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He held his breath as she made her way to him, their gazes locked on each other. His lion wanted to burst out of his skin and go to her, and the human part of him wanted to vow to never spend a night apart again. It was a hell he didn’t want to revisit.
China and her father stopped at the top step and the music faded away.
“Who gives this female to this male?” Duke asked.
“Her mother and I do,” Lee said.
China kissed her father’s cheek and then took Oz’s hand as she joined him. They faced each other, with Duke just to the side and facing the crowd.
The pride sat and all went quiet.
“You look amazing,” he mouthed to China.
She grinned. “Love you,” she mouthed.
“Me too,” he replied.
Duke cleared his throat and they looked at him. “We’ve gathered together today for three reasons: to join Ozzen and China officially as mates, in marriage, and also to add Oz as an official member of our pride. It’s a blessing when an alpha gets the opportunity to join heart-matches together. I’ve known China for a long time, and nothing makes me happier then to see her marrying her heart-match and knowing that they’re perfect for each other.
“Oz, do you take China to be your wife and your mate? Do you swear to love and protect her as a human and a lion, to honor and cherish her, for as long as you live?”
Oz couldn’t have loved China more in that moment. “I do.”
Duke repeated the words to China. Tears slipped over her cheeks as she said, “I do.”
“Oz, you come before the pride today to ask for membership to join our ranks. Do you promise to hold our laws as your own and to protect and care for the pride members as if they were your own family?”
“I do,” Oz said.
“Is there anyone who knows a reason why Oz and China should not be mates and husband and wife, or why Oz shouldn’t join to our pride?”
Oz snuck a peek toward the group, then breathed out a sigh of relief when no one raised their hands or spoke up.
Not that he thought anyone would, of course.
“Then it’s my pleasure as alpha of the Kedrick Pride to welcome you to our ranks, Oz, and to declare you mates in truth. With the power vested in me by the Southern Universal Internet Church, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Oz wasted no time in kissing China, tasting her tears and shedding some of his own.
She was his. She was really, truly his.
* * *
China grinned as the pride erupted into cheers, clapping and whistling loudly.
She and Oz turned to face the pride and the cheers grew louder. They stepped off the deck and hurried to the side of the house and away from everyone. In the semi-privacy of the side yard, they hugged and kissed, and Oz tenderly brushed the tears from her cheeks.
“We’re mated and married, sweetheart,” he said, his voice rough.
“I missed you so much last night. I don’t think I slept an hour.”
“Me too. Let’s not do that again.”
“For sure.”
They hugged and kissed a little more, and then Oz leaned around the corner of the house and saw that the pride was mostly gone, retreating to the tent. The wedding party, Duke and Ree, and China’s parents, plus Teresa, were waiting on the deck for them along with the pride photographer.
“Ready?” he asked.
