The Forbidden Mate
Chapter Thirty-Two - Mating Ceremony

Katy

The day of my mating ceremony has arrived, and I am nervous.

Lily has done an amazing job transforming the formal gardens behind the packhouse into the perfect venue. A raised dais had been erected, which she has covered in white silk material, it is decked with vases filled with white flowers.

Hundreds of chairs have been set out surrounding the stage, so that all our pack members and the wolves from the Royal Pack can watch. This includes the Omegas, who have for the first time been allowed to attend a pack event as guests. Normally they would be forbidden from taking part and instead would be expected to serve the guests food and drink. Alex had agreed to end this practise. Going forward Omegas will be allowed to attend all events with the rest of the pack. No longer would Omega’s be classed as second-class citizens, they would be just as important as everyone else in the pack.

I loved how fair Ales is, how much he cares for the whole of his pack. There is no pride when it comes to protecting and looking after the best interests of all of his pack members.

Our mating ceremony was not going to be formal. I would have hated that. Instead a buffet has been laid out with food and drink for after the ceremony was finished so that everyone can take part and no one needs to serve the guests.

Lily has dressed me in a long white silk dress, it is by far the most expensive thing I have ever worn. It has a sleeveless bodice which clings tightly down to my waist from where the soft material gently flows down to my ankles. I have white strappy heels on my feet. I have never worn high heels before, so I have spent the last two days practising walking in them, I am really hoping that I don’t fall over in front of the whole pack. My hair flows down my back, and Lily has artfully arranged a circlet of flowers to sit on top of my hair.

“There,” Lily says making the final adjustments to my hair and dress. “You look beautiful. Like the Luna and queen you are. I can’t wait until Alex sees you.”

“I am so nervous I hope I don’t disappoint him. I want this day to be perfect” I tell her.

“It will be he is going to be blown away.”

Mrs Wilson enters the room. “Are you ready?” she asks. It is time to go.”

I nod “thank you.”

I walk out of my room and down the stairs. Lily and Emma follow close behind me. As I walk out of the packhouse and down the steps to the garden, I see the whole pack has assembled. Dressed up in their best clothes, watching me as I walk towards the platform. I see Alex is already there, waiting for me with love in his eyes.

All my nerves fade away when I see him, as always, his presence calms me, and fills me with love.

When I reach him, he takes my hand in his and leans down and says “You look beautiful, I can’t believe that you are mine.”

Alex’s grandfather is standing in front of us, as the former alpha he is officiating at the ceremony.

“We are here today to formally join these destined mates together forever. The moon goddess has chosen Princess Katherina as the soulmate for Alpha Alex of the Lunar Moon Pack. We witness their love and the true mate bond that unites these two wolves together. Only death can now separate these wolves. Our pack is now made stronger by the union of our Alpha and our Luna.”

I can hear wolves sobbing in the crowd, but I don’t look around. All I can think about is my love, my mate Alex. After everything that has happened, we are finally, truly mated. All the pain and heartache was worth it for this moment. I know that I will spend the rest of my life with him, and nothing will separate us again.

The story continues in the final book Forbidden Queen