lvii.

I had never been so pampered in my life.

Once I was out the shower, Garret and I were bombarded with the staff to get ready for the ceremony. We dragged separately, not putting up much of a fight. I was taken across the hall to one of the guest rooms and was practically pulled each and whatever way by someone to help me get ready. I barely did anything.

They had started with my makeup. After already establishing that I wanted natural makeup, nothing too much, they gave me exactly that. My hair held true to it's natural curl but they had better tame on it, making the curls spiral and bounce. They had me step into my dress, bringing it up against my body and zipping it for me. It fit like a glove. They even went as far as to put my heels on for me, helping me stand and practice walking in them seeing how I've never worn heels before. My ankles weren't used to it but I feel like they could handle it for the night.

When I finally got a good look of myself, with the whole look put together, I barely recongized myself. I didn't process that it was me until I started moving and the mirror following me. The makeup was done to flawless perfection, it didn't look to be a lot but I never imagined myself looking like this. They incorporated a shimmery gold in my tear duct as the only form of eyeshadow on my eyes and put on a nude lip gloss that made my lips pop. My curls looked so healthy, I felt as if I had been depriving them. The dress hugged my body so tastefully that I was shocked that I looked like this. The dress was strapless and the bodice was a see-through lace, the boning helping push my breasts up just a tad. The bodice clinged to my torso and then the skirt bellowed down, the back dragging nicely on the floor. The skirt was a high-low, so you were able to see the pumps that the staff exiqusitely put together.

Noticing the small placements of jewelry, I soon realize that I wasn't wearing Garret's ring. I quickly made a move to try and go get it before I needed to go to the ceremony, but as if they knew, they began pulling me out of the room and down the stairs.

I tried voicing my need but it met unlistening ears. Having reached the main floor, I soon heard the music playing and soft commotion coming from the back of the house. I followed the workers to the back where the backyard was. I had never seen it before, I imagined it to be vast and huge and overly green.

I hadn't taken the time to breathe and think about what was going to happen soon, what this meant for me and my fellow pack members. As I felt the nervousness begin to set in, the doors opened and then I suddenly heard it:

"Our new Luna, Emerald Taylor," said Darrel, not too long afterward, a roar of applause.

All emotions froze as I unconsciously walked out from inside the house to the stone balcony that led to a descending stairwell leading down to the garden-like backyard. I forced myself not to hear the people and their comments but I took in all the grins and excitement on their faces. It warmed my heart with the level of acceptance that they were giving me, not believing that they would. Overlooking them quickly, seeing the auras, everyone's feelings were genuine and that almost made me cry. But thinking back to the amount of time my makeup took, I refused.

I saw a motion to my right as I was about to head down the vast stairwell, I look to my right and see Bernie with his elbow extended for me to take. I smile softly, glad that someone was there to help me down the stairs with my heels. I didn't trust myself without being supported by something.

Placing my hand in his elbow, we began my descent down the stairs.

"You look very nice."

"Thank you," I say softly. "Can you do me a favor?"

He nods his head instantly. "Anything."

"I couldn't get my ring from my room, it's just a simple heart but I really need it."

He smiles softly, nodding his head nevertheless. I didn't catch what the smile meant because we had reached the bottom of the stairwell but I'd be sure to ask about it later. Once I hit the ground of the backyard, I looked up from fixing my dress, making sure that it laid correctly, and instantly see Garret smiling at me. I couldn't help but return it, instantly feeling warmth encompass me. I instantly went over to him, meeting him halfway.

"You look beautiful," he breathes, his hands going to my waist. He softly squeezed me, making tingles shoot up my body.

"Thank you," I say, looking him deeply in his eyes. I could see Thadus wanting to come out but he wasn't putting up much of a fight because he knew Garret needed to be here. I finally move my eyes from his face and look at what he's wearing. I internally gasp.

His suit matched my dress impeccably. He wore a navy blue tailored suit, he looked so sharp. His lapels were made with the same sheer fabric of my bodice, it is placed over the navy blue suiting fabric. I ran my hand over his chest, feeling the fabric underneath my hand.

"You look amazing- I need to thank the design team because they did a fantastic job," I say, looking back up at him. He grins, making me do the same. I scrunch my nose, placing my hands on his newly shaven cheeks. "Wow... So smooth."

"It'll be back."

I wince. "Well let me abuse this first."

He looked at me confused, but I wink before I bring my attention to Darrel who made his way up to us. He grinned once we made eye contact and I couldn't help but feel even more emotional at this. He came in and kissed my forehead, lingering there for a moment.

"How do you feel?" he questions softly.

"Uh, surprisingly good," I respond truthfully.

"Good," he states. "Everybody is excited to meet you, so let's get started."

I nodded my head as I felt Garret take my left hand in his right and give it a squeeze. I squeeze it back as we begin making our way through the pack members. I began making introductions, reintroducing myself and getting to know the other members.

I had never been embraced so much in my life. Everyone was so welcoming and nearly everyone approached me with hugs and kisses. The amount of respect that they gave to me overwhelmed me, I didn't feel as if I deserved it. Lillian was taking this much better than me, having stepped into her role of being Luna much sooner than I did. She always had a leader aura about her, I recognized that when we first met and when she reappeared. There was a dominance to her, no doubt, I just hoped it'd rub off on me soon.

I was taking a break at the snack table where the majority of the finger foods that I had made this morning were placed. I was happy to see most of them gone, hoping that whoever partook was liking them. I took one of the foods that the staff had made and was going to head back to Garret and the current members were talking to; Kathy and Lee Williams. They were both omegas but were very strong. From what I had heard of the pack's training was that the warriors trained and members were expected to fight against each warrior. Not necessarily to win but to be able to have the endurance to do so.

As I took a step forward, I suddenly felt something touch my thigh. It was soft so I almost didn't feel it but nevertheless I looked down to feel my heart instantly melt. Reaching my hip was a young girl who appeared to be shy and nervous. She was in a puffy green dress and she looked absolutely adorable.

Instantly squatting down to her level, I meet her eye as she wasn't meeting mine at first. I smile softly, letting her know that it was okay.

"Hi," I say softly, whispering as if this conversation could only be held by us. "I'm Emmy, what's your name?"

"Sarah," she answered back softly. "I thought your name was Emerald."

I chuckled softly, smiling wider. "It is, I like it when my friends call me Emmy though."

"Are we friends?" she questions.

I shrug. "I would like to be... would you?"

She nodded her head eagerly. I giggle at that. "I'm six, how old are you?"

"I'm twenty. I love your dress."

"Thank you. My mommy chose it for me, green is my favorite color."

I feign astonishment. "Green is my favorite color too."

"Really?!" she says eagerly. My heart melted at her, enjoying her bubbly energy.

Nodding my head, I take my necklace in my hand, holding out the greenstone to her. "See?" I question softly.

"It's so pretty," she says, carefully holding it in her small hands.

"Sarah," I hear someone say before I could respond to her. I look up and meet the eyes of, undoubtedly, her mother. It was like looking at the same person, just one significantly older. Seeing me, she smiles instantly. "Oh Luna, I've seen you've met my daughter."

"I have," I say, looking back at Sarah who still held my necklace. "She's been a good company."

"Mommy," Sarah says, looking over at her mom as I begin to stand. "Her name is Emmy and her favorite color is green, just like me!"

Her mother grins at her, picking her up to place her on her hip. "Emerald is our Luna," her mother states. "Do you know what that means?"

Sarah nods her head eagerly. "She's going to marry Alpha Garret!" she responds enthusiastically.

We laugh together and I begin to say something, but Garret then decided to let his presence be known.

"One day Sarah," he says, as he stands, slowly wrapping his hand around my waist.

"Soon?" she questions.

"Soon," he answers, tickling her neck to the point that she squeals happily. Chuckling, he excuses us from them and pulls me to a more secluded location. We walked far enough from the party to still be able to hear but for no one to really see us. Turning to me as we stepped into the string lit gazebo, our eyes meet instantly.

"How do you feel?" I question.

"Good," he states. "How do you feel?"

"Good," I say back.

"I'd like to warn you about the next step of the ceremony."

"Next step?" I question. "Warn me?"

"Don't get scared, it's nothing too serious." I waited patiently for him to continue. "This is the part where we exchange blood, making you a physical member of the pack. You'll be impacted with everyone's thoughts at once and it'll probably feel overwhelming, but you can switch it off."

"I can?" I question. "Should I?"

He shrugs. "Up to you, there's a way to manage it, that takes time. Processing your thoughts so that everyone doesn't hear it can be frustrating and imposing- "

"What's the next step?" I interrupt.

He looked taken aback by my question. "Well... you start training with the pack."

I nod my head. "Against the warriors, right?"

"You don't- "

"No special treatment, not for me. I'll do the process like everyone else, I'll be fine."

"Emmy."

"I'll be fine," I repeat.

And I would be. No one could defeat Romano but me, I had to finish the prophecy. In order to do that, I had to prove myself worthy enough to be these people's Luna. I didn't want special privilege, I knew that I could endure anything brought my way, I just had to do it.