Chapter 59: 60: Mated

ARIEL

It only took one week to plan my mating ceremony to Alex because we were both dead set on having something casual and intimate—just like our relationship.

As Louisa zips me into the fit-and-flare gown that she made me, I mumble my vows to myself like a crazy person.

Helena, Amy, and Val help me drape the train of my gown over my forearm so I can walk without tripping over any fabric.

I step in front of the mirror and gasp when I see my reflection.

“The dress is perfect, Louisa.”

Louisa finishes pinning my veil in place and wipes tears from her eyes.

“Oh, come on, Louisa, you’re gonna make ~me~ cry,” I say as I give her a hug.

Amy squeals and gives me a big hug.

“Any word from my family yet?” I ask nervously in her ear.

Despite my better judgment, I sent them an invitation.

I wasn’t expecting my mother and sister to come. But I was holding out hope that my dad would be here to walk me down the aisle.

“Not…yet,” Amy says sympathetically.

We hear a soft knock on the door. Amy goes to answer.

I perk up, ready to be greeted by my dad.

“Is it alright if I come in?” I hear Maria ask.

My heart sinks for a second in disappointment that it’s not my father, but I think I do a good job of hiding it from my face.

Maria enters the room and looks me up and down.

“Oh, Ariel. You’re breathtaking.”

“Thank you,” I say to my future mother-in-law.

“She’s right, Ariel,” Louisa says, “you look—” and then she breaks into another round of sobs.

“You look beautiful,” Helena interjects.

“You look like a warrior,” says Val.

“No,” says Maria, “you look like a ~queen~.”

ALEX

I’m standing under the Altar of the Moon Goddess.

Dom is at my side, ready to officiate.

In all, there are only two dozen people on the guest list. Ariel wanted the whole thing to be small and intimate.

But unfortunately, there’s no sign of Ariel’s family.

I honestly don’t care who comes as long as Ariel shows up. This whole day I’ve been worried that she’ll get cold feet and run away.

Valeria and Louisa are the last to take their seats—the last of the people helping Ariel get ready.

And finally, the doors to the temple open…

And there she is, walking toward me.

~My Ariel.~

She wears a sleek, long-sleeved lace gown, and holds a bouquet of sunflowers in her hands.

Fresh-faced, wild-haired, and…barefoot?

A huge, dopey smile spreads across my face.

~That’s my girl.~

~My warrior.~

~My mate.~

~My queen.~

As she steps up to the altar, we lock eyes, and I almost get lost in her deep-yellow orbs.

The smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks almost appear to dance as she smiles.

Dom begins his speech, and, before I know it, it’s time for me to say my vows.

I take a pretty audible gulp before I begin to speak.

“Ariel, I was ~broken~ when I met you. I don’t claim to be perfect, but you helped me heal. Everything I am, I am because of your patience, your guidance, and your love.”

I try to keep my voice from shaking, even though I’m sure everyone is already aware of how nervous I am.

“You are the strongest person I’ve ever known. You are an incredible warrior, but you also possess the most beautiful and selfless soul I’ve had the fortune to have in my life.”

I feel my heart swelling as I gaze into my mate’s eyes.

“Ariel, I love you—every part of you—and I want you to know that I believe in you—completely. I vow to respect you and cherish you as my mate, my queen, my luna, and my equal for the rest of our lives.”

She has tears in her eyes when Dom tells her it’s her turn.

“I choose you, Alex, as my mate,” she says.

“I choose to stand by your side and sleep in your arms. I choose to learn and grow with you, even as time and life change us both. I choose to walk into our future hand in hand.

“I promise to share your joys as well as your sorrows. I promise to be your partner in every aspect of our life together. I promise to forever be loyal, honest, and faithful to you.

“I make this vow with an open and hopeful heart.”

The next thing I know, we kneel for Dom to put the crowns on our heads. As we rise, Dom announces:

“Presenting Alpha King Alexander Langdon, and Luna Queen Ariel Thomas-Langdon!”

***

My mom has really gone all out planning the small reception.

There’s enough food and drink for two hundred people, but the two dozen in attendance seem to take it as a challenge and enjoy the open bar and mountains of fall-inspired snacks and desserts.

After the ceremony, Ariel slipped on her boots, and she’s wearing them as we dance. She manages to step on my feet every few steps.

But I don’t mind.

Eventually, her small, black-leather-clad feet just stay on top of mine, and I do the steps for both of us.

“You’re beautiful,” I whisper into her ear as the slow music permeates the room from the string quartet in the corner.

She looks down with a smile, trying to hide the fact that she’s blushing.

“I tried to do my makeup,” she admits, “but the false lashes were getting to me, so I just washed it all off.”

“You’re beautiful,” I repeat, and I place my hand on her cheek. I’m about to lean down to kiss her when we both simultaneously jump and grimace at a high-pitched squeal.

We turn to see Amy. “O-M-Goddess, Ariel! You’re mated! I can’t freaking believe it! Can I cut in?” she asks but doesn’t wait for a response from me.

Laughing in her oldest friend’s arms, Ariel switches to the lead, and the two dance around the ballroom like a couple of clumsy children.

I step over to grab a drink from the bar and see Marius standing alone, scotch on the rocks in hand.

Ever since the incident with the Silver Soldier, Marius has been on the quiet side.

He mostly keeps to himself if he’s not with Amy, but I have it on good authority that he’s going to be joining the Royal Pack warriors pretty soon.

“Amy seems really happy since we got back from saving Xavi.” I’m trying to make small talk.

“Amy’s always happy,” he responds.

It’s a simple sentence, but there’s warmth behind it as he looks at Amy and Ariel dancing. At this point, Valeria and Helena have joined them, and the music begins to pick up in tempo.

Marius lets out a full laugh as Amy prances around the group like a rabid peacock. This might be the first time I’ve seen him smile in weeks.

I find myself hoping he can experience the same kind of happiness I’ve found with Ariel.

ARIEL

Alex fumbles with the doorknob using the same hand that’s currently cradled under my legs.

“You can put me down, you know,” I say.

“Nope, I’m carrying you over the threshold,” he says as the door finally pops open.

Alex’s room—I mean ~our~ room—has been turned into the ultimate honeymoon suite.

It’s lit by votive candles in tiny jars. There’s champagne and strawberries on the bedside table, and red rose petals litter the floor and satin bedspread.

He finally sets me down so that my feet touch the floor, and I look up at him, nervous.

Obviously, this isn’t our first time, but this evening will bring about something more.

I let my hand glide up to the curve of his neck.

The area where my teeth will sink in… when I mark him.

His previous mating mark is barely noticeable: just some soft pink spots where the skin was punctured.

It’s healed over time since…

~No. Not going there. Not even in my head. This is our night.~

But I’m still nervous. Shaking a little.

“I love you, Ari,” he whispers, and I feel goosebumps begin to prickle my skin.

“I love you back,” I reply with a smile.

And he kisses me.

Long and deep.

I feel his hand move to the zipper of my gown and pull it down effortlessly.

I let out a small moan as he guides me closer to him.

~Alex.~

~Mate.~

He peels the lace from my shoulders, and the delicate gown slides gently down to the floor.

I go to undo his tie, but I screw it up and end up just making it tighter.

He gives a laugh and loosens it himself, then tosses it aside along with his suit jacket.

Now, in one motion, he scoops me up and lays me gently on the bed.

He positions himself on top of me and begins trailing kisses from my jaw down to my breasts.

We rid ourselves of the remaining articles of clothing.

Suddenly, I’m feeling empowered, rolling us over so that I’m on top of him.

I’m ready.

My thighs on either side of Alex’s hips, I use my hand to slide him inside of me.

We both let out small gasps as our bodies melt into one another.

Slowly, I begin riding him.

He lets me take charge, but gradually starts meeting my rhythm with his own thrusts.

“Alex…,” I say in a breathy whisper, and he sits up so that our faces are millimeters apart.

I let out a moan as he takes more control of our motions.

My arms are draped over his shoulders, and I can feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead.

In the flickering candlelight, our lovemaking is slow and sultry and beautiful and perfect.

I can feel my body tensing from within my core, and my legs quiver. “Alex…,” I whisper again, almost breathless.

His eyes lock with mine and, without compromising our perfect rhythm, I use my hand to brush my hair from the left side of my neck.

I tilt my head, and Alex does the same.

His tongue meets my neck, licking the sweat from the spot he’ll mark as I ride him harder, nearly at my peak.

I kiss his shoulder and move my way up, hopeful that we can time this perfectly.

“Ready?” he pants into my ear.

“Y-Yes,” is all I can get out as euphoria flows through my body in waves, and I shift my canines into elongated fangs.

Alex grasps my hand in his as he’s reaching his climax, and I feel the unmistakable graze of his teeth.

He bites down, and I let out a whimper.

Then I sink my canines into his skin.

We hold on tight, riding one another through waves of infinite bliss.

I taste the blood as it escapes my lips and trickles down Alex’s shoulder.

I feel Alex retract his fangs and gently lick and kiss my newly formed mating mark.

I follow suit, and our eyes meet again.

I bring my hand up to touch my mark.

It’s tender and hot under my fingers.

Alex smiles and touches his own mark.

It’s truly official.

We’re mated for life.

ALEX

I wake in Ariel’s arms and give a silent “thank you” to the Goddess that it wasn’t all a dream.

I trail my fingers over her bare shoulder, her collarbone, then up to her neck where her mark is.

Ariel stirs a little at my touch, and her eyelids slowly flutter open.

She smiles at me, and it fills my heart.

“Morning, handsome,” she says as she stretches out her arms and legs.

“Morning, beautiful,” I reply.

I glance at the clock on the bedside table. We’re due downstairs in half an hour for a celebratory breakfast with friends and family, and then we’ll depart for our honeymoon.

Languidly, we both rise and get dressed. Ariel stops in front of the mirror to brush her hair.

I come up behind her and nuzzle her neck, taking in her sweet scent. Our eyes meet in the mirror, and I kiss her mating mark.

~“Mine,”~ I can feel my wolf say in the back of my mind.

‘Ours,’ I correct him with a smirk.

Ariel takes my hand, and we walk downstairs to the dining hall.

ARIEL

When we get to the bottom of the stairs, I hear a shrill voice shouting at me from the foyer.

“There she is! Finally.”

‘What the—?’

I know that voice well.

And sure enough, standing at the front door of the palace is my sister Natalia pointing at me with one arm and holding baby Xavi with the other.

Behind her are my father, my mother, and about ten suitcases.

‘You guys are late,’ I say coldly. ‘The ceremony was yesterday.’

‘I’m so sorry we missed it, Ariel,’ my father says, stepping toward me. ‘We had some—uh—problems at the Crescent Moon Pack.’

‘What kind of problems?’ I ask.

‘After everything Xavier did, it has become clear that we’re not welcome there anymore,’ my father says, his face falling. ‘They kicked us out.’

‘Oh no. I’m really sorry to hear that,’ I say sincerely to my father.

I know how much that hurts…

‘So…what are you gonna do?’ I ask.

‘Ha!’ my mother says.

In classic form, that’s the first word she says to me.

I lock eyes with her and mine fill with disdain.

‘We’re going to stay here of course,’ she says. ‘You’re the queen now, aren’t you? Which makes us part of the royal family.’

She’s not asking for asylum.

She’s demanding it.

My head is spinning as I realize that I only have two options:

Live with my insufferable family.

Or turn them out to the rogues.