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Whatever I decided, I needed to figure it out soon. If Nova felt that Kylie was too weak to be the queen and luna of this kingdom, then others would likely feel the same way. It could cause a mutiny! Someone might try to steal the throne from me if they thought I was too weak, especially since my mate couldn’t shift.

Sometimes, being king fucking sucked.

11

Kylie

I wasn’t sure how I stayed so calm as the next few days unfolded. Every day, I left the suite to learn about the luna duties, which thankfully Amara was there to help me with. It was mostly about the schedules to keep the pack running smoothly, as well as listening to the pack complain about things they wanted fixed. There were many arguments and fights that broke out, prompting Amara’s mate, Eli, to step in and break them up. This pack was different from mine in some ways, but not when it came to that. I was used to people fighting all the time.

It was just usually directed at me, and I was the one who ended up bloody.

It was the day of the bonding ceremony, and the nerves about this night had me wanting to vomit with each second that passed. Amara and a few other omegas helped me into a ballgown that didn’t have as much fabric at the bottom as I’dseen others wear at bonding ceremonies. It was a light blue that looked great against my lightly tanned skin. There were stars sewn into the bodice and a crescent moon in the middle of my breasts that brought it all together. The makeup the omegas chose was a more natural look, but there were subtle hints of blue in my eyes. Even my hair was styled in an updo with some strands curled around my face.

I looked like a queen.

Even though I didn’t feel like one, I looked the part well enough.

At night, Maximus worshipped my body, and I could feel the power he wielded through the bond. When I felt tired, Maximus would touch, kiss, and lick me until I screamed his name, and until we both passed out from exhaustion. Every morning after making love, I would feel that energy inside of me again. I felt powerful.

The bond with my mate was working, and it had given me strength I didn’t know I had. An incomplete bond would leave my weak lycan vulnerable.

Yes. Bond to mate. Claim him as ours. We will only become stronger with our mate,my lycan told me as I stared at myself in disbelief in the mirror.

I hope you are right about this. If not, I can’t see him wanting to be bonded to someone so weak.

He is our mate. Max loves us and won’t leave us.

The confidence my lycan had did not match my own. The power I borrowed from Maximus throughout the day only lasted forso long and carried risks. It felt temporary and fleeting, which fueled my fears.

Fears no longer mattered now. I was finally bonded with Maximus, and it restored my lycan’s elusive strength and speed. At least, I hoped it did.

Normally, an alpha would escort the female to the bonding ceremony, but mine hated my guts, and I didn’t need Maximus to see him on this day. It was about us, not the catastrophe that was my pack life before I came here. Maximus arranged for us to have it in the backyard of the pack house. It was mostly the pack in attendance, along with a few alphas from other packs who were Maximus’s stronger allies. Their presence made it easier to walk down the hall on Amara’s arm.

They decorated everything in silver and white, a common theme among ceremonies for alphas to bridge the connection to the Moon Goddess and pay tribute to our creator. Tasteful silver streamers adorned the walls, complementing the silver and black floating candles placed on the shelves. The whole house had an incredible glow as the candles provided the sole source of light.

When we stepped outside, there were white chairs in rows leading up to a wooden archway, where Eli stood, ready to officiate the ceremony and declare us bonded. As the king’s beta, he was a fitting stand-in for a traditional alpha. Now that Eli was mated, Maximus wouldn’t trust anyone else to stand by him. Eli wore a fitted black tux and a soft blue tie that matched Amara’s dress. Seeing my friend happy brought me so much joy. As I watched Eli and Amara lock eyes, it looked like nothing else in the world mattered to them.

I had the same feeling when I locked eyes with my mate.

Maximus stood under the arch wearing a white tux and a silver tie. His blond hair shone like a halo around his head under the luminous glow of the moon. I wanted nothing more than to take that tux off. How that perfectly tailored body showcased all his broad shoulders and thick chest! He looked so delicious that I wanted to skip the ceremony and go right to dessert in the bedroom. As we closed the distance, I could smell his mint scent wafting off him. I saw his blue eyes staring into mine. The world melted away, and my heart skipped a beat as if this was the first and only time I had ever looked into his eyes. Warmth and desire blazed in his gaze, taking my breath away. It wasn’t until Eli cleared his throat that I noticed we hadn’t heard him talking to us, which was just to tell us he was starting the bonding ceremony.

“Welcome, packmates, family, and honored guests,” Eli called out in an elevated tone to gain everyone’s attention. The murmurs through the crowd came to a halt as he projected his power to command their focus with his words. It was nice to see Eli taking that role from Maximus and allowing him to focus on me. Then he continued.

“Tonight, under the watchful gaze of the moon, we gather to witness andcelebratesomething sacred. A beautiful thing forged in blood, loyalty, and the unbreakable bond of fate. A bond between two souls who have found their match, who discovered each other not by chance but by instinct, and the undeniable call that pulls them toward one another.”

Eli gave us a loving smile before he continued again. “This is more than just mere love. What these two have is something deeper and ancient. It is the merging of spirits, the intertwiningof paths, and the promise that neither of them will walk alone for as long as they both shall live. As these two stand before us, ready to take this step, we honor their journey and the trials that have shaped them and continue to shape them. And we celebrate the strength and devotion that have carried them to this point and beyond to the amazing life that lies ahead of them.”

Eli looked out into the crowd and then bowed his head. When he looked back up, his eyes were glistening. He cared about his alpha and friend, and seeing him show this emotion was great. Too many males thought that showing emotion was a sign of weakness. It didn’t seem like Eli cared about what anyone thought of him—another reason to love him. “This ceremony marks the beginning of a new chapter for these two, one written in action, sacrifice, and unwavering trust between mates. May these qualities speak for them when words fail. May their bond be as fierce as the fire in their hearts. May their love be as enduring as the stars above, and may the Moon Goddess bless them with a future strong enough to withstand any storm they may face. Now, let us witness the sealing of this union and the binding of these two souls, forever and always.”

His speech brought tears to my eyes. Eli said so many things that were simply beautiful. He motioned for us to complete our parts of the ceremony. Maximus looked over at Eli, holding out his hands. Eli reached into his pocket and handed Maximus a small box. When Maximus looked at me again, he smiled and took a deep breath.

“Kylie, as your mate, it is my privilege to protect, support, and stand beside you. Now, in front of the entire pack, I have the chance to prove not just my devotion but my ability to provide. I want to ensure our future is secure in every way. You willnever have to question where you stand with me, as I will always be there for you. I will provide you with strength and stability, and I will make sure that you will never go hungry. This is my vow, now and always.” He held out his hand with the small box and opened it. Inside was a rose-gold band with an enormous moonstone in the center and small diamonds on the band. My hands flew to my mouth to stifle the gasp that escaped my lungs. Then he took my left hand and slid the gold band up my ring finger.

“I, Maximus Morgrave, promise to embrace your wild spirit and nurture the gentleness inside you. Together, we will howl at the moon, run through the forests, and face life’s challenges as one. Through the darkness of the night and the light of the day, I will be by your side until my heart stops beating. I will be your anchor, your shelter, and your home. Until our dying day, I am yours and pledge my life to you.” His deep voice rumbled in his chest as he gazed into my eyes. I shook from the heat of passion welling inside me, but the bond pulsed with energy, demanding that we complete it.

If Maximus didn’t hurry this up, I was going to combust with heat. My lungs couldn’t get enough air as I tried to muster the courage to complete my part. I had dreamed of this moment my whole life, and here I was, tripping over my words with stage fright. A wave of strength flooded through the bond and into me. I looked up as Maximus gave me a sympathetic smile.

You got this,he told me through the bond.