Ch.20 Chapter 19 - Rejected Lovers

Chapter Nineteen - Rightful Luna

Atticus and I all but rush out of our room this morning. It's a miracle we even heard the cook call us for breakfast. He's truly insatiable and kept me up until dawn so I'm quite tired right now. But last night was a dream and he made me feel so incredible. We had woken up to the sight of our marks and marveled over them in fascination.

I grab his hand as we leave our bedroom and make our way towards the stairs. But the sight before me has me looking around in confusion. There's so many people in the house and they're putting up decorations. It isn't anyone's birthday so I wonder what these preparations are for.

"Atticus...what's going on?" I ask as we descend the stairs.

He smiles at me brightly as he intertwines our hands. "I'm holding a party to officially announce you as Luna to our pack and some friends."

My eyes widen in surprise as I glance at two people working on decorating the banister of the staircases with flowers. "H-How big is this party?"

"Around seven hundred guests will be attending." He states causally while my heart starts to pound from nervousness. "Hey...don't be nervous."

"What if they don't accept me? I'm not your true â"

"Don't finish that sentence!" He growls lowly as he pulls me flush against his chest. "We have a mate bond and that's as true as it can get."

"I'm sorry." I sigh as I shake my head. "I didn't mean for it to come across that way. I'm just worried that I won't be accepted since just a few days ago I was only known as your childhood friend."

"Girlfriend." He corrects pointedly which makes me chuckle. "You have nothing to worry about, Livi. The pack already loves you and I'm sure there will be no problems with them accepting you as their Luna."

"Alright." I nod in agreement and wind my arms around his neck. "But you should've given me a heads up about this party! I have nothing to wear!"

"Don't worry about that. I've got it covered." He grins boyishly as we make our way downstairs. "I'll show you after breakfast."

"You guys mated!" Vasilia exclaims happily as soon as we walk into the kitchen.

"We did." Atticus nods as we take a seat and help ourselves to the food.

He goes onto explain what we had been feeling and our meeting with the elders yesterday. By the end of it everyone reacts happily and congratulates us. Vasilia is especially over the moon and her excitement makes me laugh.

"So, you're going to be announcing Olivia as Luna tonight I assume?" Tobias grins as he points to the decorators rushing around.

"I sure am. The Bauer Pack has waited too long for her." He smiles as he pecks my cheek.

We spend the rest of the morning and afternoon chatting and lounging together as it's the weekend. However, at some point, Bastian mind links Atticus and I with news that is frustrating. He reports that the rogue we caught wouldn't reveal anything concerning his connection to Vincent and eventually killed himself by repeatedly opening a big wound. Atticus sighs and gives instructions to Bastian to take care of the rogue before I comfort him through our bond.

Eventually, he drags me back upstairs to show me what I'll be wearing. We walk into our room and he disappears into the wardrobe before returning with a garment bag and a few boxes. He gives me the bag and I open it to find a pink, off the shoulder dress made from tulle and lace. It has a sweetheart bodice and is detailed with floral embroidery with a skirt that is higher in the front than the back. I open the rest of the boxes to find nude-pink heels and delicate diamond jewelry to match.

"Atticus..." I breathe in both amazement and surprise. "You shouldn't have."

He chuckles and hugs me from behind. "You deserve the world Livi and I'm more than happy to be the one to give it to you."

"I just want you." I smile as I turn in his arms to face him. "But, thank you. I love everything."

"No problem. And don't worry about the dress not fitting. I've memorized every dip and curve of your body â"

"Atticus!" I shriek in embarrassment as I slap my palm over his mouth.

He grabs it before leaning down to my ear and murmuring, "I can't wait to hear you scream like that when I peel this dress off you tonight."

"You're ridiculous!" I huff as I cover my cheeks to hide the fact that they're a fire truck red right now.

He bursts into loud laughter before telling me to get ready. With a passionate kiss to my lips he disappears and I hear him announce to the entire pack through the mind link to get ready for a party tonight. As he's giving the details I turn to see Emilia, Leon and Savannah enter my room. The girls fawn over the dress while Leon takes a seat in one of the armchairs by the window.

"So, did Atticus ask you to become Luna?" He asks and I hear the confusion in his voice.

I then explain what Atticus told his family this morning about our visit to the elders and our souls intertwining to create a mate bond.

"That's so beautiful!" Emilia smiles at me as she takes a seat on the bed. "The Moon Goddess brought you two together again."

"I guess she did." I grin as I send a mental thank you to Her.

We talk some more before eventually Arcadia bursts into the room and reminds us that we don't have much time to get ready. The girls push Leon out of the room and I laugh as he quickly steals a kiss from Savannah before leaving. They turn to me with excited smiles which I can't help but mirror.

"Let's get you ready, Luna!"

***

"The Moon Goddess has blessed Olivia and I by gifting us a mate bond." Atticus announces and the crowd gasps and murmurs in surprise. "As you know my mate was already married with children when I found her and Olivia's mate didn't treat her well. We ended up as rejected mates. But the more time we spent together the more we started to feel a closer bond forming between us. The elders have confirmed that the Moon Goddess has given us another chance and intertwined our souls."

I smile at the four cloaked members standing to the side. The crowd erupts into cheers and hollers which makes me laugh. Atticus lifts my hand and brushes his lips against my promise ring. My eyes widen and I squeak when he tugs me closer before pressing his lips to mine. I melt against him and smile into the kiss when I hear everyone go wild.

"I present to you our Luna, Olivia Peterson!" Atticus announces with a wide smile and I find myself mirroring his happiness.

Everyone cheers once again before we descend the stage and mingle with the crowd. We greet the elders first and talk with them before moving onto Atticus' family and then our pack members. Everyone I meet is so accepting of me as Luna that it feels surreal to me. Atticus goes on to introduce me to his friends and allies as Bastian joins us. He hugs me tightly and whispers how happy he is for the both of us before we join in on the conversation.

The rest of the Canadian Alphas and Lunas are here bar one. Vincent. But he's certainly the topic of our conversation as Alpha Liam, who runs the pack in Alberta, asks who my first mate was. I'm slightly uncomfortable as I reveal that it was Vincent but relax when Atticus wraps an arm around my waist. He comforts me through our bond and I send him a grateful smile.

"He's been on the hunt for allies to attack your pack." Alpha Mabel adds with a roll of her pretty grey eyes.

"How a person can be that illogical is beyond me." Luna Avery, Alpha James' mate who runs the pack in Manitoba, replies with a shake of her head.

"You have us all as allies when he attacks, Atticus and Olivia. There's no doubt about that." Alpha Ethan from Nova Scotia chuckles as he raises his glass of champagne.

"Thank you everyone. Your support means a lot to us." I smile as I feel my anxiety dissipate slightly.

We enjoy the rest of our night and I have so much fun. Atticus and I dance a couple of times as well as with our friends and family before sneaking away to raid the dessert table. Everyone parties hard until our feet are sore and some are even drunk! But sadly, the night comes to an end and after ensuring that our pack members and guests have retired to their homes and rooms safely we make our way back home.

"That went better than I expected." I remark as I walk into our room and he unzips me from behind.

"What did I tell you?" He murmurs as he presses a feather-light kiss to my bare shoulder.

I turn in his arms and drop the dress while maintaining eye contact with him. The material falls to the floor revealing the baby pink bra and panties I have on underneath. His eyes darken and swirl with gold as they rake over my body. I feel his need to have me through our bond and it makes me bite my lip in anticipation.

I send him memories of us making love and all the things I want to do to him before pushing up on my toes and winding my arms around his neck. His hands tighten on my hips as he presses me impossibly closer to his body. A husky groan escapes him when I nip his mark before soothing it with my tongue. Grasping my chin with one hand he lowers his head until our lips are just a breath away.

And then someone knocks on the door.

Atticus lets out a frustrated snarl while I sigh in defeat as I step away. He pouts adorably when I gesture for him to see who it is but walks away regardless. I quickly put on a robe and step out of the wardrobe just in time for him to close the door. He's holding a brown colored envelope and I assume it might be from another pack about an important issue.

"Aren't you going to open it?" I ask as I take a seat on the bed.

"It's addressed to the both of us." He frowns in confusion as he walks over to me.

I watch as he opens it and reads the letter. But his emotions trickle into me and I feel his fear and anger. I get up and look at the note only to have the same reaction as him. It's from Vincent again and he has congratulated us on marking and mating. But he's also described all the ways he's going to hurt me and how satisfying it will be for him to destroy Atticus too when he won't be able to save me. Sighing heavily, I take the letter from him and put it on the bedside table before taking his hand and pulling him into bed.

"We're going to be okay." I whisper as he cuddles up to me.

"I'm not losing you." He growls protectively as he holds me tight.

"You won't." I promise but a tinge of doubt courses within me at the thought of the extremes Vincent can go to.

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