Misguided Wolves

17. Wedding

Vargr buzzed with frenetic energy as omegas perfected the wedding preparations. Deborah’s Vintr tradition dictated she keep her black veil until after the vows, revealing her face only for the first kiss. Elliott thought it absurd, but Kate found it oddly romantic, imagining the anticipation of unveiling a mate.

Post-vows, the couple would mark each other, then open the festivities on the dance floor, inviting all to join. A feast and drinks would follow, shorter than Vargr’s usual week-long celebrations but likely spanning days. The ballroom glowed with deep reds, blacks, and grays, draped fabrics softening the wooden walls and ceiling. Tables groaned with food, barrels of mead and Wolf Tears wine lined the walls for guests to serve themselves. Enchanted crystals lit the gardens, their pinkish glow spilling outside, where flowers lent a delicate floral scent to the air.

Elliott checked on Sumner, who fumbled nervously with his tie. Elliott’s brows creased. “Come here, let me help.”

Sumner sighed, turning in defeat. Elliott’s steady hands deftly tied the knot, smoothing his brother’s suit. “There. Now you look half-decent.”

“Thanks,” Sumner muttered, raking his hair. “I’m a mess today.”

“Pre-wedding jitters,” Elliott said, clapping his shoulder. “You’ve got this. Who knows? She might be your mate.”

Sumner rolled his eyes but followed Elliott out. On the raised platform, once home to thrones now stored in the Alpha’s suite, Sumner fidgeted with his jacket hem. Vargr’s open-door policy had replaced thrones with accessibility, and the platform, adorned with flowers, hosted ceremonies. Oddly, Apollo sat calmly in Sumner’s mind, as if sensing something he didn’t. Taking a deep breath, Sumner stilled, mirroring his wolf’s stoicism.

Guests filled the ballroom, whispering about Deborah’s appearance, young she-wolves envying her place. Sol’s face remained impassive, but Mahni’s eyes held worry, longing for her son’s happiness with a fated mate, as she had found. Elliott and Kate stayed positive for Sumner’s sake, their hands brushing reassuringly.

The double doors creaked open, revealing Castiel escorting the veiled Deborah in a ruby-red ball gown, layered with black lace, its sweetheart neckline and off-shoulder straps accentuating her bosom. Long satin gloves and gem-encrusted jewelry completed her look, but a thicker veil obscured her face entirely, ensuring only the groom would see her first. Kate admired the drama, though Elliott smirked skeptically.

Deborah glided across the ballroom, guided by Castiel, her vision limited to the floor. She grumbled inwardly—her brother’s idea for a “grand entrance” felt tedious—but a scent hit her: rain-kissed earth with a hint of mint. It startled her, stirring something deep, though she pushed it aside.

Sumner, meanwhile, was overwhelmed by a lavender scent, driving Apollo wild. He recited his vows on autopilot, barely focused, until the moment came to lift her veil. With shaky hands, he revealed seductive golden-yellow eyes and long black hair framing milky skin. Their eyes widened, shock giving way to realization—they were fated mates. Sumner grinned, cupping her face and stealing a fervent kiss as the crowd roared. Breaking away, he gazed into her eyes, then swiftly marked her neck, melting at the sight of his unique mark: a mighty weapon entwined with a beautiful snake, symbolizing their strength and leadership.

Deborah, stunned, shivered as Sumner grazed her mark, her golden eyes meeting his joyful ones. With trembling hands, she loosened his tie, baring his neck, and sank her teeth in, sealing their bond. Her mark, however, unsettled her—an intricate design screaming a message she couldn’t ignore, as if the moon goddess mocked her. Before she could spiral, Sumner swept her into a tight hug, his warmth grounding her. She glanced at Castiel, pale and shaken against the wall.

“Plan’s still the same,” she mind-linked him, her tone firm. “Nothing’s changed.”

Castiel’s color didn’t return, but he nodded faintly. Deborah hoped he’d hold it together—she’d deal with him later. Sumner set her down, caressing her face. “I know it’s a lot, but we’ll be okay together.”

For a moment, guilt flickered across Deborah’s face, but it vanished so quickly Sumner doubted his eyes. She gave a tight smile. “Let’s enjoy our lives together.”

Hand in hand, they opened the dance floor, guests joining with partners. Elliott, overjoyed for Sumner, sent a silent apology to Fenrir for doubting him. He looked at Kate, her hazel eyes sparkling, and bit his lip, imagining their own mating marks. With Sumner’s wedding done, he could plan theirs. Pulling her close, he inhaled her apple-cinnamon scent, but Castiel’s perturbed expression against the wall puzzled him. Why wasn’t he happy, given this was his idea?

A tap on his shoulder interrupted his thoughts. Jody stood there, nervous, fidgeting. “U-ummm…”

Kate smiled, touching her shoulder. “If you’re asking for a dance, he’d love to, hun!”

Elliott raised a brow, but Kate’s encouraging push and warm smile convinced him. Jody beamed, clinging to him as they danced, her crush evident. Elliott moved awkwardly, trying not to mislead her. Kate watched warmly, remembering her own youthful crushes. Kyle, Sumner’s cousin, offered his hand. “May I have this dance?”

“It’d be my pleasure,” Kate said, accepting eagerly.

“We haven’t talked much since you arrived,” Kyle said as they danced. “How’s Vargr treating you?”

“It’s wonderful—the people are so sweet. I’m loving it!”

“Good. My cousin’s treating you well, I hope?"

Kate giggled. “Of course! We’re made for each other.”

Kyle chuckled. “As long as you’re happy.”

“Have you looked for your mate yet?”

Kyle wiggled his brows, joking. “Deny the ladies a piece of me? Preposterous!” But a hint of sadness flickered, and Kate noted to ask Elliott later.

The night stretched into dawn, couples pairing off. Kyle vanished into the gardens with a she-wolf, while others took breaks, returning to dance. Sumner and Deborah slipped to their suite to explore their mate bond. As the festivities wound down, Kate and Elliott retreated to his cottage, the glow of enchanted crystals guiding their path.

Inside, the fireplace crackled, casting flickering shadows, the crystals pulsing faintly pink. Elliott closed the door, his eyes darkening with hunger as he backed Kate against it, his hands framing her face. “You were generous letting Jody dance with me,” he murmured, his voice low, his cedarwood-mint scent enveloping her. “But now you’re all mine.”

Kate’s cheeks flushed, her hazel eyes gleaming with shy desire. “You looked so awkward,” she teased, poking his chest. “Poor thing couldn’t keep up with her energy.”

“Oh, you’re teasing now?” he growled playfully, capturing her wrists and pinning them above her head, his lips grazing her jaw. “Careful, princess, or I’ll have to remind you who’s in charge.” He nipped her earlobe, drawing a soft gasp, then kissed a slow path down her neck, lingering where her mating mark would go, his canines grazing lightly.

“Mark her!” Leo urged, but Elliott resisted, savoring her shivers. Kate squirmed, her apple-cinnamon scent spiking with arousal. “Elliott,” she whispered, half-laughing, “you’re impossible.”

“Impossible?” he teased, releasing her wrists to slide his hands down her sides, fingers tracing the curves of her hips through her gown. “You love it, minx.” He blew a playful raspberry against her neck, making her squeal and swat his shoulder, their laughter mingling with the crackling fire.

She pushed against his chest, boldness overtaking her shyness. “My turn,” she murmured, her voice sultry as she tugged his tie loose, her fingers brushing his collarbone. She kissed his neck, nipping where her mark would go, earning a deep growl. Her hands roamed his chest, unbuttoning his shirt with deliberate slowness, her lips trailing across his skin, teasing his n*****s with a flick of her tongue.

Elliott groaned, his hands tangling in her hair. “You’re playing dangerous games, troublemaker.” He lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist, and carried her to the bed, laying her on the furs. His fingers deftly unlaced her gown, letting it fall away, revealing her flushed skin. He kissed a path down her chest, circling a n****e with his tongue, then sucking gently, drawing a moan. “So sweet,” he murmured, his breath hot against her skin as he moved lower, kissing her stomach, then her inner thighs.

Kate’s fingers clutched the furs, her breaths ragged. “Elliott, please,” she whimpered, her hips arching. He grinned, his tongue teasing her sensitive bud, slow and deliberate, then quickening as her moans grew louder. His fingers slipped inside, curling against her sweet spots, building her pleasure until she trembled, on the edge of release.

“Not yet,” he teased, pulling back, his eyes glinting with mischief. Kate huffed, her frustration playful. “Take him,” Tove urged, her voice thick with desire. Kate sat up, pushing Elliott onto his back, straddling him with a triumphant grin. “Punishment,” she declared, her hands roaming his chest as she kissed him deeply, her tongue exploring his.

She ground her hips against his hardness, drawing a groan. “Kate,” he growled, his hands gripping her hips, guiding her movements. She unfastened his pants, freeing him, and teased his length with slow strokes, her fingers grazing his jewels. “You’re killing me,” he rasped, his eyes dark with want. She leaned down, her tongue tracing him from base to tip, taking him into her mouth, her movements slow and torturous, savoring his moans.

Just as he neared release, she pulled back, darting off the bed with a giggle.

“Punishment!” she called, dodging around the room. Elliott laughed, chasing her, catching her by the waist and tossing her back onto the bed. “You can’t escape me, minx,” he growled, pinning her beneath him, her legs spread as he pressed himself against her slick core.

“Please,” she breathed, her eyes burning with need. He entered her slowly, savoring her tightness, then thrust deeply, their rhythm building with desperate intensity. His hands roamed her body, one teasing her breast, the other gripping her hip as he nipped her neck, his canines grazing her future mark. The crystals flared brighter, pulsing with their gasps, Vargr’s magic blessing their bond. “Mine,” he growled, his voice a vow as their c****x hit, her walls tightening as he spilled into her, their cries echoing as they collapsed, breathless, their scents mingling under the glowing crystals.