His Fated Mate

Chapter Nine: The Ceremony

I woke up to a booming knock on the door. I looked around for Clayton, he wasn’t here. The knock boomed again on the door. A familiar voice called for me to wake up.

“Wake up darling! Today’s the big day.” My mom called.

“Come in,” I managed.

My mom, Bryn, Iris, and Amelia poured into the room. The maid followed them, she sent my breakfast down on the coffee table. She hurried out, mom and Bryn were setting up a studio while Iris and Amelia hung the dress. I watching them all got up and had my breakfast and it my surprise none of them bothered me until I was done eating. Mom came out of the bathroom smiling at me.

“I love you so much. I know today will be rough but I promise, he loves you.” She whispered as she hugged me.

“I think I love him too,” I whispered back.

“Come on, let’s get you ready.” She smiled as she pulled me to the seat in the middle of the room.

It felt like I had sat for three days before they were done. Bryn turned on the tv so I had something to stare at. We all chatted lightly about random things. Amelia chatted to Iris about the dress shop while Bryn filled my mom in on her shopping trip. She had told my mom about all the things she picked out for me. She said that she had a special gift for me today. I was a bit overwhelmed, if I’m being honest.

After mom had explained what it would feel like to be marked and what was expected after. I had decided that I wanted to cut down on my firsts being all in one day. I had secretly hoped he would have taken me in that bathroom. He didn’t, but the things we did do made me hot thinking about it. When I walked into his bathroom he looked so happy. He was just laying in his tub lost in thought, I had almost felt bad about disturbing him. I was glad I did after all.

“Are you ready?” Amelia asked.

“I’m dying to see it,” I gushed.

She hurried over to the garment bag, she opened it and out spilled my dress. It was dark blue satin, it had a rounded skirt. It reminded me of a hoop skirt. The top of the dress looked like an out school corset, sweetheart neckline, and the entire dress had small diamonds all over it making it look like the night sky. She had even made the dress have the tops of my shoulders exposed but swoop into a peasant style sleeve. Long and flowing they were the same dark blue but was see through. My mom helped me into the dress it felt buttery on my skin. Once I was in the dress she helped me put on some black flats, knowing how I felt in heels.

“You look so beautiful,” she smiled.

“Thank you, mom” I muttered to her.

My eye stung with tears. Her eyes welled up, threatening to fall down her cheeks. Thankfully Bryn walked in to room.

“Hey, you guys don’t make her ruin her makeup. We don’t have time to fix it.” She teased.

“I’m sorry, I’m just so proud.” My mom squeaked out.

“I love you, mom” I told her. “I don’t care what he says you are always welcome in our home.”

“Let’s see how you look,” Amelia called.

I took a deep breath and walked into the bedroom. Her eyes sparkled at she watched my move in this dress. Iris smiled widely as she admired the handy work that was done here. I looked in the full length mirror and looked hard trying to find myself. I looked amazing I had never felt so pretty in my life.

Bryn carried over a small bag with a pink bow on it.

“Open it,” she squealed.

I opened it slowly, my face turned red. Inside the bag was a bright red lacy night gown. It stopped and my upper thigh and probably only hid my torso.

“Thanks,” I blushed hard.

“It’s for tonight, after the ceremony when you come back up here put it on before you and him do it.” She directed.

I nodded feeling the blush warm my cheeks. The girls hurried to get ready themselves. They had all just barely gotten done when there was a knock on the door.

“It’s time,” Felix called.

They all rushed to the door to open it. I was slightly relieved that Felix would be the one with me. Bryn kissed Felix as she walked past him. He smiled warmly at me as he offered me his arm. I took it and he escorted me down the long set of stairs. My mom kept her hand on my shoulder it was nice. When we got to the front porch I could see all the people lined up in front of the slab of granite. It had been there for hundreds of years and had always been the spot for these ceremonies. I held my breath hoping this would go smoothly. Felix started forward after the crowd had divided and sat creating an aisle. They all stared at the alpha who stood on the rock in a suit that matched my dress.

My heart fluttered when I saw him, the butterflies beat themselves off my rib cage. Felix and I were standing in the trees, they couldn’t see us yet. Felix squeezed my hand as the alpha gave his speech. If I’m being honest I heard none of it. I listening intently to hear him call my name. Gasps filtered through the crowd as he announced that he had found his mate. I heard girls whispering that it was going to be Skylar. I heard a few others that snickered and whispered, Vicky, Sandra, Olivia, Trista, there were a few others. As each girl’s name was whispered that wasn’t Skylar someone would say she’s gonna be so mad. Another would say something like I hope there is a she-wolf fight.

I knew that hardly anyone in this crowd would not know my name. I strained harder to focus on my name. His speech droned on for what felt like a lifetime. I got lost in listening to the girls giggle and gossip over who it would be.

“The new Luna is Casey Blair Kinch,” he called.

My stomach fell and I struggled to breathe. I took a deep breath. Felix squeezed my arm and bent to whisper in my ear.

“Only stare at Clayton.” He whispered.

I followed his advice and trudged down the aisle. I heard the gossiping she-wolves gasp. They all whispered about who I was and why had they never heard of me before. I knew that if looks could kill I would be dead by now. When I saw Clay smiling at the sight of me, my heart skipped a beat. I saw the steps that led to the stage. I climbed them carefully, Clay held out his hand for me. I took it nervously.

“This is your new Luna and my mate.” He yelled over the murmured whispering.

He grabbed my waist and moved my long curls away from my neck.

“I’ll be gentle,” he whispered.

I watched as his K9’s expanded into his wolf teeth. He looked horrifying like this. I squeezed my eyes closed waiting for him to skin his teeth into me.

“Stop!” A woman called.

He stood up straight to look into the crowd. There he saw them, all five women stood in the aisle.

“You never told me about them, and I’m not gonna let you forever take yourself away from me!” Bellowed Skylar.

“He loved me the most,” one of the girls cried.

“How, how could you do this to us!” A short thin red head screamed.

“You’re a monster! And she is a nobody!” Yelled a tall brunette.

“You’ll just lie to her! Like you did to the rest of us!” The red head screamed.

“I love you Clayton, you can’t pick her over me!” Yelled Skylar.

I had started to sink behind him, embarrassment painting my face.

“ENOUGH!” Clay’s aloha voice hurt our ears.

“She is your new Luna. I don’t care who here loves me or not. This woman is the only one I seem to notice anymore. I have only known her for a couple of days and she has already wrapped me around her finger. If she told me to jump I was immediately ask her how high. I didn’t even notice any of you in the crowd until you called attention to yourselves. Now enough so I can’t finish this ceremony and we all can enjoy the celebration after.” He ordered.

Silence engulfed the crowd, he turned to me snaking his arms around my waist. He pulled me close to him, he kissed my neck right before I felt the pain.

The energy the rushed through me was incredible. I felt as if he and I were one, I hardly felt his teeth sink deeper. I felt his tongue like the wounds closed and we parted. He kept his hands on my waist, I was thankful for that.

“Enjoy, our celebration eat, laugh and be merry!” He cheered.

All at once he scooped me up, I rested my head lovingly against him. I knew what came next but I really didn’t care. I needed to rest, that jolt of electricity was insane.