“I don’t think you need a reminder. You’re just the way I want you.” She tugged me into her arms and kissed my nose. “Other traditions I should be aware of?”
I reveled in her affection, still unsure how, after years of waiting, she was in my arms.
“This isn’t a normal mate bite. Yes, we’re completing the bond, but I’m also petitioning to turn you.”
“I’m ready. Who knows what I’m going to look like with four feet, but how bad could it be?”
I let her hang on that thought just long enough for horror to dawn in her eyes.
“You’re going to be beautiful. I promise. You’re always beautiful to me. Fur won’t change that,” I said.
Fallon screwed up her face. “No leaving me in the woods alone. No racing until I know what I’m doing. No biting–”
“I can’t promise that.” I let the heat burning inside me come into my gaze. My nose grazed her temple. “It’s okay if you like it. I won’t tell anyone about the resulting hot, howling sex. Since you’re also going to change for the first time, Noth agreed to take us tothe cabin on the edge of Sombermane to ride out your transition.”
She shook her head like she would never get used to me talking dirtier than she did.
“I forced Evie to give it to me straight so I’m ready forthatpart.”
“Where I throw you into oblivion with the weight of my cock?” I asked innocently.
She blushed to where I felt the heat radiating off her.
“I took an extra dose this morning and I have the salve on me. We’re finishing this mate bond.”
Heartened that she had done the right thing for her body, I admired that her determination finally aimed toward fun. She really had put forth an effort over the past few weeks to listen to her needs. Of course, that didn’t mean she didn’t request an empty cabin for us to move into, set up her kitchen, and haul everything into our new home. It just meant she spaced it out and took rest days in between. I saw her trying.
“Well, let’s not keep them waiting, mate of mine.” I crowned her with winter flowers from my temple vision and then threw back my cape with a level of drama that would have made Noth proud and took her hand. Only to have her stop in her tracks.
Fallon opened her mouth.
I blinked at her.
She closed her mouth.
I goosed her through the bond and she jumped, thewords tumbling out. “Can I please just check on the wedding soup?”
I smiled at her fondly. I didn’t expect Fallon to drop into a soft life with absolute conviction. It was enough she tried. I was here to catch her when she tired herself out. “I thought you had already checked it off the list?”
The kitchen groaned with the wedding feast that the rest of the pack and our guests would eat after the ceremony. Momma had already stocked our cabin with easy to eat food and Fallon had supervised what we left here. We weren’t even going to partake. We stood before the fancy pot she had poured it in, spelled to keep it warm.
“I did. I mean. I know I don’t have to…”
“I’m not going to tell you, you can’t, Honey.”
She put her hand on the pot lid and I watched her fascinating mind work overtime.
“I hope this is the worst part of our day, Dec.”
I chuckled, nuzzling aside the rowan branch crown into her hair. She took her hand off the pot lid and leaned back into my embrace.
“I hope everyone enjoying my excellent meal is the very last thing I remember about this day.”
Now that I could get behind. “Promise,” I growled into her ear.
She giggled as I swept her up and carried her bride-style to the town square where we had a red lacquer sleigh waiting for us.
Bells jingled from the harness attached toBriggs and Cosomo. I guess I had started a trend when I wore that saddle for Honey. Now every pack member wanted to compete in riding, racing, and pulling. So, of course, I had to give the honor to my favorite two siblings. The rest of them had turned up once they heard I was getting married. Sombermane covered a lot of land so it took a few days for them to arrive with all of my nieces and nephews in tow, but the temple would make room for us all.
