Finally, the day I've been waiting for has arrived—the full moon night, the night of the ritual. Edee explained every step in detail, ensuring I understood what needed to be done.
She had advised Xander and Vlad to stay away, to wait until the ritual was complete—especially Vlad. But they both refused, insisting on witnessing the process despite her warning.
Under the pale silver glow of the full moon, Dylan stood beside me, his presence both reassuring and daunting.
The ritual began with Edee humming a low, melodic chant to the moon, her voice weaving through the crisp night air like an ancient call to unseen forces.
The first step was the Alpha's bite.
I was dressed in ceremonial attire—something Edee had chosen specifically for this night.
The fabric was made from thinly woven wood fibers, flowing like silk but carrying the scent of the earth. A wooden wolf-head mask covered my face, its features carved with intricate details.
The air was freezing, biting through my ceremonial garments.
Dylan's body contorted and expanded as he shifted into his werewolf form, muscles stretching and reshaping until he stood before me in his true, towering form.
His thick fur bristled under the moonlight, and his golden eyes gleamed with an ethereal glow, locking onto me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.
Each step he took was deliberate, his massive paws crunching softly against the earth, his breath curling into the cold night air.
He started at the crown of my head, inhaling deeply, his powerful senses drawing in my scent.
Slowly, methodically, he traced my form with his nose, moving down past my shoulders, my arms, lingering slightly at my pulse points before continuing downward.
Every inhale, every shift of his stance, felt like he was memorizing me in a way beyond sight—mapping my essence, committing it to instinct.
As he moved behind me, his presence loomed even larger, his warmth stark against the chill that prickled my skin. He paused there, longer than before, his breath ghosting over the back of my neck.
The sensation sent a sharp awareness through me, my body tensing as something deep within me recognized what was happening.
Then, without hesitation, he exhaled slowly, a low rumble vibrating in his chest. He had found the spot.
He returned to face me, his sharp eyes locking onto mine as if silently seeking permission. I swallowed hard and gave him a slight nod.
Slowly, his fangs pierced into my skin. The sharp pain shot through me like fire, spreading from the mark outward. A gasp escaped my lips, turning into a small, strangled scream.
From the sidelines, Vlad closed his eyes and pressed a hand to his chest, his brows furrowing deeply. He didn't understand why, but he felt the ache inside him. It unsettled him more than he was willing to admit.
Xander, however, never looked away. His eyes remained fixed on us, cold and sharp like a blade. As the ritual progressed, his grip on his arms tightened, his jaw clenched so hard I could see the tension ripple through him.
Then came the second part—the scent marking.
Edee raised a white cloth barrier between us and the watchers, shielding their view of what came next.
Dylan pressed his massive body against mine, rubbing his thick fur along my skin. The coarse yet strangely warm texture enveloped me as his scent mingled with mine, binding us in an unbreakable claim.
I stiffened, every fiber of my being tense. I knew the significance of this step, but the intimacy of it made me want to disappear.
If the others could see this, they would undoubtedly misunderstand.
On the other side, Xander's hands curled into fists, his nails biting into his palms. His body vibrated with tension, his breathing slow and controlled, but his eyes darkened with something unreadable—something dangerous.
Vlad remained still, unreadable as always, but his fingers twitched against his cloak. He was used to watching rituals, to seeing ancient rites performed over centuries, but this one was different. This one involved me.
The final part, Edee's voice deepened as she hummed once more, the sound resonating through the air like a pulse of ancient power. The chant grew richer, layered with centuries of tradition, each note weaving into the next.
In her hand, she held a talisman, its surface etched with symbols that seemed to shimmer and shift under the flickering light.
A faint glow surrounded it, pulsing in time with her voice, the magic within growing stronger, denser. The final step had begun.
Then, with swift determination, Edee reached up and grasped the cloth barrier that had separated us throughout the ritual.
With one sharp pull, she tore it away, the fabric falling in soft folds around us.
"Now!" she commanded, her voice firm, leaving no room for hesitation.
Dylan obeyed without hesitation. Now in human form, he reached up, his fingers deftly unfastening the wooden mask covering my face.
For a heartbeat, the cool night air brushed against my skin, the sudden exposure sending a jolt through me.
In one smooth motion, he pulled me into him, closing the space between us in an instant. His hands, warm and sure, settled against me, grounding me in place as his lips pressed firmly to mine.
The moonlight bathed us in its glow, impossibly bright, illuminating every detail of the moment.
A powerful surge rushed through me, something shifting deep inside—something awakening.
I remembered Edee's warning: The kiss must not break until the moonlight fades.
It was long. Breathless. Overwhelming.
I barely noticed the way my hands trembled or the warmth that spread through me, sealing the bond in ways I didn't yet understand.
Xander turned away, his expression unreadable, though the sharpness in his eyes betrayed his emotions. He stood rigid, as if fighting the urge to intervene. His jaw clenched so tightly it looked painful.
Vlad remained still, though the flicker in his crimson gaze hinted at something unsettled within him.
Finally, the sky darkened, and the moonlight faded.
The kiss broke.
Relief flooded through me. It was over. The second mark was complete.