Chapter 15: Family Ceremony

I prepared the Great Assembly room and contacted the Elders, Nate, Jack, and my father. Then I entered the room with Victoria. All eyes glanced at Victoria as it was rare to see an Omega included in an important event like this.

My father called Nate and me, then asked the rest to create a circle surrounding us. “It’s a fortunate event that Nathanael Thorn joined our pack twenty years ago. Since then, he has proved himself a great man and Cameron’s best friend.”

Nate kneeled before my father. “It’s an honor for me to be your pack member, Alpha.”

“Please arise, Nate.”

“Thank you, Alpha.”

Then my father looked around. His stare stopped at Jack. “Jack, my son, please know that our family will have another member today.”

Jack gaped for a second. He glanced between Victoria and me; his forehead was creased. But he said nothing and waited for my father to continue.

“With all who will witness it today as Cameron, my son, requested, I will lead the ceremony to have Nathanael as my son. He will be Cameron and Jack’s brother from now on.”

The Elders gasped to know that. Some of them whispered to each other. “What happened?”

“I thought we would see Beta Cameron mark his she-wolf.”

“I have guessed the same. Who would have thought our Alpha would have a new son tonight?”

My father cleared his throat, and everyone was silent immediately. “Please know that it’s the best plan and decision. The idea came from Cameron.” He looked around. “As Cameron has experienced how loyal Nathanael is to him, I think it’s a good idea to have another son. Does anyone object to this?”

No one said anything. Nate was a kind man, and many Elders liked him too, not to mention our lower rank members. Although Nate had a high rank as a Delta, he loved helping everyone.

My father nodded. “Very well. I’ll start the ceremony.”

I brought a tray containing a knife and a goblet. Then I walked beside my father. He took the knife and slashed it a little on his hand. Blood surged out from his blood vessel and poured into the glass. Then he glanced at Nate.

“Nathanael?”

“Yes, Alpha?”

“Come nearer to the tray, please?”

Nate walked closer. He gazed at me for a few seconds, but I nodded at him. Then Nate stared at my father again. “Yes, Alpha.”

“Your hand, please?”

He reached out his hand to my father. Then my father slashed it and poured his blood into the goblet. Later, he placed the knife on the tray and took the goblet. My father twirled the glass a bit to mix the blood, then took a sip. Afterward, my father handed over the goblet to Nate.“Drink it, Nathanael.”

“Yes, Alpha.” Nate accepted the goblet, drank a little, then returned the glass to the tray.

Then my father grinned. “It’s a great day that the Highest One gives me, as I have another son today. So, Nathanael, from now on, you are my son.” He moved forward and hugged Nate.

Nate was startled, as he didn’t expect my father to hug him. “Thank you, Alpha, I mean, Father.” His voice was trembling. “Please call me Nate, Father.”

“Yes, Nate, my son.”

I took a deep breath and was emotional at seeing the touching scene. Beside me, Victoria wiped her eyes with her fingers. I kissed her shoulder, and she smiled, then hid her face on my chest. But then, my father called me.

“Cameron, Jack, please welcome Nate into our family.”

I released Victoria. Then Jack and I approached our father and Nate.

Jack grabbed Nate’s lower hand and patted Nate’s back. “I’m glad to have another brother.” Then he whispered, “I hope you won’t scold me as Cameron loves doing it to me.”

Nate chuckled and pulled Jack into his hug. “My little brother, if you do wrong, I’ll tell you, of course. But, otherwise, we’re cool.”

Jack grinned and hit Jack’s shoulder playfully. “Great!”

Then I hugged Nate and whispered, “Thanks for everything, Nate. I asked my father to do this since it’d make things easier for all.”

Nate said nothing and only nodded. After a few seconds, he finally said, “I’m the one who should thank you. Twenty years ago, I lost everything. But now, I have a family again.” His eyes were sparkling with tears, but he looked to the ceiling and smiled. “Thank You, the Highest One. You took the most precious ones for me, but now, You give me another family.”

I patted his back and cleared my throat, finding it hard to say anything. “As a family, ask me anything. Don’t hesitate.”

Nate nodded, and then he grinned. “Why don’t you introduce me to your woman?”

I just remembered that I brought Victoria with me. So, I called her. “Anna, please meet my family.”

Victoria strolled to approach me, but her eyes showed she was full of anticipation of what would happen next. She waited next to me.

I smiled at her. “It’s Nate. He’s my best friend, subordinate, and now, my brother.”

Nate nodded at Victoria. “Nice to meet you, Anna. I hope later we can get to know each other better.”

“Sure.”

I introduced Victoria to Jack too, but she only nodded. Jack scratched his nape and then nodded at Victoria too. I needed to ask Victoria later about this as she was warm with Nate, but cold toward Jack. Afterward, I circled my arm to her waist and escorted her to meet my father.

“Father, please meet Anna. She is an Omega, but I’m sure you’ll find her much more than a weak she-wolf.”

Victoria bowed to my father. “Alpha Horace, it is an honor to meet you. I’m Omega Anna Warren.”

Then my father stared at Victoria for a while. “You are pretty. I can understand why Cameron falls head over heels for you. But you have a long way to prove yourself if you are worthy of my son.” He said nothing for a few seconds but later added, “Cameron is my son and the next Alpha. If I approve of your relationship with him, you will be the next Luna. But, unfortunately, I can’t do that for now.”