Mated To The Cold Hearted Alpha
Chapter 83

Gwen giggled.

After a few more strips, Mimi finally said, “That’s it. All done. You can turn back over.”

“You as well,” Gemma said to me.

“I want to see it,” Hycinth demanded.

“That’s fine,” Mimi replied. “Gwen, help her sit up.”

There was some more shuffling and then Hycinth gasped. There was a tremor in her voice, shock and dismay evident. “Ohhh…that is…not pretty…I look like a Red Delicious apple in a barren orchard!”

There were grunts and coughing from the group, several people trying to hold back and conceal their laughter.

“That’s perfectly normal, child. The redness will go away very soon,” Mimi reassured her.

There was a moment of silence. I could only imagine Hycinth’s narrowed eyes and expression of disbelief. And then she sighed heavily and whimpered, “Could I at least have some ice for my Apple pie?”

I chuckled. What the hell?

“Of course. I’ll have someone bring some from the kitchen,” Mimi said.

“Don’t think I didn’t hear that,” Hycinth scowled at me.

“I promise, sweetheart. I’m going to make everything all better very soon,” I replied, my groin tightening of the thought.

“Leander…time to get dressed. You’re not going to be able to do to with a hard c**k,” Gemma chastised.

It was Hycinth’s turn to giggle. “At least I don’t have that problem.”

I dropped my head and realize Gemma was right. I was already half hard, looking a bit like a cherry-tinted bald Eagle. Taking deep breaths, I forced myself to calm down.

Several minutes went by, during which Hycinth’s p***y was sufficiently iced, the room was rearranged, and another partition brought out so that we could each get dressed privately. Aiden and Ryan were on hand to help me, but I didn’t really need their assistance. I quickly slipped into a pair of deerskin pants that hung low on my h**s. Over that, was a kilt decorated with strips of fur. My chest was bare. Bear claws wrapped around my neck.

Once I was dressed, I stepped out from behind the partition and waited for Hycinth.

It was eerily quiet as she got dressed. I wondered what was going through her head, worried, I tapped into her emotions. I didn’t replace anxiety, only reverence. When she finally emerged with Gwen and Willow by her side, I understood her awe.

She looked stunning, beyond comprehension, beyond anything I was prepared for.

Trembling, she stood in place, letting me visually devour her. Two pieces of velvety soft deerskin were strung together with hand cut rawhide that crisscrossed on her h**s, revealing her creamy skin beneath. Narrow strips of leather, feathers, and beads hung down from the skirt to her top of thighs. Leather, trimmed in fur and adorned with petite bear claws, hugged her breasts. She wore similarly designed leather cuffs around her wrists. Three rows of strung beads circled her neck along with a bear claw necklace and several other strings of beads draped down from her leather halter.

I wasn’t sure what to say. Words escaped me. It was only then that I noticed every other Wolf in the room had gone down on one knee, head bowed with respect and adoration toward their intended Luna.

Hycinth noticed as well. A single tear escaped her eyes and rolled down her cheek.

She brushed it away with the back of her hand and smiled. “Please…stand.”

The wolves stood to their feet. Mimi and Gemma came from the tables, each holding a cup and an empty bowl in their hands. I took the cup from Gemma while Mimi spoke, “Swish the liquid in your mouth for a moment and then spit into the bowl.”

Easy enough. I tilted the cup back and poured the liquid into my mouth. F**k! It burned. It was nothing for me to drink straight liquor, but this felt like fire in my mouth. Although, it did taste minty. What the hell was it?

Hycinth hissed, eyes wide and watering as she to swished the liquid around in her mouth. Finally, Gemma offered the bowl, and I gladly spit out the substance. That was like some Listerine on crack. Shit. At least we would have minty fresh breath, I thought wryly.

Gwen grasped Hycinth’s shoulders and rubbed her cheek next to Hycinth’s. Gwen spoke softly, “It’s time for us to go. We’ll see you when you get to the den.” When she pulled away, Willow hugged Hycinth, brushing cheek to cheek as well.

Hycinth just stared, lake blue orbs wide, as she nodded.

Gwen, Willow, Aiden, and Ryan all left.

The drums outside the small dwelling had gone silent but still played in the distance at the cottage site.

“Good luck, child.” Mimi stepped forward to wish Hycinth farewell. Gemma did the same. And then both of them rubbed their cheeks against mine. Mimi reached her hand and rested it on the side of my face. “I’m proud of you.”

I blinked back the moisture in my eyes and kissed both of her cheeks before stepping away.

When they were gone, Hycinth and I stood alone.

I crossed the short distance and gathered her in my arms. Unsurprisingly, she shrugged out of my hold. Taking a step away from me, her Wolf in her eyes, she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

Restless…

Her scent had increased, so powerful and alluring now, I had to dig my nails into the palms of my hands so I wouldn’t grab her and put her beneath me right this very second.

Yes… the time was drawing much closer now.

“It’s hot in here,” Hycinth whispered, eyes darting toward the door.

“Is your Wolf ready, love?” I asked softly.

She gazed off into the distance, communicating with her Wolf silently as she contemplated my words. When her eyes cleared, she shook her head. “Not yet. I just…we need to be outside…it’s too hot in here.” She tugged at the fabric of the halter.

The sun would be down in a few minutes…

“Let’s take a walk.” I reached for her hand.

She stared at it without taking it and then looked back up at me, confusion painted on her expression. “Is that okay? The last time we took a walk, things…” her words drifted off.

I smiled at her obvious concern. “It’s okay, love. There’s not a single unmated male within a mile of you.”

Her eyebrows rose, understanding I’d sent them all away, but I had no problem giving the directive. I also didn’t want a repeat of yesterday or any distractions.

Hycinth finally accepted my hand, and we stepped outside. There was not another Wolf in sight. The pack compound was completely quiet.

But the alluring drumbeat could be heard past the forest…

Hycinth turned her head toward the trees. Her nostrils flared. She shifted her stance again, unable to stand still. A light sheen of sweat rose up her skin.

The sun had reached the horizon, filling the space with shadows that danced off of nearby torches. The music in the distance got louder, more persistent.

I stood silent, watching, waiting…

Hycinth ignored me completely, solely focused in the direction of our den.

She tilted her head to the side and blinked, completely engrossed in something I couldn’t see.

Several more minutes went by…

And then, without any cue that I noticed, she finally took a step…and then another…

I walked next to her. She let me slide my fingers into her hand and held me tight, but didn’t speak, too focused on her destination.

It didn’t take us long to make it through the familiar forest. My heart thundered in my chest.

The time was now…

When we broke the tree line, the wolves erupted. Adorned in tribal dress, males beat drums and stomped their feet, causing the earth to shudder beneath them. Females danced. They all howled out their joy.

Hycinth froze by my side. Her claws dug into my hand.

I tugged on her hand, trying to get her back in motion, but she refused to take a step farther. I leaned down to her ear to reassure her, “It’s okay, love. Just a little bit more now.”

She shook her head and mumbled, “There’s more than twenty.”

I stared at her in confusion, trying to figure out what she was talking about. And then I understood. “Every mated pair is here at the beginning, to show honor and respect, love and joy to you and your Wolf. Once we go inside, all but twenty will leave back to the pack.”

Hycinth nodded silently, and then her eyes zoned in on her brother, who was standing next to my father, both of them in front of the rest of the wolves, ready to receive us. She whispered, “Lucky.”

I wasn’t sure how she was going to handle this part of the ceremony. Not every Wolf knew of our agreement, so Hycinth understood and accepted we had to go through with each step. We were keeping the traditions as simple as possible, but understanding and doing were two different things.

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her neck. “You can do this.” Reaching for her hand again, I tugged, and this time, she walked forward.

When we crossed the small clearing, we stopped directly in front of Luca and my father who stood side-by-side to receive us and give us their blessing.

The wolves fell silent.

Hycinth trembled next to me.

My father cleared his throat. His eyes told me how difficult this was for him, to speak the words that had been spoken to him by my grandfather so many years ago. He began gruffly,

“Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other.

Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.

Now there is no more loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other.

Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you.

Go now to your dwelling to enter into the days of your life together.

And may your days be good and long upon the earth.”**

When my father finished, Luca unfolded a ceremonial blanket he held in his hands. Several of the females had spent weeks creating the intricately woven blanket using colorful hand-dyed silken thread.

Hycinth breathed, “It’s beautiful.”

Gripping a corner of the blanket while Luca still held the other, they walked around to our backs. Standing behind us, they placed the blanket around our shoulders, my father directly behind Hycinth and Luca behind me.

Words were not customarily spoken at this moment, but I heard my father murmur in Hycinth’s ear, too quietly for anyone but us to hear, “I am blessed to have such a beautiful shewolf as a daughter.”

“Thank you,” Hycinth’s voice cracked as she whispered just as softly, surprise and emotion in her voice palpable. She hadn’t expected him to say that. Neither had I. But I was thankful for his approval of her and his blessing.

Luca walked around to stand in front of us while my father stepped away. He glanced up at me. I nodded. Leaning forward, he kissed Hycinth on the cheek.

“Love you, Cinn.”

He pulled back. Hycinth swallowed and just nodded.

The moment had come…

Gripping the blanket to our shoulders and our free hands intertwined, Hycinth and I walked into the cottage, where we would spend the next three days…