“Tonight,” she begins, her voice strong and clear, “we welcome Her Majesty, Noël—the chosen leader who has come to guide us. Her presence marks the beginning of a new era for us all. The era where the balance will return.”
The vólkins erupt in cheers and howls, their voices echoing through the trees of Ávera. My ears perk, and my focus shifts to my right as Noël walks toward us. She’s flanked by Mina, Naïa, and Essin, her presence lit by the glow of the garlands.
She takes my breath away.
The gown fits her perfectly. Every stitch and detail matches her beauty. My chest tightens, and a familiar ache rises in my throat. I swallow hard, feeling my cock drawing out. She will drive me to madness before the bonding ritual.
As she approaches, the crowd bows low in a show of loyalty and submission. But all I can see—all I want to see—is her. Our eyes meet, and the rest of the world blurs into nothingness. The cheering fades, the glowing orbs dim, and even the pups’ laughter is distant.
There is only her. My little dove.
I stride forward through the gathered vólkins. My mind blanks. All I know is that I need her in my arms.
Before I realize it, she’s there, close enough to hold. My heart pounds wildly in my chest, and every hair on my body stands on end.
Her eyes widen as she looks up at me. “Theron?”
“Noël,” I murmur her name, standing so close to her.
Mine.
Tonight, there is no balance, no prophecy.
There is only a little dove in front of me.
A dove with a beautiful gown, a dove with colorful flowers in her hair. I look down at my cock, and so does she. The veins are going to pop soon if I don’t do something about it. My gaze narrows, locking onto her as her pale face flushes red. There it is. That beautiful blush of hers. She lifts her eyes and pushes me away.
“You are the most beautiful and tempting creature I have ever witnessed,” I whisper. The red deepens on her cheeks, spreading to her neck, and by the goddesses, every part of me wants to claim her here and now. Ceremonies be damned.
“Everyone is looking,” she says quietly.
Her words bring me back to reality. And another low growl rumbles in my chest as I glance around. Right. The crowd.
I tilt my head back and take a deep breath, the cool air doing little to calm the heat in me.What are you doing, Theron?
This moment is for her, and it’s too important to let my beast take over. Turning to the gathered vólkins, I catch Elder Aïna and Kaël grinning at me, clearly enjoying my slip in composure. The rest of the crowd stands in respectful silence, their attention fixed on us.
I clear my throat, then raise my voice. “The feast shall begin!”
The clearing fills with cheers as I stride to the main table, catching my mate’s hand as I walk. Carefully, I lead Noël to her seat, brushing my claws over her hand once more before stepping to my own seat beside her. She looks up at me, her eyes wide and still shining with warmth.
Some vólkins settle into their places as others begin bringing out more of the game we hunted, the rich aroma of meat and berries filling the air.
Vólkins approach one by one to pay their respects, each offering blessings to the leader such as, “We welcome the ethereal leader” and “May the goddesses bless our leader.”
My patience is wearing thin. All I want is to pull her onto my lap, to feel her weight on my thigh where she belongs. She’d fit perfectly there, greeting everyone from her rightful place. On me.
Clenching my jaw, I turn my focus to the task at paw and arrange cooked meat for Noël in the bowl Mina prepared, one I carved myself.
“Do you want fruit with the meat or after?” I ask.
Noël turns to me, her attention shifting away from yet another well-meaning blessing from my people. Her brows knit as she replies, “Theron, I can get my food myself.”
“I’m already doing it,” I say, barely holding back a grin.
Her eyes narrow, and she sighs. “After.”
Did she justhuff? My Noël, huffing like a vólkin? The urge to tease her is irresistible.
