Page 60 of Shattered and Saved

As soon as the words left his lips, he took my hand in his, interlacing our fingers as if they were meant to stay bound. As simple as the gesture was, it sent sparks of electricity through myskin, spreading heat over my body. Damn, this mate bond thing really was intense.

“So,” he mused, “what do you want to talk about?”

I beamed at his question. “There’s something I’m really excited to discuss with you.”

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “My interest is piqued, Alpha. Shoot.”

My grin morphed into a smirk as I revealed, “The details of officially making you my Alpha King.”

As we finally reached the waterfall - our favorite spot in Azure Smoke - I carefully made my way over the rocks. With our hands still interlocked, Koen had no choice but to follow.

A confused frown crossed his face as we rock-hopped by the water, and he asked, “Do I get a coronation?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Just a regular ceremony.”

“Is it like a Luna Ceremony?” he wanted to know, interested.

Once I found a comfortable, dry spot, I lowered myself and invited him to sit with me. “Kinda, if you skip the prestigious guests from other packs and all.” I grimaced. “But we don’t really have lunas. Among our kind, both members of the leading couple receive the title of Alpha.” After a brief pause, I continued, “Well, the lycans used to rule over the Ashen Wolves, but that’s how it worked after the royal families disappeared.”

Koen nodded quietly, digesting the information I just offered him. A moment later, he asked, “How does it work?”

I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling the steady rhythm of his breathing. “Like I said, it’s not as fancy as the ceremonies we usually see in traditional wolf packs. It’s more like a celebration, really. Similar to when a new Ashen Wolf is rescued and brought into our haven.”

As I spoke, his fingers gently combed through my hair, making me feel even more relaxed. Leaning into his caress, Icontinued, “Except this time, there’s an actual party before we set off to lead the pack together in a run.”

The thought of it all made my heart race. “The whole pack will gather around the Banyan. We’ll stand beneath it, and you’ll speak a few vows.” A thrill of anticipation ran through me as I finished, “The Moon Goddess will bless both our union and your rise as my consort.”

“Sounds delightful,” he replied, planting a kiss on the top of my head. “When is it happening?”

“Are you excited now?” I giggled, straightening up to meet his gaze. “To be honest, I don’t want to rush it - the past few days have been hectic enough. I was thinking we could pick a date after we hear back from the Elders.”

Koen nodded in agreement, though I noticed something shift in his eyes. Before I could dwell on it, he confessed, “I’m okay with that, but…” He paused dramatically, leaning impossibly close. “There’s one thing I can’t wait any longer for.”

I couldn’t look away as I replied, genuinely curious, “What?”

Without warning, he lifted his hand to the base of my neck. Simply hovering his fingers over my marking spot made my skin come alive with goosebumps.

As his lips almost touched mine, he whispered, “I want to mark you back.”

I stilled. Amidst the chaos, it barely crossed my mind that we hadn’t completed the marking process. While I had laid my claim on Koen, he never had the chance to do the same for me. But it seemed like a fair request.

It wasn’t until now, with his intent so clear, that I truly understood the depth of what this meant. Before, the idea of being marked had been clouded by lust and instinct, an overwhelming urge to seal our bond. But now, the weight of the gesture hit me.

I’d be baring my neck to another male - a vulnerability I never thought I’d willingly allow. I had never expected to find myself in this position. Yet, with Koen, it felt undeniably right. He wasn’t just any male; he was mine, as much as I was his.

My heart pounded with anticipation as I asked, “How would you like to do it?”

Koen shifted slightly, taking both of my hands to gently guide me onto his lap. I followed, straddling him on the smooth surface of the rock. The roar of the waterfall faded into the background as I focused solely on the sound of our mingling breaths.

His hands slid to my waist, steadying me, while his lips sought mine. At first, he kissed me tenderly. There was no urgency; no rush. But softness slowly gave way to a shimmer of roughness as he occasionally nipped at my lower lip, sending waves of heat that spread from my core to every corner of my being.

When his mouth left mine, I let my head fall back to give him better access. His touch seemed to set my skin alive as he carefully moved my hair out of the way, trailing long, wet kisses down my chin, each one leaving me breathless. I gave in to him completely, and before I knew it, he was right where he wanted to be.

His lips grazed the delicate skin where my neck met my shoulder, lingering there. A shiver ran through me as his breath warmed the spot, anticipation tightening every nerve in my body. Without hesitation, his teeth sank into me, sharp and purposeful. The pain was fleeting but startling, like a spark igniting a fire. And then came the rush - a flood of warmth and pleasure that left me gasping, the sensations overwhelming and consuming.

I clung to him as our bond solidified, as if an invisible thread had woven us tighter together, and I felt even more completethan I had after claiming him. In that perfect moment, nothing else mattered.

When he pulled back, his gaze locked onto mine, his eyes reflecting a fierce possessiveness without losing their usual tenderness. “You’re mine now,” he stated, both proud and fulfilled.

---