Page 71 of Drama Queen

The wide gold band was poised around the top of my finger, and I was only dimly aware of the odd sensation of bumps on the inside of the ring.

“You will bemine,” Cane shoved the thing down over my knuckle, and a sharp sting forced my eyes down, “forever.”

As the Alpha released my hand, I turned it over, noticing the dotting of blood that bloomed from beneath the wedding band.

My stomach dropped.

I’d heard of permanent rings for an Alpha Don’s wife before, but I’d never dreamed I might have one forcefully thrust onto my finger. There was no taking the thing off without fucking surgery, and my mind fought with my body, demanding anger from my lust-ridden hormones.

Before I could speak, however, Cane reached out for my hand again, and I pegged him with a glare. Unfortunately, it was quickly stolen away as he found the new jewelry and squeezed it. Something clicked, and then there was pain.

It screamed through my entire hand, and I could picture the needle-like pressing into the bone of my finger. I cried outdespite myself, my knees buckling. Hands swiftly caught my elbows, and I looked up to see Cane smirking down at me.

“Forever.”

My core clamped down on nothing as I swallowed hard. I wanted to hate what he’d done, and part of me did to an extent. It was slowly diminishing in power, however. With each second, those scents and sinful smiles surrounding me whisked away my fury and left only a growing heat that I knew couldn’t be good.

I can’t possibly be going into a heat right now. No. I’m like a week away!

“Miss Bruchelli–for the last time as such.” The officiant nodded at me, and I looked down in his frail grip to see an impossibly thin blade being offered to me. “With your left, please.”

I took the knife in my left hand, flicking my eyes to Cane as the man spoke once more.

“Cane Antonio Cartalga,” the Alpha’s stare blazed as he held my eyes unblinking, “To accept your Mea Luna Queen is to bind yourself to her–protector, commander, and progenitor through her sovereign body. Do you pledge as such?”

“I do.”

The officiant turned to me, directing my knife hand right over his heart. I had a feeling I knew what came next in this particularly unique wedding ceremony. The traditions for each pack varied, and while there was some consistency, the Cartalga family’s sentiments were the most primal I’d ever encountered.

“My Queen, the time has come to seal the union. Repeat after me. With this blade.”

The tiny blade I held was no thicker than a needle and only an inch long. Still, pain was pain, and part of me enjoyed this more than I cared to admit. Cane reached for a button in his shirt, undoing it and pulling the open fabric over so that I could see his deep tan skin beneath.

“With this blade.”

“I commit your body to the Queen.”

Lining up the point once more, I stared into Cane’s stoic eyes, locking myself down like iron. “I commit your body to the Queen.”

Without further instruction or breaking eye contact, I struck down with the fragile but incredibly sharp blade. It penetrated Cane’s powerful chest, and he didn’t so much as blink. Warmth swam up from his skin, melting into me where my fist touched him.

For several long moments, I held the knife there, sealed in a connection to Cane that I could scarcely fathom.

Eventually, however, I slid the thing free. I switched the blade into my other hand, offering it out to the officiant. He quickly scooped it up, but I was still rooted to that spot right in front of Cane, unable to look away from him.

Then, not knowing why, I laid my left hand over the tiny wound, pressing my skin against it. Pain shook me as my hand protested, but I didn’t stop. Even more, Cane’s hand found me over his chest and pushed–hard. Our blood mingled as the pressure made the injuries ooze, and something…changed.

I couldn’t say what, but every part of me that from this moment forward nothing would be the same.

“Introducing your Alpha and Mea Luna Queen!”

As the officiant called out, we turned to face the crowded room and it quickly filled with cheers and applause. I could sense Reed and the other man stepping up behind us, my nerves singing as they called out for the two of them to move closer to me.

That shouldn’t be…of course. A scent match. Three of them, in fact.

The cheering continued, and Cane pulled me around to face Reed.

“Take her to our chambers. I need to dismiss the guests.”

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