In Lovers Wake

Chapter 2: Tonights the Night of the Hunt

Calla POV

The night before today, I couldn't sleep. I stayed up late and thought about tomorrow before it actually happened. Everything that i've learned would be put to the test tonight in front of the Keepers to see how well Ren and I work together. Just as I rubbed the sleepiness from my eyes, my phone goes off signaling that I have a new message. I check it and thers quite a few here. Most of them are from my mother and Lumine. Theres a few from Ren, Bryn and Ansel. I go through the messages from Lumine and my mother and they both say the exact same thing. Apparently, they called the school and excused both packs for the rest of the week. But the catch was that I had to get most of my stuff ready to be moved into our new home for tonight. Great..

I walked down stairs and found numerous empty boxes that I assumed that were suppost to be used to pack my things for the move. I carried a few of the big boxes upstairs and started putting my clothes in one of them and thankfully the box i used was big enough to hold all of them. I put my pillows and other things in the other boxes that were provided for me. This took me about # hours counting the number of trips i had to make up and down the stairs, bringing boxes up and down. I finally got the last box downstairs and brushed a little sweat off my brow. I glanced at my watch and saw that it was almost noon, so my mother should be here in a few minutes with the moving company.

My stomach growled in hunger from the fact that i didn't eat lunch or dinner yesterday and breakfast today. I grabbed a muffin from the cubbard and poured a cup of coffee while i waited for Naomi to show up. Just as i finished the last bit of my coffee, she pulled up to the house in her silver porche with the large moving truck following shortly after.

I put my coffee cup in the sink and went to let my mother in.

"Are all of your things ready?" she walked passed me without even a Hi, Calla. How are you today?

"Yes Mom. Everything is in the boxes and ready to go." I ignored the feeling of slight anger at her for not even saying hi.

"Good" she let out a sigh of relief when I said this. "I was afraid that you wouldn't be and that would put us so far behind schedule. Also, I heard that you and Ren are going to the Blood Moon Ball together before the Union tonight, right? Well, i thought of that and had Bryn pick up a little something for you." She pulled out a bag from the closet and gave it to me. I Pulled out its contents and gasped at it. It was a beautiful one shoulder chiffon dress that fell about 2 inches above my knees.

"I love it, mom. Thank you." And for once, in so many years, I was allowed to hug her without getting scolded for it.

"I'm glad you like it, honey." She gently pulled out of my hug and caressed my cheek in that motherly way that kids love and find comfort in. Normally, this wouldnt phase me, but I never had the joys of feeling these sensations, so i reveled in the feelings of joy and happiness. "Now that, thats out of the way, how about we load up the truck so that we can get it back to the estate." My mother whistled out rhe open door and 2 large men came in and began loading my things into the truck with ease. After a few minutes, the men were done and I got in the car with mom and headed over to the estate.

There was a shiny, black cherokee parked outside in the drive way and it was completely unmistakeable who's it was. What is Ren doing here? I get out and suddenly 2 wolves emerge from the shadows, whom I soon recongnise as Dax and Fey. They shift back into human form and help me unload the boxes from the truck, while my mother pays the movers for their work. Just as i knock on the door, Ren opens it and takes the box that I was carrying and lets me in.

"Hey, Lily. Miss me?" he plastered that teasing smirk across his handsome features. It was so annoying how he gave me that same smirk everytime he saw me, but I could help but feel just a little flattered by it. I mean, he made me feel things that no one else in my life couldn't.

"What are you doing here?" I was curious to why because I didn't think Emile was going to make him move in with me on the same night. I just assumed that he had already moved in.

"The same thing as you. Moving in for tonight. I just finished up with my stuff so I figured that I would help you out." I'm thankful that he's going to help me because it would have been a real pain in the ass to unpack all this by myself.

"Thank you." I gave him a friendly smile as we walked up the stairs and down the hall to our bedroom. The estate was huge and absolutely gorgeous inside, all the little details and colors seem to work together and make it seem like home. I open the door for Ren and it revealed the most amazing bedroom ever. It was a medium shade of green with white accents and beige silk bedding. Hanging above our bed, was a white canopy with seemed to just float above us. I looked around the room and was amazed at everything i saw, but my favorite part of the room was the balcony made of white marble that gave me a view of the sunset and the forest below us.

"Like what you see?" I felt Ren's arms wrap around my waist and pull me against his chest. I loved the feeling of his hard muscles against my body. It made me feel safe and secure.

"I do. Very much actually." I could feel his hands drawing little designs on my lower stomach. I bit my lip to try and prevent the small moans that were dying to escape my lips. I didn't want this to happen, but I just couldn't help myself. I let myself succumb to his touch and the sensations that he gave me.

"We can't do this. Not right now at least. B-But after tonight, you can finally have what you desire so much." He smiled as he kissed my staccato pulse in the crook of my neck before pulling away.

"I'm glad to hear you finally say that, Lily. At least now I know that you really want this." He pulled out something from his pocket and put it in my hand. When I opened it, laying in my palm was a ring of white gold with little sapphires embedded in it and the elegant cursive engraving that says "I Love You."

"Ren, I love it." I slipped it on to my finger and admired it for a few minor seconds before met his gaze. He raised my hand to his lips and gently kissed the ring that he gave me, his eyes never leaving mine.

'I'm happy to hear you say that. I chose the white gold because it reminds me of your hair and the little sapphires remind me of the ocean and how deep they are, because thats how deep my love runs for you." I was speechless at the moment, but I was so happy. I felt little crystal tears forming in the corners of my eyes and slowly trickle down my cheeks. Ren gently wipes them away with the pad of his thumb before taking my cheeks gently in his hands and bringing his lips down to mine in a soft, gentle kiss. It was so sweet, so gentle and over too soon.

"Are you ready for tonight, Lily?"

"I think so. I guess I'm just a little scared."

He gave me a reassuring smile and gently laced our fingers together "There's no need to be scared because Ansel, Bryn and the others are going to be with you. And so will I. But the only difference between me and your packmates, is that I want to be there for you as a lover too..if you'll have me."

"I thought I told you this already. I'll have you for a friend and a lover. And after tonight, i'll be able to prove my promise to you." I kissed him tenderly, before realizing what time it was. I have about an hour before we go to the Blood Moon Ball.

"Hey, can you give me a ride home real fast. I have to get changed for the dance."

"Sure, I can give you a a ride. Or we can go the fun way and run it." I may not always agree with his actions and ideas, but at least he knew me somewhat. And how could I resist running the way home? I live for the running; it make me feel free and uncontrollable.

We ran back to the house and I raced up to the shower and quickley freshened up before slipping into the dress mom had bought me earlier. I slipped on some gold straped heels and accented the outfit with gold jewlery and a small white flower clip in the right side with my part.

When I came back down, Ren is sitting in the love seat wearing a very fine tuxedo. He, of course, didn't have a tie and the top 2 buttons by his neck and collar bone weren't buttoned, but he was still as handsome and dashing as ever. I assumed that this was what he was wearing to the Union as well. I wonder how he changed so fast? His house is like 3 miles away and I certainly didn't take longer than about 20 minutes to get ready.

He widened his smile and that little mischievious glimmer appeared in his eyes.

"If your wondering how I changed so fast, I left my suit here the other night when I came to visit you. You look absolutely lovely. Now you do remind me of a beautiful lily." He gently kissed my cheek and let his lips linger on my skin, his breath brushing my cheek.

"Lets get going, Ren. The Ball has already started and The Union is in 2 hours, so if we want to make it to dinner and the Union on time we ought to get going."

"As always your right. But are you sure you don't just want to skip the ball and have a little fun." He gave me this really sexy smile that made my heart skip a beat. It took all of my will and strength to resist his offer. But he wasn't going to be too disappointed after tonight. I hope.

When we arrived everyone stared at us, like we were naked or something, but I knew that they were just shocked to see us together. Again, still no sign on Ansel and the others. Where the hell are they? The dance was much more boring than I thought it would be. I absolutely regret even coming to this stupid thing.

"This place is done. How about we go to dinner early?" Relief!

"Sure. Lets book it. This place is dead." He laughed at my comment and led me out to his shiny black cherokee. We drove all the way to the resturant talking about how we both thought the ceremony would go and it was then that he made a promise that i knew he would keep.

"The minute we get back to the estate and I hear those words from your lips. I'll take you in my arms and kiss you senseless, ravish you sweetly and make you feel something that you will never feel with anyone else." The look in his charcoal gray eyes said it all.

We arrived at a very expensive looking Italian resturant with some name i couldn't pronounce. The waiter led us right to our table after Ren gave him his name. I may have never been here before, but i definatly knew that you needed a reservation about 3 weeks in advance if you wanted to get in.

The waiter brought us wine glasses and a fine spread of exotic cheeses. The wine was absolutely perfect with the cheese. About 20 minutes later the waiter showed up again and set down a plate of chicken alfredo in front of me and a small basket of bread in the middle of us. How did he know that chicken alfredo was my favorite?

"How did you know what I was going to order?"

"I have my sources." Suddenly I was a little peeved.

"Do your sources include my best friend and her boyfriend?" I already knew the answer to that because their the only ones who truely know me and my favorite things.

"Maybe. Thats for me to know and for you to never find out." I frowned and glared at him, but only momentarily.

"Somethings just never change. Your still the same person. strong yet weak, fragile yet ferocious. Your still as elusive as water." Oh yeah, well, 2 can play this game.

"I could say the same thing about you. You haven't changed much either. Your still the same person as you were 10 years ago."

"And what kind of person do you think I was and still am?"

"Well your still the same cocky bastard you always were. Fearless. Your were always so fearless of everything; rivals, the world, the future. Its like while i'm at a dead end, your always 5 steps ahead of me and sauntering at a leasurely pace and i'm running my ass off to keep up with you. I'm not sure how you do it, but I will surpass you some day and i'll finally be able to slow down and catch my breath." He gave me a smile and never broke eye contact with me. I returned his smile and made sure he knew i wasn't kidding. I will pass him someday and when I do, I will have finally won this race.

"I look foward to that day, Lily. Lets eat. After all we only have an hour before we have to leave and get ready for the Union." We ate and extanged silence glances and small smiles at eachother. We paid for dinner and drove off to the grove where we were pulled off in different directions by our betas as soon as we stepped out of the car.

I was greeted with the fresh scent of pine and freshly cut grass. It also held the smell of fresh flowers and something extremely sweet. And for once I didn't smell burnt hair and death, meaning there were no wraiths around. Thank you god for this blessing!

"Its finally time, Calla. Are you ready?"

"Bryn, I wouldn't be standing here if I wasn't ready for this."

She gave me the dress back and I slipped behind some curtains hanging by branches to form a small room. I slipped out of all my dressy clothes and put on my dress. I watched as it shimmered around me in the moonlight and flowed in the soft breezes that passed through the curtains.

I stood in the woods outside the grove in my dress, the warm summer night breezes gently brushing over me, like fine silk. The path way to the grove was lit by these ancient looking torches that seemed to glow against the trees and shine off my dress. I let Byrn style my hair instead of doing my make-up because its such a pain to get it off. So I settled for hair that was curled into loose ringlets and pulled into an elegant side ponytail. She put these pins in my hair that had little white flowers on the end. It looked as if she had woven little flowers in my hair and they seemed to glow against my platnium blonde hair.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of the Keepers voices. They were chanting something in a language that I couldn't understand, but somehow, it seemed as if my ears and body were acting on their own. It was like i knew what they were saying, but at the same time I didn't. It wasn't long after that someone appeared outside the grove and began walking towards me. I sson reconiginize the man as Dax. He was dressed elegantly in a deep purple shirt and black dress pants.

"Its time. Are you ready, Calla? Are you ready to become the Alpha that will lead us with another? Are you ready to be the one that will lead us into the future?" I wasn't sure how to answer his questions, but he gave me a soft, assuring smile that gave me the confidence to give him my final answer.

"I am Dax. Are you ready to serve under a new Alpha?"

"I am." his features showed complete respect and honesty. And with that I knew I was ready. I was ready to face my destiny and all the hardships that came with it. With a reassuring smile, he extended his arm in an elegant manner to lead me to the grove. I took his arm and we headed to the grove to face what I would find to be, as the most important day in my life.

When we arrived Dax brought me to a room that had the feeling of something completely undescribable. I saw all of my packmates standing next to Ren in a slightly curved line and his were in the same line on my side. Dax led me up to my spot before he took his next to me. I looked over at Bryn who was standing next to Ren, trying her hardest not to cry. Everyone else was silent as the grave. I turned to face Ren just as he did the same. I looked into his charcoal eyes and I saw something. It was unreadable, but it was there the entire time.

Suddenly, a loud booming voice eminatted from above us. I looked up and saw Lumine, Efron, and Logan standing on a balcony above us. It was only seconds later before Efron and Lumine spoke in unison.

"With the spirits of the past Keepers present here with us and the Alphas of 2 different packs, have come here to witness something that hasn't been done in more than 1000 years: the union of 2 alphas and the formation of a new pack."

Lumine moved behind Efron and began drawing something in the air. When she was done, she gave a flick of her wrist and the symbol hung suspended above their heads. Now it was Logans' turn to speak.

"I stand here before all of you not only as a Keeper, but as the Keeper that will bind these 2 packs together to form one of my own. Now I must ask all of you present: Are you ready to become one pack? Are you all ready to serve under a new order?"

In unison we all answered "We are. We will serve, but only one Keeper and answer to only one Keeper."

With a pleasent smile the symbol began to glow, so bright, that it almost seemed white. All of a sudden, there was only me and Ren. We were surrounded by the blinding light and it seemed as if we are the only ones that can see eachother without difficulty. I lock eyes with him before my body acts on instinct. Together we speak something in a different language. I'm guessing this is what is binding us all together as one pack because shortly after, all members of the pack were surrounding us in a circle, their eyes closed and heads bowed in respect.

Without another thought, we did what we knew was right. We leaned into the crook of eachothers necks and bit into eachother. I tasted his blood before, but it has never tasted like this before. Normally it was sweet and smoky, but this time it held energy, an absolutely electrifying power behind it. Before i knew it, I was shifting into my wolf form. I look around me and everyone else was already shifted. I look in front of me and there stood a wolf, with fur as black as night.

An ancient language boomed around us before the light disappeared. When we all looked around, there present before us as a Searcher. One that I had caught that night at Eden. I felt Ren's muscles tighten at the sight of him, which only made my muscles tense with eagerness. I wanted to go over and sink my teeth into his throat, but i didn't have time to finish my thought..

"Alphas, as your final task to finish this, You are to hunt together as one. Standing here before you is your prey. He will have a 2 minute head start to run, but it will be you two and only you that hunt this prey."

With that, Dax and Bryn untied the Searcher and made a cut in his arm. The smell of blood swirled around us, taunting us to come and take it. The searcher started at us with fear in his eyes, before he ran for his life. He may have to minutes to run, but that isn't going to be enough to have his sorry ass. Beieve it or not, I'm still pissed about him driving those brass knuckles into my shoulder and tonight, he will pay.

When the 2 minutes were up, Lumine nodded her head and told us to go and find our prey. I nodded my head to Ren before we took off running. I followed the scent of his blood which seemed to get stronger with every step I took. In some cases, I lost it, but only momentarily, for soon after, Ren and I found him holding his bloody arm, leaning against the tree. Hot blood surged through his fingers and onto the ground, staining it crimson. I gave the searcher one last growl before I tore into his leg, tasting the hot blood in his veins. The Searcher only had time to scream in agony once before Ren tore open his throat and ended his life.

When we re-entered the grove, the Keepers seemed pleased with our success and the new pack, had a look on their face that gave me a new sense of pride and hope for the best in the future. We all shifted back into human form, and waitied for the Keepers to speak.

"You have done well, Alphas and now there is one more thing that the packmates must do before it is made official. Your all must swear your loyality to your Alphas."

In unison they all responded "We all stand here before you willing to serve and protect our Alphas. We swear our alligence to you and only you. Your word has become our law." All the eyes of the packmates were locked on us. Bryn, Ansel, Dax, Fey, Cosette, Mason, Neville, and Sabine had the most serious looks on their faces.

Ren and I responded with the strength and authority needed in Alphas "We accept your alligence. For now we are one, so we stand as one. And we hunt as one."

"This is the beginning of a new life for all of us. And it is with great honor that I present to you all the Haldis." Logan's expression was joyous as he became the official Keeper of our pack.

Ren gently stroked my face with the back side of his hand before cupping my face in both of his. He brought his lips down to mine in a kiss that seared joy and happiness through me. For once in my life, I am truely happy for this moment in time, and I knew I would be for the rest of my life. He pulled away and I saw the same thing in his eyes again, but this time I could tell what it was. Love. I saw the love he had for me and i'm sure he could see the same thing in mine too, but for now I'm just going to be happy with my new mate. And not just for this moment, but for the rest of my life.

So..whatcha think? Good? Bad? So bad that it breaks all the scales of bad and terrible? Or kinda awsome, but still sucky? I know this is much longer than the last chapter, but I didn't want to break up the Union into 2 parts so..yeah. Let me know what you think. Reviews are my drive, they keep me writing on and on.(Hint, Hint ;) ) And this is a fair warning, Lemon is in the next chapter.. Again,please R&R and I love you all. Thanks for reading.

Snowflakedreams96