by Mia Wolf
“If I keep doing this, I might have to get in the profession of conducting mating ceremonies,” Eli says to the crowd and everyone joins in with laughter.
The night has descended in the sky, but the lanterns and wreaths of fairy lights all around the platform are lighting up the whole gathering in a magnificent radiance. Everything seems to be luminous, drenched in happiness, warmth, and tenderness. A huge weight is lifting off of my shoulders as Eli commences the ceremony. He digs into the pocket of his Shoma which has a classic Rose Maibach touch to it, and takes a paper out. Then he clears his throat, readying himself to read something. He gestures for Warren and I to stand a little further apart because we’ve been clinging to each other as if we're afraid the other might disappear if we don’t keep holding on.
“You’ll have plenty of time to be together,” Eli jests which makes the audience laugh again. Then he begins the ritual and the words pouring out of his mouth seem to have the quality of purging all the negativity so that only the purest things will remain when this is all done and dusted. “As an inseparable part of the clan, your union is a sacred one,” he orates. “We bear witness to this merging of heart and soul, mind and matter, male and female, and may it last well past our precious time here on earth. With my blessing and the blessing of everyone present here, I now pronounce you as each other’s mate.”
A deafening applause catches me off guard; I had been completely entranced by Eli’s words, they reached somewhere deep. Before I can understand what has happened, that Warren and I have just sworn our lives to each other in front of the entire village, he pulls my chin up to him and drowns me in the sensation of his lips on mine. The tenderness with which he kisses me makes my heart skip a beat. I feel treasured, and cherished like just being me is a gift.
“Thanks for being a part of my life, Ashley,” Warren whispers so close to my ear that it tickles. “I love you.”
I haven’t heard those words come out of his mouth in a long time so when I do I’m brought to tears, and I barely manage to say it back. “I love you, too.”
As the ceremony ends and the party begins, everyone starts dancing in the empty space where the altar was before. It’s transformed into a dance floor with music blaring from the large speakers in the back.
I see Rose and Andrew really break it down with moves I couldn’t hope to do in my twenties and now it’s out of the question.
“I don’t have that many bones in my body,” I tell Rose when she insists that I dance, and she doesn’t push me.
Joshua and Andrew try to force Warren to go up and dance as well but he refuses, too. So while the entire village celebrates, the two of us remain seated next to each other, watching the night go by.
“You don’t have to sit here because of me,” I tell him. And he glares at me for a second before giving me an earful about it.
“One, that’s exactly what it means to be a mate. That I sit here next to you because we’re bonded for life. I know we made a pact that we do whatever we want to but trust me, I suddenly want to. I want to be tied to you and be where you are. Is that too cheesy?” he asks cocking his head to one side.
“A little bit,” I say jokingly then I reel him in for a kiss. “But it’s also kind of romantic.”
“Do you want to just wrap around each other and move in circles?” Warren asks as he stands up from his seat and offers me his hand.
I don’t want to, but I do it for him because what the hell, right?
But just when I think that Warren is going to drag me into the thick of the wild party that’s happening at the rotunda, he leads me away from the crowd and onto the lawns in the back where the music and the noise are much lower. It’s a sufficient distance away that the sudden quiet makes me hear my heart. It seems to be pounding in my chest.
“Have I told you that you look extremely hot in a tux?” I say to Warren as he curls around me, resting his hand on the small of my back, pulling me closer so I can rest my head on his shoulder. We move from side to side like the lull of the sea, soft and endlessly.
“Have I ever told you,” he asks in response, “that you look hot all the time? And that I can’t believe that you managed to look even hotter tonight?” He pauses and leans in closer to my ear. “Can’t wait to peel that beautiful dress off of you.”
I scoff at him, lightly slapping his shoulder. “As if,” I say. “You’re not touching me tonight, I’m beat.”
He pouts and makes a sad face then kisses me deeply as if to say, “your wish is my command, your highness”.
*****
THE END
About the Author
Mia Wolf loves to write paranormal romance stories. Her stories are full of hot shifters, strong women and that undeniable attraction and steam that is in the air when two mates meet each other, fall in love, and fight the odds… Come on in, and spoil the beast in you.
Check out her author page on Amazon and be sure to click “Follow” to get new release updates.
Books by The Wolf Sisters
(All books are FREE with Kindle Unlimited)
Books by Mia Wolf:
Bear Caves Series
Come visit the Bear Caves, a mysterious village where bear shifters live far removed from humans. This village, with its caves and its festivals houses not just any bears. No, it houses Very Sexy bears, who are not easy to please, but who will protect their mates with their lives without question.
The Bear Caves series consists of stand-alone stories that are connected through the bears who live in the village. Each story has a guaranteed satisfying HEA.
Mated to the Bear
Craved by the Bear
Kidnapped by the Bear
* * *
Wolf Mountain Series
Come with me to Wolf Mountain, a village with hot, single wolves who are strong, muscled, and … single. They don’t need a mate. They don’t want a mate. Until they meet the one they will die to protect…
Wolf Mountain is a paranormal romance series consisting of stand-alone stories, each with a HEA, that are connected through the wolves who live in the village.
Werewolf’s Surrogate
Werewolf’s Second Chance
* * *
Books by Kayla Wolf:
Dragon Valley Series
Dragon Valley keeps a secret that noone knows about: Dangerously sexy and muscled dragons have made the valley their home. But their existence is at risk. They need to find a mate or else their time might be up. Will the dragons find their mates?
Dragon Valley is a paranormal romance series that consists of standalone stories that each have a satisfying HEA. The books are connected through the dragons that live in the valley.
Mated to the Dragon
Protected by the Dragon
Auctioned to the Dragon
Kidnapped by the Dragon