With pack members bustling in and out of the house sweeping snow off the patio, putting in tents, heaters, chairs, and tables, flowers being delivered. Friday morning was an even bigger mess with more staff, Blair felt like she was in the way. She decided to walk down to Beth's house. Walking out into the cool crisp air Blair took a deep breath and tried to let the anxieties float away. She opened her eyes when she heard a car pull into the driveway. She looked over and smiled when she saw James' car. Blair walked over, "What are you doing out here?" He asked getting out. "To many people inside, I'm in the way I think," she answered. "You couldn't be in the way if you tried," he assured her with a wink. Blair smiled, James wrapped her in a hug, "You wanna get some lunch?" He asked putting her down. "Sure," she replied.
They got in the car and headed to town. They went to the deli and got a couple sandwiches and sat at the park to eat, he was sitting straddling the bench facing her, "Are you nervous?" He asked watching her. "About tonight, a little, but I think my brother should be more," she joked taking a bite. "I mean about leaving," he chuckled. She watched him take a bite and chew, as she carefully thought about her next words, "I should tell you something about tonight," she told him. James grabbed his napkin and wiped his hands, he pulled her closer, "What?" He whispered against her ear. Blair nearly lost her train of thought, "It's about Ben," she whispered, still lost in his closeness.
James hung his head, "What about Ben?" He asked looking back at her. Blair furrowed her brow, "What was that about?" She asked. "Nothing," he answered. "James," she said. "Nothing, I just thought this conversation was going somewhere else, that's all," he told her. She looked at him wide eyed, her mouth open, he looked back at her confused. "Don't tell me you don't feel this," he said. Blair closed her mouth and looked at her food thinking, she had been yanked back and forth so much between worrying about Ben, feeling overwhelmed by all the changes, she hadn't even given herself the chance to feel everything in the mating bond.
James' cell phone rang, he answered it while Blair sat and thought about what she was doing. "Yeah, we'll head back," James said snapping Blair from questioning herself. "We needed to head back, your mom's looking for you," he said hanging up and getting his food wrapped back up. Blair wrapped up her sandwich and they got back in the car and headed back to the house, "I didn't mean I was expecting anything," he finally broke the silence as he turned onto her road. "I know," she replied quietly. He glanced at her, "Do you?" He asked. She looked at him, "Feel this?" He added. Blair paused, "I do, things are just complicated," she answered. "It's not supposed to be, Blair. You and I are supposed to be as easy as breathing," he said.
Blair's face fell, and she felt guilty for making things complicated. The truth was if it was for the demon things wouldn't be complicated, she would've already had her claiming ceremony and he would've already marked her. He pulled into the driveway, and they got out, "I'm sorry," he called after her. She turned around and walked to him, "I'm sorry, that this is complicated for me, and I wish it wasn't," she told him in almost a plea for him to take the complication away. He cupped her face with his hand, and she leaned into his touch just as she should, as a reflex. He searched her face, "Talk to me," he urged. Staring into his green eyes Blair felt ready to reveal every secret she's ever been entrusted with. "Blair," Sofie called from the doorway. Blair smiled at him, "I will I promise," she whispered. She kissed him gently and went inside where her mother rushed her to her room to get ready for the alpha ceremony.
After a shower Blair was having her black hair curled and assembled into a low messy ponytail, and Sofie watched her daughter for a moment, as the makeup artist came in. Sofie came back in an hour later, to help Blair into her open back fitted emerald, green dress with sequin flowers and a high slit up the left side. Once Blair had her black pumps on and tied up her leg, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," Sofie called primping Blair who stood in front of the mirror, Kaspar and Ben walked in. "Blair, you look beautiful," Kaspar said. She smiled and blushed, "Benjamin, you look so grown up," Sofie said with tears forming in her eyes. Ben's normally untamed hair was brush back to perfection with the sides faded. He was wearing a black shirt and pants, with a sapphire blue jacket with black lapels. "Don't cry Sofie, you still need to get through the ceremony," Kaspar told her, with a scowl. "Alright, we will be downstairs waiting for you," Sofie told them, she and Kaspar gave them a few moments alone.
"Here, I got you something," Blair said walking over to her dresser and pulling out a box. "I got you something, too," Ben told her with a smile. They traded boxes, "Open together," he said. "On three," Blair agreed. "One," Ben said. "Two," Blair smiled. "Three," they said together and tore into the boxes. Blair opened a necklace, there was a platinum chain with an onyx moon with a single white sapphire in it. "Flip it over," Ben told her. On the back it read, "Always with you," Blair read aloud. She smiled; Ben pulled out the ring Blair had gotten him. It was an onyx moon, "Read the inscription," she said. Inside the ring read, "Always with you," Ben looked up and smiled. "It's your alpha ring," she added. They hugged, and Ben helped her put on her necklace, "You look beautiful, Blair. The ever-green pack is lucky to get you as a Luna," Ben told her. "Thank you," she smiled touching the necklace. Ben looked down, "Blair, I heard you," he told her. "What?" She asked turning around in confused. "That day in the kitchen, I heard you. I just wanted you to know, you didn't fail," he confessed and walked out. "Ben," she called but he was gone.