Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Chapter 34

Chapter 34 – Ella Learns About the Solstice

Ella

I wake up alone in bed, and promptly rush to the restroom to empty the contents of my stomach. When I finally emerge, I find Aileen waiting for me, a breakfast tray in her hands and a kind smile on her face. “How are you doing, my love?”

“I am thankful my baby is growing big and strong.” I recite, clutching my belly and repeating the same mantra I keep employing whenever the morning sickness or mood swings act up.

Aileen chuckles, “but you feel like hell?” She guesses.

I nod pitifully, and Aileen offers me a steaming cup of tea. “Here, have some of this. When I was carrying my pips nothing banished the sickness better.” I take a sip of the herbal brew, sighing happily as warmth fills me up from the inside out. “That’s it.” Aileen encourages. “I can already see some color coming back into your cheeks.”

“More Luna lessons today?” I guess, thanking her kindness with a wide smile and a squeeze of her soft hands.

“And not a moment too soon.” She reports, “We shouldn’t have put it off this long with the holidays coming up so soon, but Dominic wanted to give you time to rest.”

“The holidays?” I repeat, the wheels slowly turning over in my mind. Her words take a moment to sink in, I’m so ravenous after going to bed without supper that it’s all I can do not to shove my face full of the cream scones and raspberry jam laid out on the breakfast tray. “Of course,” I eventually murmur, “It hadn’t even occurred to me that if you have your own g ods you’d have your own holidays and traditions.”

Aileen smiles kindly. “It’s alright, this is all a lot to take in, but we don’t have much time to waste either. The Winter Solstice is next week, and you are going to be very busy, my dear.”

I know enough about ancient pagan traditions to know that the Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year, but beyond that I’m fairly clueless about how werewolves might celebrate the occasion. “What happens at the Winter Solstice?”

“Well, it’s all about honoring nature and the goddess, rebirth, transformations and new beginnings – finding light in the dark half of the year. It’s really beautiful. The week before the solstice day is seven days straight of different festivals and activities, I’ve got a calendar around her somewhere.” She adds, moving back towards the breakfast tray and searching through the contents. “It’s all wonderful: bonfires, drinking and dancing, parading through the streets and decorating the city, lighting candles, giving gifts. Then there’s feasts and rituals, and it all culminates in a grand ball at the Royal Palace.”

and festivals in the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods, but I always assumed they were for the human holiday celebrations, not anything supernatural. I’ve never attended because I’ve never had the money or access to such entertainment, but it also sounds like Aileen is talking

onto her last comment. “Like… an

take it you’ve never been to one?” Aileen surmises, arching

the opportunity? The only humans who have them are rich and

dances, but

at the shifter club, and my heart begins to pound. “What

Aileen assures me.

the festivals and rituals?” I gulp, remembering Sinclair’s teasing about humans being prudish

get a bit scandalous, but I promise Sinclair will be with you

I think, a bitter taste in my mouth. I’ve heard that before. Before I can say anything of the sort or ask any additional questions, Aileen abruptly stops rustling through the tray, “Aha!

Valley Solstice Festival Schedule of

Night

Procession

3: Yuletide Feast – Midwinter’s

Wassailing – Central

5: Moon Bathing – Moon Valley Stone

6: The Wild Hunt – the

7: Masquerade Ball – the Royal

what half these things are! More than half!” I exclaim,

day at a time, and you’ll be an expert in shifter solstice traditions by the time the week

the ball and whatever moon bathing is. However only one event sends true fear slicing through my body. “What is

Aileen purses her lips, looking as if she wants to smile. “That’s when things get especially fun for mated couples. Some people find a partner just for the night, but it’s more powerful when you’re bonded to the one

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