He gently slides his teeth out and kisses my wound.
“I’m sorry, my queen,” he whispers.
He doesn’t have to be sorry. This is the best moment of my life.
The crowd is silent as he bends his knees, tilts his head to the side, and exposes his neck.
I step on my toes, kiss his neck, and then bite him gently, not knowing what I’m doing exactly. My teeth don’t pierce his flesh; it’s more symbolic than anything, but it makes the crowd roar.
Rurik raises his arms in triumph as the crowd gets louder, and then says the sacred words,
“By moon and blood, you are bound.
By bite and bond, you are pack.
As one, you stand. As one, you endure.”
Someone hands Alaric my crown and he smiles as he carefully places it on my head.
He looks at me for a long moment, then takes my hand and we turn to the pack.
“Our queen!” someone shouts and then they’re all shouting and cheering and bowing before us.
Alaric is watching me with so much love it hurts.
I know how hard it’s been for him to wear this crown.
But he doesn’t have to do it alone anymore. I’ll share the burden with him.
Alaric squeezes my hand and lifts our arms into the air. The pack goes wild, roaring and cheering in joy. The wolves on the outskirts of town howl in harmony.
The music starts, the bonfire is lit, and the drinks start flowing.
Everyone joins in, dancing and having a blast. My feet tingle, wanting to join in too.
But Alaric guides me to our thrones where we’re to sit and watch it all.
“No way,” I say, planting my feet to stop him. “Let’s go dance.”
Alaric looks uneasy. He glances at the people waiting to address the king and frowns.
“But the shifters waiting…”
“This isournight,” I tell him. “Let’s go have some fun.”
He looks at me and his frown melts away. “Okay.”
“Hold on,” I say, stopping him again. I take off his crown, place it on his throne, and then take off mine and place it on my new throne. “We can’t dance with crowns on our heads.”
“Join the party,” I say to the waiting line of people as we pass them. “The king is busy tonight.”
We hurry down the steps of the dais before they can answer and disappear into the festive crowd.
Drinks are thrust into our hands as we make our way to the dance floor. It’s a blast. The music is amazing and it’s the perfect night.
I pull Alaric into the middle of the dancers and he just stands there all stiff, not knowing what to do.
He’s so cute. I gotta loosen him up.
