The Possessive Alpha Chapter 133

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The cluster of scents waiting just inside the door to the ballroom has my nerves suddenly skyrocketing, realizing for the first time I will be the center of the room. Sure, that's fine when I am fighting but putting me in a dress and nice heels, I become a useless mess. What if I forget the words?

'Breathe, Biscuit,' Damon's voice sneaks past the barrier we should still have in place, but I welcome his voice like an addict, my worries melting into the ground. 'I'll meet you in the middle of the aisle; focus on me.' 

Taking in a lungful of air, I exhale, centering myself as the doors swing open to reveal the guests packed into the space; looking across the hall, I find the only person who matters staring back at me. I know I said it a million times, but Goddess, did she create the most amazing man or what? 

Consumed by the invisible string pulling me to him, my feet carry me down the aisle, and my cells are driven by one purpose; him. Every inch of my skin begs me to feel him against me as memories of our childhood flash before my eyes. The iPod he got me for Yule, how he has always been my safe space, a break from my mother's torment. With him, I was allowed to just...exist...

It's not until we finally touch that the crowd buzz breaks through the trance, calling our attention as the councilor stands before us, opening and closing his mouth like a fish. "Alpha and Luna?" Councilor Johnson says, looking between us as Damon corrects him. "Alphas, please," he says, but his eyes don't leave me like I am the only person to exist in his world. 

"Of course," he says, looking at our eyes one last time before turning his attention to the crowd sitting in the seats, the moons glow illuminating the room through the giant skylights. "Welcome, everyone; we are here to celebrate a joyous occasion, uniting two Alphas and packs in a fruitful union underneath the Goddess' light."

I don't notice the others in the room. As Damon's thumb turns circles on my palm, a bubble seems to form around us as the rest of the world falls away. "The Goddess has chosen to pair these individuals because they complement and balance each other in a way no other could. Alpha Damon and Luna El-" the councilor starts, but one look from Damon has him correcting himself. 

I apologize," he says, turning his neck slightly before continuing with New Moon's mating speech, "Alpha Damon Ledger of New Moon and Alpha Elle of Silver Run, do you promise to hold the mate bond in the highest regard? To love and protect each other above all else?"

"Yes," Damon and I say together, our eyes locked on each other, our fingers laced together, our walls down while our emotions mingle together like the perfect cocktail. 

Continuing with the ceremony, "As the Alpha of New Moon, it is your responsibility to protect its land and people. Do you accept?"

"Yes," we say without hesitation, turning our palms up and waiting patiently for the blade to slice across our skin, barely flinching as the titanium breaks apart our skin. As blood begins to pool in our palms, the counselor grabs our wrists, pushing our palms together. "Through the divine power of the Goddess, let your blood bond strengthen your commitment to each other and New Moon as their Alphas. Let her supreme light guide you in moments of doubt and jubilation." 

As he says the words, a warmth starts at the top of my head as the connection starts to form with New Moon's pack, but I pay no attention, my eyes locked onto Damon's dazzling smile. "Under the power of the moon, I present to you Alpha Damon and Alpha Elle Ledger of New Moon!" The crowd goes wild at the end of his introduction as my body tips backward and soft lips find mine. 

Standing me upright, Damon pulls away, leaving me slightly dazed as he looks out among the crowd of guests, "please continue onward to the reception for a cocktail hour and appetizers while we finish our second ceremony." While New Moon holds a large mating/Alpha ceremony, Silver Run's tends to be more intimate, with only the inner circle, but since they all witnessed this one, we decided to make the second ceremony only the two of us. 

Before I have time to process what's happening, I am lifted off my feet and cradled against his chest as he walks the crowd of cheering and laughing guests, carrying me to the smaller ceremony rooms. 

There are pillows, flower petals, and candles lining the room, a colorful hue from the stained glass skylight. In a corner sits two potted plants, filled will soil from each of our pack lands, a small table in between with another blade sitting in between for the Silver Run ceremony. 

On one wall hangs a beautiful dream catcher with intricate crystal work, the colors incorporating Siver Run and New Moon. The outside ring holds a quote, but I can't make it out from this distance and poor light. "May we always catch our dreams," Damon whispers, gently placing me on my feet. "I had it commissioned to hang in our room." The uncertainty hangs in his words, reminding me of the preteen boy I knew all those years ago. 

"It's beautiful," I whisper, looking him in the eyes, then feeling guilty that I didn't have his gift brought here, "I didn't bring yours, though, and now I feel silly." 

He chuckles, "I don't need anything else," he caresses my cheek, bringing his lips to my own in a brief kiss, "I have everything I need in this room. Are you ready to begin, my Luna?"

With a subtle nod, I pull him toward the trees so that we may start; facing one another, we begin Silver Run's mating ceremony, which starts with personal vows, then the ritual. 

"Elle, you're perfect," Damon begins while his thumb traces my lips and jaw line. "You are the strongest person I know, and I thank the Goddess that she brought you into my life. I promise to treat you as an equal, to be truthful, loyal, and the best father to our future pups. If we lost everything I know it'll be alright as long as I can hear your laugh, see your smile, and wake with you in my arms. You are the other half of my soul, my life, my love, my Luna and I wake excited knowing that I get to chase my dreams with you by my side." 

Try as I might, I can't control the tears starting to fall down my cheeks, as I try to talk through the sniffles. "Even when I hated you, I loved you," I told him, making him chuckle through tears, as I continue with my speech. "You are home, my home and heart. You are the only person I can be my true self with, not the great Luna Born or Alpha Elle, just Elle, a mate and future mother. Distant future," I include with a pointed look with the devilish smirk on his face. "I promise to never lie, or keep secrets. I promise to never submit to another Alpha, for you are the only Alpha worth submitting to. My Alpha, my soul, the place I call home and the love of my life." 

As the last words of my vows are whispered Damon's lips are connecting with mine in a fiery passion, his teeth nipping at my bottom lip, his tongue begging for entrance. My breathing becoming shallow as his hands travel down my body, hoping to find his way under the layers. Pulling away, I gulp for air, my finger placed gently on his lips in a reminder that we have one more step. 

Turning our attention to the potted trees, Damon grabs the beautiful knife, taking my palm in his hand as he gently slices into my skin before doing the same to his own. Squeezing our palms over both plants squeezing our fists so that our blood falls into the soil as we say the words of Silver Run's simple ceremony. 

"May our blood bond to this soil, and its people," we say in unison, "in protection, unity, and  the betterment of all. Alphas chosen by the Goddess to rule, under her guidance, light, and love. We promise to uphold these values until our dying breath as the Alphas of Silver Run." 

Throwing the dagger into the soil, Damon continues with the final step, revealing our marks, which could have happened during the first half but we decided to keep the moment special between us. Stepping behind me he unclasps the choker I am wearing before unbuttoning his shirt and removing the scarf that was tucked in his shirt. 

Standing in front of me once more he pulls back his collar, as his eyes graze my neck, as his fingers trace the mark showing on my neck, tingles exploding along the skin. As my eyes follow his neck I find our mark sitting there like the most beautiful tattoo with its simplicity. 

The triple moon sits on our neck, the outlines clean and crisp. Inside the full moon sits two paw darkened paw prints. Three stars connected by thin lines rest above the full moon and waning crescent. Tracing the image I enjoy watching Damon shiver while I whisper, "it's beautiful." 

It doesn't take long before I am being pulled to the ground with him and his lips of passion, as his hands travel down my body, growing annoyed by the layers of the dress. A growl of frustration rumbling out of his chest, as he crawls on top of me his frantic lips never leaving my skin. The darkened room begininnig  to fall away as I submit to my wants, and needs to him.