The Marking Ceremony #7
I floated across the room, still buzzing from the kiss as I opened it. Taffy grabbed my hand and yanked me into the hall, dragging me toward the luna’s quarters.
“Finally! Go take a shower!” she said as she shut the door behind us and hurried to plug in the curling iron. “We won’t be able to do the same look as last time, but I think we can still pull off something really cute.”
“I don’t even have anything to wear, Taffy,” I remarked as I veered toward the closet.
“Uh-uh! Shower!” she instructed, grabbing my shoulders and directing me back toward the bathroom. “I already took care of it and picked up something for you in town. Now hurry up. We’ve a lot to do in a short amount of time.”
I did as I was told, stepping into the steaming shower and sighing as the warm water cascaded over my shoulders. I had felt nervous the night before, but now I was just excited. I wanted this. I wanted Caelan to be mine. And for once in my life, I was going to take what I wanted for myself.
And if last night was any indication, there was no shortage of forces waiting to try and tear us apart. The sooner we were marked, the better.
No one is going to try and steal my mate again. Not Sunny or any other she-wolf. He’s mine, and I want it to be official. Once I mark him, there will be no question as to who he belongs to.
I marched out of the bathroom, determination written on my face.
“Whoa, something about you looks different,” Taffy remarked as she took me in.
“Different how?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” she hummed. “I can’t quite put my finger on it. But you look…confident. Comfortable in your own skin. Come on. Let’s get you ready for the night of your life.”
***
Taffy worked her magic, curling my hair into a simpler version of the masterpiece she had spent hours creating the day before. Then she mimicked the same elegant look with my makeup before taking a step back.
“Perfect,” she said, turning and picking up a garment bag from the bed. “Now for the dress. I know you planned on light blue, but I couldn’t find anything in the right color, so I picked something else out. I hope you like it. It screamed ‘Shade’ the moment I saw it.”
She unzipped it to reveal a magnificent dress. The top was a strapless corset in pure-white satin, the bodice intricately decorated with pearls and crystals. The bottom was a soft black, the sheer tulle fabric layered in several large strips, creating two long slits that ran up either leg.
“It’s beautiful, Taffy,” I gasped, reaching a hand out to touch it.
“I figure we pair it with some simple pearl earrings, and you’ll be the talk of the town,” Taffy added as she took it off the hanger.
She helped me into it, lacing up the back as I stood in front of the mirror. I look sophisticated and elegant. Like myself and not myself at the same time. A new and improved Shade.
“You look so regal, Shade. Like a true queen,” Taffy exclaimed. “All right. Grab those earrings on the coffee table, but no necklaces. We don’t want anything to cover Caelan’s mark. I’m going to quickly throw myself together and then walk you all the way to him personally.”
“You don’t need to do that,” I teased. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I know that, but I don’t trust anyone,” she declared, no humor in her tone despite my efforts to lighten the mood. “After what happened yesterday, I’m not leaving your side until you’re safely in Caelan’s arms.”
“Where are we meeting him anyway?” I questioned as I put in the earrings.
“The gazebo.” ***
A short time later, Taffy led me out toward the gardens, her arm linked with mine as we walked.
I smiled as we approached the gazebo, thinking back to the romantic dinner Caelan and I had shared beneath it. It hadn’t been that long ago, but it felt like an eternity had passed since that day.
I could see Caelan waiting inside, standing beneath the soft glow of the twinkling lights that had been strung all around. He turned to face us as he caught our scent, and I gasped as I took him in.
The black button-up he wore clung to his muscular form, his bright white tie stark against the dark fabric. His shirt was tucked neatly into a pair of crisp black slacks and paired with a shiny pair of dress shoes.
It seriously should be a crime for one man to look this good.
I could feel his gaze dancing over my body in return, goosebumps rising in their wake. His throat bobbed as he gulped, a barely discernible whoa slipping past his lips.
We stood there quietly, staring at each other for several minutes.
“Well, I’ll leave you two to it then,” Taffy said with a wink as she released my arm. “Don’t take too long. Remember, everyone is waiting for you.”
“Thanks, Taffy,” Caelan muttered as she walked away. “Shade…you look…wow,” he breathed, closing the distance between us.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I managed with a soft smile.
“We better get this ceremonial crap over with quickly,” he groaned, pulling my body against his. “I don’t know how long I can resist the urge to tear this dress off you. I can feel my wolf stirring, and both of us want you all for ourselves.”
He growled, his face dipping toward my shoulder as he inhaled deeply.
The wolf inside me went wild at his words. I felt the same way. But the pack had come together to put on this party for us at the last minute. As much as we wanted to disappear, it wouldn’t be fair to them.
“We should probably get going then,” I said, stepping away and threading my fingers through his. “The sooner we get through this, the sooner we can slip away.”
“That’s not what I hoped you’d say,” he whined, following petulantly behind me. “That dress is going to kill me,” he grumbled, his gaze burning a trail along my backside.
I couldn’t help the smile on my face at the effect I had on him. I had seen his desire for me before, but this was another level altogether. He seemed desperate, practically panting with need.
But then again, so was I. I bit my lip as we made our way along the lit path toward the music and the chatter of gathered wolves.
Tonight is the real deal. The night I’ve secretly worried about and longed for ever since he told me we were mates. Tonight, I’ll mark Caelan, and we’ll finally be joined as one.
Marking Ceremony…Again
SHADE
As we rounded the corner to one of the large covered pavilions in the pack gardens, I stopped in my tracks. My eyes widened as I tried to take it all in.
The entire pavilion was covered in twinkling lights. Every inch of the ceiling glittered with them, their strands tightly wrapped around every column, illuminating a large dance floor.
Picnic tables lined the perimeter, each one decorated with vases of fresh flowers, probably gathered from the garden that afternoon. All of them were different shapes and sizes, yet they somehow managed to go together.
A buffet along one side was lined with various dishes brought by the pack members. Adjacent to that was a makeshift bar where a couple of wolves had volunteered to play bartender for the night.
This felt more relaxed, more rustic, and more like Caelan and me. My eyes began to water as I looked over every detail.
“Do you like it?” Caelan whispered in my ear as he came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“I love it,” I admitted. “This feels…right.”
“I agree,” he stated. “Much more our kind of night. Still, I’d be much happier if we were alone and naked in our bed though.”
He buried his face in my neck, his grip on me tightening as his lips brushed my skin.
“Caelan,” I chastised half-heartedly. “You’re supposed to let your father know we’re here so he can introduce us. You’re just causing more delay until we can actually…you know.”
I started to pull away, but he dragged me back.
“I will. Just hold on a second… Don’t move, okay?” he asked, his voice strained as he held me in place.
“What? Why?”
“I-I just, uh,” he stammered. “I need a second to…adjust. I told you this dress would kill me. Can you please just stand there and give me a second to get myself under control?”
“Oh!” I exclaimed a little louder than I had intended. “Uh, sure. Is there anything…I can, uh… You know what? Never mind. Forget I said that.”
I instantly flushed as a million dirty images flooded my mind. The desire to press my hips into him and feel his hardness pressed against my skin was overwhelming.
He gave a throaty chuckle. “Shade…baby…that is not helping.” He let out a pained groan. “This would probably be a lot easier if I stopped touching you,” he grumbled, pressing his forehead between my shoulder blades as he tried to take deep, calming breaths.
“Maybe we should…uh…step away from each other for a moment to…um…c-collect ourselves,” I suggested, fanning my face like that would help me cool down.
“Uh-uh, no way,” Caelan countered, dragging me back. I stifled a moan as I felt his erection dig into my backside.
“You’re not leaving my side until I’ve properly marked you. And then probably not for a few days after that,” he said in a low husky voice. “I have plans for you.”
My cheeks were probably beet red as a bolt of desire rushed through me. “Well…um…adjust yourself the best you can, so we can get a move on then. Neither of us is going to be able to make it for long before we explode.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he growled in my ear, kissing my neck and making my knees weak.
Goddess. We’d better hurry.
***
The music suddenly quieted, and Alpha Leal’s voice boomed over the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Alpha Caelan Kendrick and Shade Mallory!”
Caelan and I entered the pavilion, our hands raised as the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. I laughed, a bright smile on my face as we were greeted by our guests. I didn’t feel anxious at how many wolves were present. I was simply happy.
We walked straight to the center of the dance floor where Luna Maty and Alpha Leal waited for us. The crowd circled around as we stood in front of Caelan’s parents, both of them smiling warmly at us.