All in attendance at the trial agreed that an ascension ceremony take place immediately. Colt and Stacy have been blessed by the Goddess and there was no reason to delay the inevitable. The trial gathered Alpha's and Beta's across all the territories. The Fae and The Guard remained to bare witness. The Guard summoned their high priestess who could perform the ceremony.
At the heart of the gathering stood Colt, broad-shouldered and steady as the mountains around his pack. Beside him stood Stacy, radiant as moon fire, her presence calming storms before they formed. Tonight, they were stepping into destiny.
A hush rolled over the crowd.
The High Priestess Meredith stepped forward, carrying the Lunar Basin, a shallow silver bowl filled with moon water from the first full moon of the year. A Wolf's moon. Its surface shimmered like liquid light, rippling though there was no wind.
"Tonight," the Priestess began, " we witnessed the crowning of a new Alpha and Luna- chosen not by tradition but by devotion, courage, and the Goddess's own words."
Colt swallowed hard. Stacy felt his fingers tremble, so she brushed her hand against his, grounding him. The crowd watched in quiet amazement. These two were not rulers distant from their people; they were admired, trusted, and deeply loved. Above them, clouds shifted and moon light broke free.
A beam of silver light surrounded Colt and Stacy, illuminating the pair as if the heavens themselves were reaching down. Gasp rippled through the assembly and the wind seemed to still. The Priestess took a shaky breath. "Colton Myers of Thunder Heart, step forward."
Colt did, kneeling as The Priestess dipped her fingers into the silvery water. She drew a crescent across his brow. Instantly the mark glowed- a soft pulsing white that rippled down his spine. His wolf surged beneath his skin, powerful and proud. The people cheered softly, moved by intensity of the moment.
"Anastasia Bloodmoon of Bloodborne" the Priestess called out "Please step forward."
Stacy stepped forward with poised grace. When the sacred water touched her forehead, the moonlight intensified, swirling around her like a veil. Her eyes deepened into silver. A warm breeze swept through the ballroom, carrying the faint scent of night-blooming jasmine. A second beam descended, intertwining with the first, binding the Alpha and Luna in a luminous arc of energy. Their wolves howled inside them- ancient, resonant, perfect in harmony.
When the glow faded, they stood hand in hand- united in every way that matters. The Priestess raised her staff. "Behold the new Alpha and Luna of Thunder Heart! Chosen by the Goddess, blessed by moonlight, friend of The Guard, allies of the Seelie Court, savior of the innocent, and the first Moon Crowned Alpha and Luna in the long history of our ancestors!" Cheers erupted- joyous, thunderous, and overflowing. "May their reign begin not with fear or dominance, but with unity, trust, and a love bright enough to light the darkest of nights!"
Queen Rowan congratulated Stacy and Colt. In her hand held a wine bottled that glowed gold like the sun, soft and warm. Gold dust swirled inside the bottle as if the ocean currents were kissing the liquid inside. "I heard a rumor that you fancy Summer Wine Alpha Colt." Queen Rowan said with a wink. "This wine was created over a 100 years ago by a highly skilled artisan Fae, magic is woven throughout each sip, be careful it is very, very potent. That's why I brought you two bottles." The Queen's laugh sounded like echoes of wind chimes on a breezy spring day. "I must return to my realm my friends, please visit soon to strengthen our alliance and to celebrate your ascension as Alpha and Luna."
The scent of home hit them before the tree line broke. In his SUV, Alpha Colt led the procession, his wolf simmering beneath his skin, sharp with purpose and aching with responsibility. At his side Luna Stacy, calm but fierce, her fingers brushing his as if steadying the air around them. Moon light clung to her like a veil- ever since the Goddess's blessing, she seemed to glow with a quiet certainty.
A crowd waited for them- wolves with faces thin eye full of hope and uncertainty. Stacy squeezed Colts hand. "They are afraid." Colt inhaled, squared his shoulders, and stepped out of the SUV. He opened Stacy's door and offered her his hand. "Together?" he whispered. Stacy gave him her best smile. "Always."
"Thunder Heart!" Colt's voice carried with quiet authority. " You have suffered under a false Alpha. You've been lied to, controlled, and robbed. Those days end now!" A murmur rippled through the crowd.
Stacy stepped forward, her voice gentle and unyielding. "We will rebuild. We will restore honor. We will return your stolen money and your stolen peace. But we cannot do it alone. We will stand with you-every step, every burden."
A low, instinctive bow spread through the wolves. Not forced, not commanded-earned.
The rebuild was going nicely so far. Charlie had managed to have the training grounds cleared, repaired, repainted, and new training gear had been bought. This was just temporary until the training center can be finished. Charlie had reinstated patrols, but with pay, not with forced guards. Isaac had organized for homes and apartments to be prepared. Dixie had worked hard to make sure the food supply was replenished and three full meals were served daily in the cafeteria.
These actions had ignited a fire within the pack with renewed energy. The pack started helping each other and volunteering to help with the rebuilding of structures, child care, and offering their skills to each other.
It was decided that the old pack house would be renovated and fitted for guests. A space that big should be utilized. Sadie was made the head keeper at the old pack house, she was after all, head of guest relations. Colt had given Sadie a checkbook and told her "Make it better than a five star hotel". Sadie grinned "Challenge accepted".
It was during the renovations were another hidden room was found. Sadie immediately summoned Colt and Stacy. Inside the room, shelves lined the walls. Bottles, herbs, books. Jars with things floating in cloudy liquid that made their stomachs twist. In the corner, there was a small, locked cabinet made of irons. Stacy raised her hand, moon light sparked in her palm. Within moments the lock snapped open.
Inside were documents- piles and piles of them, neatly arranged, each one sealed with the former Luna's sigil. Stacy pulled a file free and her breath hitched.
Names. A long list of children- ages beside them, notes scribbled in Vivian's scrolling hand writing. Potential for fae magic, too rebellious, high value, test for magic extraction. Stacy's vision blurred. These were more than records, they were details of the experiments of the Moon River. Colt hurried to Stacy sensing her distress.
When he saw the pages, his jaw tightened, wolf rising beneath his skin. "She kept TRACK like this?" he growled. Stacy swallowed "There's more". Stacy handed Colt a massive book bound in dark leather and inside there were documents that proved bribes to other Alphas, payments to dark fae and the Unseelie, receipts for specialized cages, enchanted restraints, toxin supplies and various medical equipment.
"She stole from her own people, intentionally starved the pack to fund this?" Colt exhaled softly. "Yes" Stacy traced a line with her finger. "Look here, she even paid scouts to keep track of Fae children and families." The cruelty wasn't accidental. It was engineered. Colt's hands shook with rage, Stacy placed a gentle hand on his chest, grounding him. "We must summon the Queen."
Stacy and Colt continued to look through the files. Colt froze when he saw the title of one file "Wolf-Fae Hybrid trials". Inside were detailed entries "Extracting magic from fae children improves", "Subject 7 survived past conversion with increased aggression, " Must obtain more fae children, The Queen is unaware of our capture attempts", and "Final objective: a pack of magic enhanced wolves, loyal only to Alpha George and Luna Vivian". Colt threw up, his parents were truly monsters.
Queen Rowan felt the call from her two new allies and the sense of urgency that came with it. The Queen summoned warriors of her court "We must go to Thunder Heart territory now. Something is wrong." It wasn't long from that moment that she left with her entourage. Once arriving, The Queen met with Stacy, Colt, Isaac, Charlie, and Hunter. The group greeted the Queen with a deep bow "Thank you, your majesty for coming. We have found something urgent."
As the Queen read the first set of documents, her hair flowed like molten silver and moonlit water, shifting into shadows. Her crown crown crackled with living vines and shards of star light. Her eyes-normally warm with celestial wisdom- burned white-hot.
Stacy whispered to Colt with their mind link "She feels different" Colt nodded. "Not different, just pissed".
"Have The Guard bring me the Luna" Queen Rowen instructed one of her warriors. She looked at Stacy and Colt tears spilling down her cheeks and turning into crystals before the hit the ground and landing in a soft 'tink'. "She hunted my children."
"Your Majesty" Colt said carefully. "we uncovered everything. We stopped her. We saved the children she hasn't taken yet." Queen Rowen nodded "Thank you Alpha Colt."