Masen makes sure to find the easiest path for me to follow and often picks me up and carries me to give my overused knee a break. As we near the clearing, I can see hundreds of candles suspended in small jars that hang from branches or are just set on the ground to illuminate the area. His father stands beneath a beautiful arch made of heavy vines dotted with white flowers. A white cord is swagged through some of the gnarled vines.

When we emerge through the tree line, the crowd whoops and howls in victory from our presence. Masen raises our bound hands high in the air. His large body seems to expand, and he lifts me in the air and shouts out a roar of triumph, causing his Pack to grow even louder.

He walks us to his father and takes hold of the white cord. Caleb smiles at both of us but whispers to Masen, “You need to set her down for this part, son.” He looks down like he’s forgotten I’m still in his strong arms then sets my bare feet on the ground.

“When a male is lucky enough to find his Mate, they celebrate with a Mating ceremony. When an Alpha is blessed with his Mate, the whole Pack celebrates for their union. Alpha Masen Black has sought and found his Mate in Sophia Brair. With the moon as their witness, we ask the Magic that makes us to bind their souls together just as this unbroken cord will bind their bodies together.”

Masen pulls the white cord from the branches and uses his free hand to loop it intricately over and around our joined hands and forearms. When he’s done, Caleb speaks again. “The journey of life is seldom easy, so these knots will show you the difficult times you will traverse, but just like these cords each will be overcome and lead you closer to the other.” Masen kisses me quickly and his dad laughs quietly. “We aren’t there yet, son.” A few of the Pack members whistle and clap. “We. Your family, your Pack, bless your Union.”

Masen’s Mark on my shoulder tingles when he says, “I, Masen Black, accept you, Sophia Black, as my Mate.” The air leaves my lungs in a whoosh as a strength I could never imagine fills my body. I can feel him inside me.

When I can breathe normally, I say, “I, Sophia Black, accept you, Masen Black, as my Mate.”

Masen’s hands shake, and his head falls back from our power exchange. When he looks back down at me, his smile is huge. “Damn, baby, that felt good,” he groans sexily. Without instruction from his father, he kisses me deeply, his unbound arm wraps around my back and up to my neck. He caresses his fingers over my Mark, and it makes me gasp into his mouth.

The night air is filled with howls as he claims my mouth. His father stops our kiss before it turns into more. “Light the fire, and you can go, son.”