From Ashes to Their Luna novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: The Moon Gathering

The Moon gathering was held in a ring of standing stones on the highest field of Stonepine land.

Six packs came. Their fires burned all along the ridge.

I stood at the edge of the ring in a borrowed green dress.

My mother's brooch was pinned to my collar, and my ribs were still bound under the cloth.

Margot had braided my hair. I had let her, and I had watched her hands the whole time.

"You'll be wonderful," she said, and slipped away into the crowd.

Nobody had warned me how many eyes there would be.

They came at me from every side. Alphas, Betas, mates, an old woman in a grey shawl with a cane who sat at the head of the ring and did not blink.

"That's the Council elder," Kieran said, close behind me. He kept a full pace between us.

"She is the oldest wolf on the mountain. She remembers your mother."

"What does she want?"

"To see you shift."

My mouth went dry. "In front of everyone."

"Only if you choose. Nobody will make you. If you say no, I'll walk you out and no one will say a word."

I looked at the fires and the faces and the ring of stones.

I thought about the hallway, and the laundress with her eyes on the floor.

"I'll do it," I said.

I walked out to the middle of the ring alone.

It was easier than I thought. My wolf was already there, waiting, and she came up through my bones without a fight.

The grey wolf stood in the firelight and lifted her head.

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