Page 27 of Daddy Wolf’s Secret Baby (Fated To The Wolf #10)

Zahra

A week later:

Z ahra had just gotten home. Even though Elias wasn’t a threat anymore, she was still security conscious and made sure she set her alarm every day.

She sat on the couch and just breathed. It seemed like the world had been going crazy since she moved back to Angel’s Creek, between Elias and the Vampires. Now, everything was calm. Her mother had finally relented and allowed Beth to cure her. It hadn’t even taken a fraction of the energy that she and Taryn had used to heal the vampire victims. Beth had even used a spell to make Isobel’s hair grow back.

Laying her head back on the couch, she rubbed her belly. She still hadn’t had a chance to tell Josiah about the baby and pretty soon, it was going to be obvious.

The doorbell rang and she cautiously peeked out of the peephole. It was Jace.

“What are you doing, Goober? You and your father have keys to the house.”

“We need you to come outside for a second.”

“Okay,” she said, stepping out into the yard.

Josiah was standing in the middle of the yard, with a huge smile on his face. Her brothers and their families, as well as her parents and his, were also in the yard.

Jace walked over to Josiah and they approached Zahra together. Josiah got down on one knee.

“You gave me the best gift any man could ever ask for. Our son is a courageous, intelligent, amazing young man.”

“I’m also lots of fun,” Jace said, eliciting a giggle from the audience.

“Yes, you are,” Josiah agreed.

“You also gave me your precious love. I should have listened to my instincts a long time ago, but I guess that I’m as stubborn as you are. I’ve come to realize how much you mean to me. I’ve fallen in love with you, and I know that you are my fated mate. Will you go through the mating ceremony with me?”

Zahra nodded. “Of course, I will.”

Everyone clapped and jumped up and cheered.

“I wondered if you wouldn’t mind a simple ceremony, just us, with our immediate family, here and now,” Josiah said.

“Before you change your mind?” Zahra asked.

“No. I almost lost you and Jace. My life is empty without you two. We could wait weeks or months and plan an elaborate ceremony if you’d like. But I wish for nothing more than to make you mine right here, right now.”

Zahra grinned widely. “I would love that, too. Before we do, though, I have an announcement.”

Josiah stood and looked at her puzzled. Zahra thought he looked a little worried, too.

“Jace is going to have a little brother or sister.”

“Sister,” Taryn called out.

Everyone laughed. Taryn was never wrong about someone being pregnant and the gender of the baby.

“Sister, it is,” Zahra said, smiling.

“You’re pregnant? I’m going to be a daddy again?”

“I get to be a big brother?”

“Yes,” Zahra said.

“Woohoo,” Jace yelled, jumping up and down and clapping. “I get to have a baby sister.”

“Be careful about being so excited about that. Some baby sisters get themselves into a whole heap of trouble,” Conner said.

“I’ll protect her, just like you and Uncle Zac protected Mom.”

“I’m going to have a daughter. Is she going to be stubborn like you?” Josiah asked.

“Likely. It’s a family trait.”

Everyone laughed.

Josiah glowed with happiness. “So, what do you say about the mating ceremony, right here, right now? The bright orange full moon is coming up over the mountains, a good omen.”

“I’m wearing jeans and a T-shirt.”

“I’ll give you ten minutes to change. Your mom brought the traditional wedding tunic for you.”

“What if I take fifteen minutes?” she asked.

“I’ll still be waiting. But too much longer than that and the food will be getting cold. Everyone’s been cooking all day for this celebration.”

Zahra grinned. “You were awfully sure of yourself.”

“No. I was sure of our love.”

Zahra and Isobel went inside the house. Seven minutes later, she came out wearing the tunic. Her hair curled down her back and she wore a wreath of flowers.

Josiah had also changed into the traditional garb. When she saw her man standing in front of Zac and the makeshift altar, he stole her breath away.

His scent wafted over her and she was drawn to him. John put her hands in Josiah’s and they faced each other.

Zac began. “Family, we are gathered beneath this moon to witness the sacred union of Josiah Findley and Zahra Curry. Since our first shift, when our ancestors first felt the power of the wolf course through their veins, we have honored the sacred bond between true mates. It is a bond that strengthens our pack, that feeds the magic in our blood, and ensures that our lineage endures.

“Tonight, Josiah claims Zahra to be his mate, completing the circle ordained by the fates. In their union, we see the strength of the warrior and the wisdom of the moon joined as one.

“As your Alpha, I ask the ancestors to witness and bless this union as these two souls become one. Let all who gather here witness the power and sanctity of this mating and the bonding of two souls that goes beyond human understanding. It is a bond that runs as deep as the wolf spirit, itself.”

Zahra’s heart was beating a million miles an hour and the butterflies exploded in her stomach. She looked into Josiah’s eyes and got lost in the passion and love in them.

Zac’s voice broke the moment. “Josiah?”

“I vow to you, with my human heart and my wolf’s soul to be eternally loyal to you. You are my mate and you make me whole. I will protect you with my last breath, honor you with every heartbeat, and cherish you forever. I bind myself to you, now and forever.”

“Zahra?”

“My soul has known since I was a young girl, that you were my fated mate. I vow to stand beside you, to strengthen you, and to be your partner in all things. I give you my strength, my trust, and my love for all times. With the moon and our family as my witness, I bind myself to you for all eternity.”

“By my power as Alpha, you are officially mates, for now until eternity,” Zac said.

Josiah looked into her eyes and dipped his head, pressing his lips to hers. She got lost in the kiss and the world faded away.

Jace’s voice brought them back to reality. “You guys need to get a room.”

They walked over to Isobel’s and John’s house to eat and celebrate the union. Jace was going to stay with Beth and Conner.

After accepting congratulations, enjoying the meal, and hugging everyone, Josiah and Zahra snuck away and went back to the house.

They slowly undressed each other by the light of the moon, and as their bodies joined together, so did their hearts and souls. Josiah and Zahra were truly one, bound together for all eternity.

***

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