Chapter 40
Deckard
I agree tht the fault was mine for Telling Mary about what should have been a secret between Amira and me, but it won’t happen again. I am not a weak man who needs to contide in anyone–that’s simply not who I am. I tried it once, and it failed. That’s the end of it
I think about the next steps to show Amica that I am not joking and she is stuck with me until i say so. The answer is clear: I need to finalize the bonding ceremony as soon as possible.
This tume, I won’t involve a crowd, and there’s no need for the grand announcement we had planned last time. We can save that for the wedding
The meeting with the members of the Apex Circle is fast approaching, and I can’t afford to waste any more time. This has to be done swiftly and decisively.
ony will take place tomorrow evening. I instruct her to notify Amica and the elders so
I call Bria immediately to inform her that the bonding ceremony preparations can begin–this time, it will happen,
Tonight, I don’t spend the night with Amica, and it feels strange. As I lie in bed, I find it impossible to fall asleep. I keep tossing and turning unsented by how quickly I’ve grown used to her presence. What kind of sorcery is this!
My mind drifts to the healer’s warning about the consequences of us not being together, even
en for a single night. But then I think about the time she ran off and spent hours far from me, and yet nothing happened.
It doesn’t make sense. The bond, it seems, is unpredictable.
She’ll be fine, and perhaps it’s for the best that I’m too furious to spend the night with her. Starting tomorrow night, she’ll have no choice but to make my room her permanent bedroom
I finally manage to close my eyes near daybreak after hours of restless thoughts about her.
Canine kept pestering me throughout the night, urging me to go to her, to comfort her, but he’s a fool. In his eyes, Amica can do no wrong. When I open my eyes, it’s almost noon. The persistent sound of knocking on my door drags me out of a difull sleep.
“Come in,” I mumble, my voice low, hoping whoever is outside might not hear. Unfortunately, they do.
Mary steps into the room, looking like she hasn’t had any sleep at all
“Good morning. Deckard,” she says sofily as she walks closer and sits at the edge of the bed.
“My Alpha, I noticed the preparations for the bonding ceremony have started again. You didn’t tell me it was happening today.” she trails off. “And why would I tell you that?” I reply curtly, not bothering to hide my annoyance.
“Please, Deckard, forgive me. I apologize for everything, I swear I never told the servants anything. They must have—”
“Oh, please, Mary. It’s too early for this. Can we talk later! I have a splitting headache, I cut her off, my tone sharp. I genuinely can’t deal with her
“Oh really?” she murmurs, her expression faltering. She looks hurt, but I don’t care. It’s going to take me a while to forgive her after all the trouble the caused with Amica.
“Yes, please,” I clarily, my voice firm
She hesitates for a moment, then slowly gets up and leaves the room without another word.
I can tell Mary is hurting, and while she might deserve it, I hate the tho
thought of any woman suffering because of ine. I’ll check on her later.
By nightfall, everything is set for the ceremony. The crowd isn’t as large as it was during the last attempt, but I prefer it that way. My pack members are present, along with the priest, and that’s all I need
The process is the same as before. I step onto the stage, standing tall as the leader of my pack. Soon enough, Amica’s name is called, and just as the murmurs begin to ripple through the gathering, Bria steps out with her.
The moment I see her, a rush of excitement stirs within me, bubbling uncontrollably. I force myself to keep it irely ‘s jus Canine
Chapter 401
Arnica sa breathtaking, dressed in a lime–green gown that clings to her figure perfectly. She looks like an ethereal goddess, her radiant skin glowing Får it had been bathed in moonlight. Her hair cascades down her shoulders, richly curled and bouncing with each graceful step she takes under the soft glow of the night
s feel the air shift, and for a moment, the world seems to pause, leaving only her presence to fill the space around me.
All eyes are on her as she walks forward Her peachy, plum–toned skin is exposed with an air of class, and for a fleeting moment, I worry that the war on her face might show. But whoever dressed her tonight did a flawless jobs.
She’s not similing as she approaches me, and I don’t know why 1 expected her to. We aren’t on good terms–the hates me, and I can’t blame her. A part of me almost feel the same way about her. Still, there’s no denying that this moment is all about her. Only ber
As she reaches the aide, I extend my fund to help her. She hesitates for a moment, her expression unrealable. My eyes drift, betraying me as the slit of her dress shifts, revealing her toned, sexy legs. The neckline dips just enough to tease with a hint of cleavage, adding an intoxicating allure to
Damn. All I can think about is what’s hidden beneath that dress and how badly I want to uncover it
She finally takes my hand, her touch beunant but firm as 1 helped her up to the stage. The priest begins to recite my part of the oath. I listened intently, acknowledging each line without hesitation and responding with conviction.
When it was Amica’s turn, she stood still, her chest rising as she took a deep breath before responding. Her voice, though soft, carried an edge of resolve that intrigued me
“You may kiss your Luna under the moonlight” the priest announced, his voice echoing through the still night.
I stepped closer to her, drawn by her enchanting blue eyes that seemed to challenge and captivate me all at once. Lowering my head, I pressed a light, deliberate kiss against her s
Esoft lips. The contact was fleeting yet electric. The crowd erupted into clapping and cheers, their joyous energy dling the atmosphere
As the celebration swelled around us, I feel a strange wave ripple through my body. It was subtle but unmistakable–a connection forming a tether bending us. I forced myself to ignore it, focusing on the ceremony.
The bonding drink was brought to us next, the priest holding it with solemn reverence as he hands it over.
The bonding drink, a simple strand of wine, is meant to symbolize unity between the Luna and Alpha–tradition designed to make the night beautiful and memorable, not to spark chaos like it did with Amica before
I took a sip of the wine, savoring the moment, then extended the goblet to Amica. Her head shook in quiet refusal, her lips pressed tightly together.
She can’t refuse it—not here, not in front of everyone. It was the final rite of the ceremony.
“You have to drink this. It’s okay,” I whisper, leaning close to her ear. She hesitates, her body stiff.
“Take just a sip and don’t make a scene, I urge, my voice firm but law enough to avoid drawing attention. For a moment, I thought she wouldn’t, but then she finally lifted the goldet and took the smallest sip. Her hesitation was quite obvious, and I decide not to press her further, understanding the trauma she had endured before.
With that, the ceremony iscomplete. We were bound.
A strange feeling surges within me, something foreign and overwhelming, I can’t name it, can’t control it, but it was all–consuming. It is a need- raw, primal, undeniable. I want Amica. Not just as my Luna, not just as my mate–I want her entirely tonight!
Was the feeling the same pull, or was this madras mine alone?
