Chapter 50
The official mating ceremony for Aubrey and Eric took place one year later during the first Full Moon Feast of the year. It was a spectacular event that was attended by clan members from far and wide. Gary grinned from ear to ear throughout the party, making jokes with everyone and laughing loudly. His happiness made Aubrey happy too.
“One would think today was your dad’s wedding ceremony, and not yours,” Eric remarked when he saw Aubrey watching her dad have a good time.
“I know, right,” she said with a smile. “He’s probably relieved that I won’t spend my life alone and become an old lady with a house full of dogs to keep me company.”
“I thought old ladies usually had cats,” Eric teased.
“I’m a dog person,” she laughed. “Even though I don’t own one. Yet.”
“I owned a dog once. When I was ten or so. The poor thing saw me shapeshift into a wolf one day and it ran away and never returned.”
Aubrey burst into a hearty laughter. “You’re lying!”
“I’m not, I swear. Dude ran out the door and never looked back. I thought it would return in the evening, but it didn’t. I then told my dad to help me find him, but he said no because he never liked the dog anyway.”
“Why?” Aubrey asked, grinning.
Eric shrugged. “The dog just knew there was something off about my folks, especially my dad. It always barked whenever it saw my dad and he hated that. So, when it ran off, Dad said, ‘Good riddance! I never want to set eyes on that silly mutt again.’”
Aubrey loved how easy it was to have a conversation with Eric. There was never a dull moment with him—he made her laugh, listened to her when she needed someone to talk to, treated her like a lady and always remained calm even when things got heated between them. He was simply perfect for her, and she could not help but feel grateful for the fate that brought them together as mates.
And now, tonight in the presence of their family and friends, they’d sealed the deal to become one for as long as they lived. It was better than any kind of future she could have ever imagined for herself when she was younger. The reality beat her fantasies hands down.
“Say, you wanna go someplace quiet, away from all this noise and do those wild things we always do when we’re alone?” Eric asked seductively.
Aubrey responded with a knowing smile. “What do you have in mind, my darling mate?” she asked sweetly.
“I don’t want to say it. I want to show you.”
Aubrey felt a rush of adrenaline course through her, and her pulse quickened with excitement. “I hate to abandon our guests, but I think they can manage without us.”
“I agree,” Eric said.
“Lead the way then, my love.”
They snuck away from the party and made their way further into the woods. They took off at a run, heading for the spot where they’d made love on the night they found out they were fated to be mates. The spot had become their special place where they retreated to whenever they wanted to be alone and away from the rest of the world.
“We should build a cabin here and make it our getaway spot,” Aubrey suggested as they reached the clearing.
“I like the sound of that. I’ve always wanted to own a cabin in the woods. Now that you’ve mentioned it, it’s a must have for us now.”
Aubrey laughed. “I already know what the inside will look like,” she said.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. In fact, we already made love in the cabin in your dream.”
“You dirty little Peeping Tom,” Eric laughed and licked her muzzle. “How about we recreate the dream right here?”
“I was hoping you’d ask,” she said, then stood up on her hind legs and transformed into her human form. Eric shapeshifted into his human form too and they instantly fell into each other’s arms, kissing deeply.
“I love you, Aubrey Silver,” Eric whispered against her lips. “I promise to love you all my life and beyond.”
“And I love you, Eric Brown,” Aubrey replied passionately. “I am yours now and always. You are the best thing to ever happen to me. My life feels so complete right now with you in it.”
“I am so lucky to have you, Aubrey.”
“Yes, we are so lucky to have each other.”
The End.