The Mating Ceremony

SILVER

The pads of my fingers skimmed over the crisp pages as I read every line, the scent of wood and old books settling into my lungs.

Perfect.

The library had always been my safe haven, the one place their voices couldn't reach me and my reality couldn't haunt me. I pulled my gaze from the formula scribbled across the page and let the quiet settle over me.

Then the words came back anyway.

Wretched pig. Overweight Olaf. Worthless wolf.

I didn't notice the figure behind me until it was too late. A pair of hands closed around my arm and spun me around, slamming me against the shelves. The books rattled above my head.

My gaze met his.

Alpha Kael.

"Kael, you..." The rest of my words died as his lips crashed onto mine. Rough. Possessive. He kissed like he hadn't touched me in days instead of hours.

Heat crawled through my skin and exploded in my gut.

"Fuck, I've missed you," he groaned against my mouth, his hands sliding over my waist and pulling me closer until I melted into him.

"Someone could walk in," I whispered, though a small part of me wanted him to say he didn't care.

"Then we'll be quick." He didn't slow down. He never did, not here, not anywhere the pack might see us together. "You smell so good, sweetheart."

His lips trailed down my neck, teeth grazing my pulse point before returning to my mouth, kissing, biting, nibbling, reminding me who I belonged to.

Him. Only him.

He bit down on my lip and thrust his tongue in. His taste exploded on my tongue, his scent curling in my gut. Leather and oud. Like a god.

"You taste so good, sweetheart. So fucking good." His lips swayed from my mouth to my chin, then hovered over my collarbone, which he gave a long, slow lick.

I arched back, pleasure shooting through my spine.

He pulled back just far enough to look at me, something close to pride flickering across his face. "Do you know what you do to me? Everyone thinks they know me, but no one would believe the Alpha could want someone like you.”

He said it like a compliment.

I took it as one.

"I've missed you, sweetheart," he murmured, guiding my hand to his waist, then lower. My eyes widened at his hard erection straining through his trousers. "See what you do to me? My cock needs you."

I breathed in, my gaze dropping to his erection. Even through his clothing, it looked huge. I reached for his trousers, fiddling with the hooks. He let me. His trousers slipped off his waist and pooled at his feet. His boxers followed, and his cock sprang out, huge, thick, and leaking precum.

"Fuck, baby, see how much I want you."

Pride bloomed in my chest at the prospect of being needed to the point he was losing control. I sank to my knees anyway, needing to feel like I was worth wanting. I took his cock in my hand, using his precum as lube. I stroked him, watching his legs tremble. My confidence boosted. I leaned in and placed him in my mouth.

He let out a moan, his fingers kneading into my hair as I sucked him in a slow, steady rhythm, trying to adjust to his length. Once I did, I hastened my pace.

"Fuck! Yes, oh Goddess, yes!" His moans echoed through the library. His grip tightened, and my scalp burned in pain. I barely acknowledged it, not when he was reacting to my touch, to my every bob.

He fisted my hair and, without warning, slammed in. I spluttered and gagged. He didn't stop. He drove in faster, his cock hitting my throat, his balls slapping against my jaw while our moans synced, echoing through the air. I watched him fuck my mouth. I watched every reaction, the look in his eyes. Hunger. Lust. And maybe love.

He yanked my hair. "Suck me."

I did, bobbing my head while he thrust in. I grabbed onto his legs for support, my eyes stinging with tears, my mouth stretched while he drove in.

"You look so good with my cock in your mouth. So damn good."

He increased his pace. With one powerful thrust, he came, shooting into my mouth. He pulled out, stepping back as I fell forward, breathing hard. His cum was still in my mouth. I swallowed hard, ignoring the salty taste.

"You did so good, sweetheart," he said, tucking himself back in. Then he crouched to my level and kissed my forehead. Careful. Like he was checking a box.

"I have to go now. I need to get ready for the mating ceremony." He straightened his collar, already halfway back to the version of himself the pack knew. "I'll come find you after, okay, baby?"

"I..." He turned and left. I watched his retreating figure and told myself the ache in my chest was happiness. He cares for me. He loves me.

The mating ceremony. Today, the Moon Goddess would finally tie us together. Today we would walk in as lovers and leave as mates. I just knew it.

The ride from home to the Blackthorn mansion took nearly half an hour, but I barely noticed the time passing. Happiness, anxiety, and a strange flutter of anticipation fought inside me as I stared through the carriage window. Tonight would change everything.

The mansion rose beyond the trees, enormous beneath the evening sky. Blue and silver decorations covered the entrance, and lanterns lined the path to the grand hall.

"I hope Kael is our mate," Lena, my wolf, purred inside my mind.

"So do I," I whispered, stepping down from the carriage.

I kept my scent hidden as I made my way inside, the way I had learned to do over the years. The less attention I attracted, the safer I was. I entered the hall and lowered my gaze. Everything around me spoke of wealth and power, from the chandeliers overhead to the silver drapery lining the walls.

I had barely taken three steps when a hand closed around my arm. My mother's furious face stared back at me.

"Listen carefully, Silver." Her grip tightened. "Today is your sister's mating ceremony. Don't you dare ruin it for her. Stand at the back and stay there."

"I wasn't going to—"

"Don't." Her eyes swept over me with open disgust. "You're twenty-four years old, and you still haven't found a mate. The Moon Goddess isn't wicked enough to burden someone like you with one. Today is Selene's day. If you embarrass her, I'll make sure you regret it."

"Yes, Mother."

"Don't call me that."

She shoved me aside and hurried toward Selene, her expression melting into a warm smile the moment she reached her. It was a smile she had never once given me.

I stood alone and swallowed the lump in my throat.

Then the hall fell silent. Every head turned toward the entrance. Alpha Kael Blackthorn. My Kael.

For one beautiful moment our eyes met across the crowded room. His expression gave nothing away, but I smiled anyway, remembering the way he had held me only an hour ago.

"Now we will begin the mating ceremony," the High Priest announced.

The men stood still while the women lowered their heads and whispered prayers. I joined them, closing my eyes and repeating the same words I had whispered for years.

Please, Moon Goddess, give me Kael Blackthorn.

Again. And again, until the words were the only thing I could hear.

The High Priest began the ceremonial chant, his voice rolling through the hall. A gust of wind swept through the room and rattled the windows, sending a shiver down my spine.