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“Okay, I got this.” Rooting around inside, searching through all the dress suits and tuxes that I have. There’s one in particular that I decide would be perfect for tonight. It has a series of Norse runes on it and a large depiction of the wolf god Fenrir. With him blazed on my chest and his body over my back with the jewels encrusted in his eyes. I’m sure that this would please Bella to no end.
A whistle escapes from Kaedyn’s lips and he smiles appreciatively. “Now that’s what I’m talking about,” he says, officially giving me his stamp of approval.
Hollis moves forward and gives me a slap on my shoulder. “Perfect man. She’ll be happy with that,” he says just before heading toward the door.
Kaedyn follows shortly after, and I’m left alone with my thoughts. I quickly get dressed in the ornate tux. Pull out my sapphire cufflinks and the emerald pin to go on my tie. I pull out my nicest set of black shoes to go with my tux. Once I’m sure that everything is in place. I run the electric shaver over my face once more. Making sure that my skin is super soft for Bella. I’m not sure if she’s gonna like me clean shaven. Especially since I see that Kaedyn and Hollis both have beards. I then ponder my actions. Maybe I shouldn’t have shaved. Maybe I should have left my face how it was. Shrugging, it’s a little late to worry about that now.
As I question whether shaving was the smartest thing I could do, a knock sounds at my door. It’s the steward, and my father has sent him to collect me for this evening’s festivities. Sighing, I give myself one last glance and then follow him through the halls. “Your mate will join you shortly,” he says calmly, as if it’s the simplest thing in the world.
All I can really do is give him a brief nod. I move forward to take my place next to my father up on the raised platform. We stand at the head of the dining hall watching as others move through. People are dancing where they can, others drinking, raising their glasses to each other. Speaking in semi-hushed tones, anticipating what Belladonna will be wearing. She’s named after an exquisite yet poisonous flower and is deadly in her own right. I guess it’s fitting, considering that she’s considered a Death Wolf. One that is able to end someone's or something’s life with a mere thought. I guess when she says that death can be beautiful, she’s meaning more herself than the actual act of dying. I ponder these things as her other mates join me up here on the pedestal as we watch everyone.
The festivities of the evening ramp up as couples dance and sway along with the music on the dance floor. I’m mildly jealous getting to watch everyone else dance with their partners while I have to sit here, waiting for mine to join me. I know its standard protocol for the females to take their time and be prepared in the old ways. But waiting is still a bitch to deal with. Especially for someone like myself, one who has never even really dated all that much. Yes, I’ve had flings. Yes, I’ve had one-night stands. But this is the first time something actually mattered. So, the whole thought of having to wait to have her in my arms is killing me. I would like to think I’m a patient man. But I would be lying.
Eventually, the lights dim and the music silences as a crack at the back of the room opens up as the double doors swing wide open. The music changes to Clair de Lune playing its soft melody. A tall silhouette stands in the light. Her face obscured by the surrounding darkness. All you can clearly see is a tall crown upon her head and her hair done up just under it.
“Announcing the arrival of the Queen of the Shadow Court, Belladonna.” The crowd within the hall goes wild and I feel my heart rate pick up; beating its own staccato as I watch my future mate approaching. Her steps are slow and sure as she keeps her head turned toward me and her eyes trained on us. Kaedyn and Hollis rest a hand each on my shoulders and give me a gentle pat, sending me down the stairs toward Bella.
There is no prouder or finer moment that I have ever experienced in my entire life than at this moment. I am literally walking toward my future, prepared to forge a bond with the female and spend the rest of my existence with her. She stops about two feet in front of me and then drops into a low curtsey. When she stands, I drop into a much lower bow than she had given me.
I offer my hand and she takes it gently and follows me back up the stairs to where the shaman is standing, ready to perform the mating ceremony for us. As I look over her wardrobe, her dress is a basic sweetheart top and strapless. Hollis and Kaedyn’s bite marks are on full display for the world to see. I look along the lines of her shoulder, trying to find the best place for me to place my mark. On her right shoulder seems to be the best spot, leaving a spot on her left for the last pack to leave theirs.
Bella catches me eyeing up her shoulders and gives me a wink, remaining perfectly prim and proper before the shaman. He reads through the basic mating rite and the normal dissertation that they go through. About caring for your mate, about providing for your mate. What’s expected of the male, what’s expected of the female. So on and so forth. And most of it sounds garbled to me.
Bella stands tall and sure, taking every word that the shaman says with the seriousness that I have never seen from a female before. When it’s all done; she stands before me, offering both of her hands. Taking them gently in mine, she leans forward and presses her cheek against mine. “Are you ready?” she asks softly against the shell of my ear, and I swear it goes straight to my crotch and I’m hard as a rock.
“Yes, I’m ready.” She releases my hands and deftly undoes the buttons of my dress shirt. The material was no match for her talons and she sliced it clear off me. My poor mother gasps, seeing how close her talon came to my throat in order to get rid of the tie that was offending her. I slide my suit jacket off and offer it to Hollis quickly. As Bella slowly slides my dress shirt off my left shoulder. I’m in awe of my mate, absolute and total awe of her. This powerful creature before me, one that’s able to bring life into this world, one that can kill with a thought is being so gentle with me.
Bella’s lips gently caress the muscle that she intends to bite. The lick of her tongue against my flesh sends an electrical jolt down to my crotch. With each moment, my cock is growing harder and becoming difficult to contain within the fabric of my pants. A soft laugh escapes her lips as she presses her body harder against mine, pointing out that she realizes it’s there. With a single slow exhale, I feel her canines pressing down. It stretched my flesh as she applies pressure with her canines until that sting of the tissue breaking underneath her fangs. Ecstasy is the one word can describe the feeling coursing through my body. Suddenly, it’s like my body comes alive like it never has before. It’s a whole new feeling. My blood is liquid fire and every breath that leaves my lungs is like the first breath I’ve ever taken in my existence. She slowly withdraws her teeth and then licks at the wound that she’s created on my shoulder.
When she raises her head finally, all I see is my blood on her lips painting it sanguine. She smiles sweetly at me and then rolls her head to the side. She’s giving me the green light to return the mark upon her flesh. Gently, I caress her neck and move her head to the opposite side and then slowly sink my teeth down into the bare flesh before me. Her breath stutters for a second then evens out as the euphoria I know I felt must be coursing through her. Her hands gently caress my sides, petting me as if trying to soothe me while I am physically inflicting damage on her perfect porcelain skin.
I feel like the entire world has been reborn. I can feel her heartbeat aligning with mine, which means mine might also be aligned with Kaedyn’s and Hollis’s as well. I can feel their tethers faintly through the bond, since the first part of it is now taking place. I know that the main part of the bond comes later when we’re alone. But for now, this is as close to Heaven as I’ve ever gotten. I make sure I retract my canines so that way I don’t mar her skin any further than it already is and then gently lick the wounds clean, sealing them.
The room erupts in cheers as we now face each other and she presses her lips firmly against mine, taking control. I feel like a brand-new man, and I feel like I can take on the world as long as I have her beside me. We finally break apart and the shaman announces us as mates. The chorus strikes back up again, singing the praises of the Wolf God, and the band follows suit with a soft melody. We turn to face the crowd and bend slightly, bowing to them, thanking them for being here for this momentous occasion. It’s then that my father herds us out onto the dance floor to have the first official dance together. A nice slow waltz comes on and I take a hold of my mate and slowly twirl her around the floor. Feeling like I finally belong for the first time in my life and to think it only gets better from here.
Chapter30
Belladonna
This bond differsfrom the ones that I have forged before. Even though Orwell is not a fated mate, he is compatible. I didn’t realize that there would be that much of a difference between them. I don’t feel him as strongly as I do for Hollis or Kaedyn, but I still feel him. It’s just an interesting turn of events that he’s almost a softer echo in my mind than they are. It’s definitely quite odd to think about it in the broadest sense of the term. Even though he’s now considered a mate and the bond will be completely forged tonight that his presence will never be as strong as the other two. It’s kind of unfair to him; but in the other sense, I guess it’s just how it has to be. Fated mate pairings don’t always happen. I know he understands that because he’s a compatible mate, not a fated mate, he may never have children with me. That it’s an outside shot versus almost guaranteed for Hollis and Kaedyn.
It’s kind of a bitter pill to swallow. Even though I’m his mate, he may never have a child. Even though I bit him and eventually will mate with him. We might not be compatible enough for life. It’s kind of a twisted thing that the gods have done. I know it’s for the best and for the strength of the species, but it’s still not fair. It’s not fair to him, and it’s not fair to me.
Every female wants to provide their mate with a child of their own and to do two out of three hurts my heart at the thought of it. But I guess that’s a bridge to be crossed at a later date. For right now. I’m wrapped up in his arms and he’s smiling. Probably the most brilliant smile I’ve seen in quite some time, other than the night that I chose him over his brother. For now, I’ll pretend like everything is okay, but in the back of my mind it still bothers me.
That one little tidbit of information; that one last ultimate truth is that even though he’s compatible, he might never have children. I almost feel bad that I chose him. Because what if his fated mate comes along? Then she will be robbed of her mate. But like my mother told me before, to find your fated mate is very difficult. I mean, I’m honestly not doing too bad, right? Two out of three. Poor Orwell, I’m concerned. What if we find his mate in one of the other kingdoms? What if, in one of the other kingdoms, she’s there and realizes who he is? But because he’s mated, he is no longer hers. This is something that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my days. There is a way to break the bond. But would he let it happen?
This is the first time I’ve encountered not having a fated mate in my family group. So I’m trying to handle Orwell with kid gloves, but I’m still afraid that going to the next kingdom. If he finds his true mate, what will happen? I hope for my sake that he doesn’t, because otherwise I’d feel guilty. We sway slowly on the dance floor. Moving in time with each other as I feel our heartbeats align fully. I watch the looks of Kaedyn and Hollis and they know he is just a whisper compared to the two of them. It’s not his fault that he’s not a fated mate, nor is it my fault.
Unfortunately, fate can be a wicked mistress. I wish I could say things were different, but they’re not. He unfortunately, is just compatible to me. As much as I would love for him to be as fully bonded to me as the other two are. It won’t matter how many times I bite him or how many times we try to seal the bond the rest of the way. It’s never going to be as strong as my other two mates. This brings a sadness to me. I wish it was different. I wish he could be bonded as strongly as the other two.
But unfortunately, fate had a different idea for him. It’s times like this I wish we were more like the cats and that it didn’t matter. That I could end up picking whatever male that I wanted, and he would be bonded to me just as strongly. But that’s not the case. I’m not a cat. I mean, in my sadness I can hide it from him, but by the look that Kaedyn and Hollis are giving me. I know that they’re feeling exactly how I feel at this moment. It’s only a matter of time before one of them takes me away from him and questions me.
Speak of the devil. Here comes Kaedyn. He taps Orwell on the shoulder and I know I’m a dead woman. I know the minute that he gets me by himself, he’s gonna interrogate me because of how the vibe in the bond has changed. I know I feel like nothing but a raging storm within his chest. The minute Orwell bows to me and walks away; my heart sinks. I know for a fact that Kaedyn feels exactly how I’m feeling right now, because Hollis mirrors the look on his face.
As he wraps his arms around me and we sway to the beat of the music, they switch to a nice slow waltz. One that I know that will last far longer than I believe this conversation needs to go on for. As we start this way, I rest my head on Kaedyn’s shoulder and press my forehead against his throat, feeling his pulse against my forehead. I’m hoping this submissive act gets him to realize how stressed I currently am and that he doesn’t take advantage at the moment and presses me for more answers than I’m willing to give him. He reaches up with one hand and threads his fingers through the loose hairs at the back of my neck. His fingers playing with the dainty curls that always rest there.
Whenever I put my hair up, he gets a grip of one curl and likes to give it a gentle tug. “I know you’re hiding things. You need to talk to me, Bella,” he implores me as his lips press against my cheek. He then rests his head against mine.
