Chapter 3 - The Ceremony

Melanie

As I stepped outside, I was struck by the glow the sunset was casting on the pack. The Blackburn pack is quite large; we have a pack clinic, research labs, a pack school for members of other packs, and a pack house in the heart of the pack where the alpha and his family live. There are rooms in the packhouse for unmated wolves and a large hall for ceremonies, which is where today's ceremony was taking place.

When we arrived at the packhouse, I parted ways with my parents and Tasha to join the others who had turned 13 but had not received the silver bath. I sat down next to Nia, the beta's daughter.

The overwhelming sense of panic took hold of me. It took me by surprise. My dad's smile, which was comforting and reassuring, caught my attention as I looked around the throng for my parents' faces. That smile helped ease some of my anxiety.

The ceremony began with the alpha's welcome speech, which was followed by Luna's address to the 20 of us who would be subjected to the silver baths. The Alpha then discussed the silver bath's importance to our community. After the alpha’s speech, we were led outside. 

The silver moon shone brightly as I and the others walked through the Oval garden to the lake. They took their baths one after the other until I was the only one left.

I took a shaky breath and tried to reassure myself, 'You can do this Mel, it is just water.’ As I walked into the water, I kept repeating my mantra. I stopped walking when I was knee-deep in the water. I could see the iridescent glow of the full moon drawing me in slowly as I stared at the water's surface. I could not take my gaze away from the reflection, and then I felt it. My body felt as though it were on fire from an indescribable heat that was drawing within me.

My entire being was consumed by this sensation; I was so engrossed in it that I hardly noticed my body falling back into the lake or the swirl of the lake pulling me down into its depths. As I was completely consumed by the lake, I barely registered my parents' screams and shouts.

It was as though I had been transported to a place of silence and emptiness as there was no sound or movement. I opened my eyes and blinked a few times to adjust to the brightness of this place. I was perplexed as I stared at this white room because I was positive that this was not supposed to occur during the silver bath. I walked around the room, trying to figure out where I was, and noticed that there were no doors or windows; it was just a big room.

I started to panic at this point, trying to figure out what was happening. Suddenly, I felt like I was being sucked into a black void, which made me scream. My eyes immediately closed, thinking this was it; no one had ever drowned during the silver bath, but I suppose everything had its first time.

I opened my eyes to find myself standing in the lake, I felt like I was being pulled roughly, I looked at the other members of my pack, and I saw my parents, I waded out of the water and into my mother's arms, where she hugged and soothed my trembling body. Mom held me close to her beating heart and said, "I was so scared when I saw you fall the way you did." Tears were streaming down her face. Dad hugged us both and kissed our foreheads. "Do not ever scare me like that babydoll, because that was the longest five minutes of my life," he said, taking deep breaths.

The sound of the alpha's voice beckoning us to head to the packhouse for my formal pack welcome and the remainder of the ceremony caused us to pull back.

As we walked to the packhouse, I could not help but notice the dark orange hue that surrounded both of my parents. It was strange to see that the other pack members had different colors surrounding them when I looked at them.

"While we were walking, I noticed that everyone was surrounded by different colors, including you and Dad. What does that mean?" I asked as Mom gave me an odd look. I remarked, "There is a bright red aura surrounding the Alpha.”

"Her eyes are purple!" exclaimed Dad as he came to a halt in front of me. "That is not possible, wolves do not have purple eyes," I scoffed. With a startled expression on her face, Mom glanced at Dad and said, "Her eyes are blue, not purple.”

"Can you explain what that means?” I asked them just as we entered the hall, and I noticed I could not see the colors or auras on the pack members any longer. I moved to the stage to stand behind the alpha for the remainder of the ceremony.

 "Silence, everybody.” Alpha Henry bellowed, “It is time for the official initiation of these young pups today into the pack. He turned to beta Steven, who handed him the ivory chalice and the silver dagger bearing the Blackburn pack's emblem. "Their roles shall be determined as we all know," he said.

As the initiation began, I couldn't help the feeling of apprehension that settled over me because no one other than the alpha’s family had blue eyes. When the alpha called my name, I knew it was time. 

I walked towards him with my eyes cast downwards. As I stood before him, he took my right arm and his voice echoed throughout the hall, “Melanie Wilson daughter of gamma Malcolm and sigma Sylvia, do you swear to obey the rules of the pack and abide by the laws of the moon goddess?” I raised my head slightly, “I Melanie Wilson solemnly swear to obey and abide by the rules and laws governing our society.” 

I felt the energy shift in the hall, an unseen force enveloping me. With the silver dagger in hand, Alpha Henry made a small incision on my palm in a swift and practiced motion. My blood dripped into the chalice. 

“From the blood of the willing, the pact is sealed,” Alpha Henry declared, his voice echoing in the room. The pack echoed his words, a chorus of acceptance. The blood in the chalice glowed bright blue as the wound on my palm healed. I could feel the thread of connection with the pack snap in place, I felt the acceptance of each of them. 

“NOW BOW TO ME,” Alpha Henry said pushing his alpha command in my direction, I felt it dance around me and sizzle. I raised my head with glowing blue eyes to stare at the alpha, I didn't understand what was going on, the alpha command did not affect me. I heard my mom’s voice in my head, ‘Bow Mel you need to bow,’ I obeyed immediately baring my neck in submission to the alpha. 

The alpha stared at me with gleaming eyes, “You may join the rest of the pack,” I nodded, “Yes Alpha,” as I walked to where my parents sat, I realized that I was not given a pack role like the others. I turned around to speak to the alpha but he had gone. 

Mom pulled me into a hug as I got to her, “ Oh sweetie, congratulations and welcome into the pack,” smiling brightly I said, “Thanks mom,” Dad grinned at me, “You did it kiddo,” his eyes filmed over and his gaze remained unfocused. “That was the alpha, we have been summoned into his office,” 

With a puzzled look on her face, Mom asked “What is it about? Did something happen with the pack?" Dad shook his head, “I don't know, but we’re to be in the alpha’s office tomorrow morning. I guess we can enjoy the ceremony before we find out.” 

My stomach began to growl at that moment, reminding me that I had not eaten since lunch. After saying goodbye to my parents, I went to where Tasha was standing by the burger table. She asked me, "How does it feel to finally be part of the pack?" She had a big smile on her face. "Honestly, it feels like a large cocoon enveloped around me; it is like I am never alone," I replied, smiling, as I plated a burger. "It feels nice.” Tasha grinned and added fries to my plate.

Following our path to the rear of the hall, where we took a seat to eat, we suddenly noticed Marcus — the future alpha — making out at the foot of the stairs with Elsa, our pack school's Queen Bee. At the scene, I wrinkled my face in disgust, saying, "Ugh!" Tara gave them a disgusted look, saying, "They are so disgusting that anybody can see them.”

They would have been enraged if we had disturbed them, especially alpha heir Marcus, so we hastily moved away from them to avoid being noticed. He always went above and beyond to hurt or offend me, so I get the impression that he has a personal grudge against me. 

As we sat on the balcony overlooking the pack’s garden, I suddenly felt queasy and nauseous. I quickly got up and hurried to the bathroom after telling Tasha, "I do not feel good.” She tried to keep up with me, I could hear her rushing steps and her calling my name.

As I walked down the corridor from the restroom, my back collided with the wall with such force that I thought I heard something crack, "I knew you were watching me downstairs freak, do you want me to f*** you like that, Huh?” As alpha heir Marcus clamped down on me, a vice grip tightening around my neck, I felt a chill run down my spine. As I tried to claw his fingers away, my fingers automatically moved to my neck, only to make him tighten his grip.

I was afraid as I looked into his cold, irritated eyes, realizing that I was alone with him and that anything could happen to me. My face went even paler as I became aware of the black aura that surrounded him. In his thoughts, I heard him say, ‘Stupid b***h, I would like to see what you can do now.’

Marcus slammed me against the wall and said, "Mind your business, freak." Then, he let go of me, and I watched him descend the stairs. I gulped hard as the tears that had gathered in my eyes started to fall. Tasha came around the corner and saw me hunched over the wall. "Was that Alpha Marcus?" she asked, embracing me tightly when she saw the state I was in. After Tasha kept probing me, and I adamantly refused to speak. She sensed that I did not want to talk, so I said, "Let us just go home.” 

“What of your parents, shouldn't we —” ‘Dad, I am tired so I am going home with Tasha,’ I interrupted her as I mind-linked him. A few seconds later, I heard his voice in my head ‘Are you okay, sweetie? Your mom and I would meet you at home.’ 

We strolled silently back to our homes. After dropping Tasha off at her place, I made my way to mine, which was not too far away. Still reeling from the events of the evening, I monotonously went about my night duties. I heard it just as I closed my eyes to sleep.

Or should I say I heard her?