Chapter Sixteen

**Sloan**

The time was finally drawing near. Sloan had been antsy from the moment he woke up, and the long day just seemed to drag on. It’s funny how being mated can make one feel lovesick; he missed her warm body next to his.

“*And it’s only been one night thus far.*” He chuckled to himself as he stood before his mirror, buttoning up his shirt. “*Fuck, it was a long day, after a shit night’s rest.*”

Throughout the day, he found various ways to distract himself. Whether it was training at length with the pack or manually assisting the ceremony organizers as they finalized the placement of different pieces of furniture around the garden. Eventually, his father banished him to his room to be pampered, cleaned and dressed. He felt like he was scrubbed raw. His head felt lighter after his hair was thoroughly washed, blow-dried and tied in a low ponytail. He picked up a small brush and tended to his groomed beard and moustache.

He left the balcony doors ajar so the gentle music playing out in the gardens could drift in. About thirty minutes ago, the buzz of light conversation started low and grew louder as different individuals began to arrive for the festivities.

“Well, you clean up nicely.” Tristan laughed as he walked into the room. The clinking of glasses told Sloan that his brother came bearing gifts.

“He sure does.” Declan teased as he entered behind Tristan.

“It’s nice to know that the soundproofing was worth every penny for a rush appointment,” Sloan said nonchalantly, cracking his neck.

Tristan laughed out loud before commenting. “I would usually make an inappropriate statement, but I prefer living… thank you very much.”

“Well, I have no intentions of witnessing your murder nor aiding in the disposal of your body; so, keep your inappropriate thoughts away from the Alpha,” Declan stated in a bored voice. “We will laugh about it later.” He continued in a loud whisper to Tristan.

Sloan growled at them, and Declan held up his hand in surrender.

“He’ll be murdering both of us….” Tristan smirked, holding up the whiskey bottle. “but kill us after we took a shot.”

“Not without me.” Their father said, walking into the room, causing Tristan to jump in surprise. Both Declan and Sloan began howling with laughter as Tristan held his chest.

“Fuck, you weren’t kidding about the soundproofing.”

“Worth every penny….”

They all smirked knowingly. Tristan passed the glasses around, then cracked open the bottle. Once their cups were filled with two fingers of liquid, Tristan cleared his throat and held up his.

“To Sloan’s castration!”

“Jesus… where the hell did your mother and me pick you up from?” Theo shook his head in disappointment and looked at Sloan. “Son, I am so proud of the man you have become… even with these two nut-holders as your Betas, I know the Pack is in safe hands. Now, you will have your mate beside you, and together, you all will make our Pack stronger than ever. Your mother had nothing but praises to say about Myra; she’s already adopted her family as part of our own.

“But being mates doesn’t mean it will all be a bed of roses. Remember, you all are still individual beings and will seek solace either together or alone. Though your possessive wolf spirit will want to control every aspect of her being, this will only cause tension.” He explained. “So, my advice to you is… to frequently communicate and as often, but also **listen** to her… not just hear. Set boundaries, establish trust and weather through the highs and lows together… to Sloan and Myra.”

“To Sloan and Myra.” They parroted his closing remarks and cheered their drink.

“And to never owning your balls again.” Declan included.

“Swear you boys were raised in a barn.” Theo rolled his eyes as they all laughed before shutting back the drink.

“Boys? It’s time…” Sian knocked on the bedroom door and gently pushed it open. “Oh… my sweet baby boy.”

“I know… don’t I look hot, mom?” Tristan smiled and gave the room a spin to show off his attire. Sloan shook his head at his brother, who wore a tight pale pink dress shirt, navy blue trousers and brown leather shoes.

Sian also shook her head and glanced between Sloan and Declan. “You boys couldn’t get him to clean up like you two?” She fired back, smiling wickedly at Tristan.

Tristan’s hands slapped his chest over his heart, and a pained expression flooded his face. “Ma, you have wounded me.”

“You will survive boy,” She teased, patting his cheek. “Sloan, I can’t wait for you to see Myra.” The music outside changed. “That’s our cue… it’s time.”

With a final glance at himself in the mirror, he cracked his neck again and then followed the small group out of the room. He greeted some last-minute guests as they were ushered towards the back gardens, and Declan stopped off to have a quick chat with pack security. Even though they were all here to celebrate Sloan’s Claiming, the threat of the murderous rogues still hung in the air. But for the next hour or two, Sloan was going to pretend that they weren’t an issue for the moment.

Sloan waited with his parents standing on either side of him. They gazed out at the garden, waiting for their cue from Elder Reagan. He asked individuals to take their seats.

“Let’s begin.” He commanded the gathered congregation and nodded to Sloan.

Slowly, they walked down the stone pathway and then onto the grassy lawn. Sloan could feel the prickly blades and the velvet softness of the rose petals scattered about under his bare feet. They stepped towards the raised pavilion and stopped before Elder Reagan. “Who presents this young Alpha to this Claiming Circle?”

“We do.” Both of his parents stated. His father patted his back while Sloan bent down and let his mother gently kiss his cheek.

“Sloan, please stand to my right.”

Sloan stepped up and stood where indicated. He looked up in time to see his mother and father take their seats in the front row next to Tristan and Bryn. On the other side of the aisle, there was one empty seat next to Myrielle and her husband, who held their baby. The little girl was surprisingly wide awake, gazing up at the fairy lights twinkling in the treetops. Next to the small family sat Megan.

His eyes shifted to movement by the doorway, and he audibly gasped; she looked like a real angel in her white gown. It was off-the-shoulder, laced, fitted and highlighted her figure-eight body figure. Her naturally curly hair was straightened and framed her face. It was styled to sit neatly on her left shoulder, dangling down to her stomach. To complete her angelic look, Sloan saw that she wore very light make-up that only enhanced her natural beauty.

As she walked down the grassy aisle accompanied by her father, those gathered in the congregation audibly awed at her, causing Myra to blush. Just then, their eyes connected, and her blush deepened.

“*All mine.*” He thought, opening up his mind to her.

Her smiled brightened, and she replied to him. “*All yours.*” He smiled, wiping a stray tear that tumbled down his cheek just as they stopped before the pavilion.

“Who presents this young lady to this Claiming Circle?”

“We do.” Her whole family, including Megan, responded. Her father gently kissed her cheek and shook Sloan’s hand before taking the empty seat next to Myrielle.

“Myra, please stand to my left.” Said Elder Reagan. She gathered up the long skirts of her gown and stepped to the spot indicated.

“Hi handsome.” She greeted him.

“Hello… you look gorgeous,” Sloan smirked as he immediately pictured various naughty activities he will be doing with her. “Ahem…” Elder Reagan cleared his throat, and it was a splash of cold water to his heated libido. “It is an honour to preside over this union in the shadow of a lunar eclipse, which has created an October blood moon.” As one, they looked up at the moon. Sure enough, a big, full, blood moon was looking down at them. “We are gathered here today to witness the blessed Claiming union between Alpha Sloan Jamison of the Blood Moon Pack and Myra Gallagher.”

“Have you, Sloan and Myra, come here today to enter this Claiming circle, freely and wholeheartedly and without coercion?”

“I have.” They both replied.

“Please grasp each other left hand.” He instructed. Sloan’s hand enveloped her smaller one, and he felt a tingling sensation where their skins touched.

Another Elder approached from the side of the pavilion and handed Elder Reagan a gold-infused white shawl. He first draped the cloth over their joint hands and then secured it around their hands.

Binding them.

“Do you, Alpha Sloan, solemnly promise to take Myra as your Omega and mate?”

Sloan squeezed her hand before answering. “I solemnly promise.”

“Do you, Myra, solemnly promise to take Alpha Sloan as your Alpha and mate?” Elder Reagan asked her.

“I solemnly promise.”

“At this next part, you will answer together… Do you solemnly promise to have and to hold; not only each other but the roles and responsibilities of the Pack?”

“I do.” They answered together.

“Do you solemnly promise to stand by each other, and as pack leaders, for better and for worse, for richer or poorer, through sickness and health?”

“I do.” They answered together.

Elder Reagan nodded once he was satisfied with their commitment; he turned to Sloan. “Repeat after me…

“I, Sloan, take you, Myra, as my mate and Omega from this day forward till death do us part,” Sloan stated word-for-word. The Elder then turned his attention to Myra. “Please repeat after me…

“I, Myra, take you, Sloan, as my mate and Alpha from his day forward till death do us part,” Myra repeated word-for-word.

The surrounding congregation seemed to have disappeared, and Elder Reagan’s words became distant. Sloan never let his eyes leave hers as they gazed lovingly at each other. Once again, he began imagining the rest of their lives together, and it included an abundance of bedroom time.

“Both parties have already agreed to bind their claim in a private setting… therefore, what was blessed today, may no creature asunder.” Suddenly, Elder Reagan words interrupted the spell, and Sloan smiled at Myra. The ceremony was almost over.

“It gives me great pleasure and honour to present to you, Sloan and Myra… Alpha and Omega of the Blood Moon pack. You may kiss your mate.”

“Mine,” Sloan growled, causing Myra to giggle.

“Yours.”

Sloan used his free right hand to pull her close, and he briefly kissed her. He didn’t want the kiss to last too long because they had company, who started to cheer and applaud their happy union.

***

**Myra**

“*It’s official I am now Sloan’s Omega.*” Myra thought as Sloan ended the brief kiss. All her fears and anxieties seemed to have washed away with each promise they made tonight. She gazed up at Sloan, and she saw his lustful desires flash across his eyes. Even the struggle for control, warring behind his icy grey eyes.

Once they drew apart, Elder Reagan untied the shawl binding their hands and folded the cloth. Sian walked over and took the shawl from him; she then walked up to them. “Welcome to the family, my dear.” She smiled lovingly and kissed Myra on her cheeks.

“Thank you.”

Sian nodded and walked back to Theo. Sloan’s strong arm snaked around her waist, and she moved closer to him. “Let the feast begin!” he exclaimed to the gathering.

Different pack members started ushering guests towards another make-shift, tented pavilion which housed several dining tables, all laden with food. Next, the tent was a spit with a fat, juicy pig roasting over an open flame; the intoxicating smell caused Myra’s stomach to growl.

“Hungry?” Sloan chuckled.

“Famished… and that pig smells delicious.”

“You smell delicious.” He groaned, nuzzling her neck where he will be marking later.

“Congratulations Alpha… welcome Omega.” Elder Reagan greeted. “You both should feel blessed and honoured to be mated under your Pack’s insignia… a blood moon union meant that this claiming was fated.”

“Thank you for officiating the ceremony.” Sloan smiled, shaking the Elder’s hand.

Myra ignored their conversation as Megan and Myrielle came up to them. She tried to wander off to meet the girls, but Sloan’s hand tightened on her hip in a silent indication that she was leaving his side.

“Two down… one more to go.” Myrielle teased.

Megan, however, spun around and walked over to Bryn and Pearl instead. “Buh bye.”

“It will happen eventually,” Myra added to the teasing.

“Over my dead body,” Megan called over her shoulder, laughing as she joined the two younger girls.

“Look at Declan.” Myrielle nodded with her head. Myra followed her sister’s line of sight, and sure enough, Declan was fuming as he heard Megan’s parting words.

“Have you ever seen two more childish adults?” Myra stated and quickly snapped at her twin before she could comment. “Shut up!”

Myrielle smiled brightly and hugged her awkwardly because of Sloan’s hand. “I love you too, babe.”

“Myrielle… I believe my mate is famished. She’s going to need all the caloric intake she can get.” Sloan suggested, and his eyes flashed white with arousal, leaving Myra to blush brightly.

“If you break her, I swear I will never forgive you… Alpha or not, I will end you.” Myrielle commented as she walked off to her husband and baby.

“Really? You had to put that imagery in my sister’s head?” Myra muttered, looking up at him.

Sloan wrapped his arms around her and bent down to whisper in her ear. “Trust me… the whole pack will know when I finally mark you later.” He ended his statement by gently kissing her neck where he would be sinking his teeth.

Myra bit her bottom lip to suppress a moan.

“Now… let’s get some carbs into you, my beautiful mate… it’s going to be a long night.” Sloan smiled, linking their fingers together and walked off to the food pavilion.

As they passed the open doors to the house, Myra sniffed the air. “*Well, that’s a familiar, yet unfamiliar, scent.*” The assault on her senses was brief. It wasn’t associated with the food or the numerous guests gathered; she couldn’t place it. “*Where have I smelt that before…. Smoky ash and blood?*”

She looked around for anyone unfamiliar or new, but she couldn’t shake the strange feeling of being watched.

Sloan kissed their linked fingers, drawing her attention back to their joyous occasion. “Everything’s okay?”

“Perfect.”