I am awoken early by Xander entering the room. His scent overwhelms me. I find it intoxicating. I fake sleep to breath him in longer. I didn't notice its effect until we were apart. Now that he is back all I want is to bathe in his scent.
"I know you're awake." He says looking through his closet. "Sorry to wake you I won't be long."
"Its fine." I say sitting up. "What are you looking for."
"Dad linked me and told me to get my suit ready... it's the first time he linked me since I told him what happened... maybe he's coming around!" His smile is contagious and I return it.
"Why a suit?" I ask.
"Didn't say and I wasn't about to question him." He says turning to me with a fist full of ties. "Pick one."
"Blue... it matches your eyes." I tell him.
"Thanks... I'll get out of your hair." He heads for the door.
"Wait!" I say jumping off the bed. I run to the door and wrap my arms around his waist. He is shocked but then returns the hug. "Good morning Xander."
"Morning Mini." He kisses my forehead then sighs placing his chin on top my head. "I really have to go!"
"Go, go I'll see you later." I say letting go of him. He sighs again looking at me then he shakes his head.
"Bye Mini." He waves as he exits the room.
I feel my wolf whine.
"I miss his scent. " she says.
As I shower she won't stop whining. I put on a pair of jeans and go back to his room. Rummaging through his drawers I find a t-shirt and put it on."
"Better?" I ask her.
"Much!" She responds.
I tie up the bottom of the shirt so it is less of a dress and make my way downstairs.
"Mini!" I hear as I reach the bottom step.
"Uri!?" I yell tackling him in a hug. "Why are you here?"
He laughs "think I'm gonna miss my little sister's remarking ceremony?"
"What?! Today!" I look at him in shock.
"What? You don't know about this!" I can see him getting angry.
"No! Uri it's nothing like that! This was my idea... I just didn't realize he could put it together so soon!" Now I'm nervous. I didn't even mention it to Xander yet. "I love you Uri and I want to catch up but I need to see Xander like now!" He laughs shaking his head.
"Wow never thought I'd see you all flustered like this... hay I brought mom's mates dress... I thought you might want to wear it for your ceremony." He grins as Anne and Beth walk in with a garment bag.
"You are the best brother ever!" I kiss his cheek and turn to the girls.
"We came to help you get ready!" Anne says.
"Thank you so much!" I look around and see Garrett. "Garrett!... can you take my girls to Xander's room for me?" He nods and I turn back to the girls. "I'll be up soon. I need to talk to someone first."
They follow Garrett and I begin frantically looking for Xander. In the dining room I see Shawn and run up to him "where is he Shawn?"
"Alpha's office why so..." he starts and I take of heading for the office.
"Thanks Shawn!" I call over my shoulder. When I reach the door I barge in without knocking.
I stop dead when I see Xander, Pop, a few elders, and the Beta Chris in a meeting.
"Ummm sorry Pop... I was just looking for Xander." I say I stare at Pop pleading with my eyes hoping he hadn't told Xander anything yet. Pop chuckles.
"No problem Marie!... how about we give these two the room." They all begin to exit the last one out is Pop. He places a hand on my shoulder. "I haven't told him yet." He whispers in my ear.
"Thank you" I respond in kind. He nods giving my shoulder a squeeze he leaves shutting the door behind him.
"Since when do you call my dad Pop?" Is the first thing Xander asks.
"Umm will we talked last night." I answer.
"Why are you so dead set on talking to me right now? You interrupted an important..."
"Your dad is fine with it." I cut him off. "Listen I need to talk to you about what your dad and I discussed last night... it's also why you need a suit today."
"I'm listening." He leans against the back of the chair by the desk.
"My mark." I say and his hand goes to it. I can feel his pain and disgust as his fingers sink into the hole and I cringe. "I know you hate it."
"No Mini please it's not that at all I..." he begins.
"Xander you can't lie to me! Its ugly and brutal it's a painful reminder of the way we screwed this whole thing up." I say cutting him off.
"What's your point Marie! I'll get used to it. It binds me to you and that's what's important!" He says. I smile at him. He truly is amazing.
"Clean slate Xander. Today we can fix it. Your dad planned a remarking ceremony for us... it's our wedding day and this time we can do it right!" I tell him. He stares at me a moment then steps forward.
"But I haven't even asked you yet." He says. I smile at him.
"Well balls in your court Xander." I can't stop smiling at him.
He fumbles around his pockets and pulls out a small box.
"I was wondering why dad gave this to me today." He gets down on one knee like every sappy love story says he should "Marie I want to spend all of my life with you... to be your mate in this world and the next. I will never hurt you again as long as I have breath. Would you do me the honor of being my Mate my Wife my life my everything?"
He opens the box to reveal a simple ring with a single small diamond on a silver band.
"Yes... of course I will!"
He pulls out the ring and slides it onto my finger.
"This was my mother's." He says kissing my hand where the ring sits. "My father loved her with all his heart and will love her all his life... this ring is my promise to you that I will do the same."
I wrap my arms around his neck and he picks me up spinning around the room. He sets me back bown and kisses me. As the kiss ends he rests his forehead on mine.
"One thing tho." I say trying to catch my breath. He pulls away with a confused look. "This is going to hurt... like alot." He just smiles at me.
"Worth it!" He says hugging me.
○●○●
After my talk with Xander I run up to his room.
"I'm back." I say catching my breath.
"About time! We only have like 2 hours now!" Anne scolds me.
"Come on I'll do your hair!" Beth says pushing me into a chair they had set up in the bathroom. "Ok you need a haircut sooooo many dead ends!" She snips away like a hair ninja then curls and pins and sprays my hair placing small sparkling stones in it.
"Ok time for makeup!" Anne says pushing Beth out of the way. She zips around getting me all dolled up. I can't even describe what all she did because it's not my thing but the end results are magnificent. "What do you think?" She asks as she finishes.
"You two are miracle workers." I answer in awe of the transformation.
"Ok we have to hurry dress time!" Anne says.
I step into the dress and pull it on. Anne zips it up and I look in the mirror. It is beautiful. My mother's dress has a similar look to a sun dress but more elegant. Pure white with a simple lace pattern. Thin straps come up over my shoulders. It was probably just above the knee on my mom but it hangs slightly below on me. I love it!
"Shoes!" Beth yells.
"I can't do heels guys!" I panic.
"We know!" Anne says "we thought for you these would be perfect." She holds up new white Converse. They know me so well.
"Perfect!" I smile and put them on. Just as I lace them up there is a knock at the door.
"Its time!" I hear Uri call. As I step out the door his jaw drops. I shift uncomfortably.
"Pick your jaw up Uri!" I yell at him.
"Ok it's still my sister in there!" He laughs. "You look beautiful."
"Thanks." I say.
"Come on were gonna be late!" He runs down the stairs with me on his heels. We stop in front of the door to the dining room. Is he joking? I stare at him. "It's time little sister... I'm gonna miss you so much!"
"I'm not dying!" He is so overdramatic.
"No but you won't be a part of my pack any more... you won't be pestering me all the time." He says nearly crying.
"Don't worry bro. I will make a point to pester you! Frequently!" I laugh and so does he. He wipes a tear from his eye and places my hand in his bent arm.
"You better shrimp!" He says then opens the door.
The room has been transformed. The massive dining table gone a few chairs are placed along the sides. A red carpet is rolled out in the middle leading to a beautiful flowered altar. The window backlights the scene. How did Pop do all of this over night?
As we walk down the isle everyone stands. It is small. On one side Riley and his dad with Anne and Beth and an empty chair for Uri. On the other Beta Cris, Shawn, Garrett, and another man... I must have looked confused because Xander links me.
"That's Cody... God you are beautiful!"
I blush and turn me attention directly ahead of me. There stands Xander with the blue tie I picked out. Pop is standing beside him. Wow Xander cleans up nice! When we reach the altar Uri kisses my cheek and sits down with the rest.
"Good afternoon everyone. We gather together as family to celebrate these two young wolves who have decided to mark each other anew. Refreshing their bond and devoting themselves to one another. Xander Brian Rockwell do you promise to be devoted to this woman through all life's trials whether sick or well, rich or poor. In the good times and the bad. To be loyal to her and place her happiness and well being above your own for all your lives?"
"I do." He says with the biggest smile.
"And now Marie Lynn Willson do you promise to be devoted to this man through all life's trials whether sick or well, rich or poor. In the good times and the bad. To be loyal to him and place his happiness and well being above your own for all your lives?"
"Yes... I mean I do!"
"As Alpha of the Black Water pack I declare you are mates husband and wife for all of time. You may place your mark claiming this wolf as yours from this moment on."
Xander's hands are shaking as he loosens and removes his tie. He fumbles with the buttons and gets irritated.
"Let me." I say as I reach up for his collar. I unbutton a few buttons as he smiles down at me. He takes off his jacket and slides his shirt off his shoulder exposing the hole in his flesh.
"Let's fix that shall we?" My wolf says.
"Let's!" I agree.
Xander leans down and kisses his mark.
"Now you two need to do this at the same time and hold on as long as you can." Pop whispers to us.
I can feel Xander's teeth glide across my skin. I place mine over the old mark.
"Ready?" Xander links and I kiss his shoulder. A low growl vibrates his chest and I place my teeth back in place. "3... 2... 1!" We sink our teeth into each other. Pain shoots down my spine filling my body. We both scream holding our teeth in place. We drop to our knees and I feel his teeth retract so I do the same. We sit on the ground holding each other panting. I feel the pain wash away and in its place pure ecstasy.
I look at Xander's shoulder and smile. A perfect imprint of my teeth trace his collar bone. I trace my fingers across the mark and he shivers.
"You're torturing me woman!" He links.
"How so?" I respond.
He grins at me and kisses the mark he made in my skin. I shudder at his touch.
"Wow!" I gasp staring at him wide eyed. He chuckles.
"Leave the mark alone for now." He links.
"Yea." I agree.
"Ok you two. Time to party!" Pop says putting an arm around each of us.
We spent the rest of the day dancing and laughing with our guests plus a bunch of other pack members that came for the party. Pop had a living room set up like a dance hall. I tell you Xander was right that man is amazing! We had cake and steak and partied for hours. Eventually it died down and we decided to call it a night.
We walk up the stairs to the Alpha floor and head to our bedrooms. As I stand I'm front of the door Xander kisses my mark slowly and traces the kisses up my neck. I gasp my body shaking.
"What happened to leaving the mark alone?" I ask turning to face him. He laughs.
"We're alone now babe." He says with a smirk. "All bets are off!" He kisses my mark again. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss his mark. He growls and throws open the door slamming it behind us.
After that we were fully mated. I joined the Black Water pack and very soon I will be it's Luna.
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Author time!
okay so I'm curious about which characters resonate with My readers. We all have our favorites so tell me yours!
Mini (Marie)
Xander
Uriah
Pop (Xander's dad)
Other?
let me know!