Page 85 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

Waylan studied me, giving a more intense inspection than he ever had. Reading my soul, maybe? Either way, whatever he saw there must have been enough. His lips quirked into a smile, and he nodded to himself.

“All right, then. Let’s get this show on the road. I’ll bring Kirsten in.”

Waylan departed, and I stood, walking up the steps to take the stage. The crowd stirred at my movement, but a moment later, a rampant mutter burst through the room as Waylan led Kirsten out from the backstage area to take center stage with me. It was all I could do not to stare at her. These past few days were the longest I’d gone without seeing her since we first met, and the way she was dressed, the smell of her, set a fire burning in my mind. In my mind, my wolf snarled his own desire. The need and want that overcame us both at the mere sight of her. It was actually a force of will for me not to drag her backstage and ravish her. The room rumbled with hissed conversations, but all I could do was look at her.

I held my hand out, and Kirsten took it. I was so dazzled by her that I barely noticed Waylan hurrying off the stage to join Langston at the back. Unable to stop myself, I pulled her to me and kissed her long and hard. Kirsten’s magic danced across my lips and tongue as she pressed a hand to my chest and kissed me deep. For a few seconds, the world around us disappeared.

When I finally pulled away, the room was deafeningly silent, and then the murmurs started again.

“Are you ready?” I whispered as I looked into her eyes.

She tore her gaze away from mine. “I think so.”

There was hesitancy in her voice that sent a spike of fear into my guts.

Finally, she added, “I just want to make sure you’re certain. About me, I mean.”

“Of course I am,” I said, relieved that it was only her fear of rejection that made her hesitate. “Always.”

“If there was a cure, would you take it? For the curse?”

A strange question, and an even stranger time to ask, with a few hundred people staring at us, waiting for me to address them. A month ago, that question would have been met with a resounding yes. Now, with Kirsten, knowing all she was to me and how I felt, it didn’t really matter if I was free of the curse, did it?

“My heart wants what my heart wants,” I said. “Curse or no curse, you are mine, and I am yours.”

Kirsten looked speechless, eyes shining with unshed tears, a smile slowly forming on her lips. It was the most vulnerable I’d seen her. She wiped at the tears, then nodded firmly.

“Okay, then. That sounds great. Let’s do this.” She slipped her hand into mine, and we walked to the edge of the stage together, looking out upon the entire pack

The crowd went silent, every eye in the house on us. Shayna and Abigail sent furtive glances around the room, both of them looking nervous. Langston and Waylan stood at the rear of the room, assessing the situation, neither as relaxed as they usually were. Stephanie stood at the left of the stage, looking on with what I could only call resigned sadness.

“Good evening, everyone,” I said. “I’ve called you all here for a very important announcement. After many, many long years, I am finally able to come to you with the news you’ve been waiting for. I’ve finally found my fated mate.”

A ripple went through the crowd, and most of the eyes turned to look at Kirsten. I hadn’t said the words yet, but with her standing beside me, the implication was clear.

“Kirsten Holly is my fated mate. I have officially begun the courtship of this lovely woman in hopes that she will accept me as her mate. I say this as alpha. My word is my bond, as my bond is to you all through blood and respect. I’m sure this is a surprise, so I’m happy to answer your questions.”

At first, there was only echoing silence, then, like a glass crashing to the floor, chaos. Dozens of voices calling out, several portions of the crowd clapped or cheered, others still looked on in abject shock. Hands rose, asking for me to call upon them.

From what I could see in the crowd, it was just as I thought. Mixed emotions. Some looked jubilant, others unhappy, still more confused or shocked.

The first person I called on was Brad Thomas, the man who’d questioned me at the end of the annual pack meeting.

“Brad?” I said, pointing him out, and the crowd quieted.

“Jace, uh, I’m very happy for you,” he said, casting his eyes toward Kirsten for a moment. “I have to say, I do have some reservations. I’ve been around a long time. Prior to migrating to America, my grandfather actually lived in one of the last villages to harbor an ally witch. He was a young boy when she left, but he remembered it well and told many stories. This was right before things went bad several centuries ago. What I’m saying is that I know how powerful witches are. Nothing against her, but are you sure you have the ability to control her?”

Kirsten’s hand tensed in mine, but she said nothing.

“You’re wondering if I’ll screw up and things will end with her rampaging through Crestwood, killing everyone who dares disagree with me?” I asked, a jovial smile hiding my irritation.

Brad cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. “Not exactly, but something like that, yes.”

Should I tell them the truth? That Kirsten was only now coming into her power? That she still had very little control over her powers? Would that be like dangling a weakness out for everyone to latch on to? After a moment of indecision, I tossed that thought aside. I couldn’t fear what my pack thought of her. I had to be as honest as possible. After all the years of hiding, lie after lie, now was the time to be honest, especially since it pertained to the woman I loved.

“Kirsten has only just come into her magic. She’s still very new at learning her powers. Even then, if she was at the height of her power, she would never do anything along those lines. She would never resort to violence, even if I went mad and commanded her it from her.”

“I’d like to say something,” Kirsten announced.

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