Page 88 of Fated to the Feral Wolf

I’d loved it on sight, knew the peek at my marks and my bare throat would drive Dirge wild. And yet… now I was second-guessing even this.

Brielle laid a hand on my arm, the touch gentle. She didn’t say a word, but the room flooded with a soft, soothing scent. A gentle stream in the summer sun.

I looked up to see Brielle frowning in concentration. “Is anything happening? I can’t tell.”

A wave of calm washed over me, and the lump in my throat finally eased. “Yes, actually. Thank you.”

“Oh good.” She shot me a happy smile before grabbing her glass bottle of ceremonial perfume. It was full of lovelace, a potent aphrodisiac for shifters. I swallowed hard at the reminder that we were about to head to the clearing.

“One last thing,” Leigh said with cheer as she stopped us by the door. She lifted the hem of her own dress and stuck out her foot. “Show me the toes!”

I rolled my eyes, but grinned at the memory of Gracelyn doing the same to Brielle a few short weeks ago. I lifted the hem of my gown, showing off my freshly painted digits and the anklet of bells circling my left ankle.

“Excellent. Let’s roll out!”

Brielle groaned at her movie-quote tone. “What are we now, robots?”

“Hey, wetransforminto wolves. It counts,” Leigh joked as we stepped out into the cool night air.

I lettheir quiet chatter roll over me, comforting me as we walked. It didn’t take long to get to the walkway that led into the bonding clearing, just long enough for Brielle’s soothing omega scent to evaporate. The lump was back in my throat and my nerves were thrumming double time by the time we stopped next to a few of the older pack females who’d volunteered to prep the clearing.

One of the women addressed me with a warm smile. “Good luck tonight, honey. You look beautiful. Ready for us to start the music?”

I was frozen to the spot, but Leigh answered for me.

“Yep, she’s ready. Just got a case of the prebonding jitters.”

The older woman laughed, resting a hand on my shoulder. “It’s going to be just fine, honey. I saw him out there, and he’s nervous as a bee with no honey. You two are going to be a lovely couple.” She gave me a squeeze, then they walked off as soft notes began to weave into the air.

“Do you need a minute, or are you ready to get this show on the road?” Leigh asked, eyeing me up and down. She reached down to adjust a layer of fabric that wasn’t lying perfectly enough to suit her, then nodded.

I bit my bottom lip, still not able to answer her.

“Bri, she needs some more of your mojo if you can work it up.”

“I can try,” she said with a tired smile, but I knew it took a lot out of her—and hurt, if I’d interpreted Karissma’s information correctly.

I shook my head, forcing myself to speak to put them both at ease. “I just need Dirge.”

Brielle smiled with a knowing look. “Well, then, let’s get a move on.”

They each kissed me on the cheek before they started walking down the path.

In a matter of a few heartbeats, I was standing all alone in the forest. My toes dug into the soft grass, and I let out one big exhale before I followed them. I was still nervous, but that wasn’t the most important thing now, was it?

I didn’t want to be alone and afraid anymore. I wanted him.

As I stepped into the clearing, I kept my eyes on the ground, afraid to trip and ruin the beautiful gown. But despite my fear, my eyes were drawn to Dirge’s like magnets. He was breathtakingly handsome in dark gray dress slacks and a creamy button-up. His hair was slicked back, his sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows, showing off bitable forearms.

He must have read my anxiety on my face. I sucked in a surprised breath as he stepped out of the circle, breaking all the protocols that had been drilled into us over the past week as he nearly jogged to stand before me.

“Don’t be afraid. It’s just me, and you, and the moon.”

I leaned into his calloused palm, soaking in his touch like a plant starved of sunlight turned to the sun. He was my grounding place. He was my home. His voice, his touch, his scent—everything that was him soothed me, brought me back down to center. I was okay, and I was more than ready to bond with my mate.

Shifting the bouquet of beautiful flowers to one hand, I held out the other to him. He laced our fingers together with practiced ease, and together, we walked to the moonlit circle of flowers, Leigh and Brielle trailing behind us with their ceremonial gifts.

It was stunningly beautiful in its simplicity. The moonlight reflected on the lake, the heady scent of crushed flowers rosefrom underfoot, and the sparkle of stars high overhead made the perfect symphony of beauty. As soon as we were all in place, I passed my bouquet to Brielle so I could hold Dirge’s hands in both of mine. But now that we were here, now that I’d gotten over the nerves about all the formality of this night… I was ready. Like a thoroughbred chomping at the bit, I was ready to run away with him.

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