The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger.-Chapter 357: A perfect union...

Lyla

I never thought a Joining Ceremony could be planned in less than six hours, but here I was, sitting in front of a mirror while Clarissa applied the finishing touches to my makeup. The other women bustled around us, fussing over every detail of Ramsey’s mother’s joining gown that now hung waiting for me.

The day had passed in a whirlwind after Ramsey and I reconciled. He’d taken me straight to Elder Eldric to share the news about the babies. Our visit to the pack hospital confirmed what I’d suspected—I was exactly twelve weeks along. The ultrasound images of our tiny twins had made both Ramsey and his grandfather tear up with joy.

When we’d mentioned getting married tomorrow, Elder Eldric had waved us off with a dismissive gesture. "Nonsense," he’d declared. "I’ll handle everything. You’ll be joined before nightfall."

And somehow, impossibly, he’d made it happen.

"There," Clarissa said, stepping back to admire her work. She placed her hands on my shoulders and smiled at our reflection. "You look absolutely beautiful, Lyla."

I studied myself in the mirror, hardly recognising the radiant woman staring back at me. Clarissa had enhanced my natural features with subtle makeup that made my eyes sparkle and my skin glow. My hair was swept up in an elegant style with small white flowers woven throughout.

"Thank you," I whispered, touched by all the effort everyone had put into making this day special.

The joining dress was breathtaking. Made of ivory silk with intricate beadwork that caught the light, it had belonged to Ramsey’s mother. The women had somehow managed to alter it to fit me perfectly in just a few hours. As I slipped into it, I felt connected to the women who had come before me—the Luna who had worn this dress, who had stood before the moon and pledged her heart to her mate.

I couldn’t stop staring at myself in the mirror. The dress transformed me into something ethereal, something worthy of the powerful man waiting for me.

A gentle knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. "It’s time," Nanny’s voice called softly.

My heart fluttered with anticipation as we made our way outside. The sun was beginning its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink. Elder Eldric had chosen the perfect timing—we would be joined as day turned to night, under both sun and moon.

I stepped out of the car carefully, Clarissa immediately rushing to arrange my train. The joining ceremony would take place in the Sacred Grove, a circular clearing in the heart of our territory that had been used for important pack ceremonies for generations.

Ancient oak trees formed a natural canopy around the space, their branches intertwining overhead like a living roof. Hundreds of fairy lights had been strung between the trees, creating a canopy of stars even before the real ones appeared. White silk ribbons fluttered from every branch, and the ground was scattered with rose petals that made a soft carpet leading to the altar.

The altar itself was simple but beautiful—a natural stone formation draped with more white silk and surrounded by arrangements of white roses, baby’s breath, and trailing ivy. Candles in tall glass holders flickered along the perimeter, their warm light dancing across the faces of our pack members who had gathered to witness our union.

Every person we cared about was there. Our warriors stood at attention in their dress uniforms, while the women wore their finest gowns. Children peeked out from behind their parents, eyes wide with excitement at the fairy-tale scene.

Nanny appeared at my left side, elegant in a deep blue dress I’d never seen her wear before. On my right, Luna Vanessa took her place, stunning in midnight purple silk. Both women had insisted on walking me down the aisle together—Nanny because she was my birth mom, and Luna Vanessa because she raised me.

"Ready, sweetheart?" Nanny asked, offering me her arm.

I nodded, taking a deep breath as the traditional joining music began. A group of pack musicians played old melodies on instruments that had been passed down through generations—flutes that sounded like wind through the trees, drums that echoed the heartbeat of the earth.

We began our procession down the petal-strewn path. With each step, my anticipation grew. The fairy lights twinkled above us like blessings from the goddess herself, and the sweet scent of roses filled the evening air.

And there, waiting for me at the altar, was Ramsey.

He wore a formal black suit with a golden vest that caught the candlelight, but it was his face that took my breath away. His eyes were bright with unshed tears, and the smile that spread across his features was so full of love and wonder that I nearly stumbled.

When we reached him, he stepped forward and took my hands from my escorts. His fingers were warm and steady as they intertwined with mine.

"You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

I felt my own eyes well up with tears. "I love you," I whispered back.

We turned together to face the Moon Priest, an elderly man whose grey hair gleamed in the candlelight. He raised his hands, and the gathering fell silent.

"We are gathered here in the Sacred Grove, under the watchful eyes of the Moon Goddess and our ancestors, to witness the joining of two souls destined to be one," he began, his voice carrying clearly through the stillness. "Ramsey Kincaid, Alpha of the White Mountain Pack and Lycan Leader of our world and Lyla Woodland, Moonsinger and blessed daughter of the moon—do you come here of your own free will to be bonded for all eternity?"

"We do," we answered in unison.

The priest nodded solemnly. "Then speak your vows to one another, as the moon bears witness to your promises."

Ramsey turned to face me fully, his hands still holding mine. His voice was steady and sure as he began.

"Lyla, my heart, my moon, my everything—I pledge to you my strength in times of weakness, my protection in times of danger, and my unwavering love through all the seasons of our lives. I promise to stand beside you as your equal, to support your gifts as Moonsinger, and to cherish the children you carry. In the light of the moon and the warmth of the sun, I accept you as my mate, my Luna, my forever."

Tears spilt down my cheeks as I spoke my own vows. "Ramsey, my alpha, my anchor, my beloved—I pledge to you my magic in times of darkness, my loyalty in times of trial, and my endless love through all the storms we may face. I promise to stand with you as your partner, to honour your role as my mate and leader, and to raise our children with the strength of our combined love. Under the goddess’s blessing and before our pack, I accept you as my mate, my alpha, my always."

The Moon Priest raised a golden chalice filled with ceremonial wine. "Drink together, and let your lives be joined as one."

We each took a sip from the cup, the sweet wine symbolising the joining of our separate lives into one shared future.

"By the power vested in me by the Moon Goddess and the laws of our people," the priest declared, "I pronounce you mated for life."

As soon as he said the words, a red thread – our mate bond sizzled around our joined hands, and instantly, I felt myself connecting with Ramsey.

Ramsey’s hands cupped my face as he leaned down to kiss me. The moment our lips met, something magical happened. A warm, golden light enveloped us both, visible to everyone present. It was the moon’s blessing, the sign that the goddess herself truly blessed our union.

The crowd erupted in cheers and howls of celebration as we broke apart.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the Moon Priest announced with a broad smile, "I present to you Lycan Leader Alpha Ramsey and his Queen Luna Lyla Woodland Kincaid !"