Chapter 29 - Chapter Twenty-Nine

Sarise slapped Jacob's hand aside as they walked down the corridor, adjusting the top of her dress as they walked back into the ballroom.

From the corner Amelia raised an eyebrow, Noah at her side as they watched the two walking up to them.

"Everything sorted?" Noah asked as she approached, seeing Sarise slap Jacob's hand aside again.

"All sorted." Jacob chuckled, looking at Sarise as she turned and adjusted his tie, before turning to Amelia and Noah.

"What took you so long?" Amelia asked, her eyes glinting with amusement.

Sarise rolled her eyes, grabbing a champagne flute from the waiter who wandered past, feeling Jacob slap her rump in response to her eye roll.

"Like you don't bloody well know." She snapped lightly, taking a sip of her champagne as Amelia laughed.

"Estelle left." Noah stated and Sarise growled lightly.

"Good!"

"Well, what was that about?" A voice asked.

Xander appeared at Noah's side, his green eyes glinting with amusement and Sarise glared at him.

"Goddess don't you start to!" She snapped, turning to look over the crowd.

"I must say I never picked you to be such the jealous type Sarise." Xander laughed, winking at Sarise when she turned to glare at him.

"I gotta admit Sarise." Amelia said lightly and Sarise turned to her. "I've never seen you so angry before."

"Well I'm glad I amusing you all so much." Sarise snapped, hearing Jacob chuckle beside he as he pulled her against his side.

"Well it is an anniversary ball I'll never forget." Xander added with a wink when Sarise glared at him.

"Are we all done?" Sarise asked, pushing Jacob away and folding her arms across her breasts.

"Yes? No?" She asked, looking between everyone before growling and turning on her heel, walking towards the drinks table and hearing laughter from behind her.

Assholes! She thought as she stormed to the table and grabbed a glass of champagne, pulling it to her mouth and taking a sip.

"Ahhh Miss Chambers."

Saris turned, nearly gagging as she looked at the bloated figure of Regulator Kalkis standing beside her, a grin on his face as his eyes travelled down her hungrily.

"You're looking ravishing tonight." He drooled, throwing her another smile.

"Regulator Kalkis." Sarise answered with a polite smile. "Thank you for coming..."

"Remember I said to call me Boris." He stated, taking her hand and kissing it before pulling her closer to him. "I was quite happy to see you had come with the Queen."

Sarise went to speak when Kalkis cut her off.

"How is your family?" Boris asked, his grin suddenly turning wicked. "I hear they're having some problems." He shrugged. "I could help you know."

"Could you now?" Sarise growled, pulling her hand from his.

"Of course." Boris answered. "If you help me."

"Jacob!" Sarise screamed through the bond as Kalkis pulled her against him, rubbing his bloated body against hers.

"Here you are." Jacob's voice cut through, a hand pulling her away from Kalkis as Jacob stepped between them as he glanced over his shoulder at Sarise.

"You okay?" He asked, turning back to Kalkis after she had given him a curt nod.

"Regulator Kalkis." Jacob said smoothly, flashing him a smile. "I appreciate you coming tonight."

"Of course, Alpha Marcon." Kalkis answered, bowing his head and looking past Jacob at Sarise. "I was merely catching up with Miss Chambers, we know each other from Zone Nine."

"Really?" Jacob questioned, raising an eyebrow before stepping aside lightly and looking at Sarise. "You never told me you knew Regulator Kalkis, darling."

"I didn't think it was relevant." Sarise answered as Jacob wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her beside him.

Kalkis looked at the position the two were in before he chuckled, taking a step back and inclining his head.

"Forgive me Alpha Marcon, I was unaware the Queen's Beta was currently entertaining you." Kalkis stated, tapping his nose lightly.

"Entertaining me?" Jacob asked, tipping his head at Kalkis before he chuckled and looked at Sarise.

"I suppose she is entertaining me." Jacob added and Kalkis let out a rumbling laugh, a laugh that was cut short when Jacob turned back to look at him with blazing lavender eyes.

"Given she is my mate and soon to be my Luna." Jacob growled, causing Kalkis to step back quickly.

"I suggest you stay the fuck away from her." Jacob added in a strained voice, his eyes still blazing. "If I see your grubby hands anywhere near her again, I'll tear them off."

"Of cou....of course Alpha Marcon." Kalkis stammered, turning to run away yet slamming into one of the serving staff, sending champagne all over himself.

He looked around the room, his face turning red with rage before he rushed out as fast as his chubby legs could carry him.

"Fucken wanker." Jacob growled as he watched the retreating back of the Regulator and turned to Sarise. "You're okay? Did he do anything?"

"I'm fine." Sarise snapped lightly, pushing away from him.

"A thank you wouldn't go astray you know." Jacob said with a smile, chuckling as she glared at him.

"I'm still angry at you about Estelle." She pointed out and Jacob laughed, reaching forward to kiss the tip of her nose.

"Noted." He said lightly. "But if you continue to be angry, you'll ruin you're surprise."

"I hate surprises." Sarise pointed out and Jacob laughed again.

"Amelia mentioned as much." He answered, looking past her.

Sarise turned, seeing Donovan pushing his way through the crowd as he came towards them.

"Ready?" Jacob asked when Donovan reached them and his Beta nodded.

"All good to go. Merric and Casey have just arrived" He answered, turning to smile at Sarise. "You look stunning tonight Sarise."

"Jacob!" Noah called over the crowd and the three looked over at him. "Are we getting this show on the road or what?"

"Come on." Jacob said lightly, wrapping his arm around Sarise's waist and leading her towards the back of the ballroom.

The double doors were pulled open, opening out onto the huge patio that at the back of the mansion.

Outside stood hundreds of people, all cheering as Jacob and Sarise stepped into the lights that shone at the house.

"Jacob?" Sarise breathed, looking at the sea of people. "What the fuck are you..."

"Tonight!" Donovan called, stepping forward. "We ask you to welcome your new Luna!"

The crowd began cheering as Donovan stepped back waving his arm towards Sarise and Jacob.

Jacob pulled Sarise to him, smiling at her as he reached over to whisper in her arm.

"Surprise." He said lightly, chuckling when Sarise glared at him and pushed him away, punching his arm as the crowd cheered.

Noah stepped forward, gently pulling Amelia with him and the two bowed their heads to Sarise before Noah stepped forward and touched his lips to Sarise's forehead.

Amelia did the same before stepping back to stand near the doors as Xander stepped forward, bowing his head before kissing Sarise on the forehead, throwing her a wink before he stepped back to stand by Amelia.

Merric and Casey came forward, bowing their heads and kissing her forehead, Casey throwing Sarise a mischievous smile as they stepped back to stand with Xander and Amelia.

Donovan and Ember came next, both falling to their knees as they bowed to Sarise.

"We pledge our allegiance to the new Luna." They both called, the crowd cheering as they both stood, smiling at Sarise.

Donovan walked to stand beside Noah, reaching behind the king to grab a golden chalice and golden knife.

Noah looked over and grabbed the knife, stepping forward and holding out his hand to Jacob.

"The Bond of Blood. Through this bond you will be bound, body and soul to your Luna." Noah called, slicing into Jacob palm before holding his hand over the chalice, squeezing it and letting the blood drip into it.

He turned to Sarise, holding out his hand and she slid hers into his, wincing when the dagger sliced her skin.

Noah squeezed her hand, holding it over the chalice and letting her blood drip into it.

"The Bond of Blood. Through this bond you will be bound, body and soul to your Alpha and in turn to his pack." Noah called, releasing Sarise's hand and stepping back, throwing her a smile before he turned to the crowd holding the chalice up.

"The offering has been given; the bond forged." He called to the crowd before turning back to Sarise and Jacob. "To accept the bond, you both must drink."

Noah looked at Jacob and he stepped forward, taking the chalice and raising it to his lips.

He took a sip, lowering it and wiped his hand across his mouth and passed it back to Noah as he looked at Sarise, smiling at her reassuringly as he held out his hand.

Sarise put her hand in his, letting him pull her forward to stand before Noah.

She took gently took the chalice in her hands, surprised at how light it was and looked into it, smelling wine within it.

She lifted it to her lips, taking a mouthful of the wine and swallowed it slowly before passing it back to Noah before she turned to Jacob.

A smile crossed his face and he reached up to cup her cheek as voices suddenly exploded in her mind, each calling out to her, congratulating her, welcoming her.

She turned in surprise, stepping towards Jacob and gripping his arm as she looking out over the crowd, feeling his arm wrap around her protectively.

"Your Luna." Donovan called and a cheer ripped through the square as everyone fell to their knees, bowing at the new Luna of Intelligence Pack.

* * *

"Good Morning Luna."

Sarise turned, inclining her head to the maid who had spoken to her before she turned and headed down the hallway towards the dining room.

From inside she could hear the voices of those who had stayed at the mansion for the night, celebrating not only ten years of Jacob's reign as Alpha, but also the installation of a new Luna.

She walked into the room, smiling at the staff who bowed at her as she entered.

"Ah here is our new Luna." Xander called as she walked down the length of the table, reaching over to give Jacob and kiss on the cheek before she sat beside the Power Alpha.

"Good Morning Xander." Sarise answered in a sickly-sweet voice, poking her tongue at him.

"I'm wondering, will your last name be hyphened like our esteemed Queen as Chambers-Marcon or will you go with simply Marcon?" Xander asked, cocking his head at her.

"That's your first question in the morning?" Sarise asked and Xander shrugged, nodding at Noah and Merric.

"We've all been wondering since the ceremony last night." He answered, winking at her. "We like to be in the know, we're Alpha's after all."

"To be honestly I hadn't much time to think about it." Sarise grumped, grabbing some toast and throwing it on her plate. "I was too busy trying to fend off a drunken Power Alpha and his pleas to go into town so he could get laid."

The group laughed as she reached up and touched her temple, trying to block out chattering of the pack that filled her head.

A hand touched hers and she looked up to see Jacob smiling at her lightly, the chattering instantly ceasing at his touch.

"𝘐 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬." He said in her mind. "𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘶𝘱, 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩���𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴."

She nodded at him, squeezing his hand lightly before releasing it, grabbing her knife and buttering her toast.

"Hard to get used to huh." Casey called from across the table and Sarise looked up.

"The pack constantly chattering in your head." Casey added and Sarise laughed lightly.

"It will take some adjusting." She answered, grabbing the marmalade and spreading it on her toast before throwing her knife on the table.

"So, what will you go with?" Amelia asked and Sarise looked at her.

"The red one thanks." Sarise answered and Amelia pulled the finger at her.

"You know what I mean." Amelia laughed and Sarise chuckled, taking a bite of her toast and put it back on her plate, wiping the crumbs from her fingers.

"I guess it's a discussion for Jacob and I." She answered, looking at Jacob. "I would have discussed it with him if I had been given warning of what was going on."

"Defeats the purpose of a surprise." Jacob pointed out, sipping his coffee as he leant back in his chair.

"You did tell him I hate surprises, right?" Sarise asked, looking at Amelia and seeing her nod.

"Of course, I did." Amelia laughed. "Jacob hates them too by the way."

"Noted." Sarise answered, grabbing her toast and taking another bite.

"So, have you heard back from the lab about that plant you found yet?" Merric asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

"You honestly sent it to the lab?" Sarise asked, looking at Jacob and seeing him nod.

"I told you it was useless." Sarise added, rolling her eyes as she turned back to her breakfast.

"𝘌𝘺𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨." Jacob growled and Sarise snorted.

"𝘉𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘬!" She snapped back, instantly feeling Donovan's touch through the pack link.

"𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘢?" Donovan's voice called and Sarise gulped, realising she had spoken to the entire pack.

Jacob began choking on his coffee, slamming his cup on the table and banging his chest in order to get the liquid to go down properly.

"Problem?" Noah asked, glancing at Hayley who was laughing loudly in her chair.

"Sarise just cursed Jacob through the pack link." Hayley laughed, looking at her brother who was laughing. "We've got the entire pack asking who the Luna thinks is a dick."

"Oh Goddess." Sarise groaned, throwing her head in her hands as the table erupted in laughter.

"At least you didn't ask him for a shag." Xander laughed, throwing a wink at her as he sipped his coffee.

"Fuck you Xander." Sarise growled lightly, shoving him gently as she began laughing.

"And to answer your question." Jacob answered, still chuckling. "Yes, I sent it to the labs to be looked at."

"What plant?" Amelia asked, looking between Sarise and Jacob.

"Hersemed." Sarise answered, seeing Amelia's nose wrinkle in disgust. "Jacob came across it in Zone One and grab some."

"I never mentioned why you went to Zone One." Merric stated, looking at Jacob.

"Research." Jacob answered, linking with Sarise. "The other Alpha do not know what Noah has asked me to look into."

"On?" Xander asked, raising an eyebrow at Jacob.

"On a possible way to combat the effects of silver." Sarise answered, looking at Xander. "The Zones have unique plants that aren't found in the packs, like Hersemed."

"Really?" Xander drooled, looking at Sarise.

"The Pack Lands are over developed and the land destroyed." Sarise continued, eating her toast and looking at Xander. "Meaning there are a lot of the plants in the Zones that aren't found in the packs."

She could tell by the look in Xander's eyes that he didn't believe her, yet he threw her a smile, looking at Jacob and Noah before he shrugged.

"Keep your secrets for now." Xander laughed, leaning back in his chair and looked at Noah. "But I hope we'll be informed at some stage."

"Of course, Xander." Noah answered with a smile. "All in due course."

"Well I'm with Sarise on this." Amelia added, sipping her coffee and looking around the table. "Hersemed is useless, the apothecaries in the Zones have never found a use for it."

"Everything has a use." Jacob pointed out and Amelia poked a tongue at him causing him to chuckle.

"Like I said, I'm with Sarise." Amelia said again, rolling her eyes and causing Sarise to laugh.

"Don't let Jacob see you do that." Sarise pointed out and Amelia snorted.

"It's not like he'd spank the Queen." Amelia laughed and Xander gave Sarise a light shove.

"And admit it, you like his little spanks." Xander joked and Sarise rolled her eyes and she felt Jacob grip her thigh under the table.

Her eyes flicked over, seeing him smiling as he lent over to grab more coffee.

"Behave." He chuckled and Sarise snorted lightly, looking over at Amelia.

"When we're proven right let's throw a big party to rub it in his face." She stated.

"Done!" Amelia laughed, blowing at kiss at Jacob when he frowned at her.

Sarise sighed lightly, leaning back in the chair and closing her eyes, feeling the pressure on her mind as the pack tried to push past the block Jacob had put in place.

"You look tired Sarise." Noah pointed out and Sarise opened her eyes to look over at him. "Perhaps you should take a nap."

"I'm fine." She said with a smile and beside Noah Amelia shook her head lightly.

"He's right Sar." Amelia said lightly and Sarise looked at her. "We never had the pack link growing up, so it's hard to get used to."

"They're right Sarise." Jacob added, reaching over and touching her hand gently. "You look exhausted."

Jacob stood, pulling Sarise up from the chair and pulling her against him lightly.

"I'm..." Sarise started to say then yawned loudly, throwing her hand over her mouth and looking at everyone who chuckled.

"Fine." She snapped lightly, leaning against Jacob. "Just a few hours."