"Noah," she said softly, giving me a sympathetic smile, "I didn't think you'd be coming home with a bride."
"It was unexpected. But fate has a funny way of showing itself. I'd like to get married today. The sooner, the better."
She glanced over at Sage, who was staring at the ground and looking sick, and then back at me. "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"I have a few forms and a book that will need your signatures." She held out a small, leather-bound book. "This is where the vows will go. We can write them out after I read off the general marriage law requirements." Georgia approached Sage, reaching out to touch her before stopping short when I shook my head sharply. I appreciated that she wanted to comfort my obviously upset bride, but there was no time for that.
The rest of the council waited quietly, talking amongst each other and watching, but otherwise remaining uninvolved with the ceremony. It wasn't just the worry of Sage fighting back and leaving that I was worried about. I was also concerned that word might get back to my father and, crippled or not, he would attempt to come and stop the wedding. Sweat broke out on the back of my neck with each passing minute. Time seemed to crawl.
Georgia's voice rang out clearly in the room, and she began the ceremony, reading off the standard, antiquated wording from the book. She had a nice voice, soothing and warm, and the sound of her was enough to get me to relax, if only for a moment.
"And now the vows," she said, her gaze moving to me.
I stared at her, blank, before it dawned on me that I had no idea what to say. "Sage, my mate, I promise that from now until the day I die, I will care for you and provide for you. You will be my partner and the mother of our pups. You will never have to fear or want for anything again."
There was a long moment where I waited, holding my breath, hoping that my words had gotten through to her and she would say her vows in return.
When Sage didn't respond, I cleared my throat and leaned down, whispering in her ear. "I understand this isn't ideal. But you have to say your vows, Sage. I'm your only ally here. Make the right decision."
She looked up at me, eyes wide, her lips parting, and finally, she gave me the smallest boon, loudly saying, "I accept," and then, quiet enough that only I could hear her, "Because you're giving me no damn choice."
Georgia's smile was tight, but she nodded. "Noah, please sign your name on the first page in the book."
I took the book and pen from her and quickly signed my name, and then handed the book and pen over to Sage. She hesitated, holding it awkwardly before sighing and signing.
"Wonderful," Georgia said, "Now you may kiss to seal the binding."
I reached for Sage, gently taking the book and pen from her and handing it off to Cal. She looked up at me, fear and anger swimming in her blue eyes, and I felt like an asshole. She hated me, and there was nothing I could do about it, not at the moment.
But soon, Sage would realize that her life wasn't the nightmare it appeared to be. I just needed time.
With that thought in mind, I bent down and pressed my lips to Sage's. Her skin was cool, and she was stiff, and for a second, I thought she was going to bite me, but then she melted against me. I was thrown back to when we were so much younger, and I was kissing her with abandon, desperate to keep her near me, back when my father was so against us even being friends. I remembered the staggering feeling of our mating bond snapping into place, and revelled in the way it was now singing like it hadn't been abandoned for five long years. Sage made a quiet, soft sound in her throat, and I kissed her the way I'd dreamed of doing during our long, agonizing separation.
Finally, it was done. I pulled away from her reluctantly, barely aware that we were still in front of the entire council. Sage seemed even more unsteady on her feet than before, flushing bright red when she realized that she'd given in to the kiss. The council members still looked varying levels of uncomfortable, bored, and angry, while a few looked hesitantly approving.
Sage, on the other hand, was coming out of the haze of the kiss, and as the shock and shame faded, I could sense the fury building in her down her bond.
I needed to get her out of the council hall and back to my place before she exploded. It was useless, anyway. The ceremony was done, and we were wed. Sage could be as furious as she wanted, but it wouldn't change the fact that she was finally my wife.
Chapter 6 - Sage
I was having an out-of-body experience. There was no other explanation for what was happening to me.
Somehow, some way, I was married to Noah. It had happened in less than thirty minutes, and for some insane reason, I had gone along with it when he pressured me. I felt like there was
nothing else for me to do, not when nearly a dozen of the wolves that had so vocally despised me when I was still in the pack were watching. Noah was the only safe person in the room, and I felt like I had to do what he wanted, or I would be all alone.
I said the words, and then he was kissing me, driving all the other thoughts from my head. It was only the second kiss we had ever shared, but all the teenage hesitancy was gone. Noah kissed me with an intensity that could only come from an Alpha who was confident in his skin and in his power, and the power of our bond was briefly loud enough that I could forget what was happening and just let myself fall into him.
Until it was over and the spell was broken. We were married.
Noah wasted little time, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of the building. Questions were thrown his way, but he ignored them, and it all just sounded like static to me. All I could really hear was my pulse pounding in my head.
It wasn't until he all but pushed me back into the passenger seat of the rental car that I was finally able to get a hold of myself. By the time he made it to the driver's seat, I was ready to fight.
I slapped at his arm, yelling, "How could you?!"
