Chapter 92 Sealing The Deal
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Just when I was certain nothing could pull me out of the trance I was in, completely encompassed by my mate's essence and the throbbing mate bond between us, an Elder stepped forward, clearing his throat and dragging me back from my thoughts. Nothing mattered in that moment—not even the fact that Alpha Blake and his mate were seated among the crowd. I would deal with them later. The nape of my neck pulsed vigorously, as if it longed to be claimed, longed to belong to my mate; longed to finally cement our unbreakable bond that I had once believed unworthy of.
The simple truth was I never wanted this moment to end. My heart felt filled to the brim. I was in awe of the beauty in front of me—everything she did made me want to fall to my knees and submit to her. It brought me joy that my pack had accepted her with open arms. I was certain they would come to adore her as much as I did. I had been known as the Alpha with no weaknesses a short time ago, but now I had a single weakness worth a thousand of them: my Luna.
My wolf was reacting to her sweet scent, refusing to part so the ceremony could begin. She had a twinkle in her eye. It wasn't forced by the mate bond—I could feel her urgency; she wanted to belong to me.
It felt like shards of glass ripped through my heart the moment I moved back from her and forced my gaze onto the Elder. The Elder was dressed in a solid black uniform similar to mine, awarded only to the highest ranking in the pack. It had been altered over the years, adding red and gold whenever the icon of blood became associated with my name after my father's death.
Giant blazing flames suddenly appeared around the area where Adeline, the Elder, and I stood. It was done in the highest-ranked mating ceremonies as a sign of protection for the Alpha and his Luna—for the King and his Queen. The soft glow made the gold sequins dance on Adeline's dress; she looked like a living goddess. The Elder lit a long sage stick in the fire, the delicate scent cleansing the area around us. He released a shivering howl, which was followed by the howls of the shifters present, dedicating their loyalty to the mating.
On impact, Adeline's tense shoulders relaxed at the powerful howls of the pack—her nerves visibly evaporating as the sound vibrated like a blanket of love around her. As the howls dissipated, the Elder began to speak. I struggled to focus on his words; my mate's very presence had me fighting my own damn wolf.
As the flames began to wither, the Elder passed a silver-etched blade to me, signaling that it was time for the exchange of blood. Considering silver was the ultimate weapon of shifters, it was used in mating ceremonies to strengthen the bond, a symbol of offering one's full self to another. I took a deep breath, feeling the gut-wrenching sting of the silver blade slicing the palm of my hand before reaching for Adeline's hand to do the same. When she winced at the contact of the blade, my possessiveness over my mate nearly took over. I wanted to take all her pain and make it my own.
He held out his hands, turning us toward the endless crowd of shifters and slowly released them. I felt Adeline grip my hand tightly, her blood mixing with mine and causing a feeling of euphoria to take over. Adeline turned her head, her gaze locking with mine. I could feel her nerves washing over her in waves again, as the Elder nodded and announced us as the newly mated pair of Midnight Moon.
Wasting no time and finally giving in to my wolf's primal needs, I tightly wrapped my hands around her waist and gently lifted her to press my lips against hers. Thanks to shifter healing, our cuts were already stitched together and the mixture of blood traveling through our veins. The transfer of blood caused me to feel an imminent need to dominate my mate right there.
I let out a low growl, noticing Adeline's eyes shifting to a solid silver color. She struggled to even her breathing. "Now. I can't any longer," she muttered in my ear. Her arousal and need to have my cock jammed deep inside her while her canines bit into my neck filled my nostrils. It felt like all hell broke loose. I tossed her over my shoulder, carrying her through the crowd and toward the pack house. I pushed the long train of her dress to the side, allowing it to cascade behind us. I had waited what felt like a lifetime for this moment, and I would wait another hundred to find Adeline again. Claps and screams filled the air. It was no secret where the Alpha and Luna were disappearing to. I could hear champagne glasses clinking together, the laughter slowly dissipating behind me as I carried my Luna out of the field and into the pack house.
I climbed the stairs two by two, the urgency to take my mate growing violently inside me. If I let my wolf take full control, he would have Adeline locked up in our room for months, ravaging her entire body and living for her screams. When we reached the top of the staircase, I placed her down and grabbed her hand within mine. Our touch now felt electrified, sending chills down my spine.
Catching me off guard, Adeline pulled her petite hand from mine in one fluid motion. She gripped tightly the collar of my suit, pushing me backward into the wall with her entire body strength. I felt her legs connect with my waist, and I snaked my hands just under her perfectly rounded ass and roughly squeezed, causing a moan to escape her chest. It echoed in my mind, causing blood to rush to my cock. I loved the way it spilled through my large hands, imagining how it would bounce when I had her face down on the bed. She harshly gripped my face and pushed her tongue inside my mouth, desperately searching to connect with my tongue. My little mate was impatient, eager for the pounding I was aching to give that tight little pussy that now belonged to me.
