<h4>Chapter 768: Weing their Luna</h4>


    Katelyn turned her head back to the front as thest glimpse of her family vanished from the car’s rear window. The grand gates of the pce finally disappeared, leaving her in the luxury of the interior.


    Sage reached out and took her hand in his, giving it a warm, grounding squeeze to let her know he was there.


    "I didn’t know leaving home would be this emotional," Katelyn murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Or this heartbreaking." She tilted her head to look at him, her eyes still shimmering. "Dad cried... I’ve never seen him like that before."


    "You are his youngest child," Sage asserted, his tone soft but certain. "A precious daughter whom he loves more than anything. It’s only natural for him to feel emotional today."


    Katelyn hummed in response. She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes as the car sped away toward their new life together.


    The car eventually came to a smooth halt at the private airfield, where a jet stood ready to carry them toward their pack in San Ravendale.


    By the time the wheels touched down on the pack’s private strip, the moon was high, casting a silver glow over the dense treeline.


    As they drove through the winding forest roads toward the main estate, Katelyn could feel the energy of her powerful pack.


    Despite thete hour, the courtyard of the mansion was far from empty. Everyone in the pack hade to wee their Luna into the pack.


    As the car stopped, Sage stepped out and reached back to hand Katelyn from the car. Every head bowed in unison, showing respect to their Luna.


    A voice broke the silence, "We wee our Luna to the pack!" and the sentiment was immediately echoed by the crowd in a unified one.


    Katelyn stepped forward, her arm hooked firmly around Sage’s as they walked along a stone pavement lined with fresh white flowers.


    She hadn’t realized such traditional wees still existed in the modern packs, but the reverence in the eyes of the shifters told her that here, ancient customs remained thew of thend.


    They came to a halt at the foot of the grand mansion’s steps. Sage turned to the crowd, his presencemanding and his gaze lingering on Katelyn for a second before he addressed his people.


    "Tonight, ournd is blessed by the arrival of my Luna, my beloved, Katelyn Sinir," Sage’s voice carried effortlessly across the courtyard. "I ask you all to bless this union. We thank you for standing with us to wee her home. Since the hour iste and the journey has been long, I will leave my words here for tonight. Tomorrow, the formal ceremonies begin, and your presence will be honored once more."


    The crowd erupted into a respectful cheer as Sage led Katelyn toward the doors of the estate, finally stepping out of the public eye and into their shared home.


    ~~~~


    Katelyn sat on the edge of the heavily decorated bed, kicking off her heels with a sigh of relief. The room was grand, lit by the soft glow of a chandelier that highlighted her luggage already neatly staged near the wardrobes.


    "You should freshen up and change into something morefortable," Sage said, watching her with a softened expression. "Then, we’ll have some supper."


    "I’m not even hungry. Just exhausted," Katelyn replied, a yawn cutting through her words. She stood up, twisting her long hair into a loose bun before heading toward her bags to dig for her things.


    "Your clothes are already in the closet," Sage corrected gently, cing a hand on the small of her back to guide her toward the spacious walk-in dressing room.


    Katelyn scanned the rows of hanging garments until she found a simple ck silk nightdress. She grabbed it and stepped back out into the main room with him.


    "Sage, you should call the pce," Katelyn told him, pausing at the bathroom door. "Let them know we’ve reached the pack safely. My father won’t settle until he hears."


    "I’ll take care of it," he promised.


    He watched her disappear into the washroom, the click of the door signaling the end of their long day.


    Pulling his phone from his pocket, he stepped toward the balcony to make the call.


    The phone rang only a few times before it was picked up, the line clicking open with a heavy silence.


    "Hello," Sage spoke into the receiver.


    "Sage?" Raidan’s voice came through, clear and immediate.


    Sage felt a flicker of surprise. He had intentionally called the pce’s main line, assuming the King and Queen would have retired to their private chamber by now and wouldn’t be disturbed by a ringing bedside phone. Instead, it seemed the Alpha King had been sitting right by the telephone, waiting.


    "Your Majesty, Katelyn and I have reached the estate safely," Sage replied, his tone respectful. "She wanted me to inform you personally."


    "Thank goodness," Raidan breathed, the relief evident even through the long-distance line. There was a brief pause before he added, "She isn’t crying, is she?"


    "No, Your Majesty," Sage answered with quiet confidence. "Rest assured, I won’t let your daughter cry."


    Raidan let out a small, tired smile on the other end. "I trust you, Sage. Now that I know you both are safe, I will let you go. Good night."


    The line went dead with a soft click. Sage lowered the device and entered the room, shutting the balcony’s doors.


    Sage found Katelyn standing by the bed, still holding the heavy red velvet gown she had finally managed to step out of. The fabric looked like a weight she was d to be rid of.


    "Give me that," Sage said softly, stepping toward her. He took the gown from her arms, his gaze lingering for a moment as he took her in. "You should get into bed."


    He turned and carried the dress to the walk-in closet, draping it carefully over a chair before returning to the main room.


    Katelyn was already tucked onto the mattress, her fingers busy brushing away the stray white flower petals that had been scattered across the linens for their arrival.


    Sage headed to the washroom to quickly change into his own sleeping clothes. When he emerged a few minutester, he was surprised to find her sitting up, her back against the headboard.


    "Why didn’t you lie down?" he asked, crossing the room to join her.


    Katelyn looked up at him, a small, tired smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "It felt strange to close my eyes in a new house without you here," she admitted.


    Sage sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. He reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.


    "You didn’t even have anything on the jet. Are you sure you don’t want to have supper?"


    "Hmm. If you’re hungry, you shall eat," Katelyn said.


    "I’m not hungry," Sage replied. He leaned close and pressed a kiss in the middle of her forehead. His thumb rested on her cheek as he caressed it gently.


    "You can go to the pce as many times as you want, whenever you want. I know it’s difficult for a woman in their new house," Sage whispered.


    Katelyn brought her arms up and hugged him. "I do feel sad. But I’m also happy that I’m with my mate, my husband," she whispered.