Kyran

Selene smiles at me warmly before addressing our people with a firm yet gentle voice. “I want to thank each of you for taking the time out of the Convocation to celebrate our bonding with us, your presence is much appreciated, and I look forward to meeting with many of you tonight. As Hekate announced, the rumors are true. I am the white wolf you’d all believed to be a fable, as it has been nearly a millennium since I’d last walked freely among you. Some of your Elders may have spoken of my existence as if they’d known me, and I can guarantee you that most of them weren’t lying,” she smirks and murmured laughter ripples throughout the Hall.

“I want to apologize for the suffering and tribulations many of you have faced in my absence. It was not intended for me to be gone for as long as I have been and I feel great sorrow at the losses that have occurred at the hands of Caedes and his followers,” she swallows thickly as her nose flares at the statement and I squeeze her hand in silent support.

“Why were you gone?” a voice echoes from across the Hall.

“What happened?” another calls out and a few more jumble together in the broken silence.

Selene raises the hand holding her flowers and glances down at them before tossing them to Asteria and holds her open palm up to the crowd, hushing their voices. “Please, let me explain. I am more than happy to answer questions after the ceremony as well. Long ago, tension with the vampires had risen perilously to the point of a grave war between our races, all because Caedes sought to capture me for his control, maybe even to just end my existence to place him as the most superior made-being beneath the gods at the time. My only role was—and still is— to protect the werewolf race, to ensure our blood isn’t squandered by vampire venom and ending our lineage.

“Hekate brought it upon herself knowing of the mortal danger a fight with Caedes would bring and with the magic tying me to all of you, the only choice at the time was to put me into stasis. Her intention was to deter the vampires from pursuing chaos with our race and let time pass until my existence was slowly forgotten. There were some complications with the magic, however, and I didn’t have access to my wolf upon emerging from stasis later than expected. Caedes also devised a plan to hunt for me over the centuries and this is the reason many of our young women have been abducted. It was not for nothing, and it angers me deeply that this has gone on for so long. If it wasn’t for my disappearance, most of your losses would not have happened—at least not in this way—and for that I am truly, deeply sorry,” Selene takes a measured breath for a moment and smiles sadly.

“I hope to meet with your Alphas and teach them the ways of the Guardians,” collective murmurs flit throughout the Hall, and Selene continues louder, “to further strengthen our packs in defense against the vampires and in solidarity with one another. I look for—”

“Bullshit,” Marx’s interruption is harsh and I narrow my eyes on him with a low growl.

Selene flicks her gaze toward him and coolly asks, “What is?” her eyes gliding over him and narrowing slightly. “Who are you, an Alpha, I presume?” she adds dryly, noticing the way his arms are crossed and the cocky look on his face.

“Tch,” he scoffs, turning his head to the crowd behind him, “our queen here must not be known for her intelligence,” he snides with a laugh and the majority of the people around him shuffle away at the comment.

The only people to breathe a laugh with him are members of his pack and even they seem hesitant at the remark. A low growl emanates from Selene and the sound sends electricity down my spine, my muscles responding automatically, tensing to defend my mate. “His name is Marx and he’s the only alpha here not of bloodline,” I state flatly, the insinuation intended to be the insult it is known for and I just smile wickedly at him, my ire at his disrespecting Selene pushing its way through me and wanting to provoke him. When he bares his teeth at me in response, my smile just widens, exposing my teeth as well.

“What is?” Selene repeats herself sharply this time, releasing my hand and turning to face him directly. When he doesn’t remove his glare from mine, she raises her voice in a commanding tone, “Alpha Marx,” he tears his eyes from me to look at her, “what is bullshit? Please, enlighten me. I’d love to clarify any misunderstanding.”

Her words are formal but her tone is cold, she’s clearly taken offense to his blatant disrespect and I raise my eyebrow at him when he glances at me before speaking. “It’s hard to believe—”

Selene’s shoulders bristle and I feel Luna’s indignation rise viscously, her voice cutting when she hisses, “He did not ask you, so why are you answering to him? If you deign to speak with me respectfully, I have no problem putting you in your fucking place like an insolent pup,” her shadows ripple down her arms in response and everyone collectively gasps at the sight.

I can hear Asteria’s cackle of amusement and I openly smirk at Marx as his wide eyes flicker between Selene and me. His gaze lands on her finally and her posture relaxes a bit before he opens his mouth. “Your display of power doesn’t prove shit. For all we know, you’re just a powerful witch placed to fool us into believing—ack!” his words are abruptly cut off from a rope of shadow coiled around his neck.

Selene looks enraged as she yanks her arm back, dragging Marx up over the edge of the dais to hold him suspended before her. Her eyes are illuminated more than any I’ve seen before and I cross my arms as his bulging gaze searches me. Selene grips his jaw in her slender hand and peers closely into his eyes for a few wordless moments before shaking her head with a sound of disgust. Lifting a foot, she removes her shoe and then the other, handing them to me silently before reaching for the zipper at her back.

As she drags it down, I watch in awe as she shifts into her wolf form for the first time and everyone around us lets out exclaims of excitement and disbelief. Luna shakes her luminescent fur out before baring her teeth in a snarl at Marx and the shadows dissipate, dropping him onto his hands and knees before her. She growls savagely and snaps her jaws inches from his face when he looks up at her and she presses her forehead down against his dominantly.

Her voice is undoubtedly heard throughout the Hall and fields as the crowd goes silent. You are a cruel and savage wolf. You do not hold the Guardian blood and therefore I couldn’t care less for your life. Your pack is better off without you. You do not deserve to hold the title as an Alpha just because you are a brute who rules with fear. There are always others better than you, who can best you, yet you walk around like an arrogant king, her savage growl reverberates through the air and sends chills down my spine.

There is no king, only your Queen, and I find you to be a disgrace to all of werewolf kind. You have caused enough unrest to last many lifetimes and I deem you unworthy to call yourself one of ours, her growling intensifies as a glow blooms around her and envelopes Marx.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

He lets out a deep, pained whining yell as his back arches intensely and the Hall goes silent when a black wolf spirits out from his human form. The ghostly apparition wavers for a moment before fading like smoke and Marx groans out a hoarse cry. I can’t help the shock that rolls over me as I realize I just watched my mate tear the wolf soul out of him. I never knew that was even possible. Swallowing thickly in the face of her immense power, I flick my gaze from the keening man to my mate and my skin heats at the sight of the radiant wolf before me as Valdr rises within me.

She is spectacular, he murmurs in my mind and I notice how her icy gaze meets ours for a breath before locking on Marx once more.

Since it is my bonding ceremony, I don’t wish to spoil the night by bloodying myself in your filth. Your punishment for your abhorrent time spent as an alpha will be spending the rest of your pathetic life as a human. Do not show yourself again. Now get out of my sight, she snaps her jaws in finality and he cowers away from her, scrambling back on his ass with fear.

I watch with both astonishment and amusement as Marx flops over the edge of the dais and hurries through the parted crowd. Luna stamps her paw and shakes her head, lifting it regally as she looks out over the stunned faces staring up at her. Whoever belonged to his pack now has the choice to collectively decide who becomes Alpha and how. I suggest using this opportunity to start anew. Seeing how there is no Guardian blood within your pack, at some point in time, someone must have deviated from the traditions and created their own pack away from the original five. Perhaps now is the time to begin a new tradition for your pack to be a choice of participation from any willing wolf who desires it, and any wolf who wishes to join one of the other packs has freedom to do so, she sweeps her gaze across the four remaining alphas standing ramrod straight at the front of the crowd.

Are there any objections to this, Alphas? Luna addresses them directly and Daine immediately shakes his head with an adamant ‘no’, Luric and Castian also silently deny and Felagi just grins wildly at Luna with a slight shake of his bushy hair. Good, I am glad we are in agreement. I look forward to speaking with you all further, she lets out a huff of breath before shifting back to her human form.

Hushed murmurs float around the crowd from the spectacle that had just taken place and I bristle as Selene stands before them—my naked mate—waiting for everyone to collect themselves. It is extremely challenging for me to swallow back the hot discontentment at other males ogling her and force myself not to block her from view.

It is a power move, though, Valdr mumbles with an easy tone and I growl lowly with disdain.

Selene’s mouth twitches at the corner upon hearing his voice and she takes a breath before addressing the crowd once more. Before she speaks, however, many wolves begin to lower to their knees as they show their reverence for her with some even bowing their heads. The crowd as a whole silently descends and my gaze flickers to Selene, watching with a swelling heart as she raises a hand to swipe away a tear. She holds out her arms to everyone with a small shake of her head.

“Please rise,” she calls out in a gentle tone thick with emotion. “I do not see you as beneath me, so please do not kneel. My purpose is to hold power with the wolves, not for you or to use it as a show of status to hold over your heads. My only desire is to protect and defend our kind, not to be groveled at like some pompous bitch. Though I do hold the title as Queen, I only expect respect when I have shown it firstly. I will say, however, that I have no qualms with using my power to correct the misguided ways that some wolves succumb to, and believe me when I tell you that you do not want to be on the side of my wrath, as you have witnessed tonight. I may seem pretty and soft like a flower, but be warned that I am a thorn bush adorned with roses, one whose sting is lethal and I do not take kindly to threats of any sort against my people or myself,” her clear voice echoes off the silent walls and out into the balmy night.

It takes a moment for anyone to move, but as the alphas push to their feet, the rest of the crowd follows suit and an admirable cheer billows out from them as everyone applauds Selene in support. Howls and whistles ring out and Selene grins widely as she turns to look at me and I can’t stop myself from stepping beside her and crouching to lift the dress pooled at her feet. Her laughter tinkles around me as I help her slide her arms through the thin straps before she takes her shoes and I zip the back for her. Placing my hands at her waist, I lean forward and kiss the side of her bare neck before I step around her, gently taking her hands in mine and I lower myself to my knees before my soulmate.

“Kyran,” she whispers with a pinched brow as the crowd hushes, watching us intently.

I hold her bright gaze and smile like a fool up at her, swallowing against the lump in my throat. “Selene, I couldn’t dream of a better woman to bond with and I am honored to share my soul with yours. I vow to make you feel every bit of love, joy, and care that you have given me for every single moment of every day I have with you. I will treat you like a queen, even if you weren’t one already,” I chuckle as laughter trickles out from the crowd. “I have loved you since before I even knew who you really were. I have loved the woman I met climbing the shelves at the store like a squirrel searching for her stash of seeds,” I grin as more laughter rings out and Selene giggles as tears spill from her eyes.

“I love the woman before me now, the most strong, selfless, and gentle person I have ever known that I have the privilege to not only call my Queen, but my soulmate. You are far greater than I ever imagined I would deserve and I promise to cherish you forever. You don’t just hold my heart, Selene, you are my heart. I will love you forever, my angel,” I whisper and smile through the tears that have sprung and I let them fall freely as I hold her gaze.

She lets out a small sob as she smiles warmly at me, her eyes are filled with the love I feel radiating within me and she pulls a hand away to swipe at her face. “Well,” she sniffles, “I don’t know what I can say to compete with that,” she giggles through her tears and the crowd around us echoes her laughter. Meeting my eyes once more, she whispers my name and lowers herself to her knees before me.

“Selene,” I start to protest but she just shakes her head.

She pulls my hands to her lips and kisses the tips of my fingers before lifting our hands and rising to her feet. I stand with her and smile adoringly at her as she slides her arms up over my shoulders to wind them around my neck. Crouching, I scoop her into my arms once more and she presses her forehead to mine, whispering, “Kyran, you are a good man, and I am proud to have you as my soulmate. I love you,” her voice is passionately firm and my heart gives a weighted thump.

Her words mean more to me than an entire speech and she and I know that, making this moment all the more powerful because of it. I brush my hand tenderly across her face and grasp her chin before crushing my mouth to hers and the crowd erupts with raucous, jovial cheering. We kiss deeply, my chest filling with the warmth of our entwined love and I laugh against her lips with the euphoric feeling. Selene laughs along with me and rubs our noses together lovingly before leaning back in my arms.

“May the moon goddess bless you all as she has done for us! Let us take to the woods and celebrate!” she bellows with a wide grin and throws her head back to release a wild howl.

Literally everyone in the Hall returns the howl and many even shift in the rising energy, taking off through the open doorways and into the night. I lower my head with laughter and meet Hekate’s gaze amongst the writhing crowd and she grins up at me with a wink. She transfigures into a swirling mass of ravens, the black birds whisking around us and fly away with echoing caws. Selene smiles widely as they go and brushes her hand over my face.

“Let’s go party with our people,” she chuckles and pulls me in for another kiss.

“If I must,” I sigh mockingly and smirk, kissing her nose before leaping off the dais with her cradled in my arms.