Destined Queen, Prophesied Warrior

Formalities

Aurelia felt her heart flutter from his words. She cautiously raised her eyes to meet his gentle gaze as her knees began to buckle under his warm touch. She was able to discern that his large hands were soft, yet calloused, guessing he wasn't a stranger to hard work or getting his hands dirty.

Goosebumps stretched across her skin as she let her cheek caress against his touch. She felt beautiful and comforted as vibrations shot over every inch of her body and tickled her core.

As Aurelia wondered how her body could betray her mind in such a way, Amerie broke her train of thought as she whispered quietly in her mind, "Well say something Evie! My Goddess!"

Aurelia heard the soft crunching of the forest floor. She sensed the curious stares coming from the vast majority of current onlookers. Their eyes piercing her like daggers striking her back. She heard their whispers as she noticed the crowd increasing in numbers around her. Aurelia began to feel overwhelmed. It was as if she couldn't process a single, coherent thought with his spicy and invigorating scent enveloping all her senses. Her entire body was set ablaze, detecting the heat and rapid warmth on her cheeks as they blushed, reddening.

She gave a slow curtsy, tilted her head to the side and looked into his hypnotic eyes before she introduced herself. "Adrian Marcos Damon Vassilis, I'm Aurelia Evelyn Amerie Aviti. Daughter of the former Silver Moon Gamma, Cassius Galel Makaio Aviti and Carissa Niki Danae Aviti-Kyriaku - the current Luna of Whispering Woods Pack. Stepdaughter to Alpha Demetrius Nazario Eadric Kyriaku of Whispering Woods Pack. I'm delighted to make your acquaintance, My King."

Adrian kept his now dark, cerulean eyes locked onto hers as he said in a deep, husky voice. "Please, no need for formalities, you may call me Adrian. My Goddess, your beauty and grace have simply bewitched me."

Aurelia could see her petite mother in her peripheral vision, grinning from ear to ear, knowing she was relieved and silently praying thanks to Selene, The Moon Goddess, that her daughter finally found her Moon-Fated Mate. Her mother's tight brown curls fell forward onto her heart-shaped face, covering her golden-brown eyes, as she quickly curtsied and then addressed, "King Alpha Adrian Marcos Damon Vasillis of the Royal Storm Riders Pack, welcome to our humble home, Whispering Woods. We're pleased that you have traveled all this way to attend Leonidas and Lucas's Baptism of Fire and their Initiation Celebration as future Alphas to our Whispering Woods Pack. It's almost sunset and our pack's Elders will be awaiting our arrival at the Sacred Grounds. Please allow my daughter to accompany you on the way."

Adrian, still gazing intensely at Aurelia, placed her delicate hands in his as he replied, "It would be my honor to escort you this evening, My Moon, My Luna."

Aurelia was both terrified and enchanted by the idea. She could almost taste freshly baked cinnamon rolls as she was gently pulled towards his strong, muscular side. Every inch of her being was on overdrive. She could hear the whispers of the leaves blowing through the trees and every thump of her rapid-beating heart resounding in her ears. How could his very touch calm and excite her? What was happening?! Her ears began to ring and she held her breath as he moved in closer, her mouth watering as she swallowed nervously. She was abruptly aware of how his eyes danced from a bright, ice-blue to a deep, dark cerulean blue as he admired every inch of her. Aurelia's wolf, Amerie, was overjoyed and bounding, her tail wagging happily, literally swooning over finding their Moon-Fated Mate.

"Please show the way Alpha Demetrius and Luna Carissa Kyriaku." Adrian declared.

Adrian's hand slightly squeezed her own in reassurance, sending sparks shooting across her skin, as he introduced the wolves accompanying him.

"Aurelia, this is my second in command, my Beta, Orion Eros Taine Cirillo."

Adrian pointed towards a buff gentleman to his immediate left, who nodded hello. Beta Orion was about 6'1" with a fair complexion and short, spiky light-brown hair. He had stormy gray eyes and a mischievous grin, which flashed across his oval-shaped face as he was introduced.

"This is my third in command, my Gamma, Nikolaos Ajax Kaden Masalis." Adrian gestured to the man hovering next to Beta Orion.

Aurelia saw Gamma Nikolaos was about 6'0" with a slender, lean build, and a dark tan complexion. He had wavy, sandy-blonde hair which accentuated his round face and fell into his amber-colored eyes. He lifted his hand to his forehead and gave a small salute to say hello. That's when Aurelia noticed the tribal tattoos on each of his hands, which led into sleeves of ink stretching up the entire length of his arms.

Aurelia extended her free hand towards each gentleman and gave them both a small handshake as she replied, "It's a pleasure to meet the both of you."

Orion and Nikolaos smiled wide. As if previously practiced, and on que, they faced her and stated, "Aurelia, Moon-Fated Mate to our Alpha Adrian, and future Luna to our Royal Storm Riders Pack, it's lovely to finally make your acquaintance. Our Alpha has been searching a lifetime for you."

Aurelia glanced up at Adrian, their fingers still intertwined and in that moment it felt as if they were the only two souls in this harsh, yet marvelous world.

Once the introductions and formalities were complete, Alpha Demetrius and Luna Carissa unbuckled a cranky Leonidas as well as a sleeping Lucas, and hoisted them gently from their stroller and began the descent towards their pack's Sacred Grounds. The excited whispers of Aurelia's pack swarmed her ears and were quickly silenced by their Alpha, Demetrius. She thanked The Goddess as she smelled the scent of matches filling the air.

She knew the Sacred Grounds were only a short distance away now. She didn't know what the future held for her after this night, so for future remembrance, Aurelia watched the Sun set on the horizon. The last bit of the Sun's golden light was giving way to darkness and helping to cast shadows over the tree line. Aurelia rejoiced inside when the gentle light of the Blue Moon came into view and in that moment, smiling, she was oddly at peace.