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“Um… sorta?” Marshall hedged, and then joined Aaron as he burst out laughing.
“We have the ceremony, which will only take about fifteen minutes. Then the Elders will officially recognize you as the Alpha-Mate of the West Mill pack. There’ll be food and drinking, and then when the moon has risen, the pack will shift and run together.”
“And while you’re getting your fur on, what am I doing?”
“You’re running with me, mate of mine.”
“I am?”
“You are,” Aaron nodded. He glanced down at a now sleeping Lucy. “Come on, let’s get this angel to the nursery, and then we can mingle with everyone.”
The setting sun cast long shadows across the lawn of the West Mill Pack house, bathing the old brick building in a golden hue. There was a slight chill to the air, and there was a faint drift of smoke as braziers were lit around the garden to warm the gathering crowd.
Aaron had lost his mate a short while ago, Marshall having been whisked away by his mother, Claire, to get tidied up before the ceremony. There had been much eye-rolling and good-natured grumbling on his mate’s behalf, and Aaron had laughed until his own mother had done the same.
A warm hand clapped him on the shoulder, and he turned to greet his grinning brother.
“You ready to do this?” Josh asked.
“Of course I am. I’m just looking for Marshall.”
“He’s about to come through those doors,” Josh said, with a nod towards the patio that led to their private quarters.
“Have you got the rings?” Aaron asked, keeping his voice low.
Josh patted his pocket. Rings weren’t a usual part of a shifter mating ceremony, but after Marshall had expressed how much he wished his mating mark hadn’t faded, Aaron had added the human tradition to their ceremony. Of course, getting Marshall’s ring size had been tricky, but with a little magic from Kyr, he’d gotten it.
Aaron’s attention was drawn back to the house as the door opened and Marshall stepped out. Aaron’s breath hitched at the sight of his mate. He was still dressed in the cream linen shirt and tan pants he’d had on earlier, but a small rose boutonniere was now pinned to his pocket.
With a grace that would make any feline proud, Marshall stalked towards him.
“Shall we?” Marshall asked, offering his elbow.
Aaron pressed a quick kiss to his mouth, wanting to linger but knowing he would face the wrath of both Anna and Claire if he did.
“My pleasure,” he replied.
Arm in arm, they made their way to where Elder Lee and Alice stood waiting for them. Normally, Aaron would be the one officiating, but of course, when it was the Alpha getting married, the duty fell to one of the Pack Elders.
As they took their places, Alice gave them a wink as the pack gathered around them to witness the proceedings.
“Thank you, everyone, for joining us tonight on this very special occasion, the mating of our Alpha to his soul bonded mate,” Elder Lee began. “I cannot tell you what an honor it is, to be asked to officiate such a momentous occasion.” He looked at them both. “Are you ready?”
They nodded and turned to face each other, Aaron taking Marshall’s rough-hewn hands in his own.
In a deep and melodious voice, Elder Lee began the ceremony.
“A soul bond, or to give it its proper name,anima vinculum, is a once in a generation bond. You here today are lucky enough to witness this generation’s bond. Gentlemen, do you accept the soul bond as true and recognize each other as mates?”
“We do,” Aaron and Marshall said in unison, grinning at each other.
“Do you acknowledge that only death can break a soul bond and you will love and protect each other until that day comes?”
“We do.”
Elder Lee turned his attention to both sets of parents. “Do you, as the parents of these men, agree to this union and offer your support and guidance?”
“We do.”
