Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Morwen
It’s finally the night of the mating ceremony.
I can finally breathe now that there’s a full moon in the sky. For I know when I fall asleep, I’ll be finally satisfied. No more tossing and turning with dirty dreams tormenting me, waking up all sweaty, my body blazing.
I’ll finally be Alaric’s. And he’ll finally be mine.
“You look marvellous,” Nyxara says when she’s finished getting me ready. “Like a queen to rule the wolves for ages. When my grandpups sing of you, they will be singing of your timeless beauty tonight.”
“Oh,” I say, taken aback. “Thank you.”
And here I thought this red gown was a bit too much.
I step in front of the mirror for the first time and my breath catches when I see my reflection.
I do look like a queen. This gown is heavy with fine embroidery that glints softly in the lantern light.
The fabric is warm against my skin, rich and decadent like it was made for royal throne rooms, candlelit halls, and moonlit rituals, so unlike the muddy village paths I once walked.
A low neckline reveals just enough that it will make Alaric’s pulse quicken, and the fitted waist hugs my hips, falling gracefully behind me.
I hardly recognize myself.
Nyxara has swept my hair up into an elegant twist with small braids woven through it. It’s all pinned and held together by delicate silver clasps shaped like crescent moons. A few loose strands frame my face, softening the look, making me still feel like me—just… elegant and elevated.
Alaric arranged for me to wear the royal jewels, and they are something else.
A giant ruby on a thick gold chain hangs from my neck and I have gorgeous gold and ruby earrings to match.
Nyxara told me they’ve been passed down through his royal line for generations.
It’s dizzying to imagine that one day my daughter might wear them.
My daughter with Alaric…
“Are you okay?” Nyxara asks, looking at me curiously as my eyes tear up.
“I am, thank you. I’m just happy.”
Nyxara adjusts a final pin in my hair before nodding with satisfaction. “The king will not survive the sight of you,” she says solemnly.
I laugh, breathless and nervous. “I’m not sure I’ll survive the sight of him.”
She smiles knowingly and steps back, bowing her head. “It is time, my queen.”
The word sends a shiver straight through me.
I take one last look at myself—at the woman I was, and the woman I am becoming—then lift my chin and turn toward the door.
The full moon waits.
And so does my mate.
We head down to the courtyard where the beginning of the Lunaris Vinculum is in full swing. I can feel the energy. Everyone is so excited. It’s not every day that the king is taking part in the mating ceremony and shifters have been travelling for days to come witness it in person.
Every head turns to watch me as I walk toward the other shifters taking part in the ceremony tonight.
I hope we don’t take away from their night, stealing the attention they deserve, but it doesn’t feel that way as the shifter women greet me with smiles and compliments.
There’s enough love and excitement to go around.
Whispers arrive before Alaric does.
“The king,” I hear someone whisper. “He’s coming.”
“King Alaric is on his way.”
“Let’s get a good spot. The king is arriving.”
I feel my pulse racing in anticipation as I wait for him. Then, over the heads of everyone else, is my towering mate, crown sitting proudly on his head.
Everyone bows, leaving me the only one standing, smiling shyly as his eyes lock onto mine. He takes a breath of relief as if it’s been painful to have me out of his sight. Or, maybe he was just nervous I wasn’t going to show.
“Hello,” I whisper as he takes his place by my side.
I slide my hand into his and he grips it like he’s never going to let me go.
“You look ravishing,” he says, those bright gray eyes looking me over like I’m about to be his dessert.
I look up at the full moon, knowing what it signifies. It means I will be his dessert tonight.
“Can we go first?” I ask.
He smiles sadly at me. “The King and Queen always go last.”
I shake my head and let out a frustrated laugh. “Of course, they do.”
Since Alaric is busy with me, his advisor, Rurik, is conducting the mating ceremony. I watch each couple step onto the dais and mark each other as Rurik says the sacred words.
I get kind of nervous after seeing what it entails. I guess I thought marking your mate’s neck was a symbolic gesture, but it’s not. They’re literally biting each other.
I look up at Alaric’s big jaw and gulp.
But then he looks down at me with those soft loving eyes and smiles, and I know he would never do anything to hurt me.
When it’s our turn, the whole place cheers deafeningly loud as we step onto the dais, hand-in-hand.
Rurik looks at the king with a proud fatherly smile. Alaric smiles back and turns to me.
My eyes get hot with happy tears as I look up at him, knowing we’re about to be bound together for the rest of our lives.
“Before the moon, the pack, and the crown,” Rurik says in a deep booming voice for the massive crowd to hear, “you stand to bind yourselves. Do you claim this woman as your mate, to guard her with your life, to honor her above all others, and to stand by her side for as long as your wolf draws breath?”
“I do,” Alaric says without hesitation.
I swallow hard.
“Do you accept this man as your mate,” Rurik asks me, “to walk beside him in strength and in struggle, to share your lives, your bond, and your fate, and to choose each other for all your days?”
“I do.”
Excitement ripples through the gathered pack.
“Then bare your throats,” Rurik says. “And be bound.”
Alaric reaches for me and I slip into his big protective arms.
“It will be okay,” he whispers as he holds me tight.
I nod, close my eyes, and tilt my head to the side.
He presses his lips to my neck and kisses me softly under my ear. I hold my breath as I feel his grip tighten.
The tender kiss turns to sharp pain as he sinks his sharp canines into my flesh. I grit my teeth and whimper, but the pain only lasts a moment.
A deep flooding warmth travels through my body as the mark takes hold.
I’m his now. I feel it from my head to my toes. I belong to him.
He gently slides his teeth out and kisses my wound.
“I’m sorry, my queen,” he whispers.
He doesn’t have to be sorry. This is the best moment of my life.
The crowd is silent as he bends his knees, tilts his head to the side, and exposes his neck.
I step on my toes, kiss his neck, and then bite him gently, not knowing what I’m doing exactly. My teeth don’t pierce his flesh; it’s more symbolic than anything, but it makes the crowd roar.
Rurik raises his arms in triumph as the crowd gets louder, and then says the sacred words,
“By moon and blood, you are bound.
By bite and bond, you are pack.
As one, you stand. As one, you endure.”
Someone hands Alaric my crown and he smiles as he carefully places it on my head.
He looks at me for a long moment, then takes my hand and we turn to the pack.
“Our queen!” someone shouts and then they’re all shouting and cheering and bowing before us.
Alaric is watching me with so much love it hurts.
I know how hard it’s been for him to wear this crown.
But he doesn’t have to do it alone anymore. I’ll share the burden with him.
Alaric squeezes my hand and lifts our arms into the air. The pack goes wild, roaring and cheering in joy. The wolves on the outskirts of town howl in harmony.
The music starts, the bonfire is lit, and the drinks start flowing.
Everyone joins in, dancing and having a blast. My feet tingle, wanting to join in too.
But Alaric guides me to our thrones where we’re to sit and watch it all.
“No way,” I say, planting my feet to stop him. “Let’s go dance.”
Alaric looks uneasy. He glances at the people waiting to address the king and frowns.
“But the shifters waiting…”
“This is our night,” I tell him. “Let’s go have some fun.”
He looks at me and his frown melts away. “Okay.”
“Hold on,” I say, stopping him again. I take off his crown, place it on his throne, and then take off mine and place it on my new throne. “We can’t dance with crowns on our heads.”
“Join the party,” I say to the waiting line of people as we pass them. “The king is busy tonight.”
We hurry down the steps of the dais before they can answer and disappear into the festive crowd.
Drinks are thrust into our hands as we make our way to the dance floor. It’s a blast. The music is amazing and it’s the perfect night.
I pull Alaric into the middle of the dancers and he just stands there all stiff, not knowing what to do.
He’s so cute. I gotta loosen him up.
I get in nice and close, moving my hips and rubbing all over him until he starts moving along with me.
He actually smiles. And high-fives somebody. He looks like he’s having fun.
We dance and drink until we’re both sweaty and ready to take this party to the next level.
“We’re mates now,” I whisper on his lips as a slow song plays. “You know what that means…”
He swallows hard as he looks down at me with hunger in his heated eyes.
“There’s no more waiting.”
Suddenly, those big possessive hands are picking me up and he tosses me over his shoulder and starts pushing his way out of the cheering crowd.
I’ve been waiting three weeks for this night.
And now…
Finally…
The real Lunaris Vinculum, the sacred night of the binding, is about to begin.