Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
“Did you see what was on the sash?” Leala said as they walked beside me down the hall.
“No. What?” Hadriel looked at my waist and then back to the fabric flared across the ground behind me. “What is it? I don’t see anything.” He tsked and gave Leala an incredulous look. “That ape fucker didn’t put dicks on that sash, did he? Say he didn’t. Leala! Say he did not put dicks on an item of clothing that an alpha’s mate is wearing to a claiming!”
Leala bent over laughing again.
“That seeping bell-end!” Hadriel gritted his teeth in frustration. “Well, don’t tell anyone. All we need is for the alpha to get pissed when he’s at his most primal. The man is as cool as they come, but everyone has their limits.”
“I shouldn’t have worn it,” I murmured.
“Nonsense.” Hadriel patted my arm. “Well, maybe not, but it’s too late now. It’ll be fine. Okay, here we go. We’re turning the corner now, and— Where is that dragon?”
“Right here.” Vemar stepped away from the wall wearing a crisp black suit with a sparkly green and silver tie. His pants were black, but his loafers sported the same sparkly silver as the tie. I belatedly noticed Hadriel wore the same thing.
“Right, okay.” Hadriel shooed Leala to fall back. “But you definitely need to attend this thing, Leala.” He looked over his shoulder. “You haven’t seen them going at it. It is a fucking marvel. Talk about compatible! The passion is so scorching it will practically burn you.”
“Fucking hell,” I grumbled, wishing I could hide my face.
“It’s okay, Captive Lady,” Vemar said as we walked toward a side exit of the castle. “Most of the people here have seen a great many people going at it. Remember all those orgy stories? And remember that party last night I told you about? A lot of them were there. This won’t be a big deal.”
“It’s a claiming,” Hadriel said. “The wolves definitely won’t think of it as a big deal. Except for how long his knot lasts—that’ll turn into some sort of myth or legend, just you watch. No one will fucking believe it. Here we go, and Vemar is getting the door for you.”
He jogged to get there before us and pushed open the door, standing there with a smile as I passed through before Hadriel.
“You look gorgeous, Aurelia,” Vemar said. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” I answered as butterflies swirled within my belly.
“Okay.” Hadriel caught up to me again. “Here’s how it is going to go: Vemar and I will walk you into the alpha’s general vicinity. Once he sees you, we’ll fall away to the sides. All you do is walk straight up to him. You don’t look at anyone else, you don’t say hi to anyone—nothing. You walk right up to him as though he is the only person in the area. As I said, he’ll be at his most primal tonight.”
“His most possessive?” Vemar asked.
“Yes, exactly. His most possessive. Jealous as a motherfucker. He’ll literally kill someone for touching you, but don’t worry about that. You love him and you want this, so I doubt you’ll stray very far from him. Once you are in his bubble, he’ll handle the rest. Just go with it. Worst case, let your wolf guide you.”
I let out a shaky breath, excited and aroused at the idea of Weston being at his most primal. He was always so incredibly hot when he let that out. “Okay.”
“Ready?” Hadriel asked me.
The panic from earlier crept back in. I was worried about the people now, about doing something wrong. “I don’t know.”
“Good enough. Here we go.”
The glow of several fires illuminated a whole host of people standing and chatting to each other. They’d all dressed up for the occasion, everyone in suits and dresses, their hair done but their feet bare. I noticed that ties were loose and dresses were like mine—easy to shed. They expected to shift.
Another wave of nervousness swarmed my belly, this one prompted by my wolf. She’d be on show here more than me. This was my night for love, but she’d be expected to adhere to duty, to join the pack and, hopefully, correctly hold the bond.
Pigs rotated on spits, someone cranking them to keep them going. Cups clinked as people cheered and laughed.
As I neared, the chatter started to die away. Smiles slipped as they took me in, looking at my dress and then the sash flowing out behind me. Looking at my face and my shoulders.
I breathed evenly, trying to steady my flip-flopping stomach as nervous energy zinged through my body.
“There,” Hadriel said in a hush, nudging me. “Beyond the fires. Walk right through the middle. Our alpha is making a statement.”
“What’s the statement?” I whispered.
“That your presence demands everyone’s attention.”
I started to shake with nervousness now. This was such an extreme break from anything in my life before. To stay safe, I’d been taught to be a wallflower, a shadow, a ghost. If people had noticed me, they’d sneered and tried to chase me away. It had always been dangerous to draw too much attention, and now here I was, the focal point, all eyes on me.