บท 147: Chapter 147: Bonded Before the Pack
Jude POV
Ravyn knelt in front of him while Eirika chanted in the shifter tongue. Blessing them, invoking the Moon Goddess, asking for the deity's protection.
Ravyn's wonderful scent overpowered him, and he gripped her hands tightly. The faces of the guests and his pack swam in his vision, because all he could see was the woman kneeling before him.
Eirika smiled, spreading her hands. "Since the first full moon, Lunas have submitted to their Alphas in all things. This doesn't mean that the Luna is a slave, or a possession. It simply means that the Alpha will protect, care for, guide, provide for, and love the Luna. In return, the Luna will care for, respect, honor, love, and give everything to the Alpha. This submission is a sacred bond that's never to be taken lightly, or abused."
Roslynn's face was serene. "Indeed, it takes a strong individual to submit to someone, to place yourself in your mate's hands. To belong to your mate completely, body and soul. Ravyn Rolfe, Jude Faolan, is it your intention to be bonded today before this gathering and the Moon Goddess?"
Ravyn and Jude said, "Yes."
"Ravyn," Tulaska said in a mild voice. "Recite the words that will bind you to Jude for eternity."
Gazing at him, Ravyn gripped his hands in her warm ones and said in her sweet voice, "From this moment on, I pledge my love, my life, and my soul to you. I promise to be your partner, your Luna, your protector, and your friend, for the rest of our lives. I will submit to you as the submissive partner. I take you as my mate, to love, honor, and cherish, until the end of time and beyond. With this vow, I submit to you as my dominant partner, forever and always."
With a growl, Jude said, "I accept your submission. From this moment on, I pledge my love, my life, and my soul to you. I promise to be your partner, your protector, your Alpha, and your friend, for the rest of our lives. I will rule you with kindness, fairness, and love as the dominant partner. I take you as my mate, to love, honor, and cherish, until the end of time and beyond."
His voice thick and his heart so full it might burst, he added, "With this vow, I rule you as my submissive partner, forever and always."
Eirika, Tulaska. and Roslynn sang a bonding song, eerie and beautiful, while Lilia sang the marriage blessing from the Goddess Brigid.
Jude helped Ravyn to her feet, and they gave each other the claiming bite. He drank the sweetness of her blood, and felt her sipping as she bit him for the first time. Her amethyst eyes widened in shock. She'd bitten him since she became a wolf, but the claiming bite had a special power. It knocked you tail over tin cups.
"Oh my," she howled.
He grinned, licking his lips, and whispered, "Now you're mine. Nothing and no one can take you away from me."
They both turned and faced the crowd. Eirika declared with joy, "I proclaim that these two are bonded before the pack. May all the pack honor and bless your union! May every wolf and every pup lift their voices and howl in celebration for the Alpha and his Luna!"
Howls filled the ballroom, echoing so loud that Jude's ears rang with it. Makhel and Kulenza let out roof-raising orc yells, while Ambassador Hudora Windmail gave a Dwarvish shout.
Jude clutched his mate's hand. It truly felt official now, declaring their love in front of everyone. She belonged to him in a way he'd never felt before, despite being mated for so long. Had it felt this powerful with Emer?
Perhaps not. Perhaps he felt more aware the second time around.
Gray-bearded Ambassador Windmail pushed through the crowd, escorting a red-bearded dwarf in an opera singer's robes. Ravyn squealed with delight. "That's our favorite dwarf opera tenor, Jude!"
"But naturally," Ambassador Windmail boomed, her round face glowing with happiness. "May I present, direct from the Scapolite Opera Company, Homouc Honorbane, who is privileged to sing a romantic selection from the current dwarf opera hit, 'Song of Stone.'"
* * * * *
Lilia POV
Her mother was bonded. It felt real now. Ravyn was officially the Luna of the pack, and life would be different from now on.
Holding Dane's hand and lifting Bentley, she listened to the dwarf tenor's brassy voice ring out in a soaring aria from the new opera.
"O stone that makes our houses,
A thousand years those rocks have seen,
My love for my beloved wife is as eternal
As any monument has ever been.
O stone, so cold and warm and mighty,
Your surface so smooth and sheer,
You can't outlast the beating of our hearts
That will continue for many a year.
Long after crowns tarnish and kings die,
O stone, you will outlast us all for sure,
But nothing in the world can break our vow,
Forever and a day our love will endure.
O my wife, as fair as marble,
As strong as sandstone and granite,
As beautiful as multi-faceted quartz,
I will never take you for granted.
O stone, my love outlasts you
O stone, my heart outmatches you
O boulder, you're light as air
O mountain, our bond is stronger than you."
Lilia glanced over at Ravyn, who seemed entranced by the tune. Jude grinned, but Lilia detected a faraway expression in his eyes. He was focused on Ravyn, not caring that anyone else was in the room. He ignored the crowd. Just as a newly bonded man should.
Yet she felt a nagging sensation. She couldn't put her finger on it, but Jude had been behaving strangely. Tonight was obviously not the night to have a conversation with Ravyn, but tomorrow Lilia would talk to her. It might be nothing, and if it was, Lilia would be delighted. She just wanted her mother and Jude to be happy.
* * * * *
Ravyn POV
Finally mated, officially.
The moment Jude's blood filled her mouth, she felt a jolt of pleasure. Although salty and spicy, it tasted like the best thing ever. His fangs in her neck felt incredible. A magical jolt of energy seemed to pass through both of them as they bonded.
The howls that echoed in the room were even better than the thrilling, trilling dwarf aria afterwards. To think Ambassador Windmail had brought her favorite dwarf tenor to sing at her bonding ceremony. What an incredible gift!
Jude and Ravyn approached Homouc Honourbane, and he bowed. "Luna Ravyn, such a privilege to see you again. And my congratulations to you, Alpha Jude, on your beautiful Luna and your bonding. I've sung at many wedding ceremonies, but this one I will remember when I can no longer carry a tune."
Jude clasped his hands. "And we hope that will be when all the stones turn into slurry, Sir Honourbane. Thank you for this heartwarming gift to our people, our guests, and my mate."
Our people. Jude always thought of the pack and her first. No wonder she loved him. "Yes, thank you, Sir Honourbane. This performance will live in our memories until wolves cease to howl and the moon falls from the sky."
Bram clapped, drawing everyone's attention. "As pack beta, I say let the Bonding Ball begin! Bring in the feast! Let there be eating, drinking, and dancing until dawn!"
Ravyn and Jude proceeded to the bridal table, taking their seats with their wedding party on either side of them. The guests all swarmed to congratulate them. All the Alphas and Lunas, of course. Then Prince Makhel and his fiancee Kulenza.
Kulenza leaned in, looking up at Ravyn. Her elf ears were delicate, striking with her green skin. "Beautiful bonding. We were wondering ... while we're here, could we get married privately by Alpha Jude, just a few family and friends? We want our royal wedding, of course, but I don't know when we'll cure Queen Durgat. It would mean so much to us. Could we do it quietly tomorrow? Please?"
ความคิดของผู้สร้าง 
AmandaMadden
AmandaMadden Kulenza and Makhel are my favorite non-shifter couple...and they will get their own wedding. But for now, it's the first decision for Ravyn and Jude as a mated couple!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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