Page 104 of Sing Sweet Nightingale

“No. You’re not ruining anything, and trust me, no one will be upset. We don’t have big, rehearsed ceremonies for it. But if you want a human wedding or party later, I will gladly make it happen.”

My shoulders drop, and my heart bursts with a sparking joy I never knew myself capable of.

“Thanks, Ginger.”

She nods and steps away, leaving me alone to stare at my reflection. Rosy-cheeked, smiling like a fool, and deciding that I think I am going to wear the white dress tonight.

Chapter 34 – Hunter

The last couple of days have flown by in a haze. A wonderful haze filled with Lottie. We remained hidden in my house the entire time. No one bothered us that we didn’t invite over. I never brought up the mate bond again. Just in case it would force her to withdraw from me when we’ve grown so close. When everything is going so perfectly between us.

Aside from Vincent and the paparazzi, everything is perfect. Once we bond, if we bond, that problem will cease as well. Then, we can properly start building our life together.

Tonight is the blood moon. Shifters have already begun showing up at my house, bringing food and drinks to share. It’s become a bit of an unofficial potluck. Shifting and fucking takes a lot of energy, and all tend to get hungry after.

Some are not shifters, though, and just come for the community or to run with their shifter mates or spouses. There are also a few outsiders we’ve come to accept as friends who come for every lunar eclipse, especially the ones who don’t live too far away. Most of them are already in town, staying with friends or at the motel.

Ginger showed up with a large bag in hand and pulled Lottie into our room, locking me out, claiming girl time or whatever. Lottie could use a little girl time. And I like that she’s becomeso close with Ginger. I just hope my sister doesn’t force her into anything too fancy. One, because I would hate ruining it in the chase, and two, because I know that’s not what Lottie wants. Her old life may have been all glitter and sparkle, but after getting to know her it’s obvious she likes the simple pleasures in life. High quality, yes, but simple. She’s had her fill of rhinestones and sequins, and I don’t want her to feel pressured to wear something she hates.

Puttering around the house I straighten things and set up tables for the evening, knowing they’ll be overflowing with food and drinks in no time.

My parents are some of the first to arrive, with handfuls of Tupperware containers and bottles of wine. I didn’t tell them about possibly bonding with Lottie tonight, but they appear to have done a little extra tonight. Maybe just knowing she’d be here, they wanted to show her what a life with me could be. Welcome her into the pack and our family even without knowing by tomorrow that may be all too true.

Parents can be like that sometimes. Knowing things without ever being told. It was obvious to anyone looking how much we’re drawn to each other. Concluding we are mates isn’t too far of a jump to make.

Dottie and her family appear soon after, bringing an entire buffet with them. They always bring more than others, but again it’s like they knew tonight was special without being told.

I greet them with warm smiles and open arms. My pack, my family. The people I care about most and would do anything to protect. They would do the same for me and anyone else in the pack. We’re shifters, we can’t help it. Because of that, we form close bonds with each other.

Not to mention seeing each other butt naked every eclipse means we know more about each other than we want to sometimes.

It isn’t until the yard is half full with shifters, a few other non-humans like Evelyn and Becca, and even one or two humans, that Lottie and my sister appear.

Even across the yard, through dozens of horny shifters and mingling scents of food, I still catch her gardenia and clove scent. Maddeningly strong and alluring. Drawing my eye directly to her cutting off the conversation I was having with Luca. I expect he walks away when he realizes I’m no longer paying attention to him because I don’t hear him anymore as my body moves toward Lottie.

She’s wearing a white dress that sways in the light breeze. Its short hem brushes against her thighs, and I hope she’s not too cold.

I know a way I could warm her.My extremely horny inner beast purrs.

The closer I get to her, the pinker her cheeks and neck become, but her eyes never break contact with mine, and I ignore anyone who tries to speak to me or gets in my way. I think I even push one chatty nymph out of my way. I think it was Kai, so I’m not too concerned.

Lottie stands perfectly still, patiently waiting for me to make my way across the yard to her. My sister wisely scurries away, leaving Lottie and me alone.

There’s a pink glistening on her lips, and her hair has soft waves that I want to run my fingers through. When I’m within touching distance, and her mate scent hits me, along with a heaping helping of desire, a deep primal growl rumbles in my chest and throat.

If anyone questioned my intentions with Lottie upon hearing my possessive and claiming growl, they no longer do.

She stands just above me on the deck, only a few short steps away, and my feet stop just at the bottom.

“You look . . .” My words fail me trying to pick the perfect word to describe how my mate looks at this moment. “Divine. Flawless. Exquisite. Mouthwateringly luscious.”

Each of my words is soft but certain, leaving no room for argument. I know she’s heard many of these things before, but I want her to know I mean every single one. That my words aren’t empty and hollow.

I slowly make my way up the few steps as I speak, ending when I reach her. Taking the opportunity our position offers, I run the back of a finger up her exposed knee and thigh, brushing just under the hem of her dress before retracting my hand. Her breath catches, and her scent spikes, making my cock throb and my knot swell painfully, knowing soon I may be sliding it into her heat and locking us together. Both experiencing it together for the first time. The sensations amplified when I bite her and send us both into the greatest pleasure we’ve ever experienced and tie our life forces together as one.

My anticipation has me quickly closing the remaining distance between us. Wrapping an arm around her waist, the other cupping the back of her neck, my thumb circling to press down on her pulse point ever so slightly in a way I discovered I like as much as she does.

“Thank you,” she whispers breathily once I have her secure in my arms. “Ginger picked the dress out.”

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