Branded

Future Alpha Romero's POV

"Lori, baby. Come to me. Come here, my fated Luna."

I hold out my hand, calling her to me pleadingly. She hesitates, a confused look on her face. The witch nudges her from behind and she finally moves. She walks towards me with cautious steps.

And then I noticed that her clothes were odd. She is dressed in black, and the cap does not match the event at all. But then she has a bow and arrow in one hand and a spear in the other. And I immediately understood what she was up to. This Luna is still fighting for her place in my life.

When she was a few steps away from me, she suddenly sobered up. She looked wildly at the props in her hands and let them go, dropping them to the floor. The sound was sharp in the silence. Shaking my head, I grip her upper arms and pull her into my embrace.

Our lips meet in a searing kiss and I have to stop myself, mindful of our guests who are still waiting in silence.

"You didn't have to do this. I assured you that I would choose you no matter what happened tonight, my love. I would have kept my promise".

"Yes, but I had to do a lot to keep you on my track. You had promised to make me your Luna in the pre-school, but you forgot as soon as I left Eclipse Howl. Who knows what would have happened if I hadn't intervened again and again," she whispers against my neck.

"We are fated. Loriann, there is nothing to keep us apart. You should have had more faith in me."

With Loriann by my side, I turned to the waiting wolves.

"Eclipse Howl and friends, this is my fated mate, chosen by our Moon Goddess and accepted by me. The future Luna Loriann d'Coste".

And now cheers break out, a burst of excitement that has been held back for too long. Congratulations are shouted at us, cameras are flashing, the hall becomes a pleasant chaos. My parents and Lori's came over, relief on their faces.

"Son, that was quite a thrill. One more minute and I would have peed my pants. This is unbelievable," my dad mumbles as he wipes the sweat from his brow.

My mother did not seem at all surprised. "Ah, the Moon Goddess has the strangest ways of bringing mates together. I knew that about you from preschool, you were too clingy," she smiles broadly as she takes Lori in her arms.

Our friends rushed up to us on stage. All were relieved that the evening had not ended in drama. Alpha Alvarez and his Beta Zalev, Alpha sons Hedrick and Zane all shake my hand. The females hugged Lori and made all sorts of jokes.

"Where's my mate, where's Louise?" Beta Zalev stares wildly at the women, who all look at Lori. She covers her mouth to stop herself laughing.

"She's still praying to the Moon Goddess. Maybe someone can fetch her and tell her that everything is all right now". She hands Meg a key and I frown at the sight of this.

What has my Luna got herself into this time? Zalev runs after Meg and I turn to my mate with a frown. Something is definitely amiss. I sigh and seize her by the waist, this time she won't get away with her sins.

And sure enough, a few minutes later, an angry Louise storms in, her eyes spitting fire as she charges straight at Lori with clenched fists.

"Loriann!!! This is the last straw. How dare you! I forgave you once, but I won't do it again. I'll kill you, girl!"

Before she reaches Lori, Zalev grabs her, pressing her against his chest and stroking her on the back. The mate bond kicks in and slowly her breathing returns to normal.

"I want to kill her so badly. She did me dirty before and she will not get away with it this time. Why should I have to put up with it again? Zalev, let me kill her or I will have no peace in this life".

All our friends have a great laugh at this drama queen. This love-hate relationship between the two will never work out. Lori will probably never forgive Louise for having sex with me.

"You invited yourself, I didn't ask you to come. Taking an interest in your own affairs in the future won't get you into trouble again, Louise. You had nothing to do with me," Loriann taunts her.

We descend to meet our guests, Zalev making sure his mate keeps a safe distance. Almost everyone is happy for us, calling us the perfect couple. My hand is almost lame from all the shaking.

And then it was finally time to go to our apartment, I had waited so long for this moment.

I guide Lori through a side door into a hallway. Holding hands, we run to the stairs and climb up to our floor. I take my mate bridal style and carry her over the threshold.

"Finally, Lori. We've come a long way for this happiness. But I don't regret it, I would do it again if the result was the same," I whisper to my partner as I put her back on her feet. We are now in our bedroom, the lights out.

Looking deep into her eyes, I slowly undo the zip of her jacket. My hands go to her jeans, which I deftly unbutton.

"I love you, Lori. Nothing can change that. My love is forever, you are the one".

"I'm obsessed with you, my love. No one could take you away from me, I would deal with that in the usual way". I chuckle and make a mental note to work on her insecurities.

And when I have her naked in front of me, I caress her body as I look deep into her eyes. I feel her hands going to work as well, undressing me until I am completely naked in front of her. And then she comes into my arms, her hands running down my back as her lips taste my skin.

The feeling is heavenly and I close my eyes to enjoy it to the full. As her tongue circles my neck, I let out a moan of pure pleasure.

I feel my senses going into overdrive, her delicious scent entering my system and I am instantly drunk. Her body is close to mine, wrapping me in her warmth and desire.

By the time I feel it, her fangs are buried deep in my neck. They have perforated my skin, penetrating down to the bone of my neck.

I'm marked. Branded by Lori, my heart. I'm hers, forever.

She kindles a new burning fire in me. When she pulls back her fangs and licks the wound clean, I kiss her ear until she trembles with pleasure.

And then my lips seek her mouth, she grants me instant access. At first, she tenses, not expecting this new sensation to overwhelm us. But she quickly recovers and dominates the kiss. Goddess, my pulse is racing.

The intensity of our bonding is different from the many times we have made love. And at the climax, when we lose ourselves in the burning passion, Xan and I mark her, completing the bond.

All the stories of mated wolves about this joining of souls pale into insignificance.

Our self-control immediately breaks down and this is the night we expand our family...