Chapter 246
Lynette's POV
I stood in front of the full-length mirror in Victoria's guest room and tried not to bolt.
Three days had passed since I'd walked into Kael's office and said those words. Three days of preparation for tonight's ceremony. Three days of my wolf practically vibrating with anticipation while my human side wanted to climb out a window.
"Stop fidgeting." Victoria's voice came from behind me. She was holding some kind of ceremonial robe. White silk. Traditional.
I hated it already.
"I'm not fidgeting."
"Your hands are clenched so tight I can see your knuckles from here."
Damn it.
I forced my fingers to relax. Looked at her reflection in the mirror. "Tell me again why we're doing this the old-fashioned way."
Victoria's mouth curved. "Because Kael wants everyone to know this is your choice. Not pack politics. Not forced bonding. You. Choosing him."
My stomach did something complicated.
She moved closer. Draped the robe over a chair. "The ceremony has three phases. Public declaration. Wolf chase. Mark completion."
I turned to face her. "Wolf chase?"
"Traditional courtship ritual. The female runs through the forest. The male pursues." Her eyes were steady on mine. "You can refuse at any point. Run as far as you want. He won't force you to stop."
Oh.
That's what this was about.
Kael was giving me one last out. One final chance to say no when my instincts were screaming and there was nothing between us but forest and moonlight.
My throat went tight.
"Lynette." Victoria's hand touched my shoulder. Gentle. "You don't have to do this."
"I know."
"Then why are you shaking?"
Good question.
I looked down at my hands. They were trembling. Just slightly.
"I've never..." The words stuck. I swallowed hard. "I've never let anyone this close. Not in twenty years."
"I know." Her voice was soft. Understanding. "But you're not that isolated Alpha anymore. You have family now. A sister. A pack. And a mate who would rather die than hurt you."
My eyes burned.
Fuck.
I blinked hard. "If I cry and ruin whatever makeup you're planning to put on me, I'm blaming you."
Victoria laughed. Actually laughed. "Deal."
---
Two hours later, I stood at the edge of the ceremonial circle and wondered if I was going to throw up.
The full moon hung massive and silver overhead. Every high-ranking member of Kael's pack surrounded the ancient stone ring. Torches burned at intervals. The air smelled like pine smoke and night-blooming flowers.
And in the center of it all stood Kael.
Holy hell.
He wore formal Alpha regalia. Black on black. His hair was pulled back. Those amber eyes caught the firelight and turned molten gold.
My wolf surged forward so hard I actually stumbled.
Drake appeared at my elbow. Steadied me. "Easy there."
"I'm fine." My voice came out rough.
"Sure you are." He didn't sound convinced. "Ready?"
No.
"Yes."
He guided me forward. The crowd parted. I could feel every eye on me.
My wolf's presence filled my body completely now. Back in my original form—my real form—I was six feet of pure Alpha female. Silver-white hair down to my waist. Amber eyes that glowed in the dark. The kind of presence that made other wolves drop their gazes.
But right now? Walking toward Kael?
I felt like that scared seventeen-year-old Omega all over again.
Kael's eyes found mine. Held.
Everything else disappeared.
Drake's voice rang out. Formal. Ceremonial. "Under the witness of the full moon and this pack, Alpha Kael Harrington requests the presence of Lynette Grey."
I stepped into the circle.
The torchlight painted shadows across Kael's face. Made him look carved from stone.
Then he dropped to one knee.
My heart stopped.
Actually stopped.
"Lynette Grey." His voice carried across the circle. Deep. Steady. "Under the full moon and before my pack, I ask you to become my lifelong mate."
Oh god.
"I promise to honor your will. Protect your freedom. Share my strength and my life with you."
His hand extended. Palm up. Waiting.
Every instinct I had screamed at me to run.
But I looked at his face. Saw the vulnerability there. The hope. The absolute certainty that if I said no right now, he'd let me walk away.
My wolf made a sound that was half-growl, half-whine.
Take his hand, you idiot.
I took his hand.
His fingers closed around mine. Warm. Strong. Trembling just slightly.
"I, Lynette Grey, accept your request." My voice didn't shake. Miracle. "I choose you as my mate. Willingly. I bind myself to you."
The pack erupted in howls.
Kael stood. Drew me close.
"You sure?" he murmured. Only for me.
"Ask me again and I'll punch you."
His mouth curved. "There's my girl."
Then he kissed me.
Not deep. Not possessive. Just... gentle.
A promise.
When he pulled back, his eyes were glowing full wolf-gold.
"Phase two," he said quietly. "You run. I chase. You stop when you're ready."
My pulse kicked into overdrive.
"And if I don't stop?"
"Then I keep chasing." His thumb brushed my cheek. "Forever if I have to."
Damn him.
I stepped back. Met his eyes one more time.
Then I shifted.
---
The transformation rippled through me like lightning. Bones reformed. Muscles stretched. Silver-white fur erupted across my skin.
My wolf form was massive. Bigger than any normal Alpha. Bigger than Kael's even.
I was built for war. For hunting. For ruling frozen wastelands where only the strongest survived.
And right now? I was built for running.
I bolted.
The forest opened up before me. Trees blurred past. Wind rushed through my fur. The moon painted everything silver.
Behind me, I heard Kael shift. The sound of his paws hitting earth.
He was following.
Not too close. Respectful distance.
Giving me space to choose.
My wolf's instincts kicked in. We ran faster. Leaped over fallen logs. Splashed through a stream. Put distance between us and him.
Testing.
Always testing.
Would he force the chase? Corner us? Use his Alpha dominance to make us submit?
But Kael just... followed.
Steady. Patient. Never closing the gap.
I ran for what felt like hours. Deep into pack territory. Past the boundaries I'd memorized. Into wild forest where moonlight barely penetrated.
And he stayed behind me. Always there. Never pushing.
Trusting me to choose.
My chest went tight.
I slowed. Stopped in a small clearing where moonlight broke through the canopy.
Turned.
Kael emerged from the trees. His black wolf form was sleek. Powerful. Those gold eyes fixed on me.
He stopped ten feet away.
Waited.
My wolf circled him once. Twice. Assessing. Testing his patience.
He didn't move. Just watched us with those steady eyes.
I stopped in front of him. Close enough to feel his body heat.
He lowered his head slightly. Submission. From an Alpha.
For me.
My wolf made the decision before my human brain could overthink it.
I stepped forward. Pressed my muzzle against his.
Yes.
Kael's entire body shuddered.
Then he moved. Slowly. Carefully. Nuzzled along my jaw. Down to my throat.
I tilted my head. Exposed my neck completely.
Vulnerable.
Trusting.
His teeth found the marking spot. Right where neck met shoulder.
I braced for pain.
Instead—heat.
Burning, overwhelming heat that shot through every nerve ending. The bond snapped into place like a physical thing. A golden thread connecting us soul-deep.
And suddenly I could feel everything.
His love. Raw and desperate and all-consuming.
His desire. Sharp enough to hurt.
His absolute, unwavering devotion.
Every emotion he'd been holding back for weeks crashed into me at once.
I shifted back to human form without meaning to. Collapsed to my knees.
Kael shifted too. Caught me. Pulled me against his chest.
"Breathe," he murmured. "Just breathe through it."
"You—" My voice cracked. "You feel like this? All the time?"
"Since the moment I met you." His hand cupped my face. "Now you know. I never wanted to control you, Lynette. I just wanted to love you."
The tears came then.
I couldn't stop them.
Twenty years of isolation. Of never trusting anyone. Of believing love was just another word for weakness.
And here was this man. This impossible, stubborn, patient man. Loving me anyway.
"I'm terrified," I whispered against his chest.
"I know." He kissed my hair. "Me too."
"But I choose you."
"I know that too."
We stayed like that for a long time. Tangled together in the moonlight. The bond humming between us like a living thing.
Finally, Kael pulled back. Looked at me with those devastating eyes.
"Ready to go back?"
I nodded.
He stood. Offered his hand.
I took it.
---
The pack was waiting when we returned to the circle. Hand in hand. Marked and mated.
Drake's voice boomed out. "The witness is complete! Lynette Grey is now the bonded mate of Alpha Kael Harrington!"
The howls were deafening.
Elara broke through the crowd. Threw her arms around me. "I knew it! I knew you'd choose him!"
I hugged her back. Tight.
Over her shoulder, I caught Kael's eye.
He was smiling. Really smiling.
And through the bond, I felt his joy. His relief. His absolute certainty that this—us—was right.
My wolf settled. Finally quiet. Finally home.
Kael pulled me close. Pressed a kiss to my forehead.
"Welcome home, my mate."
Home.
Yeah.
That sounded about right.