Chapter Ninety
Catherine watched with pride from the side of the stage as Graham stepped up beside Jensen. The crowd roared. Mary took her hand In a fierce grip. His mother was already in tears, watching her son become Beta for Blackmoore. Jensen began his long speech in which he detailed all of her mate’s greatest accomplishments.
“My father was a patrol guard his entire life,” Mary whispered to Catherine. “My mother stayed at home to take care of us children. Graham’s father’s family worked in construction. He only became Beta out of luck by being friends with Jensen. That boy though…” Mary looked fondly at her son and clasped Catherine’s hands tighter. “He has earned this with every fiber of his being. He will make a fine Beta and do you know why?” she asked. Catherine shook her head. Mary tenderly touched Catherine’s cheek. “Because you won’t let him forget what is important. You will never let him forget he needs to come home. Will you?”
Catherine shook her head. “I promise.”
Mary nodded. Catherine looked back to Graham to see him already looking at her. He smiled softly as Jensen continued to detail his many accolades. Finally Jensen stepped back and the crowd fell silent.
“It is with great pleasure that I bring Graham MacTavish, a boy who I always considered my son, into the role as my successor. Repeat after me, Son,” Jensen said.
He cut his palm and had Graham do the same. Graham and Jensen clasped hands and Jensen grabbed Graham’s head with his other
hand.
“I, Graham MacTavish, willingly take on the role of Beta of Blackmoore,” Jensen began. Graham repeated the words. She started to feel a stirring of nerves in her stomach. “I vow to uphold the laws of my pack unless doing so negatively impacts the safety of my people.”
Graham repeated the words, his voice steady and strong as it reverberated around the open training field prepared specially for the
ceremony.
“I will protect my pack even if it means sacrificing my life. I will never betray my alpha or my pack for any means good or evil.” Graham repeated.
Jensen took a deep breath. His voice became quieter, uncertain. “I vow to follow the orders of my Alpha, even when I disagree with them. I will lay my life down for him if necessary in order to ensure the future of the pack.”
Mary’s grip tightened. Graham glanced over Jensen’s shoulder and Mary nodded. His eyes moved next to Catherine. The weight of his gaze nearly caused her knees to buckle. She knew the impact of the statement. His own father had died because of that last vow. Graham’s chest inflated with a deep breath and he nodded at his mate before turning his gaze back to his alpha.
“For my mate I vow to follow the orders of my alpha, even when I disagree with them. I will lay my life down for him, for the future of the pack and the safety of my family,” he finally responded, the words only slightly changed to make them stomachable.
Jensen nodded, satisfied, before he stepped back and raised Graham’s hand. The crowd cheered as Graham officially became next in line to be the Alpha of Blackmoore. The next part of the ceremony would consist of the ranks of Blackmoore troops lining up and vowing their loyalty to him. Theo stood from the front row but before he could step up to be the first, Jensen held his hand up. Theo sat down in his chair to be consoled by Natalie with a pat to his knee.
“Before we commence with the next portion of Graham’s advancement, there is something I’ve been putting off. A little over a month ago, our Beta brought home his fated mate,” Jensen began.
Catherine’s stomach churned. She knew he meant to introduce her publicly but he’d not mentioned how or when he would do it. Graham walked across the stage and held his hand out for her to take. She reluctantly let go of Mary and clung to her mate instead. He put a reassuring kiss on the top of her head before leading her back on to the stage. The massive crowd seemed twice as
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daunting when she was standing in the center of it. Her heart pounded.
Look at the people you know, Baby. It will help, Graham said in her mind.
Catherine nodded in thanks and did as he said. She looked to the front few rows where Theo, Natalie, Graham’s entire family, Mable, Betty and others were watching with pride. She smiled and felt her heart slowly resume its normal pace.
“Today I wish to officially introduce Catherine MacTavish as my own blood,” Jensen said.
Jensen held out his hand for her and, with a nod of approval from Graham, she accepted it. He pulled her closer and turned her to face the crowd. It was the first time anyone had introduced her first name connected with Graham’s. It felt surreal. Once the cheers died down, he continued.
“Catherine has proven she will make a fine luna. For those who have met her, they could not help but be impressed. For those who haven’t had the pleasure, one day soon you will see her as the rest of us do: deserving of her title.”
The crowd cheered again and Catherine felt tears come to her eyes. She was reminded again of how far she’d come in the eyes of this pack. Jensen was right, she had fought to prove her worth. She’d shown them what she was capable of and they accepted her as an individual rather than the woman standing beside the alpha or beta.
“Catherine is a rogue, made so due to unbelievable circumstances that would bring most to their knees. Instead, her challenges have brought her strength and her strength to us. So, without any further delay, I wish to accept Catherine MacTavish into our pack. Do you agree?” A loud chorus of ‘I do’ rang out from the thousands in attendance. Tears welled in her eyes as Jensen took her other hand and made her face him.
“Now, repeat after me, my loyal daughter,” he said, his voice low and full of emotion. “I, Catherine MacTavish…” He waited.
“I, Catherine MacTavish,” she repeated.
“Pledge loyalty to Pack Blackmoore and every pack member it encompasses now and in the future.” Catherine repeated the lines. Though his eyes never left hers, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the same knife he’d used for Graham. She gulped. “I will never betray the pack nor purposely allow harm to come to any pack member.” Again Catherine repeated his words.
“Give me your hand.” Catherine held out her hand, palm side up. “I pledge my loyalty to Alpha Jensen Blake of Blackmoore. I vow to respect and obey him unless doing so harms a fellow pack member.”
Catherine swallowed and she felt her hand begin to shake. “I pledge my loyalty to Alpha Jensen Blake of Blackmoore. I vow to respect and obey him unless doing so harms a fellow pack member.”
Jensen then took the knife and sliced his palm before quickly repeating the motion with hers. Catherine hissed at the stinging pain. He clasped their hands together before their wounds could heal. All at once, with the mixture of their blood, Catherine felt the new pack tether form within her. Her head fell back as the sensation overtook her.
His pack was far larger than her last. She felt every soul suddenly merge and connect with her. The convergence was overwhelming, almost painful. Amid the sensations though she felt Graham taking her back in his arms. She could hear the roar of the crowd as they felt her strong, high-ranking connection flare to life within them. It took several minutes for the rush to dwindle and for the new tether in her to feel a part of her soul.
Catherine opened her eyes and saw the glowing reflection of them in her mate’s. He smiled down at her and then dropped his head to kiss her. Again, the crowd cheered as their future leaders stood before them, now fully committed to the pack and each other. Catherine was no longer a rogue. Now, she belonged.
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