Lincoln's POV
This stupid fucking tie is choking my neck. I clench my hands at my sides. I know if I bring them up to fidget with the knot again people are going to notice.
It's not that I'm nervous.
I'm not nervous. We're marked. She is mine and I am hers.
Jo isn't a runner. She is brave and loyal, she'll be here. I'm not nervous about the ceremonies taking place today I'm just... antsy without her.
"Linc, are you alright? You feel so tense..." her soft voice echoes in my mind.
"I just miss you, baby. It's been a long day and I'm ready to have you beside me."
I feel her relax some.
"Same."
Maggie and Nabila came and stole her away at ten this morning and have kept us apart since. It's been torture. Now, I'm standing before our guests waiting for her to come down for the dinner party portion of the evening.
My hands move up subconsciously and tug at the knot.
"Are you nervous?" Cam leans in.
"No, I just want her to get down here."
He pats my shoulder while chuckling, "you got it bad, man."
I nod, I can't deny it. I do. In the months since her arrival, everything has changed. The world is brighter, colors are more vivid and I feel a calm that has settled into my bones. For the first time in years, I sleep at night. Real, deep sleep that leaves me both rested and bewildered. I never realized how affected I was by lack of sleep until I actually started getting some.
Holding her through the night has changed every day. I wake with a renewed sense of purpose. I always took my position seriously but with her in the world, I'm more determined than ever to make this kingdom safe.
"Here comes your girl," Cam whispers but he doesn't have to, I feel her. I know she's close. My whole body tenses as I watch the door, waiting for her to come through it.
The knob moves and my body jerks slightly on instinct. I want to go to her, to meet her at the door. Nabila steps in first, then Maggie. I think they planned it that way on purpose, to torment me.
She finally comes into view and my knees almost give out. She's always beautiful, but tonight, tonight she's glowing. I can't believe this woman picked me, that she wants me as her mate. When her eyes meet mine I can see that she's nervous, probably as being the center of attention, but it melts away and she flashes me her show stopping smile.
Maggie and Nabila take their seats as she walks toward me. Without them obstructing my view I can take her in fully. The soft black dress she's wearing fits her body like a second skin. The front is simple, elegant, but as she takes her place beside me I see the other side. The delicate skin of her back is fully displayed down to her waist.
She leans in slightly as I let my fingers graze her bare skin.
"Honored guests, I present to you, my mate, my Luna, the Luna Queen of the werewolf kingdom, Josephine Lennox."
She bows her head slightly and squeezes my hand. Everyone in the room is smiling and I can feel their excitement, for me, for us. As we take our seats, food begins to be ushered out to everyone. Maggie really went for it with the menu. Everything looks amazing but I can't focus. I want to look at her, to take her in, to watch her as she sees everything.
She looks lost in thought. I'm grateful for the bond of our marks, the look on her face, and the feelings she's having don't match.
"Hey, are you alright?"
"Yes, I just can't believe what's happening right now. I feel like I'm going to wake up and this will all have been a dream. Lincoln, we're mates, chosen or fated, we're in this together now, forever."
I bring her hand up, placing a chaste kiss on her palm, "Forever."
I can't even begin to explain to her how much I understand what she's saying. I've thought about it endlessly over the last few days.
While the food is delicious each course feels like an eternity. Our guests talk and enjoy themselves, in no hurry to get to the next course or move on to the ceremonial parts of the evening.
My parents are seated to her left, which means that my job this evening is to try to block her from invasive personal questions that my mother will be asking.
I never told them about my curse, they don't know the details of our relationship.
"So," my mother takes her hand, "tell me, how did you meet?"
"Oh...I..." Jo looks at me nervously.
"We met here actually, she was coming here to design a music room for me."
"I truly love mate stories," mom gushes and the sweet smile that takes over Jo's face makes me love her even more.
"Me too," her soft voice doesn't let anything slip, "the centerpieces are beautiful, Maggie did a wonderful job," she attempts to distract both my parents and me.
"As long as you like them, I like them," the blush I love so much creeps to her cheeks.
"I'm starting to wish we held the dinner after the ceremonies," she whispers, obviously as eager as I am to move this along. I have to focus my attention on something other than this death crawl passage of time. Every minute feels like an hour. My mother and Jo talk for most of the meal, I can tell that my parents are as captivated by her as I am.
The sigh of relief that passes through her lips as they clear the final plates away makes me smile like a fool. I can feel her impatience as if it was my own, I know she's as excited to get to the next part of the evening as I am.
"Are you ready?" She leans in, her face gently touching my shoulder.
"I've never been more ready."
"While you all head to the lake, we need to go get ready," Nabila moves around us and gently takes Jo's hand.
I bite back a growl. Why are they always taking her away from me?
"See you soon, Alpha," Jo whispers against my ear before kissing my cheek softly. The growl rumbles in my chest, I can't hold it back this time.
She winks at me as she leaves the room and it nearly brings me to my knees.
"Maggie set up a cocktail reception by the lake, you look like you could use a drink," Vic takes me by the shoulders.
"A double, definitely," I groan as we make our way after the guests to the lakeside set up.
"Lincoln! Honestly..." my mother admonishes me and I shrink like a child before heading straight to the small outdoor bar.
With one hour to sunset, I knock back a double shot of whiskey while staring at the decorations. Two rows of five chairs are arranged in a semicircle around an arbor at the front end of the dock.
Everything is simple and elegant. The arbor is decorated with flowers and candles that are starting to glow under the fading light.
My parents quickly find me.
"She seems lovely, son, really. I hope you'll bring her home soon. I would love to have you both, it's been so long since you've been back..."
My father gives me a sympathetic look as my mother starts with her ceaseless crusade to get me to come home.
"I'm sure she would really like that, mom. We'll plan it soon."
"It's been almost seven years since... wait, did you just agree to come?" I watch as both of them go wide-eyed, completely shocked.
"Yes."
"Oh, well, that's fantastic!" Her eyes turn slightly misty and guilt settles in my chest.
I never wanted them to know that I don't have a mate. The shame was too much. Over the years it was easier to distance myself from them. I know it hurt them and I handled it wrong but I didn't know what else to do.
"We'll plan something soon. Jo will want to," I squeeze her hand. Before she can respond she's interrupted by the clinking of a glass.
"Everyone, please, be seated," Luke says before taking his place beside the arbor.
We asked Cam to be the officiant of the Luna ceremony and I will be overseeing the coronation.
I move under the arbor, waiting for her. Maggie and Nabila step out and I hold my breath. When I finally see her the world around us fades away.
"Here comes my girl."
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