Chapter 106: Moon Mating Ceremony
~ RONAN ~
Five days.
It’s been five days since that wild, unforgettable night when the wall between Roselle and me finally broke down, and I’m more than relieved that she’s back to herself and finally free from the effects of her heat.
And more than that... something between us has changed. Especially in the kinky department. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t fucking pleased about it. Being with Roselle has somehow become the one thing I look forward to after a long, hectic day of dealing with pack duties and everyone else’s bullshit.
I never expected her to be so into it, either.
But she is. She’s far wilder, more eager, and more insatiable than I ever imagined she could be. And I can’t fucking get enough of her.
She’s so much more than I expected. So much more than I ever asked for. And fuck... she gives me every reason to love her deeper and deeper, to the point where I’m drowning in it.
She’s like a drug in my system. And it’s hard, fucking impossible, to stay away from her for long.
Today is the Mating Moon Ceremony. Where every unmated female and male in the pack will gather under the moonlight, hoping the Moon Goddess will reveal their destined mate. New girls coming of age will meet theirs for the first time. Others who missed their chance last year will get a second opportunity.
I’m looking forward to introducing Roselle to the entire pack as mine.
She already knows the plan. And the ceremony, we’ll make it official. She’ll find a suitable role within the pack, something that makes her feel useful and respected, not just the Alpha’s bride.
Also, I’ve already started searching for a powerful witch who might be able to help override the curse on my bloodline. I won’t let anything from the past touch her or our future.
I finish buttoning my ceremonial shirt and glance toward the bedroom where she’s getting ready.
I sneak up behind her, pressing a kiss to her chin before nuzzling into her neck as she sits at the vanity, staring into the mirror.
"You sneaky freak..." she gasps, her cheeks turning a brighter shade of pink.
I snort, meeting her eyes through the mirror.
"Freak?" I raise a brow. "That’s rich coming from you. Should I start listing evidence, or are we trying to have a peaceful evening?"
Her mouth drops open. "Ronan!"
I pick up one of her makeup brushes, turning it between my fingers as I study it like some complicated weapon.
"Where does this go? Your forehead?" I ask, completely serious. "You know, you could hire me as your makeup artist."
She chuckles, snatching the brush out of my hand.
"Hell no. Not even if you were the last person on earth. I’m not about to walk outside looking like a masquerade, Ronan."
I clutch my chest, feigning offense. "Wow. And here I was about to give you a discount."
"A discount on ruining my face?"
"I prefer the term creative freedom."
She rolls her eyes. "Stay away from my makeup."
"Fine." I grab another brush.
"Ronan!"
"What? I’m expanding my skill set."
She makes a grab for the brush, jumping to her feet, but I lift it higher before she can reach it.
"Ronan!" she protests.
A chuckle rumbles out of me as she rises onto her tiptoes, stretching her arm as far as it can go.
"Give it back!"
"Come on, shorty. You’re almost there."
Her eyes narrow. "I hate you."
"Sure you do."
She jumps again, fingers barely grazing my wrist. One more jump, I catch her around the waist and pull her flush against me.
A startled gasp escapes her, but I don’t give her a chance to complain before I dip my head and capture her lips with mine.
"You are one fine thief," she murmurs against my lips before pulling back, slightly breathless.
"Yeah, I admit it." A smug grin pulls at my lips. "I mean, I stole your heart, didn’t I?"
She shakes her head in disbelief, fighting back a smile.
"I just can’t with you, Ronan. You’re already dressed, and if you’ll excuse me, I need to finish getting ready on time. Celeste could be here any minute now, and I—"
I’m barely listening. Instead, I pull her closer, my palm settling against her waist before sliding lower to give her ass a playful squeeze.
"Ronan!" she gasps, swatting at my hand.
"What?" I ask innocently.
She shoots me a look through the mirror. "You know exactly what."
Speaking of Celeste... A sudden knock sounds at the door.
Roselle immediately slips out of my arms, putting some distance between us.
A frown pulls at my brows as I glare at the door.
Of course. Of fucking course. Someone just had to interrupt us right in the middle of something this important.
"I guess I’ll leave you to your makeup, then." I adjust the lapels of my coat, giving her a wink. "Call me if you need me to come pick you up for the ceremony."
I lean in for one last kiss, but the little menace turns her head at the last second, leaving my lips to brush against her cheek instead.
She pulls back with a smug wink..I narrow my eyes at her. She’s going to pay for that later.
Shaking my head, I head for the door and pull it open.
Celeste stands outside with two other women from the pack. The moment they see me, they bow respectfully.
"Alpha."
I give them a brief nod before stepping aside to let them in.
"Good luck with her," I mutter as I walk past Celeste.
"I heard that!" Roselle calls from inside.
A grin tugs at my lips as I make my way down the hallway and head toward the ceremony grounds.
Everything looks set by the time I arrive.
Rows of chairs stretch across the open grounds, neatly arranged with a wide aisle running through the center. Pack members move around making last-minute adjustments while others have already begun taking their seats.
The ceremonial platform stands at the front, decorated for the occasion, with several of my warriors stationed around the perimeter.
My gaze sweeps across the grounds instinctively. Everything seems to be in order. Exactly the way it should be.
Nikolai walks up to me, his shoulders unusually stiff.
"Alpha..."
I turn to him, immediately noticing the tension etched across his face.
Raising a brow. "What’s with the face? Anxious about today?"
He lets out a breath, but the tension doesn’t leave him.
A smirk pulls at the corner of my mouth.
"Well, I’m hoping you finally find your fated mate today." I clap him on the shoulder. "Maybe then you’ll stop frolicking around with every unmated female who looks in your direction."
"Hell no." Nikolai rubs the back of his neck, his expression turning unusually serious. "I’m just wondering what she’ll be like."
I arch a brow. "You’re nervous?"
"Terrified."
That gets a laugh out of me. "You? Terrified of a woman?"
"Not the woman, asshole. The bond." He exhales, glancing toward the gathering crowd. "What if she hates me? What if I’m not what she wants? I’ve spent my whole life doing whatever the hell I want, and suddenly I’m supposed to meet one person who can turn my entire world upside down just by existing?"
My smirk slowly fades. Well. When he puts it like that...
"Or worse," he adds grimly.
"What?"
"She could have a personality like yours."
I stare at him, and he grins. Deep down, though, I know he’s using humor to mask his fear.
A few minutes later, everyone starts trickling in, filling the empty chairs and crowding the ceremony grounds.
And honestly, my own fears are starting to mirror Nikolai’s. Except mine have nothing to do with discovering who my mate is.
They’re about Roselle. What if Ethan is right?What if Roselle finds out that Ethan really is her fated mate, just like he claims?
My jaw clenches at the thought. Fucking hell.
Just the image of Ethan touching her sends something vicious twisting through my gut. I don’t think I’d be able to stand there and watch another man claim the woman I’ve grown so fucking attached to.
’I’ll kill him.’ Kael’s growl rumbles through my head, dark and possessive..I drag a hand down my face. ’That’s not helping.’
’Wasn’t trying to help,’ he grunts. ’I was stating a fact.’
"I think I’m nervous too..." I admit.
Nikolai glances at me, his brows pulling together. "Why?"
I hesitate, my gaze drifting across the growing crowd.
"Roselle said Ethan told her they’re mates. That he can feel the bond between them." My jaw tightens. "I don’t know... what if she feels it too? What if tonight confirms that he was telling the truth and—"
I stop myself before I can finish.
Nikolai’s face pulls into a frown, the teasing from earlier disappearing as he finally seems to understand where my fear is coming from.
"Ronan, I’m sure—"
He suddenly stops, his entire body goes rigid beside me. His nostrils flare slightly as he inhales, and then his head snaps toward the crowd. His eyes dart from one face to another, searching frantically.
"What is it?" I ask, straightening.
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he rises to his feet so abruptly that his chair scrapes against the ground.
"My mate..." he breathes.
My brows shoot up. "What?"
"I can smell her."
His eyes continue scanning the ceremony grounds, his expression caught somewhere between disbelief and pure panic, and then they stop, locking onto one direction.
His lips part. "Mate."
I follow his gaze toward the entrance of the ceremony grounds, and there, standing beneath the archway... Is Celeste.