Initiation

I feel ridiculous.

I stood in my room looking at myself in the mirror as one of the women, Astrid, I think she called herself, finished tying up a section of my hair.

This attire felt extremely foreign to me as I raked over my appearance. In front of me was a girl wearing a long black dress with bare shoulders.

The sleeves were tight until they hit the elbow and flared out, exceeding the actual length of her arms. Around her waist was a piece of thin golden rope that knotted off in the front leaving the excess length to hang loosely.

Looking back up at her face, she had long copper locks falling down her back with the exception of a section that was braided was wrapped around her head and tied off in the back, the loose strands joining her already free hair. Her green irises popped against the applied coal lines around her eyes.

"Do you like it," Astrid asked, snapping me out of my trance.

"I Uh...," I paused as I realized the girl in front of me was in fact, me. "It's beautiful."

Astrid and the other woman chuckled to themselves as they exchanged looks before slightly bowing their heads.

"Noir," the other woman quipped before straightening at my confused look.

Bowing her head again, she quickly looked at me with a smile.

"Forgive me, Ma'am. My name is Paloma."

Nodding in acknowledgement, Paloma smiled as the door creaked open drawing my attention to the noise. In its entrance stood Cuyler, no different than he was earlier.

He didn't move while he looked me over, my self conscious surfacing causing me to shift uncomfortably.

"Does it look okay," I questioned, nervous at the blunt man's response.

Without saying a word, Cuyler looked at the women and smiled before looking back at me.

"Alpha will appreciate it," was all Cuyler said before escorting me through the home, out the doors and east before I stood to the side on a stone platform.

As I waited, I spotted Triaa approaching hand in hand with Valenner as she was dressed in similar attire but something was different. Not only was she holding hands with Snowball but there was a beautifully placed mark on the nape of her neck.

Confused, I looked at her but Triaa shot me a look of 'I'll explain later,' as she took her place at the opposite end of the platform. Then out of the darkness approached Alistair and my jaw dropped.

On his left arm, he had a piece of polished metal safeguarding his shoulder and another piece guarding his forearm to his hand. The sides of his head were recently shaved leaving a thatch of hair neatly done at the top that was braided to his shoulders. The rest of his chest was bare until past his navel. After that point, he was wearing black trousers that were met with calf high boots.

I was practically drooling as he took his spot and spoke, loud enough for all to hear.

"Tonight I want to introduce Triaa," he started, extending his left arm signaling Triaa to the platform beside him.

"And Noir," his right arm shot out as I moved timidly to his side.

When his eyes met mine, they went dark as they raked in over my appearance before directing his attention back to his pack.

"Tonight I'm bringing these two women into our home and my pack. Once the ceremony is complete, I expect you welcome them with open arms"

The pack cheered as Pack Elder Macario walked on to the stone platform.

Alistair looked at Triaa then me and paused.

Leaning down, he whispered, "You will go after your sister. I hope you're prepared," was all he said before Cuyler escorted me back to the side.

My sister's initiation was quick and when she fell to her knees as she grabbed Alistair's hand, my body instinctively moved on his own only to be quickly restrained by Cuyler.

Cuyler leaned down and whispered, "it's part of the ceremony. Stop."

When his words registered, Valenner was already escorting Triaa off the platform.

I stood there dumbfounded as my name was called.

"Noir," Alistair boomed, forcing my legs to move forward.

When I was in front of him, I stared at Alistair, down at the bowl then back at him.

When did he clean his face?

Alistair's eyes flickered between honey, gold and black as they took in my appearance once again before clearing his throat, his attention going back to his pack and back to me.

"Noir," he began.

"Do you accept the Dark Wood Pack as your new pack? In doing so, you will no longer have ties to the Moon Rock Pack. Do you swear your loyalty to me as your Alpha and do you swear your allegiance to this pack," Alistair boomed, his question weighing on me before I nodded.

Alistair stared at my lack of verbalization before I swallowed and nodded again, "I do."

With this being acknowledged, Pack Elder Macario approached and placed a clean bowl between Alistair and I with a sharpened knife.

Without warning, Alistair picked up the knife and sliced his right palm causing red liquid to pour effortlessly into the bowl before handing me the knife. I stared at it for a moment before following his swift action.

When it was done, Alistair passed me a quick glance before dipping his finger into the thick liquid. Bringing his finger up to my face, he began to trace some unknown design on it before stepping back, staring at me in what looked to be admiration.

Following suit, I stared down at the bowl and back to Alistair as a grin creeped across my face.

Instead of dipping my finger in the carmine liquid, I placed the palm of my hand in it. When I brought it up, Alistair looked at me confused as I smacked my hand over the right side of his face, leaving a blood stained vertical hand print in return.

Without saying a word, Alistair growled, snatching my gashed hand in his and squeezed.

In that moment, the world became blurred as the thoughts of pack members swirled unrequited in my head causing me to nearly drop.

When I stood straight, I looked over the crowd as Alistair stepped behind me, a growl vibrating against my back.

Without warning, Alistair jerked down the right side of my dress even further and sank his teeth into my unmarked spot causing me to scream in pain. When he removed his fangs, I nearly collapsed as the crowd exploded in cheers.

The vocalization and thoughts of the pack overwhelmed me as I crumbled in Alistair's arms.

When I looked back up at him, all I saw was a bloodied smile then darkness.