Clara steps to the podium to welcome all of the pack to the dinner. "Good evening my beloved pack and welcome to our induction of a new Beta for the Artemis Pack!"
A roar explodes from the pack, along with hand clapping and stomping of feet.
Clara waits for the sounds to quiet down before continuing. "As our Silver Lady and our patreon goddess have blessed our pack with plenty, so we bless them with our fellowship and joy. In the spirit of love, support, and thanksgiving, I present to you our feast."
Clara's arms open and the omegas enter the room loaded down with food in large serving bowls and plates. They set them on the tables for family style service among the pack members. More omegas came to the high table to serve us, starting with me and Zak, then Zak's parents, and moving down the table by rank.
Zak waited for all of the food to be passed out to call for the attention of the pack. He had previously pulled Head Omega Catherine aside to ask the omegas come back after dropping off the food trays.
When they returned, Zak stood, tapping his knife against his glass.
"Pack, I know that we are all ready to eat the delicious food that our omegas have made for us, but I have an announcement before we start." Zak looks to me and Brandon, a warm smile flooding his face. "We are here today to celebrate the ascension of a new beta for the Artemis Pack, but we have another event to celebrate...Beta Brandon has found his mates!"
Sporadic clapping and cheering are heard throughout the room, but many of the pack members look at each other in confusion. The whispers of "Mates?" "It's true!" "How can he have two mates?" are heard throughout the room.
Zak waits for the whispers to die down before continuing speaking. "Many of you were here this morning when we found out that Future-Beta Brandon has been mated to both myself and Luna Charlie."
The whispers are louder now, mingling into a loud clamor. It makes it difficult to pick out individual comments and I can't read the faces of the pack to understand what they are feeling. Anxiety bubbles up within Brandon and I can feel it through our bond. I grab his hand, which seems to help him calm.
Again, Zak waits for the pack to quiet down. "Initially, Future-Beta Brandon rejected us as a way to save our pack from the scrutiny of other packs." I feel a light echo of the pain from Brandon's rejection at Zak's words, knowing that he feels it as well. Brandon quickly brings my hand to his lips, a look of pain crossing his handsome face. "But we all quickly realized that the Goddess would not have mated the three of us without a reason. And if it is the Goddess's will, who are we to go against it?" He turns to us and holds out his hands. Brandon and I stand and grab his hands. The fated sparks dance along our skin, more comforting than sexual now. Zak is right. I cannot, I will not, contradict the Goddess. She brought us together for a reason.
After a moment, Zak turns back to the pack. They have been quiet throughout this exchange, watching us. "I understand that this is strange. Unheard of in our current society. But Oracle Lucille has assured us that Mother Selene approves. That there is precedent, which we will get into at a later date. But what matters now is that you know that we are marked and mated. No one and nothing can separate us, but the Goddess herself."
Looking around at each pack member, including those at the high table, Zak takes a breath before continuing. "If any pack member has difficulty with this, we will understand. It seems strange and foreign, along with our Gamma and Delta mating earlier this week. We will leave it up to you if you want to stay within the pack. If you feel that you cannot, I will help to facilitate your transfer to another pack. If you wish to leave this pack, we ask that you leave now, before the feast starts."
I feel Brandon holding his breath. His gaze anxiously sweeps across the room and his hands squeeze ours.
But no one stands. Many pack members are speaking to each other and looks of confusion are shared, but no one makes a move to lead.
Finally, a burly and dark-skinned hand raises into the air.
"Yes, Eric?" Zak calls, letting go of Brandon and my hands, stepping in front of us, as if to protect us.
Eric, one of our head contractors and a damn fine warrior, stood. His ebony skin shone in the artificial light in the hall and he looked around the crowd wide-eyed. Many people nodded at him before he threw his long dreadlocks over his shoulder and turned back to us. Eric was a good man, a natural-born leader, and a loyal friend. He and I had grown through the ranks together when I was training to become Delta of the pack. He hated speaking in front of large crowds like this, but you wouldn't know it from his stance.
"Alpha. Luna. Future-Beta," he began, making eye contact with each of us in turn. "Many of us either witnessed the Future-Beta's rejection this morning or have heard the story. For sure, many of us were shocked to hear that three wolves could be mated. It goes against everything that we have ever been told about mating. You are supposed to have two halves of a soul come together."
Every word that Eric said made Brandon tense more and more beside Zak. His anxiety combined to make me doubt our pack. Originally, I agreed with Zak, there was no way that our pack would turn their backs on us. But this is making me have a niggling bit of doubt about their reactions.
"But…" Eric says, looking around at those near him, "if the Goddess matched the three of you together, who are we to say that it is wrong?"
Sighs of relief are heard from all around the high table as sounds of agreement and congratulations sound throughout the room. Slowly, one by one, then a few at a time, the pack begins to clap. Shouts of congratulations and whistles sound out. By the end, the entire pack is standing on their feet.
I feel relief and happiness roll through the bond from Brandon and a smug satisfaction coming from Zak.
Guess I won the bet, Zak links to us.