Lark helped me into the white dress for the mating ceremony. She was tight lipped and stoic, completely opposite to how she had been the day before.

“Thank you,” I murmured. I wasn’t sure how to fix what I had broken between us.

“You’re welcome,” she replied stiffly.

She helped me with a little makeup before doing my hair up in a bun with whips of hair around my face.

“You’re done,” she said and stood back to survey me.

“Thank you,” I said again, hoping it would break the ice between us but she didn’t warm to me at all.

“Look,” I said, soothing my dress. “I’m not good at any of this.”

Lark crossed her arms while I spoke, it wasn’t a good sign. I felt like I was messing this up but I didn’t know how to make it right.

“I’m not sure why you’re upset but I’m sorry for whatever I did.”

Her features remained strained. “If you don’t know what you did wrong, how can you possibly apologize?”

“I shouldn’t have taken the car…and the money.” I didn’t know what else to say.

“You don’t get it, do you?” She dropped her defensive stance to put a hand to her hip. “You hurt my brother and I won’t stand for it. Do you understand? Mate or not, you don’t get to do that?”

I was taken aback. I was stunned. “I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt him. It was never my intention.”

She studied me but remained silent.

“He was the reason I ran. I didn’t want him to get messed up in any of this.” I wasn’t sure if any of what I was saying was reaching her. Other than being honest, there wasn’t much more I could do.

“The moment you discovered you were mates, is the moment your problems became his. It’s not something you can run away from,” she said, her tone not as hard and unyielding as before but there was an undertone of sadness. There was more going on with that sentence than my actions.

“I’ve never had this Lark.” I didn’t want to explain the fact that I had grown up in an orphanage, it wasn’t something I wanted to publicize. “I’ve never had anyone who cared.”

“Well you’re going to have to get used to it,” she announced before she stepped forward to put her arms around me and hugged me tight. I mirrored her action, feeling a little more comfortable hugging her this time.

We weren’t strangers, we had at least one shopping trip under our belts.

“And I’m here to show you the ropes.” She beamed with a smile that was infectious. I found myself smiling.

“So what’s happens in this ceremony?” I asked, needing a bit of information to prepare myself.

“It’s like a wedding but it’s not legal binding and there aren’t any rings.”

I had never been to a wedding. The only things I had learnt were from movies.

“Don’t be nervous. You’ll be fine.”

I nodded.

The sun was about to set when Lark led me into the forest. The pack littered the path as I made my way behind her to where Maverick. He was dressed in dark pants and a white shirt, open down to the middle of his chest which showed his tanned skin and hard muscles. I swallowed. I had it bad for him even if I felt a little apprehensive about tonight.

Lark smiled at her brother before she kissed his cheek and went to stand with the other pack members behind us as Maverick’s eyes met mine.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered only loud enough for me to hear. I smiled, loving the praise. It meant something coming from him.

He could see me as I was and not wanted I portrayed to the world. He saw the vulnerable part of me not the loud and confident one that pushed the limits and the rules.

A women with long gray hair in a dark robe stood before us.

“We are gathered here to witness the union between Maverick Monroe and Victoria James.”

She tilted her face to the sky which had begun to darken, closing her eyes.

“With the light of moon I bring together two werewolves in a union no one can break.”

My heart inflated as I stared at Maverick. His eyes held mine with the same emotion.

“Link your hands,” she instructed bring her attention from the sky to us.

Maverick took my hand in his.

The women took a red ribbon and tied our hands together.

“She is yours Maverick,” the women told him. He nodded then she turned to me. “He is yours Victoria.” I nodded, my hand gripped his tighter.

“You belong to each other from this day. Lives shared. Love and happiness is yours.” Then she undid the ribbon and threw it up in the air. The wind blew it and I watched as it disappeared into the forest.

Maverick lifted his hands to cradle my face as I stared up to him. He lowered his lips to mine and brushed them in a feathered kiss. I closed my eyes, needing more. Wanting more of what he made me feel.

The crowed erupted in celebration, breaking the moment. Maverick took my hand in his and we faced the pack.

“Tonight we celebrate,” Maverick announced.

The crowd cheered.

Maverick led me through the crowd as they parted for us. I followed Maverick before I realized we were heading back to the house in the opposite direction to everyone else.

I didn’t ask where we were going. I allowed him to lead me into the house, upstairs and into his room.

He released my hand to close the door behind us.

It was just the two of us now and I licked my lips as my eyes landed on the bed. I knew what was coming and even though I felt a little apprehension I wanted him more than I had ever wanted anyone in my life.

“Are you nervous?” he asked as he approached me.

My heart was racing but it had nothing to do with fear. I shook my head.

He took my hands in his and pulled me closer. He leaned his forehead against mine. “I’ve waited my whole life for you.”

His words were so beautiful, my heart inflated with emotion.

“I will protect and cherish you, always.”

His eyes held mine with an intensity that took my breath.

I didn’t know how to put into words what I was feeling, so I did what came naturally. I put my hands against his chest and lifted myself on my tiptoes to press my mouth to his.

His arms came around me and held me against him as his mouth coaxed mine open in a deep and thorough kiss where his tongue slid against mine, tasting me as I mirrored his actions.

Heat thrummed through me as he deepened the kiss and I held on as my knees weakened. I had never been kissed like this. It was earth moving.

When he broke his mouth from mine, my chest lifted and fell with each hurried breath.

“You make it hard for me to keep my control.” He closed his eyes, like he was battling a war inside himself.

“I want you to lose control.” I wanted him without restraint.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he breathed when he opened his eyes. His jaw tense.

I put my hand to his chest. “You won’t. I know you would never hurt me.”

“What I feel for you is raw and animalistic. It’s stronger than I ever thought possible.”

It warmed my heart to hear him share this with me, it was similar to what I felt for him.

“The bite will hurt,” he told me.

I nodded.

His hand lifted to run his fingers on the side of my neck. “I will mark you here.”

I swallowed before I nodded.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

Despite the danger that surrounded us and the need for me to be able to transform into my werewolf form, he was giving me the option to put a stop to this. But he had no idea that there was no stopping it. I wanted him.

“I want you to make me yours.”

He groaned when his mouth covered mine and his arms gathered me close.