Is It Wrong To Love My StepBrother Alpha Mate?
Chapter 46: Blood Oath Ceremony

Chapter 46: Blood Oath Ceremony

It was oddly quiet when Helena and Romeo parked in front of Red River’s pack house.

They’d been waved through by a combination of Blackmoon, Stonehill, and Red River warriors who were standing guard at the territory’s border with Blackmoon.

With the ceremony that would merge Blackmoon with Red River the partols along the border would no longer be needed.

On the road, Romeo and Helena had discussed applying the same practice they had between Blackmoon and Stonehill, remove the patrols and combine the territory.

Despite Red River Pack merging with Blackmoon the plan was easier to implement with Stonehill since the two packs were practically family at this point.

"This place used to be a lot more vibrant," Helena grumbled.

There were a lot of cars parked in front of the packhose, but the space was eerily silent.

"When did you visit here last?" Romeo asked Helena as they sat in the running car.

"Three years ago," Helena sighed. "I had to amend some terms in the treaty between the three packs."

"Was that when you slept with him?" Romeo questioned.

Helena waited for the bite of jealousy in his tone, but there was none.

It seemed Romeo was just genuinely curious.

"No," Helena answered. "I learned my lesson from sleeping with him. I hadn’t made it clear that it was only a physical one-time thing. He thought we could be mates."

Romeo winced at her words, sending Helena into a panic.

"Your case is different," Helena suddenly said, feeling guilty about Romeo’s reaction.

"How? I’m an Alpha that thinks we could be mates," Romeo told her.

"I’ll only say this once," Helena said with a sigh. She was about to admit something she’d never said out loud before. "I feel the same about you."

"What?" Romeo asked as he looked at her, stunned.

Helena opened her mouth to reply when someone knocked on the car’s window.

"What’s he doing here?" Romeo groaned as Kade tried to look into the car through its heavily tinted window.

"Let’s go," Helena said as he unbuckled her seatbelt..

Romeo pushed open the car door, sending Kade to the ground. He didn’t bother to apologize to his Gamma, he rushed to Helena’s side and opened the door for her.

"I knew I scented arousal," Kade said with an annoying smirk on his lips.

"Shut it, Kade," Romeo growled.

"They’re waiting for you in the backyard, Alphas," Kade said as he made a sweeping motion toward the packhouse doors.

Romeo gave him a nod as he offered Helena his arm to hold.

Helena gave him a gentle smile before looping her arm with his and allowing Romeo to lead the way.

When they reached the backyard, they were surprised to find Gamma Norton and their mother, Alyssa, directing some familiar and unfamiliar wolves.

"You’re both here!" Alyssa said as she offered her stepson and her daughter customary bows. "We’ve set everything up. All you need is the ceremonial knife, and we can start."

"I brought it," Helena told her mother as she produced a small knife wrapped in cloth.

"Good, good, this way," Alyssa said as she dragged the pair up a stage.

Romeo stood and scanned the crowd.

Red River was a good-sized pack with three hundred members. It was small in comparison to Blackmoon and Stonehill, but it was not a small pack, either.

Helena watched as the pack members took them in, clearly judging the people who stood on the stage.

She knew some were aware of her history, both with their former Alpha and other wolves. She couldn’t help but wonder what their reaction would be if they heard that their would be Luna had the knack of sleeping around?

"You should make a speech," Alyssa suggested. "You know, boost morale."

Romeo gave his stepmother a nod before stepping forward and clearing his throat.

"Most of you do not know me," Romeo began. "Most of you have heard stories about me, but in the coming days, months, and years, I hope that you will come to know me as I will come to know you."

There was a look of surprise in the eyes of the crowd. It seemed that they didn’t expect Romeo to start his speech that way.

’You’re doing well,’ Helena told him through their mind link.

"After today, we will no longer be the Blackmoon Pack and the Red River Pack, we will be one pack under the Blackmoon Pack," Romeo said as a look of hesitation spread through the crowd. "This doesn’t mean you will lose your identity, you will just have a new opportunity to grow it. You will earn a bigger family that will protect you at all costs."

The crowd seemed to steady at his words. They looked at him a little bit more kindly than when they arrived.

"I came here with the woman that I hope will be my mate to personally welcome you," he told the crowd as their attention turned to Helena. "I want all of you to be a part of our family and to truly feel welcome."

People continued to watch Helena, but none of the gazes were unkind.

"Tonight, you will be allowed an option, either to join our family or to seek your fortune elsewhere. I will not force anyone to join our pack, but we will happily welcome you should you choose to be a part of it," Romeo announced.

There were murmurs in the crowd, clearly, most didn’t expect to have this option.

"So, who would like to go first?" Romeo asked.

To Helena’s surprise, a man about their age stepped forward.

"I’d like permission from the Alpha to leave the pack." An audible gasp came from the crowd. "It’s not that I don’t trust you or your pack, but my father died years ago, and we had plans to leave to bring our mother back to her old pack. The old Alpha denied our request because we have three warriors among us. So, will you let us leave?"

"No, I will not, you may go, and I wish you luck and pray for the Goddess to bless your travels," Romeo announced in a booming voice.

Not a good start for a blood oath ceremony.