With Lucky’s birthday another month away, there was no reason to wait.Living apart was killing them and the bond grew stronger every day.The blood tests at the ORT had come back positive for trace amounts of OX in Lucky’s system, which meant that his first heat could spark early, be unusually intense, or be delayed by the Fugue.A meeting with the Bonding Guide a week ago had confirmed that they were allowed special dispensation to bond before Lucky was officially of age.They’d proven that they were true mates to one other, a legally recognised AOA, and that waiting would only hurt their bond.
Chase had tried everything to make this night perfect.His mother had convinced the Lodge to let them book the venue for one night, to hold the ceremony here.Kain and Phoenix had taken Lucky shopping for his outfit, with Xavier and Pip following them to ten shops before he found everything he needed.Neko had helped Chase find a place he and Ford could get an outfit to match.Caroline had been especially invaluable, using her mother’s contacts to make sure the venue was well presented.
Within hours Chase had arranged chairs and tables, adding decorative lamps to create a walkway from the door where Chase and Ford waited to the central dance floor in the main hall, where the ceremony would take place.Thankfully, the Lodge was used to hosting bondings, which meant they had most of the contacts and materials available, it was just Caroline’s keen eye and talent that made it all go seamlessly.
The door behind them opened, and a hush came over the room.
Chase tugged his cuffs into place.This was the moment of truth, where he found out if Lucky understood the meaning behind the venue.
Lucky walked inside, arm linked with Caroline’s, with a white blindfold over his eyes.He looked stunning in white trousers, a short-sleeved cropped top to display his sigils, long hair hanging down his back, and a light fringe at the front.His top was similar to the one he’d worn at the bonfire, with no back so that everyone could see his sigils.He’d gone for the whole hog of jewellery, with rings, bracelets and his flower pendant, in similar muted pastel colours to match the flowers woven into his hair.Each bloom was tied into a plait, drawn from the sides into an intricate design that caressed his spine.
Chase and Ford had chosen the same material and look for their outfits, in a stone grey.
Caroline stopped Lucky as he put his hands to the blindfold.“On three.”She gave a slow countdown before she undid the knot and slipped the cloth from Lucky’s eyes.
After a moment of stunned recognition, Lucky spun to face Chase, eyes misty with the onset of tears.
“This is where we felt the bond, where we committed to one another,” Chase said, while Ford approached to brush the tears from Lucky’s cheeks.
“This is perfect.”Lucky heaved a sweet sigh that made Chase’s heart skip a beat.
A chatter of voices drew their attention to the arrival of more guests; the ORTa in place of Ford’s nonexistent family, all of Chase’s brothers, his mother, and Lucky’s parents.
Leading Lucky to the centre of the room, Chase asked him to kneel on the cushion already on the floor.Chase stepped opposite, then one step to the right and Ford did the same, moving to the left.Caroline had helped him configure every last detail to perfection, with the ceremony central to the chairs their families filled.Together they formed a triangle, kneeling facing one another.
He and Ford had investigated but found nothing to suggest a correct order for completing an AOA bonding ritual.They’d decided Ford would speak the bonding words first, the alphas bracketing Lucky’s vows, making a special place for their omega in the centre of their bond.
Ford lifted the bowl on the tray in the centre of their triangle, containing a blend of spices and herbs required for the ritual.He sipped from the bowl, then passed it to Lucky and spoke his vows.“Lucky Darro, as the stars in the sky, as the moon revolves around the sun,” he began, with a soft voice respecting the solemnity of the ritual.“I swear on my life to take you as my omega, my flower, and protect you until the day I die.I will bleed for you, kill for you, and ensure every moon wanes with you in my arms, every sun rises with you safe beside me.This I swear, as your alpha, Ford King.”
Lucky’s eyes welled with tears as he accepted the bowl and sipped.He rested his hands on his lap, carefully cradled the bowl and spoke his vows to Chase.“Chauncey Walker, as the sky holds the stars, as the sun follows the moon.I swear on my life to be your loyal omega,” he said, the words as beautiful in his lyrical tone.“I will care for you, love you, and ensure the sun never sets on our bond, the moon never rises without me in your arms, and your omega never leaves you doubting my love.This I swear, as your omega, Lucky Darro.”
Chase could feel the bond tightening in his chest as he accepted the bowl from Lucky and they made their first deviation from the original ritual.An AOA usually kept to the modern way of saying handwritten vows and exchanging love tokens.No matter what anyone said about two alphas in this relationship, he and Ford were in agreement—without Omha and her loyalty to Lucky, without his belief and faith in Her, they never would have found one another.They’d honoured Her the best they could, while making the ritual fit their needs.
They’d contemplated multiple ways of doing this, but this was the way that made sense to them and their bond.To place Lucky in the centre of his two alphas, to have them both dedicate themselves to Lucky, who had brought them together.
“Lucky Darro, as the breath leaves my body, let it become yours.As my heart beats, let it only beat with love for you,” he said, the words taken from an ancient poem he knew Lucky loved.The recognition that lit in his eyes, and Ford’s smirk, said that both his mates appreciated his long hours of research.“As your true mate alpha, I swear to dedicate my life, breath and love to you both.To be as good, as strong an alpha as our wolf, so that you may always feel secure in our bond.”He winked at Ford, who seemed to approve of the teasing.
Chase sipped from the bowl, then handed it to Ford, to finalise the triangle of their vows.
When Ford took the bowl, he sipped, his vows to Chase as meaningful and heartfelt as those he’d given Lucky.“Chauncey Walker, as the stars and sun revolve around the sky, I swear on my life to be your loyal partner, for us to revolve around our omega and enfold him in our love.I swear to share my life and love with you, my meda.”He offered the bowl, which Chase was happy to accept and sip from.
He’d almost forgotten there were other people in the room with them, he was so focused on how it felt for the bond to snap into place, as though anything he’d felt until now was only a whisper of the true bond.
Their friends and family started clapping, Pip catapulted into Lucky’s arms, and suddenly they were bonded.
Chase glanced at Lucky as he held onto Pip, laughing and crying.Ford didn’t even wait for Pip to creep away, he crawled across the space between them and kissed Lucky, then spoke softly to Pip.The moment he backed away, he crashed into Chase, who was too in shock to anticipate the welcome kiss or even think of what came next.
For so long, this had been all he could think about.Life had been about school, surviving the chaos of his family, taking care of Pip, protecting Lucky and dealing with Ford’s work demands.Chase hadn’t let himself think about anything but all the ways he was needed, to hold the fort, to be strong and secure, to be the steady one in their bond.Now that the bond was sealed by the ceremony, he could breathe freely.
He kissed Ford, loving that he didn’t have to second-guess that instinct anymore, didn’t have to shy away from that temptation or worry about what anyone would think.Ford was his alpha now, as much as he was Lucky’s, and he was Ford’s alpha in the same way.They were united by their bond, their love for one another, and the pain they’d endured.
They might have more struggles ahead, especially with Pip’s adoption and whatever came after, but they’d made it this far.They could get through anything as long as they stuck together—alpha to omega, alpha to alpha.
* * * *
Lucky
He moaned as Ford backed him against a wall, mouth plastered to his.All he’d done was go to the bathroom, but this was an incredible way for his new bonded mate to say he’d missed him in the last two minutes.
