Chapter 201
Chapter 201
Almost a year later, it was the Christmas Eve celebration at Lightmoon.
The hall was packed with pack members and guests from far and wide. the pack Alpha, Marian, sat on the dais with the pack mother and Luna, Luna Diane, her mother’s sister, and their two sons.
The pack Beta, Beta Brock, was standing behind Alpha Marian.
It was almost midnight.
Everyone was anticipating the ball drop.
A gong sounded, twice.
Everyone stared as they knew it was not yet time. Even the gas for dulling scents had not yet been released.
The music stopped.
The pack door opened, and the tallest shifter in Lightmoon entered the room.
All eyes stared.
Since New Year’s, few had seen their Alpha’s firstborn, their last Alpha’s firstborn.
As they stared, many took sharp breaths.
His resemblance to their former Alpha, Alpha Dax, was undeniable. However, he had a powerful presence of his own.
His eyes scanned the room, and heads, willing or not, bowed.
This, was the Lycan King.
It was unmistakable.
This, was the most powerful shifter alive.
His eyes slid to the left, then to the right, then, to the centre, all the way to the back.
His eyes fixed on one person.
That person stood.
The Lycan King approached slowly.
The people parted like a sea, making a path to the dais.
Luna Diane was the first to greet him.
She curtsied, bowing her head low.
Reyland tore his eyes from the one he had been gazing at; he stared at the bowed head of his mother, his aunt, his pack’s Luna.
“Mother,” he rumbled.
Those behind him knelt, every wolf, pack member, or guest, went down.
Luna Diane shivered, then raised her eyes.
“So long,” she whispered, “no word from you!”
Reyland smiled softly, his eyes clear, his blue eyes.
Luna Diane gasped, but did nothing more.
She bowed again and stepped aside.
Behind her, Zara, the pack Beta, and even his younger brothers, were all kneeling, with bowed heads.
He spoke to each one in link and they rose.
Only one person had not bowed.
That one person stared at Reyland like he was a mirage.
Her face was white, and tight – the pack Alpha, Alpha Marian.
Since his departure, Reyland had not communicated with anyone in Lightmoon.
Marian had not bothered to contact him, knowing, believing, that he had a reason for his silence.
She secretly blamed the Alpha King, but kept all thoughts and concerns to herself. Focusing instead on keeping Lightmoon stable, then prosperous.
With the Luna’s support, and the support of Alpha Dax and her father, Alpha Corien, behind the scenes, everything had been working out better than anyone had expected.
She stared at her prince. No, her King.
Her lips parted and Reyland’s eyes glided upward, lazily.
Marian’s eyes went up. She gasped.
Above her head, in Reyland’s hand, was mistletoe. A whole wreath.
She glanced back at him, but it was more like her eyes shifted to him.
He had moved to her.
Standing toe to toe, chest to chest.
If she had faced forward, her eyes would be at his chest.
She stared at him as he gazed down silently.
He placed the wreath on his head.
Marian could not fight the smile that formed on her full lips.
“You know the rules,” he rumbled.
“And you are?” she asked coyly.
“Does it matter? Rules are rules,” he mumbled.
She placed a hand on his chest pushing him backward.
He did not move.
She could not move him.
He placed a large hand on hers, pressing her hand to his chest.
“Do you hear it?” he mumbled.
No one could hear a word between them, but everyone remained on their knees even though their eyes strayed up, all on the most powerful shifters this side of the border.
“What?” Marian asked, her eyes filling.
“That silence,” he whispered.
Marian stared at him.
“Everyone is staring,” he continued. “Come on, just do it, and this time, no teeth, okay?”
Marian smiled widely.
“Is that a command, King Lycan?”
“A humble request, my Queen.”
They kissed, long and deep.
Without breaking apart, Reyland commanded someone, and the music started up. Everyone stood, and loud cheering filled the hall.
They continued kissing, and applause broke out.
They pulled apart. Reyland stared into her eyes as the entire pack looked on.
Two people who hated eyes on them, now stood, without any shame or reservation.
The applause simmered down but smiles were everywhere in the room.
Reyland took a step back, his eyes on Marian.
The room quieted reflexively.
“I, Reyland Garrant, claim you, Marian Storm, as my true mate,” he announced, his voice carrying over all other voices and the music.
Marian gaped at him.
The room fell silent.
‘True mate.’ The phrase buzzed through the pack link. No one dared to say it out loud.
“Rey –” Marian whispered urgently.
“Do you accept me?” he continued at the same volume, his eyes fixed on hers.
They were true mates. They had found that out at New Year’s, at the lake, when he had first transformed.
But they had never discussed announcing it to anyone.
And they had not marked each other, not yet.
The Alpha King had summoned him before they could agree on everything, decide whether or not they were ready.
What he had just done was his declaration to her that he was ready.
Marian stared up at him.
The implication of his words, so publicly, was that anyone who knew, would know the depth of their union and everything it came with.
Privately, he was letting her know that it was time.
“Are you sure?” Marian whispered.
“I have you to protect me, why should I hide it?” he said softly, speaking at a volume no other could hear.
Marian’s eyes filled.
“Reyland,” she whispered.
He stared at her as she hung her head.
She raised her face to him.
“I, Marian Storm, accept you, Reyland Garrant, as my true mate,” Marian declared.
The room could not have erupted at any higher volume.
Marian and Reyland kissed again, this time, the Lycan King raised his mate against his chest, lifting her by the waist, her feet off the ground, her arms around his neck, as her tongue found his and tears spilled from her eyes.
She caught the wreath as it fell off his head and placed it on her own head.
Reyland raised her higher, never once breaking their kiss.
A loud gong sounded. It was five minutes to midnight; time for the main event.