Chapter 27

As the morning stretched into afternoon, Kieran finally set aside the last document with a sigh. He leaned back in his chair, his intense gaze finally focusing fully on me.

"Now that the urgent matters are handled," he said, his voice warmer than it had been all morning, "I wanted to discuss the coronation with you properly."

I straightened in my chair, eager to have his undivided attention after watching him work for hours. "Yes, I'd like that."

"The Luna coronation is one of our most sacred traditions," he began, his expression serious. "It's more than just a ceremony—it's a formal introduction of you to all the allied packs as my chosen mate and the Silver Moon Pack's Luna."

I nodded, trying to absorb the significance of what he was describing.

"There are several components to the ceremony," he continued, "but the most critical part—" he paused, his eyes locking with mine, "—is the marking."

My stomach tightened at his words. "The marking? You mean..."

"Yes," he said quietly. "To complete the mate bond and formally establish you as Luna, I need to mark you during the ceremony. It's the traditional way—the only way—to confirm our bond in the eyes of all werewolf packs."

"But we agreed—" I started, my voice rising slightly.

"I know what we agreed," Kieran interrupted, his tone gentle but firm. "And I stand by my word that I won't force the marking. But you need to understand the consequences of refusing it during the coronation." His expression grew more somber. "It would be seen as a rejection of me, of the pack, of our traditions. You would be viewed as..." he hesitated, "...unworthy of the position. All werewolves would look down on you."

My throat felt tight. "So I have no choice."

"There's always a choice," he replied, though his eyes told a different story. "But some choices carry heavier consequences than others."

The weight of tradition and expectation pressed down on me. I'd known becoming Luna wouldn't be simple, but I hadn't anticipated being cornered like this.

Seeming to sense my distress, Kieran shifted the conversation. "Let's set that aside for now. As you're about to become Luna, it's time you began working with me on some pack affairs."

For the next hour, he introduced me to the basic structure of the pack's governance, the key responsibilities I would hold, and the immediate issues requiring attention. Despite my lingering anxiety about the marking, I found myself genuinely interested in the work—particularly the community outreach programs and education initiatives that fell under the Luna's purview.

"You have good instincts," Kieran commented after I'd suggested improvements to one of their youth programs. His approval sent a warm flush through me that I tried to ignore.

Our working session was interrupted by a knock at the door. When Kieran called for them to enter, Mia stepped in, accompanied by an elderly woman with silver-streaked hair and keen, assessing eyes.

"I hope we're not interrupting anything important," Mia said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "But Madame Elise is here to take measurements for Luna's coronation attire."

I noticed the way Mia addressed me as "Luna" rather than using my name—a formality that felt strange coming from my friend.

"Of course," Kieran replied, rising from his seat. "We've covered the essentials for today."

As he passed me on his way out, his hand brushed mine in a gesture that seemed almost possessive. "I'll see you at dinner," he murmured before nodding respectfully to Madame Elise and departing.

Once Kieran was gone, Mia's formal demeanor instantly dissolved. She rushed over, grabbing my hands and pulling me to my feet.

"Oh my god, Lena!" she squealed, reverting to our usual casual dynamic. "You're going to look absolutely stunning! I've been looking at design concepts all morning with Madame Elise. She's the pack's master tailor and has created the ceremonial attire for Luna coronations for the past forty years!"

The elderly woman approached with a measuring tape, her eyes sharp as she assessed me. "Good bone structure," she commented, as if I weren't present. "And the coloring will work beautifully with the traditional silver and blue."

For the next hour, I stood patiently as Madame Elise took precise measurements while Mia flipped through sketches, fabric swatches, and jewelry options, soliciting my opinion on everything from necklines to sleeve lengths.

"The dress needs to be formal enough for the ceremony but also practical for the marking," Mia explained, showing me a design with an elegant neckline that left my shoulders and the junction of my neck exposed. "The left side needs to be accessible."

My stomach fluttered at the casual mention of the marking. It seemed everyone expected it to happen without question.

"And for the celebration afterward," Mia continued, oblivious to my discomfort, "we thought something a bit more relaxed but still regal." She showed me another sketch—a flowing gown that managed to be both sophisticated and comfortable-looking.

"They're beautiful," I admitted, genuinely impressed by the designs.

Mia beamed. "I knew you'd love them! And wait until you see the jewelry they're bringing out from the pack vault. The Luna's ceremonial necklace is absolutely stunning—it's been worn by every Luna for the past two centuries!"

By the time Madame Elise departed with her measurements and fabric selections, promising to return for a fitting in three days, my head was spinning with details about the ceremony and growing anxiety about the marking that seemed increasingly inevitable.

"I think I need some fresh air," I told Mia. "Is there somewhere we can go for dinner? I'd like to see more of the territory."

"Absolutely!" Mia replied enthusiastically. "There's an amazing bistro in the pack's main village. We can walk there—it's not far."

She sent a quick message to Kieran's assistant to inform him we wouldn't be dining at the house, then led me outside into the late afternoon sunshine. The walk to the village took us along winding paths through beautifully maintained gardens and into a charming settlement of stone buildings and cobbled streets.

The bistro Mia had chosen was warm and inviting, with delicious food and a relaxed atmosphere. For a few hours, surrounded by the chatter of normal pack members who greeted me respectfully but didn't fawn over me, I was able to forget the pressure of the upcoming coronation and simply enjoy catching up with my friend.