When at last the final howl died away, he ordered a celebration and another cheer filled the air. The wolves then stamped their feet and he turned to Kiara. “It’s a tradition, sort of like the clinking of glasses at a human wedding.”
Her answering smile as well as the sparkle in her tear-drenched eyes, led him to pull her again into his arms and kiss her. This time, he kissed her a long, long time, maybe longer than he should have since a lot of hooting soon replaced the cheers and stamping of feet.
She finally pushed at him, but came up laughing and wiping at her cheeks. She’d never looked more beautiful.
The compound’s staff was already firing up the numerous grills around the outdoor gathering area. Kegs of beer were being brought in from the kitchen’s massive stockroom. Mugs were hauled out by the case-load.
The party had begun.
He introduced Kiara one-by-one to each Caldion member. He could sense Kiara’s connection to his wolves, their wolves now. She’d told him she’d felt very alone until they’d bonded. Now she felt as though she’d gained an enormous family.
It was the best part of pack life, the sense of belonging and camaraderie.
Yet, in some ways he’d been alone as well. Now he had a mate and his life was complete.
He remained close to her side throughout the celebration. Even when they sat down to eat, he made sure they sat close together. He needed the physical connection to her right now. She seemed to feel it as well since the whole time she ate, she kept her hand planted on his thigh. He loved it.
He told her over and over how much he loved her.
She did the same.
But as the hours wore on, his need to be with her physically grew to an almost painful point. Dawn arrived with relief which saw his pack finally dispersing and returning to either their apartments within his vast underground compound or their nearby homes.
As was proper, he waited until the last wolf had left then led Kiara to his suite of rooms.
He trembled with need and her soft moans told him the state she was in as well.
Once inside his soundproof bedroom, he started to strip off his clothes, as she did hers. Though she removed her clothes quickly, his became a sore point, since he’d forgotten to get his boots off first.
She was soon laughing and forced him to sit down. She removed his boots herself, which swelled his heart. She was here, she was with him, they were one.
As soon as his boots were off his feet and his pants freed from his body, he had her pinned to the sheets.
There was no foreplay. None was needed. The newness of the bond had him in a state, Kiara no less so.
He buried himself in her body.
He kissed her.
He made love to her.
He showed her with her each tender caress how much he cherished and needed her.
She responded in kind, loving on him, moaning, even howling her pleasure.
He brought his storm and she brought hers. Wind, lightning and thunder rolled around them as he took her to the heights again and again.
~ ~ ~
After the lovemaking, Kiara lay on her side in Warren’s bed, now her bed. He spooned her, and his arm overlay her waist. His steady breathing told her he’d fallen sound asleep.
Her mind refused to let her slumber, however.
Though she was exhausted, she didn’t want the night to end. She wanted to forge profound memories of the recent celebration, so she kept reviewing everything she’d experienced.
She’d wept. Of course, she’d wept. She was moved more than she’d thought possible. Meeting each pack member, shaking each hand, covering several of those hands with her own, was an experience she would cherish the rest of her life.
When she’d first fallen in love with Warren, she’d believed a permanent relationship with him to be impossible. She was a witch and he, an alpha wolf with a pack to which he was completely devoted. How could their lives ever fit together?