Page 58 of The Alpha's Lunar Crown

"Go on! Mark her already!" A booming voice teases from the crowd, and a chorus of affirmatives drown out the shocked gasps and murmurs.

I always had a clear picture of what I wanted my mating ceremony to look like, and this hurried decision is obviously a far cry from it, but everything seemed to be perfectly in place.

"You don't have to do this now."I meet his gaze, my fingers tightening around him. "I want to."It is the easiest yes I've said in my life, and I have no single doubt in me. This is the life I want, and this is the person I want it with.

The breath he releases is shaky, filled with relief, and something that sounds dangerously close to reverence.Before I can process it, his lips crash against mine, stealing the air from my lungs, claiming me the way he knows how to. My body melts into his, and my fingers tangle in his hair. The bond between us sparkles like wildfire. It isn't just passion or a drunken mistake on a rooftop. It's years of longing, regret, and love buried beneath the weight of pride and mistakes.

The pack roars in celebration, but I barely hear them. All I know is Lucien, the way he holds me as if I might disappear, the way he trembles against me, and the way he whispers my name like a prayer.

We break the kiss to catch our breath, and my eyes land on Ronan, who is wearing the cheesiest grin. Lucien's eyes follow mine, and he chuckles. "He's just like you." I finally let myself say it after several years.

Lucien smirks, "of course he is. I'm his father."I roll my eyes at him. Guess the arrogance is going nowhere.************

I've had to deliver jobs with very narrow deadlines at work and make my team perform the impossible in a short window of time, but nothing prepared me for the speed at which Blackwood can arrange a mating ceremony. It took exactly three days to get everything in order.

I can already hear the soft melody coming from the garden as a few young women prepare me for the ceremony.With one last dab of lipstick, the makeup artist steps out of my way to admire her work. "You're ready," she says, and the woman who has been playing around with my hair adds one last detail before leading me to the mirror.

My jaw goes slack at the sight in front of me. I'm in a flowy white dress with little moon figures embroidered into it. My hair is put up in the most elegant bun, leaving my neck bare—a spot that'll bear Lucien's mark in the next hour.

"You'll make the most beautiful Luna," the makeup artist says, beaming next to me, and the others nod in agreement."The queen has arrived to bless your union. This is literally the best mating ceremony I've witnessed."

"The queen is here?" I only texted her to thank her for what she did and to keep her updated on how things are going. My mating ceremony only came up as a passing addition to the text. I never bothered with invites because I figured she'd be really busy, but wow.

"She arrived not too long ago," the woman who helped with my dress says, beaming at me. "You must've found favor in her eyes."

"He's here." Someone announces, and I suck in a deep breath before making my way to the gathering.

I spot him without difficulty, towering over every single person and looking absolutely mouth-watering in the traditional pack attire.

"You're….." he trails off, his eyes raking all over me and leaving flickers of fire in their wake. "You're absolutely beautiful, Rora."

Heat spreads from my neck to my face, and I force my eyes away from his to break the intensity of the moment.

The elders begin their chant, low and steady. Their voices weave ancient magic through the air. The ceremony is sacred. It's the final bond that ties an alpha to his Luna. I swallow hard as Lucien takes my hands, bringing them to his lips, his golden eyes never leaving mine.

"Are you ready, my love?"

My chest tightens at the endearment and the way his voice wraps around me like a whispered vow. "More than ever."

Lucien tilts his head, baring his neck to me, an unspoken invitation, and I blink in surprise. The alpha usually gives the mark first.

"I want to give myself to you first," he says, and my wolf surges forward, instinct taking over. I lean in, sinking my teeth into his flesh. A deep, guttural growl rumbles through him, his body jerking at the force of the bond snapping into place.

Mine.

His arms tighten around me, pulling me closer, and he wastes no time in sinking his canines into my neck, the act sending a strong wave of arousal and pleasure so intense I had to grip his shoulders to keep from falling.His breath rages against my ear. "I love you, Aurora."

I look up at him, my fingers tracing the new mark on his skin. "I love you too, Lucien."

The pack erupts in howls, their joy echoing into the night, but all I hear is the steady beat of Lucien's heart beneath my palm, strong and sure."Aren't you the most beautiful Luna I've ever seen?" My head whips around so fast it almost disconnects from the rest of my body.

"Katherine," I let out an excited squeal, pulling her into the biggest hug. "You never said you'd be coming."She let out a small laugh, pulling me deeper into our hug. "That would've defeated the purpose of a surprise.""I've missed you so much."

"And I, you, but that's not the topic for today." She flashes me her signature lopsided smile. "Let's talk about how you're now a Luna and how your mate is currently looking at you like you just dropped from heaven."

I follow her eyes to find Lucien's eyes on me. He's surrounded by Liam and a few others, but his attention is completely on me. The intensity in his eyes sends a sweet surge of shiver down my spine."Oohh. I know that look," Katherine teases, waggling her brows, and I playfully swat her shoulder."You just never change."

"No. You love me this way."

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