“Are you putting a spell on me?”
I raised the tone of my voice to cover up the nervousness engulfing my heart. I touched my own chest and still felt the rapid, rhythmic beating of my heart. Why doesn’t this feeling go away, too?
I swore that I would try to normalize my heart when I was around Pollux again. For once, I’d let my heart betray me. It really stinks that I was caught off guard.
It’s already the second time Pollux has made me stomp roughly on the floor. I didn’t mean to draw attention to it until I heard the light chuckle from Pollux, who was walking beside me. I admitted that I wasn’t mad at him anymore; it was just that I was mad at myself for having to be mesmerized by him.
“I’m overwhelmed. You win, Pollux. Maybe I should just stand still like a statue.” I folded my arms across my chest.
I was consistent with my words even when we were waiting at the Civil Registration and Population Office. I moved my legs repeatedly until Pollux’s hand grazed my thigh to make me stop. Coupled with a shake of the head from him, I obeyed as usual.
It didn’t stop there; waiting in an official office like this made me claustrophobic. I got up from the waiting chair and walked to the window to get some fresh air. Things like this alone make my brain slow to think.
The sound of people passing behind me was like background noise that only stopped by my right ear and then exited through my left ear. My eyes occasionally confirmed the light panel above the closed room where we were waiting. I also stole glances at Pollux, who was sitting with his legs crossed like a model, attracting the attention of the female employees who passed by every time in the corridor.
Finally, I saw the panel light turn green, showing queue number 15, which was exactly the same as the queue number on the card I was holding. I straightened my body and tidied up my clothes and hair. Arriving at the door of the room, I felt Pollux’s hand around my waist.
“Are you comfortable?”
“Just so you know, Alpha Pollux. I’m very nervous.”
“Want me to hold your hand?”
I gave Pollux my hand. Instantly, warmth began to spread through my body. The effect was so strong that I actually became calmer.
We stepped up to one of the tables with a sign that read, Alessia Montano. Behind the desk stood a woman in her mid-40s. Her graying hair made her appearance a stark contrast to the other employees in this room.
Alessia greeted us both with a friendly smile. The woman’s greeting to me was enough to make my nervousness disappear in exchange for the friendly response I gave her. I shook her hand after she shook Pollux’s first.
“I don’t want to take up both of your time, so I’ll announce the points directly. The marriage registration is made by the first party, Sir Pollux Fabrizio Melucci. The marriage between the first party, Pollux Fabrizio Melucci, and the second party, Godiva Fletcher, has been officially registered in the government database. You will both receive a certificate in duplicate, one for the first party and one for the second party. I wish you a happy marriage and a happy life.”
I stretched my hand forward to grab the ivory-white certificate from Alessia. I read it carefully and nodded slowly. I accepted the certificate Pollux gave me. She told me to bring his certificate because I was carrying a bag big enough to fit a magazine-sized piece of paper.
“Ridiculous, isn’t it? I, Alpha Pollux Melucci, marry a human and then get a piece of paper as validation. You humans set the rules for yourselves and only trust paper to bind them,” Pollux said as he walked with me out of the building.
“I just found out that the werewolf leader can grumble too. In reality, it is like that, and why would you want to be with this human?” I retorted in exasperation.
“I’m not grumbling, but I feel like this doesn’t make sense. I bit you to mark you as my mate, and that’s forever. The bond between mates cannot be based on that piece of paper in your bag,” Pollux explained with one finger pointing at my bag.
“Then does your existence make sense? You may be human, but you can transform into wolves, and I, a human standing before you right now, have to believe that.”
“I’m glad we’re debating the line between reality and fantasy. I was just baiting you, and by the Moon Goddess, I am grateful to have a partner who can reason with me. After we get the certificate, there should be a scene where the groom kisses his partner, right?”
I gasped. I even felt the thrust of Pollux’s hand over my body to get into the car. My mind was already fantasizing about the hot activities I had done with Castor in the car when I saw Pollux’s eyes turning amber.
I hear my own rush of breath, and now we have to share the same air. I gripped the edge of the passenger seat tightly as Pollux’s tongue swept over my mouth more demandingly. How could I not rebel at all?
I let out a faint sigh, but quickly stopped as Pollux moved his face away from me. I opened my eyes as his fingers wiped away the remaining saliva on my lips. He was smiling instead of his usual smirk. This is very strange to me.
I blinked a few times until I gained my senses and said, “What are you doing to me, Alpha Pollux?”
“Do you like it?”
“I don’t know,” I replied with the resignation of not understanding myself.
“It’s a powerful and lasting form of bonding.”
I furrowed my brow, not understanding what he meant at all. From his calm tone of voice, I could interpret that it was something different. Immersed in my own thoughts, I let Pollux hold my hand tightly.
When we arrived home, I saw Castor waiting for us on the front porch. He immediately hugged me tightly and congratulated me. In the few minutes I spent explaining everything that happened during the day, Castor listened to me attentively.
The three of us were in the living room talking about the wedding. In Castor’s hand was a small piece of paper that he had just taken out of his shirt pocket. He handed it to me.
I read it and processed it in my brain. Castor helpfully explained that these were the words I was to recite during the ritual.
“Does this mean I have to memorize it?” I asked anxiously.
“Yes. The ritual procession will be a little more complicated because there are many steps that we have to perform. Pollux and I also got the same notes as you from Bice, the Seer Moonstone pack,” Castor added as he showed me the same small piece of paper.
“Will it hurt as much as you biting me? Honestly, I was so scared when I read this pledge.” I bit my finger.
“There will be no more wounds for you to suffer, Luna Godiva. We promise you.”