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FORTY-NINE

Reed

I waited for my mate on the ceremonial flower mound, my pack brothers beside me, my gift for Fiona safely boxed up on the first stone bench.

Kane’s expression was neutral, despite the blow he’d been dealt earlier in the day, but still, I knew it had to be weighing on him.

“You don’t have to be part of the ceremony tonight if you don’t want to. It’s been a lot, and Fiona and I both understand.”

He smiled wearily, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Brielle would skin me alive and use my pelt for a dress if I wasn’t here supporting our best friends as they take their next steps together.”

The description made me laugh, even though I did sense the previously quiet healer had grown feistier now that her wolf was free. Dirge had told me earlier she was giving Kane a real run for his money, and that made me happy for them both. They deserved all that life had to offer. And tomorrow, we’d figure out the next steps to getting the stone they needed to do it.

I took a long, slow exhale, and Gael grinned. “Nervous? The bite is already done, so I’m afraid any jitters at this point are too little, too late. She’s yours, and you’re hers.”

I rolled my eyes at his obvious enjoyment of my nervous anticipation.

“No, you ass. I’m worried she won’t like the gift I picked for her.”

“Ah. Well, as long as it’s not a printed-out newspaper article, you’re still doing better than your brother.”

“Watch it, twerp.” Dirge tried to put Gael in a headlock, Gael was blocking him, and the two of them tussling distracted me from the last of my jitters.

“Gentlemen! Behave yourselves. This is a holy commune, not a frat house.” Priestess Marciana’s tone brooked no argument, and they snapped to attention like little boys caught fighting in school.

“It’s almost time. Take your places, please.”

Kane squeezed my shoulder one last time and took up his position beside me alongside Gael. Less than a minute later, soft flute music filled the rose garden, and I caught my first sight of Olivia carrying a jar of rosehip water and, to my surprise, behind her was Elodie. She’d abandoned her crutches, walking with only a slight limp as she carried the stick of lovelace perfume to her position.

But I quickly forgot about Elodie’s recovery, because a second after her friend was in place, Fiona appeared at the mouth of the garden path. A collective gasp went up through the garden as all eyes fixed on her ethereal beauty.

Her golden hair was woven up high on her head in a braided crown, the little jewels spread through it sparkling under the fairy lights with every step she took toward me. Her gown was gold, sheer, and hugged her every dip and curve. In a way, it reminded me of the silver dress she’d worn the night we bonded, only better. Both of her shoulders were bare, showing off the glittering scar of my bite on her throat, the low top draping gracefully over her upper arms and hugging her breasts.

But her eyes, those were what left me breathless. She was smiling at me like I’d personally hung the full moon in the sky over our heads, and I never wanted her to stop looking at me like that.

“You look incredibly gorgeous, my mate,” I whispered as I took her hand and she stepped into the pile of flowers.

“You look incredibly handsome, yourself,” she whispered back, raking her gaze possessively over the open collar of my shirt, my throat bare for her beneath it as was custom. “I think I like you without the tie.”

Marciana delicately cleared her throat, getting our attention before our friends began the proceedings with the ceremonial blessings.

Gael stepped forward first. “For prosperity.” In his hand was a piece of paper, which I immediately realized was a real estate deed. There was an address in a coastal town in Spain written on the line, which meant my best friend was gifting us with our own home.

Thank you . I mouthed the words as he set the deed at our feet and moved back to his place.

Next was Olivia, a faint blush on her cheeks as she knelt before us. “For fertility,” she said, the words quiet as she sprinkled the rosehip-infused water over our bare feet and then rose.

Elodie’s part came next, the stick of lovelace perfume raised as she proclaimed, “For passion!” with a little too much gusto to be ceremonially correct, but Fiona chuckled at Elodie’s exuberance as she was dabbed with the aphrodisiac perfume.

As soon as Elodie had returned to her spot, Kane stepped up wearing a wide grin. “For eternity.” On his palm were two simple golden circles, both from the thirties, acquired at the same time I’d purchased Fiona’s engagement band. By the way her eyes teared up when I slipped it over her finger next to the first one, I knew it was perfect.

Priestess Marciana spoke the next part of the bonding with warmth and a hint of emotion. “Reed and Fiona, we gather here under the Goddess’s moon to bind you two together as perfect mates. It is a lifelong bond, unable to be broken, even in death. Reed Monstru, alpha in your own right, what do you offer this female to prove that you are worthy of her love and capable of her protection for the rest of your days?”

Fiona blinked up at the formal tone, clearly surprised by the fact I was being asked in front of all the witnesses to prove my worth.

It’s okay . I thought the words on instinct, not expecting her to hear them, more hoping she’d feel my intent through the bond. But her eyes went wide, and then a moment later…

Reed? Am I hearing you inside my head right now?

Yes, you are, Stormy girl. You really are.

Her eyes flared amber with surprise.

Hold on, I have to get your present.

I couldn’t contain my grin as I turned to grab the hefty box that Dirge held out for me. I held it for her so she could lift off the top and peer down at what was inside.

“It’s a book, but I can’t read it?” She ran her fingertips cautiously over the cover, the ancient leather clearly fragile with age.

“It’s an original Persian edition, from the twelfth century. I’ve also got a full translation in the works so that you can read it in English. But… it’s a history of djinn lore. Jinn or jinnie, in Persian. My gift to you is a promise. A promise that wherever learning about your gifts take us, I will be at your side, and I will help you through it all.”

She was silent for a long moment, and I once again questioned my choice. But then she plucked the box from my hands, passed it to the priestess, and pressed up on her toes so she could kiss me.

Marciana laughed, holding the ancient manuscript with no small bemusement. When we pulled apart, she continued the ceremony. “The bond between mates is sealed with a bite. As the bites have been sealed and witnessed, in the eyes of the Moon Goddess and these witnesses, I bless this joining. Go forth and enjoy your mate. The moon is high, and the night is young.”

Whoops of revelry flew from the crowd, and loud music started on the edge of the dance floor the maidens had set up in the courtyard as everyone streamed out of the garden toward the party that I had no doubt would be raging all night long.

I scooped Fiona off her feet, the gossamer fabric of the gown doing nothing to diminish the feeling of her heat beneath my fingertips.

“Stormy girl, what do you say we share a dance with the rest of these rowdy wolves?”

“I say yes, wolf boy. Always yes.”