Chapter 36 Public Claiming

Chapter 36 Public Claiming


I stood at the edge of the great hall and wished the floor would swallow me.

The entire pack had gathered. Warriors, elders, servants, children. Every face turned toward the dais where Garrick waited. Every eye flicking to me, then away, then back again. I wore the dress he'd sent. Deep blue wool, fitted perfectly, worth more than my family had earned in a year. It felt like armor. Or a target.

Eira squeezed my arm. "Breathe."

"I'm breathing."

"You're shaking."

I was shaking. My hands trembled at my sides. My heart pounded so loud I was sure everyone could hear it. Through the bond, I felt Garrick's impatience, his want, his absolute focus on me.

"Anika."

His voice cut through the noise. I looked up. Garrick stood at the edge of the dais, his hand extended toward me. Waiting.

The hall went silent.

I crossed to him on legs that didn't feel like my own. Step by step, past warriors I'd healed and elders who'd doubted me and servants who'd whispered. Step by step, toward the man who held my heart and my bond.

When I reached him, he took my hand. His fingers closed around mine, warm and steady. Through the bond, I felt his love, his pride, his absolute certainty.

"Come." He led me onto the dais. Turned me to face the pack. Kept my hand in his.

The silence stretched.

Then Garrick spoke.

"Many of you have questioned why I keep this human close. Why she sits at my table, walks at my side, shares my confidence." His voice carried to every corner of the hall. "Some of you have whispered that she's a spy, a liability, a weakness."

I felt the words hit the crowd. Saw Calder's jaw tighten. Saw Marrick's eyes narrow. Felt the resistance like a physical weight.

"Today, those whispers stop."

Garrick turned to me. His free hand came up, cupping my face. His eyes burned into mine.

"Anika Blackwood is my mate. Bound to me by the bond that transcends pack, territory, and species. She carries my mark on her soul and I carry hers on mine."

He dropped to one knee.

The hall gasped. I heard it, felt it, a wave of shock that rolled through the crowd. An Alpha did not kneel. Not to anyone. Not ever.

But Garrick knelt before me, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I claim you before my pack, before my ancestors, before whatever gods may watch. I claim you as my equal, my partner, my other half." His voice roughened. "From this day forward, what is mine is yours. My name, my protection, my heart. All of it. Forever."

Tears burned my eyes. I couldn't speak. Could only look at this man, this Alpha, kneeling in front of everyone, offering me everything.

Through the bond, I felt his question. His hope. His desperate need for my answer.

Somehow, I found my voice.

"I accept." The words came out thick. "I accept your claim. I accept your name. I accept you. All of you. Forever."

He rose and kissed me.

Not gentle. Not restrained. This was a claiming kiss, fierce and possessive and full of fire. His hands tangled in my hair, pulling me closer. I kissed him back the same way, pouring everything I had into it, letting the pack see exactly what we were to each other.

When we broke apart, we were both breathing hard. His forehead pressed to mine. His eyes dark with want.

"Mine," he whispered.

"Yours."

The hall erupted.

Cheers from some. Whistles. Applause. But underneath, I heard the silence of those who still doubted. Felt their resistance like cold stones.

Garrick turned to face them, keeping me at his side, his arm around my waist.

"Anyone who questions my choice questions me. Anyone who disrespects her disrespects me. Anyone who moves against her will answer to their Alpha." His voice hardened. "Are we clear?"

A chorus of agreement. Most of it genuine. Some of it forced.

Marrick stepped forward. His face was carved from stone, but he inclined his head. To me. "Luna."

The word landed like a blow. Luna. Not healer, not debt slave, not human. Luna.

I inclined my head back. "Elder Marrick."

Something flickered in his eyes. Surprise, maybe. Or the first crack in his resistance.

Others approached after that. Warriors offering congratulations, some warm, some careful. Children staring with wide eyes. Servants smiling, some genuine, some calculated.

Through it all, Garrick stayed at my side. His hand never left mine. His emotions never wavered through the bond. Love. Pride. Possessiveness.

Calder approached last. He looked at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

"You're really doing this."

"I'm really doing this."

He nodded slowly. "Then I guess you're stuck with us."

"I guess I am."

He almost smiled. Almost. Then he walked away.

When the last well-wisher finally drifted off, Garrick pulled me aside into a quiet corridor. His hands found my waist, pulled me against him.

"You did well."

"I stood there and tried not to faint."

He smiled. Warm and unguarded. "You did more than that. You accepted me in front of everyone. You let them see you. All of you." He pulled me closer. "I'm proud of you."

Through the bond, I felt the truth of it. Felt his pride like sunlight.

"I'm proud of you too. Even if you did kneel and give everyone heart attacks."

He laughed. "Worth it."

I rose on my toes and kissed him. Soft at first, then deeper. He groaned against my mouth, pulling me tighter.

"We should go back." I breathed the words against his lips.

"In a minute." He kissed me again. "They can wait."

I let him kiss me. Let the world fade. Let the bond hum between us, warm and alive.

When we finally returned to the hall, the pack was still celebrating. But now they celebrated us. Together. Mated. Bound.

The debt slave was gone. Luna remained.

And that was everything.