*Grayson *
Ginny placed a gentle hand on my arm, her voice soft. “Grayson, she’ll be okay. Dahlia knows what she’s doing.” I continued pacing outside Keera’s bedroom door, anxiety threatening to unalive me. Dahlia had been attending to Keera for what felt like an eternity. The turning process was always unpredictable, what if I’d made a terrible mistake? Nyx handed me a bottle of water but I rejected it, not feeling the least bit thirty. Different thoughts warred in my mind.
I should have been watching her more closely, but instead I’d been carried away by the pleasure that came with activating the mate bond.
Thankfully, Dahlia stepped out of the room then, a warm smile on her face. “She’s okay.” She announced, talking about Keera. “The turning was successful. I’ve tested her blood, and the werewolf gene has taken hold.” My heart sank with relief, and my entire body instantly relaxed. Nyx released a relieved sigh, holding on to Ginny. Dahlia’s eyes lifted to mine. “We’ll leave you alone with her, and check back later. Call us if you need anything.” I thanked the three of them, watching as they disappeared down the stairs before pushing open the door to Keera’s room and stepping in.
I dragged a chair close to Keera’s bed, unable to resist taking her hand in mine. She looked a little different. The bruises on her skin and the tiny scars on her forearm had completely cleared, an indication that she was fully werewolf now. Humans didn’t have the uncanny ability to heal completely. Her skin was pale, but her chest rose and fell with steady breaths. I drew lazy circles at the back of her palm to match her breathing.
My breath hitched in my throat when she stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. She gave me a slow smile, and my heart jumped in the way they always did when I had her full attention. “Hey,” I greeted, noting she was gaining strength with each second. “How are you doing?” I asked. “Are you in pain? Do I need to call Dahlia?” Keera shook her head, her eyes locked on mine.
“I’m okay,” She responded. We stared at each other, the connection between us pulsing like a living, breathing thing. Keera’s gaze searched mine, seeking reassurance. “Was it successful?” She asked, her voice laced with uncertainty and hope. It was the hope in her voice that finally made me breathe a little easier. She didn’t regret the turning, I realized, giving her hand a little squeeze. She wanted to know if we had been successful?
“There’s only one way to find out,” I said, my voice slightly husky. Keera’s brow furrowed, but I saw the spark of curiosity my words had ignited. Hours later, we were standing by the lake, the moon casting a silver glow upon us. I leaned against the bark of a tree, my eyes locked on hers. “Try shifting,” I encouraged, digging my hands into my pockets in an effort to appear casual. “Just let your instincts take over. Don’t think about it too much. Picture that you’re bringing an alter ego to the surface.”
Keera took a deep breath, giving me a small nod. I watched her strip her clothes off, staring in awe as shifted for the first time, her limbs and bones rearranging and transforming. I stood speechless, staring at the beauty in front of me. Her wolf was majestic; brown everywhere with dark eyes and a speck of gold fur around its tail and head. I stared breathlessly, thinking to myself that she easily was the most beautiful wolf I had ever seen.
Her eyes sparkled with a wild freedom, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride at the success of her first shift. I took off my clothes, my own shift swift and effortless. I stood on four paws and gave Keera a signal, my ears perking up and my tail wagging. I wanted a chase. Her eyes flashed and in a heart beat she had taken off, her paws pounding the earth as she darted through the trees. I immediately followed, my senses on high alert and my heart racing with excitement.
She took sharp bends in an attempt to trick me, but I kept my eyes on her, following her scent whenever I lost her. The thrill of the hunt coursed through my veins. She was fast for her first run, I had to give her that, but she was nowhere near as fast as me. I easily caught up with her, pinning her wolf to the ground. She was submissive, rubbing and stretching against me. We basked in the feel of each other, laying on the ground and letting the cool breeze ruffle our furs.
The moon was out a little bit more when we shifted back, our eyes meeting as we dressed. Keera’s eyes sparked with profound excitement. “When can we start the mating ceremony?” She asked enthusiastically. My heart threatened to burst with joy. She really wanted this, wanted me. I backed her against a tree, my gaze drifting up to the full moon. Meeting her eyes, I kissed her deeply, stroking her tongue with mine. “As soon as we get back to the pack,” I whispered, my breath mingling with hers.
We returned to the pack, and I immediately sought out Ryan. “We’re ready to begin the mating ceremony.” Ryan’s face lit up with a wide grin, and he nodded, already aware of the procedures. “I’ll announce for the young ones to be locked in.” He stared up at the sky. “What do you know? It’s a full bloody moon,” The grin was back on his face as he looked at me. “The goddess must really approve.” He patted my shoulder, saying his congratulations ahead of time. “I’ll get the adults gathered around the glass house.”
The glass house, of course, was where Keera and I would begin the first rite of the mating ritual. We would get intimate with the mind to be mated, and if the goddess approved, she would bless us with a pattern on our bodies that would be unique to us alone. I held Keera’s hand tightly as we made our way to the Northern border of the pack where the glass house was situated. It stood prominently, its single room and curtains designed to obscure the view while still allowing the pack to bear witness to our commitment.
Keera’s first shift had been a triumph, and the pack cheered as she shifted again in their presence, staring in amazement at the beauty that was her wolf. She stepped into the glass house in her wolf form and shifted back in the house, stepping in the traditional outfit that had been provided for her; a flowing white gown that highlighted her beauty and elegance. Since I couldn’t oversee my own mating ceremony, Ryan was in charge. He stood before the pack and made the required proclamations to the pack. I couldn’t hold back the smile on my face as they cheered.
For the next part of the mating ritual, Keera and I stepped into the house together, the pack’s anticipation outside palpable. I shut the door behind us, ensuring our privacy, and turned to face her. I’d borne witness hundreds of mating ceremonies so it wasn’t a new experience for me, but I could only imagine how she would be taking it. “How are you feeling?” I asked, my voice laced with concern. She managed a shaky smile and I could almost hear her urging herself to calm down.
We couldn’t mindlink yet since we hadn’t gotten to the part of the ritual where I would mark her as mine. With werewolves it was different, but with fated mates, you had to be marked before you could mindlink the other person. Keera whistled out an anxious breath. “I’m a little tense, but for the most part, I’m alright.” She admitted. Her gaze drifted to the curtains, and I saw the realization dawn on her; the pack members would hear us. There was a question in her eyes when they met mine, and I nodded.
“They will,” I confirmed, my voice deep and husky. Her cheeks flushed, and I chuckled, pulling her close. “You’re already doing just fine,” I whispered, my lips brushing against her ear. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.” I felt the tension seep out of her body, replaced by a sense of trust. She looked up at me, and the love I saw reflected in her eyes made my knees weak. I just have done something good in my past life for the goddess to have blessed me with her. I lowered my mouth to hers, my lips gentle and reassuring.
The world outside melted away, leaving only us, our love, and our commitment to each other. Our kiss deepened and I pulled back before I got too carried away. “Ready?” I inquired huskily. She nodded. I caressed her cheek with my thumb. “Let me know if it’s all too much.” She wrapped her hands around my neck and pulled me to her and it was all the go ahead I needed. Well, then. She didn’t need to tell me twice. The next couple of minutes was a blur as we got lost in getting to know each other all over again.
I tuned out the pack’s anticipation, which I could sense building outside. I took my time pleasuring my mate, dragging my fingers, my tongue. . . my cock, over every inch of her. Her body shivered and pulsed beneath me, her nipples and clit painfully hardened. Her moans were loud, loud enough that everyone knew she was getting it and she was getting it good. I felt a sense of male satisfaction when a scream tore through her as I buried myself deeply inside her pussy. I dragged my mouth from the pointed peaks of her the soft round flesh on her chest, raising my head just in time to see the flash of lightening illuminating the sky outside and casting an otherworldly glow over the glass house.
The goddess had approved.
An ethereal radiance enveloped us, the light dancing across our skin and weaving an intricate pattern that seemed to pulse with life. Keera’s eyes widened, her gaze locked on mine as we both felt the energy coursing through us. The goddess had given us her mark, a unique symbol for each mated pair, but we were far too gone to pause and check what it was.
I heard the celebration begin outside, and drowned myself again in the feel of the pack’s Luna. Moon Valley pack was finally complete. Our hands went on a sensual exploration as we worshipped each other’s bodies. She dragged her tongue across my flesh, settling herself above me in a sixty nine position. Her head bobbed as her mouth moved up and down my cock, her fingers stroking the base. I spread her ass cheeks over my face, twirling my tongue in her pussy as I fucked her asshole with my finger. Her screams grew louder, her moans dragging me to the edge.
I snaked my hand between our bodies and tweaked her nipple, grazing her clit with my teeth as she came. We moved fluidly, our lips locking in a sensual embrace as we stroked each other to the fifth? Sixth orgasm? I’d lost count. Our bodies moved in perfect harmony, our love and desire fueling the ancient ritual. Every thrust, every kiss, every whispered promise drew us closer to completion. The world outside receded, leaving only the two of us, lost in the vortex of our passion.
And then finally, our breathing slowed and our movement became languid, our kisses sloppy. I held her for a few minutes after we had become too spent to move a finger, my cock still buried nicely in her warm heat. I sent a silent prayer to the goddess, thanking her for blessing me with a mate that I would protect with every breath that I had in me. My mouth lazily found hers again as I playfully tapped her ass before dragging her to her feet.
“Get up,” I urged. “We’ve only just began the ritual.”