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Tala sniffled. "I know. It will be different for me, and it is different for me. My Lycan doesn't know what to do without her mate. She is restless, and I don't know how to calm her."
A tear rolled down Remy's cheek. "I can understand that. She needs her family, her pack. We are all here for you and her. Why don't we go for a run? Or maybe we can do something together as a pack?"
Tala smiled at her. "Spoken like a true Alpha."
Remy smiled weakly. It may have been something she wanted to bring up to her mother, but she should have known she wouldn't have needed to. Tala was an incredible Luna, always knowing how to read people and make them feel better. Remy thought she came here to do that for her mother but should have known better that her mother would turn the tables and do it for her, too.
Tala straightened herself and took a deep breath. She waved Remy to step in further and closed the door behind her. Remy sat on her parents' bed and didn't mention how she noticed it didn't look like it had been used last night. Sleep deprivation in a Lycan could lead to losing control. Just like any other species, it was needed to keep the body and mind sound. She wasn't going to question her mother just yet since she was deeply agonizing over her mate's death.
"Without your father, I will not be fit to take over the pack. It will take a lot of time before I am ready for that kind of responsibility."
"Mom, we don't-"
"Shush. We need to have this conversation. Let me get through it before I am in another puddle of tears."
Remy grumbled but did as she was told.
"Kodi has his own pack to lead, which will give us yet another ally against the darkness taking over our kingdom. Our pack needs an Alpha who can lead this pack during this dark time. You have faced more than all of us combined. Remy," Tala started as she walked over and put a hand on Remy’s face, "you are the strongest person I have ever met. You were born to lead, and this pack needs a leader like you to survive whatever is coming for us. It is time for you to step into the role you were born for."
Tears slid down her face, and Remy choked on the words as they formed in her throat. It wasn't like her to cry this much, but those were the words she had been dying to hear for quite some time. She would have rather it had been because her father was ready to step down from being the Alpha, but that wasn't what the Goddess intended.
"Before you even doubt you are ready, you are. I saw you on the battlefield. You didn't know it, but you inspired others to join the fight because you were willing to protect your Alphas. I know for a fact that the only reason we survived was because of you." Remy tried to say something, but her mother cut her off. "It is because of you that Chase showed up with his entire pack. Your strength together is what this pack needs. You haven't completed the bond yet, but he is everything you will ever need. The way he came here to save you tells me he will help you lead this pack. My fierce girl, it is time for you to become the Alpha."
Remy smiled and nodded her head. "You're right. The pack needs one tough bitch to get them through this mess, and I am exactly the right person for the job."
Her mother laughed for the first time since everything, which was a beautiful sound to Remy's ears. "Now that's the daughter I know and raised. Now, let's go. We have a ceremony to plan."
That's when it hit Remy. "YOU’RE THROWING ANOTHER PARTY AREN'T YOU?!"
~*~*~*~*~*~
The whole pack was sitting in rows of chairs outside before the woods. They were joined in with Kodi's pack as well as Chase's. The smoke and scent of the funeral was long gone and replaced by the sweet smells of the flowers growing around the territory and the crops they grew. This pack had kept an archway built hundreds of years ago in pristine condition, so each Alpha named would complete each of their ceremonies under the arch. Many branches swirled, and pack members would bring either flowers or even leaves from the crops to weave inside of it to give their time and respect to initiate the Alpha to their position.
Remy stood under the arch with her mother at her side. Tala tried to convince Remy to wear a dress, but that almost led to a physical fight because there wasn't a chance in hell that Remy would get caught in a dress for a ceremony like this. Even a bonding ceremony would not be enough reason to wear a stupid dress, but taking over the role of Alpha meant she needed to look as strong as the Alpha she was about to become, not like some dainty princess. Instead, Remy agreed to wear one of her tactical black skirts, which had a few knives strapped to her thighs, a long pink shirt, and, of course, her black leather jacket. Tala relented and allowed it because she knew her daughter would never agree to wear a dress. She tried, but deep down, she knew Remy would never go for it. However, Tala managed to get Remy to agree to wear her moonstone necklace as something from a previous Luna. That was part of the tradition.
Tala wore a long-length white dress and a woven headband made from twigs like the archway. White flowers were also woven in, complementing the Luna's dress and bringing out the brightness in her green eyes. Remy was kneeling on the ground with her head bowed as her mother spoke to begin the ceremony.
"With the Great Plains Pack standing as witnesses, we are here today to call on the Goddess to bless this moment as Remy Howell chooses to ascend to the position as Alpha. Do you accept her as your Alpha? Will you obey her commands and follow her leadership as she leads our pack to the future? Will you protect her with your life as you have the Alphas before her?"
"We accept Remy Howell as our Alpha. We will obey her commands, follow her leadership, and protect her life with our own," the pack responded.
Tala held out her hand to Remy and helped her to her feet. With a smile, Tala continued the ceremony. "Do you, Remy, accept your position as Alpha? Will you command this pack to the best of your knowledge? Will you guide our pack to the levels it will need in order to grow and make ourselves better than what we are now? Will you protect our people with your life as," Tala paused for a moment, allowing the words to come to her without getting choked up, "the Alphas have done before you?"
"I, Remy Howell, accept the position of Alpha. To the best of my ability, I will command this pack, guide you all to become better than we are now, and protect you with my life."
Remy felt the pack bonds' magic reshape from her mother to herself. Each bond wrapped around her, tied to her so she could command them as an Alpha should. The magic energy poured into her, making her knees wobble, and she held onto her mother to allow it to flow through her. It was overwhelming to feel the magic course through her and then feel what each pack member felt at that moment. With only being around twenty-five, it was at least better than feeling the fifty it was, but it did not discredit what it was doing to her. Her Lycan came to the surface, connecting herself to the pack and taking in the pack magic to change her into the Alpha. Remy felt her Lycan push her power into the pack bonds, commanding the bonds to settle where they should all lie. Remy felt the pack calm themselves immediately, and the edginess from her father's absence disappeared. Remy's shoulders sagged when it was finished, and she smiled brightly at her mother. Tala hugged Remy, holding her tight against her as she whispered into her ear.
"Remember what I said. You were born for this, and you will do wonderfully. It is your time now, and I know you will make us proud."
The tears that threatened to spill at her mother's words stayed where they were as Remy straightened herself and stood proudly in front of the pack. Tala faced herself in their direction again, and with a booming voice, she yelled, "Here's to Remy Howell, Alpha of the Great Plains Pack!"
The pack tilted their heads back and howled. The remaining sliver of moon still shining before the sunrise threatened to peak over the horizon glowed as if the Goddess was blessing this ceremony. Remy smiled at the moon, feeling her father watching her as she tilted her head back and joined the chorus.
Chase stood up from his seat as the howls died down and strode over to her. He looked at her with pride and bowed to her when he was a few feet away.
"Alpha Remy, it has been a pleasure watching you ascend to your rightful position as Alpha."
Remy bowed her head. "Thank you." A thought occurred to Remy as she looked out across her pack. Chase came to her rescue and had done everything to show her how he would be the mate she needed at her side.
