Alpha's One Night Bride
Alpha’s One Night Bride – Chapter 58

The morning of the red moon ceremony, merchants were setting up their shops on the sides of the town’s streets. Jonathan could already smell the street foods cooking and preparing for a day of fun before the grand feast later that night.

Chief Miller already had deputies patrolling the streets and making sure everyone was safe. Jonathan had guards and the army patrolling the woodland forest and making sure no wolves enter or leave during the night. He was planning on spending the ceremony also patrolling the woods and preparing himself for any type of battle that may break out.

He no longer trusted Graham and feared that there was going to be a territory war starting soon. He just hoped that his mother would be able to summon Naomi in time and diminish the powers to the cufflink.

Jonathan still wasn’t sure how he was feeling towards his mother; even a few days later, he was still feeling a bit hurt but at the same time he needed to focus his attention on protecting Sabrebite and keeping Arina safe.

He didn’t want to alarm the rest of Sabrebite about what was going on, but he did warn a few to be wary as the night goes on because they aren’t sure what could happen at any moment. He didn’t want to cause a frenzy throughout his pack.

Jonathan, Jess, Erick, Ronnie, and even Arina, spent the last couple of days gathering all the materials Jess will need to prepare for summing Naomi.

• Wolf’s fur from the Davis bloodline

• White sage

• White chalk to draw the summoning circle

• A match to create the fire

• A pink rose petal; Naomi’s favorite flower.

They were surprised Graham hadn’t made any moves since the time they came up with the plan till the day of the ceremony. It definitely caused them to be wary, but regardless they had to continue with it. Graham could not be in possession of something so powerful.

Jonathan left Arina at home with Ronnie so they could get ready for the ceremony; he wasn’t letting her leave the house until later. Erick was keeping an eye on the house to make sure nobody entered or left until Jonathan gave them the order. Jess stayed inside the house as well, preparing herself for the ceremony, practicing for when the time comes.

The only way Naomi could be summoned is when the red moon eclipse is at full compacity; which is also around the same time the moon gods bless the strong wolves with being even stronger and allow the chance for the weaker wolves to speak to them about anything of their desires and ask specific requests. The red moon gods open their realm to every wolf and bless them with gifts.

Every year, since Arina was 7, she would ask the moon gods the same thing during the ceremony. To speak with her mother and to make sure that her mother was doing alright. Emlin had told Arina, when she was young, that in her next life she was going to be a red moon goddess so she can keep watch over Arina. Arina made it a promise and a mission to always aim to summon her mother through the red moon gods because she wanted to make sure it actually happened for her.

Unfortunately, every year Arina would be left disappointed. Jonathan would have thought by now that she would have given up. But he was foolish to think that. He was glad Arina never gave up hope on summoning her mother. It was something that meant the world to her, and she held that close to her heart.

It kept her through all these years, and he loved her that much more of it.

However, Arina was his luna and the mother of his unborn child and his main mission was to keep her safe. As much as he wanted to keep Sabrebite safe, being the Alpha, he wanted to keep Arina safe even more. He always has; even during their childhood, he only ever wanted to keep her safe.

But he would never take the red moon ceremony away from her. So, he reluctantly told her that she could attend. But he was going to always have eyes and ears on her and at the first sign of danger, she was to head back home.

As the day went on, there was still no sign of a war breaking loose.

His only thought was maybe they got lucky, and Graham wasn’t planning on war; however, there was something inside of him that told him he still needed to be wary. His wolf was warning him about something, and it was worrying him.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was approaching.

Night fell and he finally allowed Arina, Ronnie, and Jess to leave the house and enter the events of the town. The town was lit up in all sorts of nightly colors; the streets were flooded with different types of wolves.

The music in the streets was loud as members of the pack danced and sang along with the words. The music came from a live band that played in the center of the town. Once it got dark enough, fireworks erupted into the sky. The beautiful display of colors shining along with the bright stars and the full moon.

Jonathan could already see the redness of the eclipse begin to form at the corner of the moon. It was hazy at first but darkened as the night went on.

Jess remained off to the side, setting up her summoning circle and preparing the sage, rose petal, and fur mixture for burning.

Arina and Ronnie were dancing and laughing in the center of the streets with some of the other wolves; Jonathan couldn’t help but smile at how free Arina finally looked. It was nice seeing her letting loose and just enjoying her time for once. With everything happening around them the last couple of months, she deserved to get her mind off things.

He also noticed she appeared to be looking much better. She still held her stomach delicately as she danced, but the colors in her features were returning to her and she didn’t look as though she was thinning out as badly. She had a slight roundness to her face and a light in her pale green eyes.

She caught his eyes from a distance and her smile widened as she motioned for him to join her. He had to admit, it was a tempting offer, but with how late it was already getting, he knew he had to head towards the woodland forest and assess any breaches that may have happened.

She frowned as she saw the hesitation on his face; she stared up at the moon. The eclipse was happening, and it was happening soon.

Arina made her way to Jonathan with Ronnie trailing behind her closely.

“Are you leaving?” She asked; there was worry lacing her tone.

Jonathan looked up at the moon too, with a frown. Looking back at Arina he nodded.

“I have to,” he said. “Please stay here with Ronnie and Erick.”

He leaned down to k**s her lips; she tasted of cotton candy from one of the food merchants. Arina always did have a sweet tooth; he couldn’t help but chuckle at her blue tongue as she smiled up at him.

“Please be careful,” she whispered.

He said nothing more to her, he turned and began heading in the direction of his mother. She looked more nervous now than she had in the last few days. Probably because it was nearing the time for her to shine.

She saw Jonathan approaching and she attempted to give him a brave smile, but it never reached her eyes.

“Are you okay?” He asked her; he sounded more concerned for her than he had in the last few days, and she could feel the tension beginning to resolve between them.

Jonathan figured that Arina was right, Jess obviously thought she had a good reason behind keeping this secret from him. She wanted to protect him because she was his mother and she loved him dearly. There was no doubt in Jonathan’s mind of his mother’s love. It was just a lot of new information at once and he wasn’t sure how to handle it all.

“I think so,” she admitted. “I’m nervous it won’t work.”

“Just try your best, mom. That’s all I can ask for you,” he told her gently as he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her in for a hug.

He hated being mad at her. She sighed against him.

“Does this mean you forgive me?” She asked him.

He smiled down at her.

“As much as I can for right now,” he told her, kissing her forehead. “But you’re my mom, and regardless I will always love you.”

“I love you,” she said back with a smile.

A flash of confidence went through her eyes at the moment as she stared up at the moon. The eclipse was almost in its place. The town was beginning to be silent as most of the pack transitioned to their wolf selves.

Staring back at Jonathan, she gave him a worried look.

“Be careful,” she told him.

“You too,” he said as he transformed into his wolf self and trotted off into the forest.

He watched the eclipse from the forest; he heard the countdowns from his pack and the distant countdowns from the surrounding packs.

10

9

8

7

His heart pounded heavily against his chest as uncertainty rose through him. He couldn’t shake the feeling.

6

5

4

He sent a small prayer to his mom, hoping that she would be able to summon Naomi and get that cufflink diminished before it was too late.

3

2

He thought of Arina and hoped to the moon gods that she stayed safe. He trusted Erick and knew he would do everything in his power to keep both Arina and Ronnie safe and out of harm’s way.

It was now or never.

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