Awakening

^TWO WEEKS LATER^

Bambi

It was a strange feeling that the world I lived in today was the same world it had always been, but now it felt different somehow.

It wasn’t the world that had changed. It was me, and I was ready to start making a difference.

The rogues were slowly growing more confident, empowered by whispers of Matthias’ impending rise.

My fake book club was no longer a storage closet of secrets but a real office where I served as an official investigator for the Royal Council.

I was actually given my own commendation by King Dmitri, and I joked with Ekon that soon I’d have a list of them that rivaled his own.

But even though things were relatively quiet, and Matthias was lying low, the aftereffects of our encounter at the Northern Pack were still fresh.

Max was scheduled to get out of the hospital today, and I’d asked Ekon to accompany me to pick him up.

Max wasn’t thrilled about having to recuperate in a northern hospital, but it was nice to have him around for a while.

As we walked through the sliding doors of the outpatient wing, Max greeted us with a smile and limped over to give me a hug.

“I’m finally getting out of this mad house. Do you know how much pudding they force you to eat?” He laughed. “I’m practically made of pudding at this point.”

“Good to see you looking so well, Maximus,” Ekon said, patting his back.

“No thanks to you.” Max grinned.

It amazed me that these two could joke about it. Last time I’d seen them together, before they found me in the tunnels, they would’ve ripped each other’s throats out.

Now they acted like old friends, and while it confused the hell out of me, I couldn’t have been happier about it.

Max squeezed my arm and gave me a look of pride, shaking his head in disbelief.

“What?” I asked, half expecting a condescending remark.

“Nothing, just…you’ve grown up so much. Mom and Dad would be so proud if they were here.”

His words touched my heart, and even though I wanted to cry, I’d ~promised~ myself I’d hold it together.

“I wish I could’ve attended your commendation ceremony, sis, but there’s always the next one.” Max grinned.

“Will you be heading back to the East Coast?” Ekon asked after Max had signed out and we headed toward the door.

“Yeah, I should probably get home. This bed rest was a nice vacation and all, but I think my Beta, Ryan, might be getting a bit overwhelmed. His voicemails sounded a little unhinged.” Max laughed.

“Well, we were hoping that you’d stay for just one more day,” Ekon said with a grin.

“You may have missed the commendation ceremony, but we have another little impromptu ceremony that we’d like you to attend,” I said with a playful smile.

Holly

I walked down the dusty dirt road with Jimmy as we appreciated the cool breeze and the soft songs of the chirping birds.

I loved being in nature. It made me feel more connected to my magic.

I’d been training day and night since my battle with Devina.

She was extremely powerful, and it scared me how close I’d come to losing that fight.

If it hadn’t been for the spirits of my people, I’d have become a spirit myself.

But that was the thing about Devina. No matter how powerful she became, she’d never know the power of friends and family and people who truly cared about her.

“Thanks for asking me to come with you,” Jimmy said as we walked along the path.

Ekon had allowed Jimmy to stay at the compound until she decided what she wanted to do, but she was still adjusting to her new life.

I hadn’t known Jimmy well when we both lived in the Northern Pack, but we’d become fast friends, bonding over our shared experiences.

She’d even volunteered to help me attempt to translate Devina’s grimoire, but so far, we’d had no luck.

“I’m glad you came.” I smiled. “You should be a part of this.”

We approached the gate of the Northern Pack and stopped.

I took a deep breath. It was always hard to see my home like this—reduced to ruins—but today was about paying my respects to the people who had lost their lives here.

We continued on to the center of the city, where a new memorial had been built in their honor.

All the bodies had been given a proper burial in the tunnels beneath the city.

“Do you want to say something first?” I asked.

Jimmy nodded and placed her hand on the memorial that held the names of all those who had perished.

“This was my home, and I’ll always cherish my memories here. But because of the kind spirits who lent their power to my friend Holly in her time of need, I have the chance to make a new home somewhere. I vow to always seek justice for those who can’t seek it for themselves.”

“Well said, Jimmy.”

I knelt down in front of the memorial and cast a protection spell on it to keep it safe.

“If any spirits are still bound to this place, I release you so that you may go on your way into the next life,” I chanted. “You’ve lingered here long enough, and your commitments in this life are now fulfilled.”

I stood up and looked at Jimmy, suddenly remembering another commitment.

“We’ve lingered too long ourselves,” I said, panicked. “Bambi said she wanted us to come to that ceremony tonight!”

“Right, why was she being so secretive?” Jimmy asked, biting her lip.

“Do you get nauseous easily?” I asked frantically.

“Wait, what?” she said, bewildered.

“Never mind! There’s no time!” I grabbed ahold of Jimmy’s arm. “We have to teleport!”

“HOLLY!”

***

Bambi

Are you girls going to be there tonight?

Victoria

I’m still not sure where “there” is, but yes, I’ll be there.

Ela

yeah why so secretive?

Bambi

Just trust okay

Victoria

Fine.

Victoria

I mean, you have earned it.

Ela

hunter was not happy about flying out here, but I made him

Ela

😈

Victoria

Oh Goddess, are you two fighting again?

Ela

is that a real question?

Ela

when are we not fighting?

Bambi

😅

Bambi

I love you girls

Bambi

So happy we get to share tonight together

Ela

okay WHAT is going on

Victoria

It’s not another secret sibling is it?

Victoria

I honestly don’t think Ekon could handle it…

Bambi

GODDESS, NO!

Bambi

any future reveals will not be held at public events lol

Victoria

You joke now, but…

Ela

whats the dress code for this thing?

Ela

what are u wearing?

Bambi

Ummm

Bambi

Let’s just say semi-formal

Bambi

It’s a full moon tonight

Ela

so something slutty?

Ela

💃😏

Victoria

😑😑😑

Bambi

Haha I don’t care what you wear

Bambi

I just want us to be together!

Ela

✊

Victoria

✊

Bambi

✊

Bambi

I nervously peeked through the curtains at all of my friends, who were sitting anxiously in the forest clearing, where I’d set up folding chairs and a makeshift stage.

This was kind of last second, but everyone had come, which made my heart swell with affection.

Victoria was whispering to Ryland, and he was sweating bullets. Ryland knew what this was about, but he had been sworn to secrecy, and Victoria, no doubt, had been grilling him all day.

Kalindi sat next to Ela, who was actively ignoring her mate, Hunter.

Holly and Jimmy had just showed up, and Jimmy looked a little queasy, but at least they’d made it on time.

Max sat at the front, beaming with pride. He knew what was coming as well.

Alpha Leonardo came up behind me and lightly touched my shoulder. “Are you ready, Bambi?”

I nodded and took a deep breath.

I was finally doing this…

Alpha Leonardo walked out onto the stage and stood behind the podium.

“Welcome, everyone. We are gathered here today for a very special ceremony,” he said, addressing the crowd. “Tonight will be the official coronation of Bambi Jedrek as Ekon Jedrek’s Luna, in accordance with the traditions of this pack.”

“I knew it!” I heard Ela’s muffled shout, and I stifled a laugh.

I walked out onto the stage as my friends jumped up and down and cheered for me.

This probably wasn’t really how a ~traditional~ ceremony would go, but it was exactly what I’d wanted.

Ekon walked up the aisle from behind our guests and joined me on stage.

Smiling from ear to ear, he took my hands. “Bambi, by the authority I possess as an Alpha of the Royal Pack, I crown you my Luna, for now until the end of days.”

Ekon placed a crown of roses on my head and kissed me under the moonlight as our closest friends celebrated our union.

It was perfect.

Devina

“So rude of our brother not to invite us to his mating ceremony,” I said scornfully. “Though it looks like a rather ~quaint~ affair.”

I ran my finger through the magical well that allowed me a glimpse of the ceremony taking place on Ekon’s grounds, distorting the image.

“Yes, he seems to keep forgetting his family—his ~real~ family.”

Matthias walked out of the shadows, his new glamour charm in place, until I could find a way to repair his body permanently.

“His words are fitting, however. The end of days is coming sooner than he realizes,” Matthias said with a smirk.

Our time was coming.

The realm was in for a true awakening.