When River was hunting for ways to get her DNA tested, the authorities had informed her that if her father’s DNA was in their database, then hers could be matched and verified. Alpha Lowell’s DNA report was already there and though River didn’t know why it was there, she instantly got herself tested to prove that she was Alpha’s Lowell’s daughter.
She didn’t know of her mother’s family. So when the two women came to her and introduced themselves, surprise blasted in her. She whipped her head to look at Hunter who was smiling mysteriously. He put an arm around her shoulders and said in a low voice, “There is a lot of time for talking to your family, River, but right now you have a bigger task.” He looked at all the pack members who were still on their knees with their heads bowed to her. “You have to become their true Alpha.”
River was overwhelmed. She looked at all the pack members and how they submitted to her authority. It was her dream that she would just lead a normal life, but she wasn’t prepared for it. She had come to claim her pack but when the reality of claiming it fell on her shoulders, she felt… confident, ecstatic. She felt like this place belonged to her forever.
“I don’t know what to do… she murmured.
The Shaman approached her. He bowed to her and said, “Alpha River, please come with me to the Moon Goddess sanctum. You will have to undergo a ritual so that I may formally announce you as the Alpha of the Crescent Moon pack. River gasped. She looked confused and turned to Hunter for help. His smile widened as he nodded to her. “Go, it is important.”
She bit her bottom lip as for a moment, nervousness surged in her body. She balled her hands into fists. Hunter knew that she was feeling anxious, so he intertwined his fingers with hers and tugged her to the sanctum. The Shaman followed her. Some elite pack members also wanted to come in, but he stopped all of them with a tough glare..
When they reached inside, the Shaman closed the doors and said, “Alpha Hunter, I know that you are her mate and that is why I have allowed you to witness this sacred ritual.”
Hunter’s eyes widened in surprise. “How?” he asked. River too was highly shocked.
The Shaman chuckled as he approached the statue of the Moon Goddess. “I am not the Shaman of the pack just because I am an ordinary wolf! I have special powers and one of them is that I can easily know about mates.”
“Then why didn’t you know about Hector and me?” River shot back.
The Shaman clasped his hands and bowed to the goddess. He touched the feet of the statue and something in the wall behind her clicked. It was a small chamber that revealed a bloodstone knife. Picking up the knife he said, “Alpha Maxim had threatened me not to reveal it…” He didn’t say the reason, knowing fully well that River must have guessed it. He lifted the knife up in his hand and it glinted in the light. “Please give me your right hand.”
When she extended her right hand to him, he turned the palm up. “This bloodstone knife has the blood of the ancestors and Elders of the Crescent Moon pack. You come from a long bloodline of Alphas, River. If you are the true Alpha, then as soon as I will slice your palm and you will offer your blood on the feet of the Moon Goddess, all the pack members will automatically submit to you. Your mind link will open
with them.”
River ***in a sharp breath. How was she going to deal with so many channels of thoughts?
“Don’t worry,” the Shaman grinned. “This would be your least of all the issues. Once you are the Alpha, you will have to nominate your beta and then also other important members”
River’s shoulders drew back as tension took over. But she shoved all that as she focused on the most important thing that was going to happen in her life. She was going to become the Alpha of her pack.
The Shaman sliced her palm in the middle. As blood oozed out, she took her hand to the feet of the goddess and offered her blood to her. The blood immediately dried at her feet and was absorbed. Her skin was lined with goosebumps. On an instinct, she sank on her knees and clasped her hands in front of the goddess and prayed. “Give me strength to lead my pack, Moon Goddess.”
As soon as she said that, mist swirled around her and wrapped her completely. She could feel a pull from the statue in front of her. She opened her eyes and was stunned to see a woman clothed in silvery dress that sparkled like moonlight. She gasped as she watched the Moon Goddess, enthralled, captivated and entranced.
The Moon Goddess smiled at her. “I am Selena, my child.”
River couldn’t utter a word as she continued to gaze in the silvery eyes of the goddess. “You have reclaimed your pack and that is what I was waiting for from a long time.” River’s **fell to the floor. “Me?”
The Moon Goddess smiled. “Yes, child,” she said in a melodious voice. “Now it is up to you to make sure that you change the laws that restrict the Lycans and werewolves to seek their mates. This law has been in place for centuries and has forbidden the love that mates experience. This law is nothing but a result of egos of a few werewolves and Lycans. Break if
and free my children from it.” The Moon Goddess leaned forward and curled her fingers beneath River’s chin. “Will you do that for me, River?”
River’s eyes filled with tears and she nodded. She felt like she was a part of the Moon Goddess and that she should merge with her. “I will.”
The Goddess stroked her hair and said, “Then I am assured.”
“Please don’t go,” River begged. “I will need your guidance.”
The Goddess gazed at her for a moment. “You won’t need me, River. All you need is your grit and your mate, the Lycan King, Alpha Hunter.”
“But-”
“I can’t come to the human world and create change, my child. But I have sent werewolves like you who would do it for
me.”
River felt like she was given a great responsibility and she felt… honored. “I will try my best.”
The Goddess smiled and she stepped back. Soon the mist surrounded her and when it cleared, the statue looked like nothing ever happened there. Taking a deep breath in, River got up, her mind still whirling as to what she experienced. Her vision was blurry when she turned to see the Shaman who was watching her with amazement.
“River?” Hunter came to her and put his hands on her shoulders. He examined her from top to bottom. Every bruise on her body, every wound was completely healed. A halo was around her body and she looked entranced. “River, speak to me!” The Shaman opened her palm and saw that her skin was completely healed there as well. In a low, revered voice he asked, “Did you meet the goddess?”
River’s lips trembled when she said, “Yes.”
The Shaman closed his eyes and sank on his knees in front of her. “You are her child,” he rasped. “Alpha River.” When he looked up, he saw her staring into his eyes. “You were born for a purpose, Alpha River, Accept your destiny.”
River slapped her hands over her ***, thanking the Moon Goddess for choosing her.
They came out of the sanctum with Hunter holding River’s hand and the Shaman walking behind them. The Shaman shouted, “All bow to your new Alpha, Alpha River!”
All the pack members bowed to her. Some of them shifted and howled to the moon that was shining in its full glory. Suddenly, River could hear the thoughts of every pack member. The surge of thoughts was like a wave crushing her skuli On a basic instinct, she sent them all an order to calm down. Her order was so powerful that all of them stopped, wincing. Half an hour later, Hunter took River back to the hotel where he was staying. There were Lycan warriors everywhere to ensure her safety. Not only that, the werewolves had gathered together and formed a small group to save their new Alpha. There were too many things on her mind, but the foremost was where was Lena, her best friend? She went to take a
bath where Hunter joined her.
“Congratulations, love!” he said as he entered the shower with her.
She looked at him as hot water sluiced around them. “It couldn’t have been possible without you, Hunter,” she said and rose on her toes to kiss his lips.
He opened for her and let her take over. She entered his ***and swiped it with her tongue. When she pulled away, she said, “I want you to mark me.”
