Page 15 of Bullied Forced Omega
I hold out my hand to offer Miranda help onto the stone, too, as they gently usher her to join me.
Despite the sour look on her face beneath the white veil she wears, she places her hand in mine and lets me lift her up. Her long white cotton dress, embroidered with gold thread, is almost transparent in the light of the full moon, and her nipplesare hard against it in the cool night air. She is naked beneath her dress, as I am naked beneath the black cloak I am wearing. On my back and over the hood are the same gold thread patterns as her dress. We are to be mated tonight.
Jux is going ballistic with anticipation of what he thinks is coming.
I constantly have to push him back, to tell him we aren’t taking her without her consent. But he’s convinced she wants this as much as we do.
The dress clings to her curves over her waist, then flares out over her full hips. I want to grab her hips and dig my fingers into her flesh. I want to press against her softness and ride her…
He’s making it hard to focus on anything else, and as she stands next to me, staring at the sea of faces looking up at us, I can hear her heart beating heavy and quick in her breast.
This afternoon, I tried to speak to her about becoming my Luna, about being my fated mate. She was angry and resentful, pleading with me to choose someone else. I think she still carries pain from the past. From what I did to her. The scars of rejection are deep and complex, if not impossible, to erase.
Maybe I could have chosen someone else. There are a number of Omegas here who would die to become my Luna. But Mira is the one the Moon Goddess chose for me, and for the sake of my pack, for the sake of being the best Alpha I can be, I will honor what the Moon Goddess wants.
And so will Mira.
The entire pack is watching. They can barely stand still. Shifting from one foot to the other, they are ready to move into wolf form and join us on the run.
“Tonight, under the light of the New Moon, we call to the Goddess Selene to welcome in the new era. I call to the heart of our wolf, to her name, and ask that she bear witness to this great event.” Jeremy says, his voice booming loudly through the forest.
I clench my jaw, wishing they would hurry up and get on with it. Mira smells incredible, and Jux is clawing at my insides.
A thought slams into me while Jeremy drones on about honor and history and all those things…
When we shift, I won’t be able to control Jux. This is my first run with Mira…with Mika, and Jux is ready to devour her.
“First, Jace Greenwood, we, as your pack, honor your bloodline. We honor the Alpha that runs in your veins, and we respect and bow before you and your wolf, Jux.” Jeremy bows dramatically, and the entire pack bows, too. Stooping low and placing their hands against the damp earth. The stone beneath my feet vibrates strongly, and Mira lets out a curious little yelp.
She bows next to me, crouching and placing her hands on the stone surface as she hangs her head.
Without looking up, Jeremy shouts, “Do you take claim of this pack, Jace Greenwood?”
“I do,” I growl.
“Do you accept your position as Alpha, Jace Greenwood?”
“I do.” My heart hammers in my chest, and Jux spins with anticipation.
“Do you swear that every action from this moment forward will be for the pack, for the greater good of our survival and well-being, and for your Luna?”
“I do,” I growl, glancing at Mira, still bowed next to me. The sheer fabric of her dress is pressed against the curve of her back, and her delicate, yet full frame is visible beneath the cotton. I have to fight the urge not to reach out and run my fingers over her perfect shapes.
Jeremy stands, and the pack mimics him. The excitement is heightened. It’s almost unbearable.
“Repeat after me,” Jeremy says. I nod, keeping my face stern and my eyes focused on him.
“I, Jace Greenwood.”
“I Jace Greenwood…”
He speaks line for line, and I repeat. Each word I say floods me with strength. It’s as though Selene is looking right at me, her heart soaking into my skin.
“…from tonight, take up my position as Alpha of this pack. I will protect each member and our territory on the Silver Lake Reservation. I will honor my Luna, as chosen by the Moon Goddess. I will fight and die for every one of you to keep you safe…”
My heart is beating so loud it’s aching in my chest.
Jeremy turns to the pack. “You have heard his oath, and now I will hear yours.”
