my pack would be broken far worse.