Page 104 of Fated to the Wolf Billionaire

Next was Olivia, a faint blush on her cheeks as she knelt before us. “For fertility,” she said, the words quiet as she sprinkled the rosehip-infused water over our bare feet and then rose.

Elodie’s part came next, the stick of lovelace perfume raised as she proclaimed, “For passion!” with a little too much gusto to be ceremonially correct, but Fiona chuckled at Elodie’s exuberance as she was dabbed with the aphrodisiac perfume.

As soon as Elodie had returned to her spot, Kane stepped up wearing a wide grin. “For eternity.” On his palm were two simple golden circles, both from the thirties, acquired at the same time I’d purchased Fiona’s engagement band. By the way her eyes teared up when I slipped it over her finger next to the first one, I knew it was perfect.

Priestess Marciana spoke the next part of the bonding with warmth and a hint of emotion. “Reed and Fiona, we gather here under the Goddess’s moon to bind you two together as perfect mates. It is a lifelong bond, unable to be broken, even in death. Reed Monstru, alpha in your own right, what do you offer this female to prove that you are worthy of her love and capable of her protection for the rest of your days?”

Fiona blinked up at the formal tone, clearly surprised by the fact I was being asked in front of all the witnesses to prove my worth.

It’s okay. I thought the words on instinct, not expecting her to hear them, more hoping she’d feel my intent through the bond. But her eyes went wide, and then a moment later…

Reed? Am I hearing you inside my head right now?

Yes, you are, Stormy girl. You really are.

Her eyes flared amber with surprise.

Hold on, I have to get your present.

I couldn’t contain my grin as I turned to grab the hefty box that Dirge held out for me. I held it for her so she could lift off the top and peer down at what was inside.

“It’s a book, but I can’t read it?” She ran her fingertips cautiously over the cover, the ancient leather clearly fragile with age.

“It’s an original Persian edition, from the twelfth century. I’ve also got a full translation in the works so that you can read it in English. But… it’s a history of djinn lore. Jinn or jinnie, in Persian. My gift to you is a promise. A promise that wherever learning about your gifts take us, I will be at your side, and I will help you through it all.”

She was silent for a long moment, and I once again questioned my choice. But then she plucked the box from my hands, passed it to the priestess, and pressed up on her toes so she could kiss me.

Marciana laughed, holding the ancient manuscript with no small bemusement. When we pulled apart, she continued the ceremony. “The bond between mates is sealed with a bite. As the bites have been sealed and witnessed, in the eyes of the Moon Goddess and these witnesses, I bless this joining. Go forth and enjoy your mate. The moon is high, and the night is young.”

Whoops of revelry flew from the crowd, and loud music started on the edge of the dance floor the maidens had set up in the courtyard as everyone streamed out of the garden toward the party that I had no doubt would be raging all night long.

I scooped Fiona off her feet, the gossamer fabric of the gown doing nothing to diminish the feeling of her heat beneath my fingertips.

“Stormy girl, what do you say we share a dance with the rest of these rowdy wolves?”

“I say yes, wolf boy. Always yes.”

Epilogue — Olivia

I walked into my empty room, both relieved and sad to shut the door on the rager that was still going on in the courtyard. I wasn’t the first to leave, but when Fiona had brought gentle showers to soak the dance floor, I’d gotten cold and decided to call it an early night.

As happy as I was for the two of them, I truly didn’t feel like celebrating. Not because they weren’t wonderful; even thinking about their joyful expressions tonight brought tears to my eyes. Part of it was happiness, of course. I loved them both.

But the other part—the larger part?—was loneliness.

One by one, I watched the people in the inner circle of this pack find love. It was like dominoes. Bang, bang, bang, each one tumbling knocked the next one down.

Meanwhile, my little tile was standing alone, apart, and it was starting to feel like it was always going to be that way.

The painful truth was that I didn’t really belong with them. I wasn’t a member of Pack Blackwater or Caelestis. My palm might bear a shining omega seal, but without a mate, I wasn’t in any danger of birthing an omega any time soon.

I was a lonely she-wolf, with weird gifts and no obvious use to them. And now, with them about to embark on the next chapter of finding the remaining pieces of the omega stone, my bondless state would only slow them down.

Leigh had been attacked. Fiona had been attacked. If I left this enclave to go anywhere but to Alaska or the currently uninhabitable pack castle, I would be hunted by any male wolves within a hundred-mile radius.

There was only one obvious solution. I needed to get out of their way, pack myself off to Alaska where I would be safe, and not inconvenience anyone.

I was going to shower to get warm and then go find Kane. I couldn’t wait another minute to tell him that I wanted to leave, now that I’d decided, and rushed through my shower with no primping. I washed away the makeup I’d put on for the wedding, leaving myself natural, the way I was most comfortable.

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