Alpha Ricardo’s POV
I wandered around my room and finally stood before my mirror. I was dressed regally, my head held high and my posture exuding royalty. I wore a deep purple velvet robe trimmed with intricate gold thread along its edges. Around my neck, a golden sash hung loosely with a dazzling sapphire pendant. In my hands, I gripped a long, firm, golden scepter.
”You can do this,” My wolf encouraged me while I heaved a sigh and left the mirror. I continued walking around my room until I heard Jayson’s words in my head. ‘Everything is set.” He announced to me, causing fear to envelope my entire being. ”I’m on my way.” I managed to speak and closed the mind link.
With a deep sigh, I composed myself and stared at the mirror one more time before teleporting away.
Within the spilt of some seconds, I appeared in my conference hall and wasn’t surprised to meet my gammas seated in their different seats. The minute they saw me, they all stood and bowed their heads in respect. ”Have your seats.” I gestured and took my seat, which was before them.
After taking my seat, silence filled the whole place while everyone waited for me to speak, but I didn’t. Rather, I moved my gaze to the priestess who sat on the floor waiting for the marriage ceremony to begin. ”Just go with it,” My wolf encouraged, forcing me to clear my throat.
” I believe you all are wondering why I called for this meeting,” I said and got a nod as they fixed their curious and questioning gazes on me. ”I’m getting married to my mate,” I announced to them and noticed the shocked look on their faces, but none said a word. ”You all know her,” I added and stood to my feet. ”In fact, I lied when I told you all that I haven’t met my mate.” I confessed and got a startled look from them.
”But why would you do that?” Gamma Elliot asked and got a silent response from me as I turned and signaled for Mia to be brought in.
The room was filled with intense silence as they all waited for my response, but I didn’t; instead, I waited for Mia to be brought in and after a few minutes of waiting, the door opened, and two maids entered the room while Mia walked beside them.
She was dressed in traditional native attire. She wore a brightly colored, intricately patterned skirt, cinched at the waist, with a wide belt woven with multicolored ribbons. Over the skirt, she wears a loose-fitting blouse decorated with embroidery and beading. Her long blonde hair was styled in several braided plaits, and she wears a headdress that is adorned with feathers and gemstones. She also has a long beaded necklace wrapped around her neck. It was a stunning sight, and she looked absolutely radiant.
”That’s my bride,” I announced to my gamma and got a gasp from them, which I ignored.
I held Mia’s gaze as she walked up to me,
being escorted by the two servants. As our eyes locked against each other, I noticed her sea-blue eyes looked dull and confused because of the hypnosis spell. ”Are you okay?” I asked her through telepathy and got a nod from her.
She was so beautifully dressed as a bride, and I wished all this was real, but I knew it would be over once it’s morning. ”Is this a joke?” A gamma spoke as he stood to his feet. ”This isn’t a joke, she is my mate, I knew she was my mate on my eighteenth birthday, but I couldn’t say it to anyone because I thought she was my half-sister, but the Truth is out, she was never my father’s biological daughter,” I explained and got a loud grumble from the gammas as they all argued about it.
”He is telling the truth.” Jayson’s father stood to his feet. ”Our late alpha, my very good friend, confided with me about this. He told me Mia was not his biological daughter.” He explained to them, causing a relived sigh to leave my lips.
”Her life is in danger, and I need to get married to her before it’s too late,” I told them and walked up to Mia, who looked confused and tired. ”I’m to answer all your questions, but right now, my wedding awaits me,” I said and took hold of Mia’s hands, which were freaky cold. ”I’m sleepy,” She whispered into my ear while I flashed a reassuring smile to her and with the other hand, I lifted her chin. ”It’ll be over soon,” I assured her and led Mia toward the priestess.
I made her sit before the priestess while I sat beside her. ”Are you two ready?” She asked and got a nod from both of us.
The priestess shot me a glare which told me she knew I hypnotized Mia, but as the alpha, she didn’t want to say anything about it. ”Let’s begin,” She announced and began making some incantation while I fixed my gaze on Mia, who was seated beside me, lost in thought. Obviously, she was confused about what was happening, but she couldn’t speak up.
After making some incantation, the priestess signaled for the razor to be brought, and Jayson gave her a newly brought razor. ”Your hand,” She requested, and I gave my hand to her. She cut my thumb with the razor before moving to Mia.
”And the two will become one,” She said, and gestured for us to place our bleeding finger in a bowl, so our blood could mix. We did as instructed until she signaled it was okay, and we pulled our hands away while a maid bandaged our bleeding finger.
The priestess went on and did more incantations and requested for the rings, which Jayson gave to her. She blessed the rings, asking the goddess to bless our Union with children and long, everlasting love, to which I said a silent amen in my heart because I knew it was nearly impossible.
After the blessing of the rings, she dipped the rings into the bowl of our blood and took it out. She gave Mia’s ring to me and gave mine to Mia.
”It’s time to exchange your rings, so repeat after me,” She said while I nodded and turned to Mia, who held my gaze with confused eyes and a blank look. ”Mine!” My wolf howled possessively while I flashed her an assuring smile.
“We are gathered here tonight to witness the union of these two hearts in marriage.” The priestess announced and then asked us to repeat the marriage vows:
” I, Alpha Ricardo, take you, Mariam, to be my wife. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until we are called by mother.” I said and inserted the ring into her finger. I noticed she stared at the ring, confused for a moment, before holding my gaze. ”It’s okay. Just say what I just said.” I told her while she obediently nodded her head.
” I, Mariam, take you, Alpha Ricardo, to be my husband and lord. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until mother calls us home.” She mumbled to my hearing and to the hearing of the prestress while I brought forth my hands, and she inserted the ring in my finger.
We both looked deeply into each other’s eyes, and I wished I could seal her lips with a kiss, but I held myself and looked away. ”Congratulations, you are now lord and wife,” The priestess announced, and we got a clap from the maids and Jayson.
We all stood at our feet while the priestess respectfully lowered her head to me before leaving. I turned and faced my gammas, who all had confused and questioning looks on their faces. ”I know you have a lot to ask me, but I will answer your questions at our next meeting, two days from now. Thanks for coming, and if you may excuse me, I have to be with my bride,” I said and turned to Mia, who was staring at the ring on her finger.
”Let’s go,” I said, holding her arms and teleporting away with her.
We arrived at my private room, which was decked out in red rose flowers. Candlelight shimmered from the glass holder all around the room, creating a lovely and romantic atmosphere.
I followed Mia’s gaze around the room, taken aback by the romantic atmosphere created by the candlelight, red rose petals, and overall layout. Her perplexity was palpable as she tried to figure out why she was there. “Where is this place, master?” she finally asked, her voice weak. I sighed, wishing she were herself.
I moved forward and held her shoulders, looking deeply into her eyes. ”everything will be alright. We are in my private room, and no one else can enter. This will be a very special place for us; it’s our safe place, our hideaway.”
Mia looked around at all the roses and candles and deeply breathed. ”It’s a nice place… I guess,” She said with a small smile.
I smiled back. ”Come here,” I said, holding out my arms to her.” She took a few steps forward and hugged me tightly. My heart pounded with excitement as she relaxed in my arms. Her alluring scent of honey mixed with nutmeg hits my nose, causing my whole body to tremble with pleasure. We stayed like that for a long time and Mia slowly calmed down and hugged me tightly.
I wanted the moment to last forever, but sadly, this wasn’t the case. I knew soon we had to face our reality again, but for now, I wanted to cherish this moment and treasure it forever.
After what seemed like forever, I released her from my arms and stared into her eyes, which looked weak and tired. ”Can I please go to bed?” She pleaded with Poppy’s eyes, and I quickly agreed. ”Let’s go to bed,” I said, and began removing the accessories from her body. Firstly, I removed the bangles, the heavy earrings, and the necklace and left her with just her clothes.
”Climb on the bed. I will be with you shortly.” I said, and turned my back to her, so she wouldn’t see how tense I was. ”You can do this,” My wolf encouraged me while I Inhaled deeply and stood there for a while before turning to her.
I noticed she had already laid on the bed, waiting for me to join her. With heavy feet and mixed feelings, I got into the bed and climbed over her. She was so scared that she trembled under me. ”Stay calm,” I whispered in a commanding tone while I composed myself and got myself ready.
Slowly, I kissed her right neck and went to her left. I inhaled her fascinating scent and licked the spot I wanted to mark with my tongue.
My excited wolf howled in pleasure and excitement as I gently placed kisses on the spot and brought out my fangs. I took out my fangs and groaned in pleasure before dipping them into the crook of her left neck.
She screamed in pain and pleasure, clinging to me as she felt a strange sensation hit her. The minute I bit her neck, my wolf overpowered me and lost control.
I removed my fangs from her skin and marked her again, but this time it was more painful because she screamed in discomfort and dipped her fingers into my back. With satisfaction, I left my fangs on her neck and ensured I got a taste of her blood, so this time, she wouldn’t be able to make it invisible. After staying in that position for almost two minutes, I took my fangs off her neck and gently licked the blood coming out of the mark I had made.
I licked the mark with my tongue and placed kisses on it before I put back my fangs and moved away from her neck.
My excited and dominant wolf howled in pleasure and possession and wanted me to touch her, but I stopped and held her gaze.
Her eyes were filled with tears, probably from the pain of being marked. ”Are you okay?” I asked worriedly and got a teardrop on her cheek as a reply. With a frustrated sigh, I placed kisses on her forehead, moved to her cheek, and placed a kiss. I moved my lips away, and the urge to seal my lips with her was compelling, but I composed myself and lay beside her with panting breath.
”Good job,” Eric whispered in my head while I inhaled deeply and pulled her to myself. I made her rest her head on my chest while she panted heavily in my arms. Gently, I placed my fingers in her hair and began stroking it with care. ”Go to sleep, babe,” I whispered, and placed another kiss on her forehead.
We stayed like that for a while, and then I felt the rise and fall of her chest slow down as she slowly drifted off to sleep. I held her like that, watching over her until she was in a peaceful slumber, safe in my embrace.
”I can’t sleep,” I told my wolf, knowing that once she awoke, the spell would be broken