Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 32263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
The crowd is silent as he bends his knees, tilts his head to the side, and exposes his neck.
I step on my toes, kiss his neck, and then bite him gently, not knowing what I’m doing exactly. My teeth don’t pierce his flesh; it’s more symbolic than anything, but it makes the crowd roar.
Rurik raises his arms in triumph as the crowd gets louder, and then says the sacred words,
“By moon and blood, you are bound.
By bite and bond, you are pack.
As one, you stand. As one, you endure.”
Someone hands Alaric my crown and he smiles as he carefully places it on my head.
He looks at me for a long moment, then takes my hand and we turn to the pack.
“Our queen!” someone shouts and then they’re all shouting and cheering and bowing before us.
Alaric is watching me with so much love it hurts.
I know how hard it’s been for him to wear this crown.
But he doesn’t have to do it alone anymore. I’ll share the burden with him.
Alaric squeezes my hand and lifts our arms into the air. The pack goes wild, roaring and cheering in joy. The wolves on the outskirts of town howl in harmony.
The music starts, the bonfire is lit, and the drinks start flowing.
Everyone joins in, dancing and having a blast. My feet tingle, wanting to join in too.
But Alaric guides me to our thrones where we’re to sit and watch it all.
“No way,” I say, planting my feet to stop him. “Let’s go dance.”
Alaric looks uneasy. He glances at the people waiting to address the king and frowns.
“But the shifters waiting…”
“This is our night,” I tell him. “Let’s go have some fun.”
He looks at me and his frown melts away. “Okay.”
“Hold on,” I say, stopping him again. I take off his crown, place it on his throne, and then take off mine and place it on my new throne. “We can’t dance with crowns on our heads.”
“Join the party,” I say to the waiting line of people as we pass them. “The king is busy tonight.”
We hurry down the steps of the dais before they can answer and disappear into the festive crowd.
Drinks are thrust into our hands as we make our way to the dance floor. It’s a blast. The music is amazing and it’s the perfect night.
I pull Alaric into the middle of the dancers and he just stands there all stiff, not knowing what to do.
He’s so cute. I gotta loosen him up.
I get in nice and close, moving my hips and rubbing all over him until he starts moving along with me.
He actually smiles. And high-fives somebody. He looks like he’s having fun.
We dance and drink until we’re both sweaty and ready to take this party to the next level.
“We’re mates now,” I whisper on his lips as a slow song plays. “You know what that means…”
He swallows hard as he looks down at me with hunger in his heated eyes.
“There’s no more waiting.”
Suddenly, those big possessive hands are picking me up and he tosses me over his shoulder and starts pushing his way out of the cheering crowd.
I’ve been waiting three weeks for this night.
And now…
Finally…
The real Lunaris Vinculum, the sacred night of the binding, is about to begin.
Chapter Eleven
King Alaric
Icarry this beauty on my shoulder all the way up to my quarters. Every royal guard I pass drops their heads and slinks away into the shadows, staying far from me. They can smell the possessiveness rolling off me in waves. They can tell I’m in heat and it would be deadly for anyone to look at my girl.
I feel her soft stomach on my shoulder. My hand is gripping her round ass. I’m rock hard as I hurry to the door.
I kick it open, carry her in, and lower her to her feet.
“That’s one way to get around,” she says, chuckling shyly as she adjusts her dress.
The sight of her voluptuous breasts moving under that red gown is enough to make me snap. I lunge on her, cupping her gorgeous face and pulling her mouth to mine. She moans as I seal her mouth with my lips, tangling our tongues as our heated bodies melt against each other.
I love kissing this woman, but all we’ve done for the past three weeks is kiss. I need more. So. Much. More.
“I’ll never forget the sight of this dress on you,” I say as I slide my hand to the back of her neck and grasp the bow tie holding it up. “I didn’t know beauty like you existed in this world.”
“We can keep it on,” she says, teasing me.
“Not a chance.”
I tug on the string and the bow unravels.
“I’ve been waiting for this my entire life,” I tell her as I hold the bow together in my trembling hand. “And these past three weeks have tested my will like nothing else. You’ve been tormenting me, my wicked temptress. I know you liked watching me suffer.”