Page 74 of The Alpha Wolf's Pregnant Bride

“I think they’re as excited as I am,” I blush. “Though I feel nervous, I can barely feel their hearts beat.”

“I can hear them,” he smiles, taking my hand to press a soothing kiss on my trembling fingers. “You were born to be the Luna of this pack, baby. You’ve made all my dreams come true.”

I smile back, feeling easier now as he takes my hand and leads me toward the hall. After learning everything there is to know about the Alpha, it only made sense that he’d been ecstatic when we found out we were having twins. Thanks to my father’s history of twins in his family, Cyrus has his wish of having more than one child fulfilled.

I have my own wish fulfilled as I walk down the aisle beside Cyrus, my head turned toward him as we embark on this journey together. The members of the Moon Shine Pack stand up to meet us on our way to the altar, but it’s only the Alpha I can see.

Etching every sharp, powerful feature of his into my mind, tracing the way his long dimples slice pathways from his defined jawline to his cheekbones, I settle my gaze on his radiant emerald eyes. The love I feel for him is mirrored in his eyes. They are the gateways to his soul as he stares at me as if I’m the most beautiful creature he’s ever seen.

Overflowing with love, I can barely hear Jarrod speaking as he stands before us, holding out the Moon Shine’s sacred relic toward us. His voice as he speaks aloud the words that praise the Moon Goddess is but a faint sound, as all I can concentrate on is the man in front of me, cloaked in white, one shoulder bearing the satchel of gems on a leather belt to signify his status in the pack.

He’s breathtaking, as stunning as royalty in his own right, as he takes the glistening skull of the Rudolph family’s forefather, polished and gleaming in its glass case. He unclasps the lock, removing the relic from its resting place, then lifts my hand and folds it over the crown of the skull.

As if magically powered by the touch of a live Alpha, the skull feels like it comes to life, gentle pulses of energy flowing into my palm as Cyrus places a hand over mine. I’ve never felt more present or powerful than I do with my hand between the ancient, sacred relic and the Alpha’s hand.

My attention is drawn to Jarrod’s voice now as he holds out a stone mug full of tea brewed from earthly treasures. My free hand goes to the mug, and I hold it between Cyrus and me.

“You may now proceed,” Jarrod bows and steps down from his place behind the altar, leaving only Cyrus and I on the stage.

I’ve never witnessed a mating ceremony between an Alpha and his mate; I only saw pictures and sketches of the past.Yet, somehow, I know what’s to come and what is needed from me. It’s an innate knowledge that has something to do with the relic that has never left its box in my presence.

Until now, of course. When Cyrus was sworn in as the Alpha, I wasn’t in Mysthaven. Now that I’m here, honored to feel the weight of its extraordinarily powerful presence, I’m in awe.

“I…” Cyrus begins, his eyes remarkably soft as he stares at me. “... Alpha Cyrus Rudolph, accept you, Cassandra Asuka Chikara, as my mate and Luna of the Moon Shine Pack.”

A wave of enormous power washes over me when the declaration leaves his lips and fills the air, which becomes so silent that the drop of a pin can be heard in the hall. As his hand smooths the top of mine where we hold the Moon Shine relic together, the words I’m meant to say in response come flowing out naturally.

“I, Cassandra Asuka Chikara, accept you, Alpha Cyrus, as my mate.”

The hall erupts into applause and hooting from the Alpha’s soldiers, who stand against the wall in spritely formation. Jarrod comes over to take the relic back into its case, whispering his surprise.

“You’reAsuka?”

Blushing sheepishly, it’s Cyrus who murmurs a threat to him, not to breathe a word about my private endeavors. Once the Beta steps down from the stage again, Cyrus pulls me forward, crushing his lips to mine in a kiss so passionate that the world around us fades while my toes curl against the wooden floorboards. When he pulls away, it’s only to gaze lovingly into my eyes as he wraps a hand over my nape and tilts his head to one side. His kiss-swollen lips parted, revealing gleamingcanines, and his eyes enlarged as he gazed at the pulsating scent gland.

“Mine…” he rasps huskily before dropping his head at my neck, his sharp teeth puncturing my skin and taking my breath away.

The warmth of his mouth soothes the pain of the intrusion, leaving only a tingling sensation to travel from my neck and disperse into every fiber of my being. When he’s done marking me, he removes his mouth and licks his lips delightedly.

“Mine…” the Alpha smirks as his pack—

No.

Ourpack cheers us on.

“I love you…” he professes, his arms folding around me to draw me flush with his solid frame. The promise of what tonight holds for the two of us is evident in the prominent bulge that stirs awake against my thigh.

“I love you too,” I giggle mischievously, seeing a glint of darkness pass through his eyes.

***

“This looks stunning on you,” Cyrus appreciates as he circles a smooth fingertip around the fresh mark on my neck. With his head braced in one hand, he stares down at me through the heady eyes of satisfaction.

“It feels empowering,” I admit shyly.

“As if you needed more of that,” he quips with a playful roll of his eyes.

Sinking to the pillow, he pulls my naked body over his and smooths his palms down my spine. It’s been a long night after the mating ceremony, spent celebrating between the sheets in his bedroom.

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