“Now you’ll repeat after me the vow of the bond,” Malachi said.
Aaron nodded, and Ember followed his example.
“Aaron Michael Reed, this night you bond yourself to the mate you have found and who has found you, and you formalize your bond with these words: I pledge my soul, mind, body, and spirit. I pledge to honor, protect, cherish, and persevere. I pledge that neither fortune nor misfortune shall tempt me from your side. I am yours until and beyond the falling of the moon. You are mine until and beyond the falling of the moon.”
After each sentence, Malachi paused, and Aaron repeated the sacred words. He gripped Ember’s wrist with careful strength, and she gripped back.
“Now, Ember…” Malachi’s mouth tipped up. “Middle name?”
“Alicia,” she said.
“Ember Alicia Grant, this night you bond yourself to the mate you have found and who has found you, and you formalize your bond with these words: I pledge my soul, mind, body, and spirit. I pledge to honor, protect, cherish, and persevere. I pledge that neither fortune nor misfortune shall tempt me from your side. I am yours until and beyond the falling of the moon. You are mine until and beyond the falling of the moon.”
Ember spoke each pledge after him. The joy in Aaron swelled so strong he could hardly bear it, could hardly stand still. He’d never known the bonding brought about such a consuming rightness in body, mind, soul, and spirit. He hoped she felt it this way, that this elation wasn’t only for the wolf. He hoped something mysticaldidhappen to a mated pair. He wanted to bring her no less happiness than she brought him.
She spoke the final sentence, and then Malachi stepped forward to place his hand over both of theirs. “So you have pledged, so it is and shall be, until and beyond the falling of the moon.” He stepped back again and said, “Aaron Michael Reed, Ember Alicia Grant, you are bonded mates before your pack, now and forever.”
Quinn let out a whoop. “It’s okay now! We all get to stay!”
The moment Malachi finished unbinding their hands, Ember quite literally threw herself at Aaron. He laughed and scooped her off the ground. Her feet dangled in the air as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Their kiss was long and deep, a beginning and a promise. The wolf inside him began an age-old, howling melody—the joy of discovery, the joy of belonging, the joy of a bonded soul who knew his mate would never leave.
Bride and groom—or make that newly bonded mates—stood on the slope of a hill in Malachi’s backyard; at its base clustered the rest of the pack. They were really into outdoor meals around here. Tables set up beneath a row of apple trees would soon hold pans and dishes and plates. Aaron had said they weren’t expected to bring anything, only to show up at the alpha’s house (where all such celebrations took place) and be ready to mingle for congratulations.
Congratulations. Right.
“It’s okay,” Aaron said quietly—for Ember’s ears only, she would have said a few weeks ago. Now she knew there was no such thing unless they were alone for a distance of at least a mile.
Ember nodded. Beside her, as witness to the bonding ceremony, Quinn stood tall and proud. He nodded too. “Nothing to worry about, Aunt Em. It’s going to be a great day.”
Malachi walked up the slope and invited Aaron and Ember to take one another’s right hands. As in the handfasting, he set his big hand over theirs, but this time he also raised them. “This day according to my power and duty as alpha wolf, I, Malachi Fuller, do present to the pack: Aaron and Ember Reed, bonded mates until and beyond the falling of the moon.”
Applause and cheers rang out. Not a single objection, not even a frown from the faces turned up to see them.
“Now what?” Ember whispered as Aaron led her down the hill, her right hand now nestled in his left.
“Reception line, of course.”
Yes, the pack was falling into line. Arlo and Rebecca passed them first, nothing but encouragement and welcome in their words. The Sterling parents, Robert and Ann, extended an equally warm congratulations. A few of the bachelor wolves hurried through the line, and Ember kept her amusement to herself. No doubt they wanted to eat.
One thing was common to all of them though: the wolves were warm toward her, as though overnight she truly had joined the pack. The scent thing, apparently. And a heap of forgiveness. She blinked back tears. Maybe one day she’d be able to live up to her second chance with them.
“What is it?” Aaron said as the Freemans approached.
“They don’t want me gone.”
He squeezed the hand bound to his. “It’s your scent.”
“Because of the bonding?”
“I mean the scent of your mood. There’s a sharp layer of remorse right now, and the wolves accept it.” He leaned down to speak into her ear as though the entire pack couldn’t still hear him. “But yeah, as I’ve been told, your signature scent has officially added to mine. That seals the deal.”
Jeremy clapped him on the back. “I finally get to say I told you so.”
Lucy didn’t hesitate to hug Ember. So much acceptance—she was overflowing with it. Maybe she didn’t have to prove anything, fight for anything. Maybe it was time to rest.
“Welcome,” Lucy said. Nothing else before they moved on to allow the next well-wishers access, but her hug said everything else.
Cassius and Sydney were next, and Ember stiffened a little, preparing for a snub. But Sydney too hugged her. “Clean slate,” was all she said.
