Omega Bound Chapter 75

Ayla

I turned to Thane in surprise. I have never seen a Midnight Pack mating ceremony, but I didn't think I needed to come up with things to say. Not that I don't want to, but I would prefer to say them in private as these feelings are still difficult for me to wrap my head around. I know that we are fated mates, and I love him, but expressing it in front of others is overwhelming.

I guess I am just plain feeling shy really, but I also feel excitement start to form. I think I have been in a haze since mating with Thane, and I can feel his overwhelming happiness pulsating warm in the bound, but I also feel a hint of trepidation. I think verbalizing our feelings in front of others when we have spent our lives closed off is a big step, and a scary one.

Thane is looking at me with adoration in his eyes. I can't help but blush and squeeze his hands tighter.

"Ayla, the circumstances in which we met are not something I would wish upon my worst enemy, but I hope that one day you look back and only dwell on the memory of me coming for you and not what was done to you, like I do. When I found you, it was the saddest, happiest day of my life. I knew when I found you that you were meant for me, even if I was too stupid to put the clues together. I hurt for you, but I was excited to watch you change and grow. To overcome. Your strength is unfathomable, whether you realize it or not. I know that with you by my side as my fated mate and Luna, that anything we set out to do will be accomplished. Anything we need to conquer will be conquered. Nothing will ever remove you from my side. I will always come for you Ayla. Always. I love you and I am truly blessed by the fates to call you my mate and Luna."

If Cyrus had any bets on my crying, he would win. My face is a waterfall of tears as I replay Thane rescuing me, taking care of me, pushing me to be better in the gentlest way possible. He brings my hand up to his mouth and places a kiss on my knuckles. I can hear the 'oooo's & ahhhh's' from the crowd, some whispering that they have never seen their Alpha so vulnerable. He is baring himself to us, allowing himself to love and be happy. I am too.

"Ayla, would you like to say anything before we proceed with the pack declarations?" Elder James asks me, and I impulsively say "yes" despite not knowing what I am going to say. I am just going to be led and hope that my inner ramblings come out right.

"Thane, when you found me was the darkest time of my life. I gave up completely and spent my days wishing for death." He grimaces at that, and I can feel sadness and anger in our bond, but I continue. "I gave up on ever hoping for a better life, then you came, and you saved me. In more ways than one. I went from wanting to run, not talking, and living in a constant state of fear and paranoia to feeling freedom, having a job and friends, and love. You gave me a life here. You pushed me gently to live, and you keep me breathing. I wouldn't be here without you. I would have been trapped in that cage forever. There aren't words that can tell you how much I love you, but I know you can feel it here." I point to my chest and place my palm over it and send a wave of longing and as much love as I can muster and push it down through the bond. His eyes widen, searching mine while he takes it all it. Feeling the actual love, we have for each other. There aren't any words. "I love you, Thane. I will always be yours. Together, forever."

Thane pulls me to him and kisses me on my forehead. A single tear slides down his cheek and gets caught in his dimple. He quickly wipes it away just as I hear Cyrus yell, "Yes! That's my girl. Pay up Damon." I laugh as I shake my head.

"I think I just helped Cyrus win a hundred bucks." I tell Thane.

"I heard that Little Wolf. I will make sure he gives you a cut." Thane pulls me in close to him and has his arm wrapped around my waist.

"Very well. Ayla, do you swear to stand by Alpha Thane, to honor the Midnight Pack and make the pack and the shifters within it your top priority, aside from your mate of course? Do you swear to serve this pack as the Luna if and when the time comes as determined by yourself and Alpha Thane when you are ready? Thane made me read that part, but you get the gist. When you are ready do you swear to serve this pack as our Luna?" He all but practically shouts out trying to include and condense the paragraph Thane wrote about me being physically and emotionally ready. I smile thinking about how he is always looking after me.

"Yes, I swear as a new member of the Midnight Pack to lead at Thane's side. Keeping the pack as my top priority, guarding and protecting our way of life." I include the last part per wishes of my wolf. She seems to be thinking ahead for when we make our gifting known. Maybe planting seeds early that I am to help protect this pack and their way of life and that seeing my gifting will become a new norm. I am not sure, but I am trusting her instincts. Something I need to do more to strengthen our connection with each other.

"As we all can see, you have completed the mating bond and are now a bonded fated mate pair. I declare you Alpha Thane and Luna Ayla of the Midnight Pack and I now declare you Ayla as Ayla Knight. The new Luna of the Midnight Pack." Elder James finishes the ceremony, and we turn to each other.

Thane sweeps me up to his chest and bends down planting a deep, hungry kiss on my mouth. I immediately blushed and clung to him more tightly. Feeling each other's arousal through the bond will take some time to get used to as I feel it in the bond and then it immediately goes straight to my core.

We break apart and look at the pack of shifters clapping, yelling and throwing flowers towards me. I am nervous, but also ecstatic. I went from not having a home, a family, to getting everything I could possibly want within such a short period of time. I almost feel guilty for giving up hope so long ago. I also feel guilty Thane's family and my family aren't here. His sister would be screaming and jumping up in down, ecstatic for us. Telling me she told me so. She was right, but the memories flooding back hurt.

Thane squeezes me tight. The look in his eyes tells me that he understands the feelings of guilt. Probably because he is starting to feel them too. When we let our feelings in it hurts so damn bad, but I am determined not to ruin this night.

We can overcome this.

We can enjoy the life we are supposed to have.

Starting now.

I grab Thane's suit coat and pull him down to me hard, kissing him as I can't get enough of him.