Chapter 53: Chapter 53
I woke up at dawn because apparently my body decided sleep was overrated.
Christian was already awake beside me, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my bare shoulder while he watched the sunrise through the windows.
"Can’t sleep?" I mumbled.
"Too excited." He pressed a kiss to my temple. "Today you officially become Shadow Ridge’s Luna. Everything changes."
My stomach did a nervous flip. "No pressure or anything."
"You’ve already proven yourself ten times over." His hand found mine, squeezing. "Today is just making it official."
A sharp knock interrupted whatever I was about to say.
"Sophie!" Jessica’s voice came through the door. "We need to get you ready!"
Christian groaned. "They’re early."
"They’re excited." I kissed him quickly and climbed out of bed, wrapping a sheet around myself. "Let them in before they break down the door."
Maria and Jessica burst in carrying what looked like a wedding dress made by wolves.
"Holy shit," I breathed.
"Traditional Luna robes." Maria held up the white silk, which was covered in intricate silver embroidery. "Every Shadow Ridge Luna has worn these and added her own embroidery."
I touched the fabric carefully. It was soft as water and smelled like... history. Like generations of women who’d worn this before me.
"I can still smell them," I whispered. "The other Lunas."
"Good." Jessica grinned. "Means you’re not alone in this."
Getting into the robes took forever. There were like seventeen layers, each one more complicated than the last.
Then Elder Patricia showed up with paint.
"This might be cold," she warned before applying blue and silver designs to my face.
She wasn’t kidding. The paint was freezing against my skin.
"Each symbol means something," Elder Patricia explained as she worked. "The crescent moon on your forehead—wisdom. The wolf tracks on your cheeks—strength. The circles on your collarbone—the bond between Luna and Alpha."
I watched in the mirror as my face transformed into something ancient and powerful.
Damn. I actually looked like a Luna.
Before we headed to the ceremony, Christian pulled me into a private room.
Then he dropped to his knees.
"Christian—"
"Let me do this." His hazel eyes were bright amber with emotion. "Before all the official stuff, I need to make my own vow to you."
My throat got tight.
"I swear to honor you, protect you, and stand beside you as equal partners in leading Shadow Ridge." He pulled out a platinum ring engraved with the pack symbol. "You’re not just my mate. You’re my partner. My equal."
He slid the ring onto my finger.
I pulled him up and kissed him hard enough to smudge my ceremonial paint.
"We need to fix her face now," Maria called from outside.
Christian laughed against my lips. "Worth it."
The ceremonial grounds were packed.
Over three hundred wolves stood in traditional formation, and each one of them was staring at me.
Cool. No big deal. Just casual performance anxiety.
Christian’s hand settled on my lower back, steadying me as we walked to the raised stone platform where the elders waited.
"Breathe," he murmured. "I’ve got you."
Elder Thompson stepped forward, his voice carrying across the clearing.
"Sophie Turner has proven herself through trials of strength, wisdom, compassion, and combat. She has earned the right to stand as Shadow Ridge’s Luna."
He recounted every trial in detail. Fighting Jake. Solving the territory dispute. Facing my trauma with Tom. Defeating Vanessa.
Hearing it all laid out like that... damn. I really had done all that.
"Sophie Turner," Elder Thompson addressed me directly. "Do you accept the responsibility of Luna?"
"I do."
"Then speak your vows to the pack."
I stepped forward, Christian staying back to show this moment was mine.
My voice shook at first. "I vow to protect Shadow Ridge with my life."
Stronger now. "To lead with wisdom and compassion."
My wolf rose to the surface. "To honor your traditions while embracing necessary change."
I met the eyes of pack members in the crowd. "And to stand as a shield between this pack and any threat."
Through the bond, I felt Christian’s pride washing over me.
Marcus stepped forward, representing the warriors. He knelt. "The warriors pledge loyalty to Luna Sophie."
Then Jessica came forward for the females. "We pledge our support."
One by one, pack members approached. Kneeling. Pledging loyalty.
Some I recognized. Others I’d never met. But they all bowed their heads to me.
Even the ones who’d doubted me.
"As your Luna," I said when the pledges finished, "I want to give you something. A new training program for female warriors. Dedicated grounds. Qualified instructors. Any female who wants to train for combat will have that opportunity."
The female wolves erupted in shocked gratitude.
Several were crying.
Then Vanessa stepped out of the crowd.
