Chapter 16

Berlin

"Dinner first, kitten." Osias lightly scolded, quickly but gently snatching the lengthy desert menu from my fingertips.

Although I knew that he was only looking out for me and my sensitive stomach, I couldn't help the cravings that I felt after reading list of chocolaty deserts. So instead of listening to him like a good boy, I pouted heavily, crossing my arms and poking my bottom lip out for added effect as he hid the menu from me underneath the fancy table cloth.

Much to my dismay, immediately after we'd returned from the resort trip, Osias became swamped with work and it seemed as if he had a new meeting to go to every hour or so. I was happy at first, because he said that the meetings were confidential and therefore I wouldn't be able to attend them. However, after the first couple of hours I felt myself missing the warmth of my mate's touch so much that became a habit to wrap my arms around my own waist when I felt especially lonely. Even then, the gesture felt empty compared to the safety and fullness that my heart experiences when I'm all wrapped up in Osias's muscly arms.

To make matters even worse, during one of his meetings it felt like I was hit by a desert wind as my Heat hit me full-force once again. Of course, at the scent of my heightened pheromones Osias came to me immediately and fucked me into oblivion, but even then he had to head right back to work after I was sated.

Hannah and Brook tried their best to entertain me, like earlier this evening with the movie night, but Callie was often missing due to the demand of her medical training. It was really fun, but most of the time I found myself missing Osias.

But thankfully, Osias set aside time tonight for us to spend together. I was practically bursting at the seams with joy as he drove, unable to keep myself from staring out of the window and asking Osias if every restaurant we passed was our destination. I could tell that he'd been amused at my actions from the smirk on his face, but even then my giddy smile just wouldn't go away. I was just that happy to be spending time with him after he spent so much time sheltered away in his office.

I reluctantly looked through the dinner menu carefully after giving up my childish pout, dragging my index finger down the seemingly endless options until one happened to catch my attention. "This one!" I yelped out softly, smiling sheepishly across the table at Osias as I turned the menu to him and pointed to my meal of choice.

Osias raised an eyebrow. "Fettuccine Alfredo?"

I nodded at his question, remaining quiet as he put in our order with the waiter. It made my blood boil when she looked at Osias, puffing out her chest a little and twirling her hair around her finger, but I just remained quiet, tore my eyes away from the sight, and folded my hands in my lap.

When the waiter sauntered away with a bit too much sway in her hips, I could feel Osias's eyes boring into my forehead. I squirmed in my seat from the intensity of his gaze, trying to ignore my Omega instincts which were screaming at me to show my belly and submit. I knew better, Osias wouldn't hurt me, but it didn't make me feel any less awkward as he watched me like a hawk.

"W-what a-a-are yo-"

"Shh." came his curt reply, feeling a slight pressure against my palm a moment later as he intertwined one of my hands into his and set them on top of the dining table. I blushed heavily, a smile pulling at my lips at his sweet action.

"How are you so beautiful?..."

I opened and closed my mouth multiple times like a fish out of water as I tried to formulate an answer, my eyes rising to meet his amidst the shock of his statement.

"I-I don't ha-"

"Shh." he shushed me again, gaining him a confused look from me. He asked me a question, right? I was simply trying to answer it...

"Maybe I should rephrase." he cleared his throat with a chuckle, a sweet but slightly cocky smirk pulling at the corner of his lips at my confused expression.

"You are incredibly beautiful Berlin. Every time I look at you, it's just a reminder that the Goddess must have me on her good side. I feel like the luckiest man on earth to be able to hold you, touch you..." his thumb brushed against the back of my hand with the softest touch and my breath hitched in my throat his heartfelt confessions.

"... Make love to you every night, and wake up to you every morning." a hot blush took over my face at his last statement and I could feel my lower body reacting, stirring to life in response to his words as he continued.

"I want to make sure that we are bonded in a manner that no one can ever break. The 'confidential' meetings that I have been having were actually... meetings to plan the set up of our official claiming ceremony that will take place tonight at midnight."

I couldn't speak, my breath caught midway in my throat as I was stunned in place.

What?

He'd been planning this the whole time?

"You will officially become the Luna of the pack and our mating bond will be completed." he ended with a hopeful smile and a tightening grip on my hand. My eyes widened and my mouth stuck in an agape, 'o' shape. "...that is, if you accept."

"I-..." I trailed off, unable to form a coherent sentence as the shock was still wearing off. As if he could sense my inability to speak, Osias grabbed my chair and slid it over to his effortlessly before plopping me down in his lap. My heartbeat skyrocketed at the feeling of his huge body against my much smaller one, although the feeling was unbelievably comforting.

"I know that this is sudden, but I couldn't wait any longer." he chuckled, rocking me gently in his arms as I tucked my face into his neck and took in a deep breath of his masculine scent mixed with the familiar cinnamon.

I nodded against his skin, his light stubble rubbing against my skin. It was nice, the rough feeling quickly calming my frantic nerves.

"I would love to, Osi."

Oh Goddess, I just hoped that I wouldn't fall flat on my face.

❦

To say that I was terrified would be an understatement. It was a marvel that I was able to keep my teeth from chattering and knees from knocking from paralyzing fright at the monumental task task of me. I could hear the chatter of the pack as they conversed among themselves, probably discussing the event that was about to take place.

Why did this have to be a surprise?

As sweet as Osias's gesture was, I honestly hated surprises. They only made me unnecessarily more nervous.

Casey whimpered in our mind, no doubt feeling the same amount of fear I was, if not more. If I'd been in wolf form, he would be curled up in a little ball and trembling, much like I wanted to be.

"You'll be fine, Ber!" Hannah hugged me tight in a supportive embrace and I instinctively hugged her right back, clinging to her like a lifeline. Although it wasn't as comforting as Osias's cuddles, it at least helped to get my breathing under control.

"Osias is right outside of this curtain waiting for you." she gestured to the maroon velvet curtain that hung from the far side of the beach to create a makeshift room, cutting off viewing access to and from the area where the rest of the pack was milling about as they waited for the ceremony to begin.

"And you look hot! I know that the pack will love you and accept you as our Luna. You've definitely got my vote... Especially if you get me that Tesla." Brook added playfully, winking at me with a wide smile before peeking through the curtain. The light from the torches on the beach reflected off of her caramel skin and her curly hair was tied back from her face in a beautiful updo while Hannah looked just as beautiful. It took a lot of effort to swallow back the tears that threatened to fall as I realized just how grateful I am to have such amazing friends.

I smiled timidly at the both of them, only wishing that Callie was here. Like usual, she was busy finishing up her medical training, but she'd promised to be back right on time so that she could cheer me on. It was a happy thought, that my first real friends would be able to see such a momentous occasion in my life.

"Thank you!" I chirped, my heart fluttering like a butterfly as the words left my mouth. Less than ten seconds later, the ring of a gong signaled twelve o' clock and therefore the commencement of the ceremony. Biting my bottom lip nervously, I fussed with the tight suit I was wearing in a nervous fashion, suddenly feeling as if the stifling material was strangling me. It only got worse as I watched Hannah and Brook, my only source of support, exit the 'backstage' area to settle down the crowd.

"I love you..." murmured Casey in our mind in a supportive manner, letting me know that he's always going to be there for me. It was good to know that he was in agreement with me on this, seeing as to how he was so attached to Max's wolf previously. I gripped my hands into small fists as they began to sweat, although Casey's sentiment helped to calm me down the tiniest bit.

"I love you t-too." I stuttered out, taking an extra moment to get my erratic breathing in check, my hand wrapping around the locket that hung around my neck, giving it a reassuring squeeze before taking the first step out of the curtain and into my new life.

The venue was definitely an eyeful, but not an unpleasant one. It was obvious that there was meticulous care put into arranging the area in a particular manner. A countless number of chairs sat out in the grassy area in the backyard of the pack house, a long aisle dividing them into two sections and leading to the frontal focal point. My favorite aspect were the fire torches lining the long aisle and shining orange light throughout the darkness-shrouded yard.

The scenery was so mesmerizing that I didn't pick up the hundreds of faces from the pack turned towards me, reminding me of the first embarrassing day that arrived I at the new Pack House.

I was almost sent into another frenzy of nervousness from the attention I was getting, but the sight of what stood at the end of the aisle erased all doubt from my mind.

Osias.

Oh Goddess.

He looked so... Handsome.

A finely tailored suit hugged his large figure in all of the perfect places, his dark hair done in a messy but practically mouthwatering style that left me wanting to sprint down that aisle to him. But alas, I instead focused on steading my gait as I neared him. The air was silent as Osias and I made eye contact, and I had to squeeze my fist together to force my body to comply with me when a deep emotion flashed through his bright blue orbs.

His expression was one that I'd never forget, filled with admiration, longing, a hint of lust, and another that I couldn't easily pinpoint. Regardless, he looked absolutely god-like standing before me underneath the white canopy.

"YES! THATS MY BABY!" came a voice from the crowd, and I blushed deeply when I registered it as my Dad's familiar, excited shriek. He's always been the outgoing one in the family, and you'd never be able to guess that he had a phobia of any large man other than Papa from the outlandish way that he acts in public.

Before I knew it, I was standing in front of Osias and looking up into his eyes as he took my sweaty, clenched fists in his own hands. His were strong, dry, and rough compared to mine, the electricity moving through our connected skin acting as a calming agent for my incessant nervousness. I felt his fingers slip through the cracks of my own, gently opening my fists to rest my flat palms on top of his.

Everything and everyone around us disappeared when Osias opened those perfect, plump lips of his without moving his eyes from mine. If I didn't know that it wasn't possible, I could've sworn that he was staring right through me to view a piece of my soul.

"Crescent Falls Pack, please welcome my beautiful Mate and your new Luna, Berlin Cahill."

The beach erupted into applause and I flinched at the loud noise. My act of surprise didn't go unnoticed by Osias as he gently squeezed my hands in an attempt to comfort me. I smiled at the floor shyly when he did so, looking up at him through my lashes when he cleared his throat to get the crowd to settle back down.

"After our ceremonial vows are put into place, Berlin Cahill will become my equal. It is expected that you treat him as such." his deep, menacing voice shook me a bit, so I couldn't even imagine what it was doing to the crowd of pack members. However, the silence that fell through the air gave me some indication. It was amazing, how his persona changed from one situation to the next. With me, he was caring, sweet, and just a tad bit overprotective, but around his pack members, he transformed into the stone-cold, unbreakable Alpha that he was known to be.

I tilted my head to the side in a sign of submission to Osias, and at the feeling of his canines sinking into his mating mark on my neck, my knees immediate buckled underneath me. Luckily, his strong arms were able to catch me in time from cracking my head open on the wooden platform. Although his touch only made matters worse as the electricity flowing between us multiplied tenfold and the bond was opened and ready for completion.

I could feel Osias smiling against my neck when he removed his canines from the mark, although my body remained weak in his arms. He didn't seem to mind, as he simply continued speaking and I attempted to snuggle into his hard chest when it vibrated with his deep baritone.

"Ceremonial vows will now commence." he instructed before leaning down to my left ear and pressing his lips to it. My eyes almost rolled back with pleasure from his mere touch.

"You, Berlin Cahill, My Beloved, My soul, My Mate, I, Osias Amador, do accept. To cherish forever, Semper Ama." (Love always and forever)

Without so much as a warning, I busted into hot tears. And not the cute ones. They ran down my cheeks in hot rivers as I sobbed against his chest, overwhelmed with the monsoon of emotions that hit both Casey and I full-on. The crowd remained respectfully silent while I let myself go, surprisingly understanding of the situation. After a few moments of dry-heaving when I was finally able to get myself under control, my eyes once again locked with Osias's dreamy ones. I began my ceremonial vow with a strong voice, absolutely confident in each word as it rolled off of my tongue.

"I-I... Berlin Cahill, vow to fulfill my duties as Luna of the Crescent Falls Pack as well as become the best man that I can be for my one and only Mate..." I sniffled, wiping my eyes so that I'd be able to continue.

It really astounded me how Osias was able to push past my barriers so quickly and remind me what it feels like to be cared. I never thought I'd be able to feel that way again until I met him. Even though we most definitely still had a long way left to go, I wanted to devote myself to him as best I can, and maybe, just maybe, we will flourish into something absolutely beautiful.

I smiled up at him through my watery eyes, my small hands squeezing his softly as I began to recite the last words that would connect us together forever.

"Semper Am-"

'BANG!'

Everyone screamed at the loud noise, even me as I quickly scurried to hide myself in Osias's safe chest. I watched the commotion ensue as Osias stepped closer to the edge of the platform with a confused expression and looked out down the aisle which was now covered in a thick fog. All I caught were his eyes widening as large as plates and his grip becoming substantially tighter when he zeroed in on what he was looking for.

That can't be good.

"OBJECTIOOOOON!" came a sing-song voice as a body began to materialize out of the fog, walking down the maroon path that I'd traveled not even five minutes ago.

Who...

Osias ripped out a ferocious growl when Max's twisted up features became discernible through the fog. The skin around his eyes was tight because of the Cheshire-like grin that covered his face as he walked towards Osias and I, looking as if he just won the lottery. His gait was funky and uncoordinated, looking like either a drunken man or a poor dancer as he traversed down the sandy aisle. I stiffened immediately, a pained cry escaping my now dry throat just from the sight of him.

"Oh what a pleasure to bump into you two again like this!" he chuckled as if we were neighbors seeing each other in the nearby grocery store. It was demented, how happy he looked as he reached over to grab a piece of cheese on a stick from the table of hors d'oeuvres and pop it into his mouth. The same mouth that used to kiss me to sleep every night until I'd descend into a fit of giggles.

With a giddy smile, the demon skipped over to the front of the platform, scrunching his eyebrows together while he chewed the cheese in the side of his cheek. After a moment he turned on his heel, pointing the cheese toothpick between Osias and I like he was trying to decide on something.

"Wow, Berlin looks much better in the dark, wouldn't you say?" he laughed out loud when I whimpered, clutching his stomach as if his insult was the most funny thing he's heard all year. "Funny, funny, funny, you two are. Just a riot, I should get you a stand-up comedy show! Yes, how about it?" he babbled while addressing the entire pack, of which were frozen in their seats from fear. The demon continued going on and on about nothing for a short moment before suddenly turning to us once more with a deathly serious expression as he licked his front teeth over and over.

"I'd like more of that cheese of yours. Nice and sharp... Sharp like a knife, yes. One that could slide easily inside of your Mate's chest to penetrate that little, palpitating heart, am I right? Just delicious." he spoke to Osias with a deranged tone and sudden smile, which anyone could have mistaken as genuine if they hand't heard the death threat that accompanied it.

And as for Osias, I knew that was the last straw as his eyes flashed a bright silver.

❦

Osias

The psychotic bitch wouldn't stop laughing, even as my men threw him into a dungeon torture cell in the second basement of the Pack House. I'd (quite hopefully) thought that it would be my first and last time seeing him when we dismissed one another at the coffee shop, but he just had to come back and show his ugly ass face again. The reason why he chose to come here I didn't know, but I was definitely going to find out. However, seeing as to how he was acting right now, I wouldn't be surprised if the unhinged asshole showed his face just for the hell of it.

What pissed me off the most is his timing. He decided to interrupt a sacred claiming, thus disturbing the natural flow of energy between Berlin and I as we made the last step to completing our bond. Now, we'd have to start all over again.

Berlin.

My little kitten was so afraid in that moment, his heart beating so fast and hard against me that I could still feel the ripples of his fright in my skin. Our connection, although not sacredly complete, was most definitely strengthened, and the only thing that made me slightly calm was knowing that he was currently asleep in our bed, warm and cuddled beneath the soft blankets. I let his three little friends accompany him to his room as I came down to deal with this motherfucker.

I just want to get this shit done with so that I could go hold my baby.

A loud cackle from inside of the torture cell brought me back to the situation at hand, as Max - no - the demon that'd possessed him, sat tied to a steel beam in the middle of the room, calling out aimlessly as the blindfold restricted his sight.

"I want my cheese cube, Osias! I want it! I want it! I want it!" he screeched, kicking his legs up and down as if he was a four year old demanding a piece of cake on his birthday. I simply sneered, picking up a surgical saw and approaching him, making sure to make as much noise as necessary on the way over.

I'd tortured a countless number of people as the son of the Alpha and now as the reigning Alpha of this pack, and if there's anything I've learned, it's that the imagination of the tortured can be even more effective than the sharpest torture device. Simply letting them infer what will happen sends their imagination haywire as their minds attempt to piece together what's yet to occur.

They always assume the worst.

But Max was different, as he simply laughed louder at my ruckus and chomped his teeth together nonstop like he was some kind of animal.

"Dooon't come closer with that saw, boy!" he spoke as if he was addressing a playful dog, a smirk pulling at his lips as he licked them in an obsessive manner. "I'll gettcha!"

"Shut the FUCK up." I simply stated, completely fed up at his point as I pressed the barrel of my gun against his forehead as a warning.

"What are you doing here? You know very well that you are not welcome. If you have some sort of plan, know that it will not work. This house is guarded heavily 24/7."

"Oh! OH! I'm afraid of the big bad wolfie!" Max teased, once again shaking with laughter as he shook his head wildly, his blindfold flying across the room. He took the opportunity to look straight into my eyes before crossing them and sticking out his tongue.

What is up with this guy?

"Too late! Too late!" he tilted his head almost ninety degrees, eyes widening by the second until he broke out in an ecstatic smile. "You should really watch who you let get close to Berlin, little puppy. You never know who could be hidden..." he flicked up his tongue to rest the tip of it on his cupids bow with a grin, his eyes shifting around the room like he had the biggest but most obvious secret to hide.

"Just.

Under.

Your.

Nose!"

My eyes nearly bugged out of my head when I heard Berlin's blood-curdling scream.