C5

CASTEL

"Oh, stars," I gasp against his neck. "Alpha, please"

My body trembles beneath him, every nerve ending on fire as Cedric's powerful frame pins me to the furs of our sacred bed. His fingers trail down my chest, tracing the lines of my muscles, and I arch into his touch like a moon-crazed wolf.

"Look at you," he growls, his deep voice sending shivers straight to my core. "So beautiful when you let go."

I did this. I brought my Alpha to this. I made him feel this way. And I'm going to do it to him again and again, for the rest of my days.

My release crashes through me like a tidal wave, and I cry out his name. He watches me fall apart with those intense amber eyes, and I've never felt more powerful than in this moment—under him, around him, completely his.

"Castel," he murmurs, pressing kisses along my jaw. "My little moon wolf."

I capture his mouth with mine, tasting myself on his lips. The kiss is tender, reverent, filled with all the words we haven't said yet but both feel. His scent pine and storm and something uniquely Cedric—fills my senses.

"Please," I whisper against his lips. "I need you inside me. I need to feel you."

He positions himself between my legs, and I can barely breathe from the anticipation. His eyes never leave mine as he pushes forward, inch by agonizing inch, until he's buried deep inside me.

"Fuck," we groan together.

I dig my claws into his back, not enough to break skin but enough to leave marks. He moves slow at first, torturously slow, and I can feel every ridge, every pulse of his shaft inside me. My eyes roll back as he picks up the pace.

"Harder," I beg. "Please, Alpha, harder"

He slams into me, and I see stars. Our bodies crash together in perfect rhythm, and I whimper like a pup in heat. His mouth finds my neck, teeth grazing my pulse point, and I'm already climbing toward another release.

"I'm close," I pant. "So close"

"Cum for me," he commands, his voice rough with need. "Let me feel you."

I shatter around him, crying out as wave after wave of pleasure wracks my body. He follows seconds later, growling my name as he buries himself deep and spills inside me. We cling to each other, breathing harsh, hearts racing.

"I love you," I whisper.

He kisses my forehead. "And I love you, Castel Moonvale. Now and always."

CEDRIC 

"He's just a cub," Kieran sneers, his amber eyes flashing with disdain. "What makes you think he's worthy of the Nightfang legacy?"

My son has been hostile since the ceremony ended. I understand his hesitation we've been alone for so long, just the two of us but he doesn't have to be so difficult about this.

"I don't care what you think of my mate," I growl, letting my Alpha power ripple through my words. "You will respect him as you respect me."

"Respect?" Kieran laughs bitterly. "He's younger than me! He's barely shifted into his full wolf form!"

"Castel is more wolf than most wolves twice his age. You haven't even tried to know him."

Kieran scoffs and stalks away, leaving me alone with my frustration. The boy is stubborn, just like his mother was. Maybe that's why this hurts so much seeing him reject the bond that could heal our fractured pack.

"Alpha," a soft voice interrupts my thoughts.

I turn to find Castel approaching, his silver eyes warm despite the tension he must have sensed. Even in his formal wedding robes, he moves like the wolf he is graceful, powerful, completely captivating.

"Don't worry about Kieran," he says, taking my hand. "He'll come around."

"He's my pup, Castel. I should have prepared him better."

"You raised him alone for years. You did your best." He squeezes my fingers. "Now let's focus on us. On our pack."

I pull him close, burying my nose in his hair. His scent calms the beast inside me, soothes the Alpha rage that always simmers beneath my skin.

"How did I ever survive without you?" I murmur.

"Badly, from what I heard." He grins up at me. "Elder Tobias told me you used to howl at the moon alone every night."

"I did no such thing."

"Tobias never lies. You old softie."

I growl playfully and nip at his ear. He giggles actually giggles and I decide right then that I'll spend the rest of my existence making him laugh like that.

CASTEL

"Don't call me step-pup," I mutter under my breath as Kieran passes me in the Gathering Corridor. "That's not even a real title."

He glares at me over his shoulder. "What would you prefer? Moon Wolf who stole my father's attention?"

"Your father chose me, Kieran. I didn't steal anything."

"Whatever." He disappears around the corner, and I let out a frustrated breath.

The wedding ceremony was beautiful pack members from every territory came to witness the first Alpha-bonding in twenty years. But ever since Cedric pronounced us mates under the Moon Goddess's blessing, Kieran has been nothing but hostile.

"You okay?" Helena Frostmoon appears at my elbow, her silver-white hair shimmering under the torchlight. She was my mentor before all this, and she's been my biggest supporter since.

"Kieran hates me."

"Kieran doesn't hate you," she says. "He's scared. His father has been his whole world for so long. Now he has to share."

"I understand that. I do. But"

"But nothing. You're part of the pack now, Castel. Part of the Nightfang lineage. You have to fight for your place."

Before I can respond, Elder Tobias Silverclaw raises his voice from the front of the hall. "A toast to the new bonded pair!"

The crowd quiets, all eyes on the old wolf who's served our pack for decades. His fur is graying, but his presence still commands respect.

"I'll keep this brief," Tobias says, his voice carrying through the chamber. "I've known Cedric since he was a pup nipping at his father's heels. He's a strong Alpha honorable, loyal, fierce. But I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at Castel."

I feel my cheeks heat. Cedric's hand finds mine, squeezing gently.

"When Castel joined our territory, I knew he was special. The Moon Goddess marks her chosen ones in ways we can't always see. But it was obvious to anyone with eyes that these two were destined for each other." Tobias raises his glass. "To Cedric and Castel may your bond never break, and may your love light the way for future generations."

"To the Alpha pair!" the pack roars in unison.

"See?" Cedric whispers, his breath warm against my ear. "They accept you."

"Most of them," I mutter, glancing at Kieran's empty seat.

"Give it time, my wolf."

CEDRIC

"How are you feeling, Alpha?" Helena approaches me after the formalities. "About everything?"

"Honestly? Like the luckiest wolf in the territory." I watch Castel across the room, laughing at something Tobias said. His silver eyes crinkle at the corners, and my heart does that stupid flip thing it's been doing since I first saw him.

"I meant about Kieran."

My smile fades. "He'll come around. He has to."

"Maybe you should speak with him. Alone."

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. "You're right. But not tonight. Tonight, I just want to enjoy my mate."

"Fair enough." Helena pats my arm. "Congratulations, Alpha. You chose well."

"I know."

I make my way to Castel, drawn to him like a moth to moonlight. He's more beautiful than any wolf I've ever seen, with his lean muscles and sharp cheekbones. And those eyes the exact shade of silver during the full moon.

"Ready to escape?" I murmur, sliding my hand to the small of his back.

"More than ready. I've had enough formal talk to last a lifetime."

"Then follow me."

I lead him out of the celebration chamber and down the corridor, past the old tapestries depicting our pack's history, until we reach the hidden storage room. I push open the door and pull him inside, closing us off from the noise.

"What are we doing here?" he laughs.

"Something I've been wanting to do all evening." I press him against the wall, capturing his mouth in a hungry kiss.

He melts into me instantly, hands fisting in my formal robes. His tongue tangles with mine, and I taste the honey wine they served at the feast. I've been half-hard since the ceremony began, and now I'm fully ready for him.

"You're so beautiful," I say against his lips. "I can't wait to mate with you properly. Fully."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

He drops to his knees with surprising grace, his fingers already working at my belt. I lean back against the wall, letting him take control for now.

"Careful, little wolf," I warn. "Once you start"

"I know what I'm doing, Alpha." His silver eyes gleam with mischief. "Trust me."

His mouth finds the head of my cock, and I hiss at the sensation. Hot and wet and perfect. He takes me deeper, his tongue working magic, and I've never felt anything like this. Not with anyone.

"Oh, Goddess," I groan.

He hums around my length, the vibration making my knees weak. I thread my fingers through his dark hair, guiding him gently. He takes direction well, learning exactly what makes me growl.

"You're going to be the death of me," I pant.

He pulls off with a wet pop. "But what a way to go."

I laugh despite the tension building in my balls. My wolf is howling inside me, demanding more, more, more. I thrust forward, fucking his mouth with shallow strokes. He moans like he's the one being pleasured, and that's what tips me over the edge.

I spill down his throat, and he swallows every last drop.

"That," I say, pulling him to his feet, "was incredible."

He grins, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "You taste like midnight and promises."

"And you taste like trouble."

"That's me." He kisses my cheek. "Your trouble. Now and always."

CASTEL

We walk back to the celebration hand in hand, and I can still taste him on my tongue. My Alpha. My mate. After all those nights dreaming of a love like this, I finally have it.

"Where have you two been?" Helena asks, one eyebrow raised.

"Getting air," I say smoothly.

"Uh-huh. Air." She smirks. "Your 'air' smells like sex."

"Helena!"

She laughs and walks away, and Cedric squeezes my hand. "She's just jealous."

"I don't think so. She's had her mate for fifty years."

"Exactly. She remembers what it was like in the beginning."

I lean into him, breathing in his scent. The celebration continues around us wolves howling, dancing, feasting under the moonlight. Our pack is strong. Our future is bright.

"Castel," a voice says behind me.

I turn to find Kieran, his expression unreadable. My stomach drops. Here it comes the rejection, the hatred, the fight I've been dreading since I first met my mate's son.

"Your speech," he says slowly. "It was... good."

My jaw drops. "What?"

"I'm not saying I accept you completely. But..." He shoves his hands in his pockets. "You made my father happy. That counts for something."

"It counts for everything," Cedric says, his voice rough with emotion. "Thank you, Kieran."

Kieran nods stiffly. "Don't make me regret this." He walks away, and I watch him disappear into the crowd.

"Well," I say, blinking back tears. "That was unexpected."

"He's a good pup. He just needs time."

"And he'll have it." I face Cedric, loving the way the moonlight catches his features. "We have all the time in the world."

He kisses my forehead. "Forever and always, my little moon wolf."

"Forever and always, my Alpha."