Carina's - [P.O.V]

I stood up from my bed thinking about wearing my ceremonial white dress, only to realize I was already wearing it.

All that remained now was to head downstairs for the sacred Dragon Moon ceremony.

I rushed down the stairs and nearly collided with my mother, Elsa.

"You look absolutely radiant," my mother complimented me, and I thanked her for providing such a magnificent gown.

I turned toward where my dragon mate was being kept, only to see him being carefully carried by pack members.

My mother signaled for me to follow them as they transported his silver ice prison toward the ancient ritual chambers.

Soon I was approaching the sacred chambers where my father stood with the pack elders at the entrance, the Dragon Moon shining brilliantly overhead with otherworldly beauty.

Other young pack members my age were gathered at a designated area, collecting white ceremonial rope laces that would be tied to their hands.

I couldn't wait to receive my own sacred binding.

I walked toward the group, but my father called me to his side instead.

I approached him and bowed respectfully in greeting, but his next words completely shocked me.

"You will not be given a white lace, Carina," he announced solemnly.

Deep confusion settled over me since it was traditional for everyone entering the chambers to have their hands bound with white rope laces.

"Why, Father... How will I know that the Great Dragon Spirit has granted my wish without my white rope lace..." I asked, genuinely puzzled by his unusual decision.

I had always understood that when the Dragon Spirit grants your wish, your white lace turns black as a sign.

"Your dragon mate will serve as your white lace.

If the Great Dragon Spirit grants your wish, then he will be freed from his silver ice prison," he explained with such profound wisdom that I couldn't help but embrace him.

He kissed my forehead tenderly.

"Be safe, daughter, and don't forget to wish for what you truly need," he advised me with gentle authority.

I nodded in complete understanding.

I knew I wouldn't fail in any way, just as the other pack members wouldn't either.

This was something we had been trained for throughout our entire eighteen years of life.

I walked into the sacred chambers, and the sight was absolutely magical.

Everything was pristine white, and I could see others already in their kneeling positions.

I was directed to the front where my dragon mate's silver ice prison had been carefully placed.

I took my designated kneeling position.

It was now only three minutes before midnight... the exact moment when the Dragon Moon's light would shine directly into the chambers.

I gazed at my mate trapped within his silver ice prison, briefly wondering if I should wish for a unicorn instead of him.

Of course, I would never do such a thing.

The chamber's ceiling began to automatically open, with the Dragon Moon's ethereal light already making its way into our sacred space.

Everyone began chanting the ancient words we had been taught continuously for eighteen years of our lives.

"Iluminis Draconis," I said with enchanting reverence, repeating those sacred words while maintaining my kneeling position.

I held my neighbor's hand while staring directly at my dragon mate.

We were a total of four hundred pack members, all with heartfelt wishes to be granted by the Great Dragon Spirit.

According to legend, when all our hands are joined together as we chant, it creates a mystical force that compels the Dragon Spirit to grant our wishes and, in rare instances, actually appear before us.

"I wish for my mate to be freed from his silver ice prison and returned to his natural dragon form," I declared silently with my eyes wide open.

Everyone was watching their white rope laces that they had placed before themselves, never losing focus on the moment their wish would be granted.

Suddenly, divine light from the Dragon Moon brought forth brilliant rays that focused directly on my face.

I immediately closed my eyes, unable to bear the overwhelming intensity of the sacred light.

My right neighbor's hand was released from mine, and I could tell that the person sitting beside me had received their granted wish from the Dragon Spirit.

But what about me...

I continued chanting and refused to lose focus on what I desperately needed to be granted.

I knew I needed my mate... a dragon alpha over whose pack I would serve as Luna.

Distraction could never be a factor now.

The entire chamber filled with profound silence, my eyes still closed but able to sense a shadow-like being approaching me.

Then I felt warm water flowing over my palms as my hands rested above my dragon mate's ice prison.

My wish must have been granted, but then I felt something extraordinary.

A gentle hand wrapped itself around mine and then slowly released it as mystical water poured over my head in a steady stream before stopping completely.

"Open your eyes, Carina," I was instructed by a feminine voice filled with such divine peace that I had to obey the command.

I looked up to see the Dragon Moon's light shining magnificently over both me and my dragon mate.

The silver ice around him began to crack and break away into crystalline fragments, his powerful body revealing itself.

He remained motionless but was clearly breathing deeply as life returned to his form.

I pulled him close to myself, and darkness suddenly flooded the entire chamber as clouds covered the Dragon Moon's light so rapidly that I feared something terrible was about to happen.

But then the chamber lights illuminated everything once more.

I turned to discover that no one remained in the chambers except my dragon mate and me.

The ceiling had sealed itself, and everyone rushed back into the chambers to see what had occurred, probably wondering if they would find a unicorn since they might have thought I wished for that instead of my mate.

My father covered my soaking wet body with his warm coat as I stood up.

Everyone stared at me with complete amazement.

My red hair was standing on end and had transformed to pure white, with small pieces of mystical ice falling from my silver stone gown.

My dragon mate attempted to stand behind me but suddenly collapsed back onto the hard stone floor, striking his head.

I felt the sharp pain immediately as I clutched my own head, crying out from the agony I experienced through our newly awakened mate bond.

He was my dragon alpha mate, and I couldn't wait for him to fully awaken and claim me as his own.