The Choosing
The setting spring sun kissed her cheek with a hint of warmth as it reached into her room. Her mother and grandmother both sitting with her, as her sister Allie brushed her hair.
“You must show pride Caira. Make them look up to you.” “Yes, Gran.”“It is almost time. Finish up, Allie,” her mother stood up, and Allie put the bristle aside, then pulling her up, holding both her hands tightly. “Caira, good luck! He will definitely choose you; you look so gorgeous!” Caira just smiled at her mildly. Her sister did not know the truth. The truth that the choice their Alpha was going to make tonight had already been made in advance. Only the strongest young she-wolves were even considered.
The paths were full of people, families walking, all with the same destination. Here and there you could see a young girl dressed in white like herself. A few friendly greetings reached them here and there, but none of them approached. For all the young girls and their female relatives, the ritual had already begun. It was a fair walk towards the holy oak, the Nemeton, that was rich in green despite the young year. Its trunk was hidden behind thick greenery, with only one winding path leading from its bark to the megalithic stone arch in front of it. The altar, another stone block, was decorated with flowers and held ready the utensils for the mating ceremony. In front of it the pack had gathered. Old and young, man and wolf; all sitting or standing in the fading evening light in the stone circle of the woods opening, between lush grass and young tree saplings.
When her party arrived, her mother craned her neck in search for her father and the male party of the family. As expected, they had a cozy spot right at the front, where the most respectable families of the pack took the best spaces. Drums were sounding and riled the mood of the pack to a tense expectation.
They were heading to the place closest to the altar of Nemeton, where the priestess was standing in the middle, with two rows of young girls to her left and right, all dressed in white. They were the unmarried females of the pack who were willing to be chosen. Some of the girls were still very young and there was no chance to begin with that the Alpha would choose them as his mate. A weak bride will only bring disaster to the pack, and a half-grown wolf is not strong enough to help him lead. But Caira saw their nervousness and excitement. Six years ago, when the last New Moon Bride was chosen, she had been one of them, too young to really understand the workings of the pack, yet eager at the fantasy of becoming a Luna and being the Alphas bride. Full of the innocent vanity that many young girls had at that age between childhood and being an adult.
Her mother lowered her head in front of the priestess, and Caira followed. The priestess marked a rune of purity on her forehead with water from a bowl in her hand, then let her pass to join the line of girls. She only half noticed many of the girl’s and women’s familiar faces. Her little cousin Nini, fourteen this year, waved her breaking ceremony, then quickly stood still again. There were girls her age she grew up with, a warrior colleague she had trained with, her friend Beech and some faces she just knew around the pack. As she stood in line, right after her Sanaly arrived, the daughter of the Woods. They were one of the five big family clans of the pack, just like her own. By rule of the Rites, all families of the pack were supposed to send only their eldest daughter of marriageable age and status to the ritual, but somehow it became a custom for all young, unmarried girls to participate. It was only still strictly applied by the five families, as they carefully chose the eligible girls.
Yet, the Ritual was only a formality. Of the thirty-seven girls who gathered in the two lines in front of their pack, from the beginning only a handful had been deemed to be a fitting wife for their Alpha. Sanaly was one of them. And maybe there was still a slight chance for the Alpha to pick her. After all, despite all political and practical deliberations that had undoubtedly taken place behind closed doors, the Alpha would still be the one to make the choice. There may have been another sign that somebody overlooked, and his choice would fall on another. But Caira herself knew and understood that this was not the course of reality. Today, she would become the Alpha's bride.
As this day had been getting closer, Caira had been trying to think positively about it. Becoming the Alphas New Moon Bride was a dream for every pack member. Her friends had been excited when she entrusted them with the knowledge that the Alpha had appeared during her training and talked to her, asking about her thoughts. Her mother, making sure to remind her every morning for the past three months to only show herself at her best outside. Her father, uncles, aunts, discussing the possibilities she had and what they could do to gain the Alphas recognition. They all felt happy for her when things were clearly looking in the best direction. The Alpha talking to her in public for a second time had been the unspoken sign they all had been waiting for. There was no chance for her to tell them, that the responsibility of carrying the pack appeared heavy to her. That she had felt a little overwhelmed by the presence of his power when the Alpha was suddenly standing next to her while she was wiping her sweat from her sparring with Beech. She had looked in his eyes just long enough to show her strength and to see an examining expression on his face.
They had barely exchanged more than ten words before he had turned around and told her to work hard on her training.
The sudden rousing of the drums ripped Caira from her musings. The Alpha had arrived with his family. He stood tall and regal, his pose radiating the ancient power of his crown. Next to him his second Luna Lyrah who seemed light and saturated as the moon. Behind him followed his first, Naha with her son on her hand. The two Deltas flanked them, one of then carrying the youngest child of the Alpha, Maka.
Without being affected by all the attention suddenly shifted on them, the Alpha seated Lyrah in a comfortable place, caressing her cheek lightly so that only the most attentive eyes would notice it. Naha sat down next to her, and he took his oldest boy who mildly protested at being picked up to hand him to the second Delta. Only afterward he turned to the priestess to receive her bow and the rune of clarity on his forehead. The Lunas were filled with all blessings by the goddess, so they never needed a sacred sign to grant them her protection.
The drums changed rhythm, and after exchanging a glance with the Alpha, the priestess turned to the pack. “It is time! All willing brides have arrived. Our Alpha, through the goddess eyes, shall choose our New Moon Bride to be Luna of our pack. Let us call out to our beloved goddess; Iana!” While there were still a few people walking around, looking for a place to sit, the pack started calling. “Iana, Iana, Iana…” to the rhythm of the drums, and after a while all of them chanted in unison. The atmosphere changed, the chanting pulling all hearts together into one, slowly, creating focus and a mystic unity. Caira felt herself join in the familiar chorus naturally. Then the priestess voice sang in rhythm with the chant.
“Iana, my holy mother of the night.
You guide my darkest hour. Be my eyes. Lead my way.”
For a little while longer the calling of the goddess’ name sounded over the clearing, getting louder. Then the drums stopped, and with them the crowd returned to silence.
The priestess in a clear voice started singing.
Lead your heart into the night,
Where her path is through your light.
Your eye is clear in sorrow,
Your eye is clear in knowing,
Your eye is clear in love,
Your eye is clear in blood.
As her song carried through the air of the clearing, the saint atmosphere reverberated in the hearts of many.
“Our eyes are guided by the goddess. Look at our nominees. Speak up if you have knowledge of any of them, that will deem them unworthy of being our Luna.” Two strokes of the drum followed, and then, a long silence. The priestess waited for a while in which the silence became increasingly tense. She sounded the bell tied to her clothes once, and as the last sound stilled for all sensitive werewolves’ ears, she turned around to speak to the nominees. “You all have gained approval of the pack.”
“Offer your blood and ask for Our Goddess Iana’s acceptance.” As the drums started a low rhythm again, the ritual servants in sets of two, helped the nominees cut their finger with a knife, then filled a small bowl with water and handed it to them to put a drop of their blood inside. Their fingers healed right up, but for some girls it still was difficult getting past the mental block of harming yourself. Caira was a warrior, and when her mother had suggested her to try this to prepare for the ritual, she had declined. She was used to getting wounded and healing up. As the ritual servant approached her with a knife, she took it without hesitation and cut her finger at the base, deep enough for her blood to flow into the bowl he held for her. After a lick of her tongue, the wound closed and she received the bowl from the servant.
The goddess test took quite a while, but while this was a dull part for the spectators, for the nominees the time was little. A few young girls struggled, but if they did not give their blood to show devotion, then the ritual would be over for them. It was a symbolic test, one everyone would pass eventually, but it still held the importance of their faith. The ones whose bowl was filled turned to the shrine in front of the entrance of the Oak’s halo of greenery. In a row, they spilled the water in front of the stone block, some lingering there for a moment, praying to their goddess, maybe even asking for approval as the ritual supposed them to do. A wind carried from the top of the trees’ crown as Caira approached, catching into her gown, and letting it flutter, giving the audience a graceful view. Her mother had made sure she wore a magnificent dress. It was made of layers of thin fabric, always promising a peek at her flesh underneath, but never allowing it. The silk flowed naturally around her curves, giving it an ethereal mood. And because the fabric was light, every slight breeze would make it flutter. Six years ago, she had worn a simple white dress with a thin golden belt that, in hindsight, was as chaste and unimpressive as could be. Back then, she had felt beautiful, but she had been a kid, meant as a super for the ritual, as part of the backdrop. This time, she was the leading role. And her part was to embody the Moon Goddess herself. To reflect her purity, to be seductive for her Alpha, and to show strength and character to the pack.
There was no going back now. A few times, she had indulged in a daydream about speaking up and refusing all this. About the consequences of doing so. Imagined how it would play out. Her parents would have scolded her, maybe seen it as a disgrace to them to raise a daughter that would not be proud to be the Luna. But they would have let her. Told the family to support another girl to run for their power games. There would be pressure. A fight. Some would see it as refusing loyalty to her Alpha. Although all this happening was never really an option, she might have gotten out of it. Then, with losing the backing of her powerful family, the trust of the Clan and friends disappointed in her, maybe she could find a mate for her own somewhere. A life where she would be an outcast for a while, maybe suffer some side eyes and rumours circulating the pack, until something else happened and she was forgotten.
Then, the Alpha had talked to her. It was not the first time she saw him or heard him speak. Not even the very first time he spoke to her directly. But during this time while everyone talked about his searching for a mate, it had a different meaning than a professional instruction as her king and commander. His power was intimidating, his presence commanded respect. But the way he talked was caring: “I saw your fight. You are impressive.” Not knowing what to answer she simply thanked him. He looked toward the others sparring, his eyes sharp. “Times have been too calm. I am glad they are, but sometimes I fear we are losing focus.” She thought about his words for a while, about what drove him to think like this, and her own motives for becoming a warrior and choosing this path. It must be a heavy burden to bear. She rarely spoke much, but something drove her to share her thoughts with him: “I wanted to be like them as a kid. Reliable, strong, simply like that. And when the other kids fearfully whispered the names of the creatures of the Nightworld, I wanted to assure them that they are protected. Then I once heard my uncles talk about the conflict between the Lowfield pack and the vampire coven, and the massacre they caused in the end. I saw what we are fighting against. I cannot talk for everyone here, but I understand what we have the Night Vigil for, I assure you, Alpha.” I will protect them. The last words remained unspoken, but she was sure were conveyed through the quick locking of their eyes. She lowered her head before she could see any reaction to her words, but felt his heavy hand on her shoulder, a friendly gesture she had seen him give to some of his male officers before. “I won´t keep you from training then. Work hard.” And with that, he had turned.
Something about this brief encounter had calmed her mind. Although she did not think about it in that moment, knowing that his visit on that day had been a clear sign of his interest, that she was one of the few he seriously considered mating to, calmed her inner struggle. She was unsure if she wanted to carry this responsibility, but her Alpha believing in her wiped this away. This was the effect he had on his people, and the reason he was their leader. Being his wife, his Luna, she had suddenly deeply felt the honour of this position. It was not an offer you declined. It was something greater than her own small perspectives, like a fate or a path. She simply knew in that moment, that if her Alpha called to her, she would answer.
The last drop of water in her bowl met the ground before the altar, and she turned back to stand in the long line of aspirants, facing the pack before her. There were her parents and her family, the elders, Beta Arvid. She saw Grey and Torrin, and the rest of her squad. She saw neighbours, family friends, distant cousins.
She saw the Alpha, standing before all of them. The drums seemed to match her beating heart as the last few of the girls spilled their blood before the altar.
When the two lines of women and girls had formed yet again, the Priestess sounded the bell on her belt and let it fall quiet. The goddess had given her approval.
She then spread her arms in a dramatic gesture as the drums picked up. She started singing in a faint voice, a prayer they all knew well. The pack joined her song.
The Alpha turned to the row of girls. The time of choosing was here. He stepped closer as the priestess began the prayer anew, and the air was brimming with the pack’s expectation. Between the aspirants, there was a visible mixture of excitement, anxiousness and anticipation as the Alpha let his eyes wander over them, searching for his bride. Caira kept her eyes on the ground before her, standing still and waiting, showing the picture of a demure and faithful bride as she was expected to. In her mind she was counting his steps on the grass, her sharpened senses following the presence of his power pacing in front of the line of girls, making a show for the audience. Then, he was coming closer. She felt him before she saw him, standing in front of her, his shadow dimming the full moon’ s wafting light. He clipped the clasp of the huge fur cloak he wore and with big gesture he enveloped her in it. “I choose you,” he called out loudly for the whole pack to hear. This was it.
