AIDEN.

“Ayyrriii!” The two elderly women helping Nala out of the house yowled.

My jaw nearly dropped when I took in her appearance. I was waiting outside, eager to see her. And when I did, there was a tight fitting knot pressing at my throat, making it impossible to speak or swallow.

I just stood there, transfixed by my woman.

‘Dear Goddess of goddesses! Nyala, keep me sane!’ Leo prayed as we took in Nala’s appearance.

The elderly women, along with Tiffany and Allira stopped by the porch after helping her out. She closed the distance between us, searching my face as though waiting for a reaction. Even though I knew that, even though I knew she was waiting for me to say something about her appearance, I still couldn’t.

“Um, Rabin Rai?” The sound of her voice seemed to jolt me out of whatever daze I’ve floated in, and I was finally able to swallow.

I took her hands, which were now covered in flower patterned black henna, which was a direct contrast to the red soft patterns combined to give the hands a certain glow, and brought them to my lips, placing open mouthed k****s while keeping my eyes pinned on her.

I haven’t seen her since I brought her home from Mama’s house a day ago. Early the next morning, Mama sent a couple of old women to come stay with us, and in turn, prepare Nala for the big day. And that’s how I ended up spending the whole of my Monday, alone, with no Nala. Because Mama insisted it was how things were done. It was part of the culture.

The mating ceremony is not just a ceremony, it officiates Nala and I being mates, and in turn, married. For this reason, the women are kept away from their mates a day before the celebration, and they go through a series of procedures which I don’t know what they entail, but plan to find out all of it from my woman.

“Nala…you…” I paused, sucking in a deep breath to fill my throat enough to help me talk before I continued. “You look…I don’t think there’s a word out there to describe it,” I finally gave up trying.

Because nothing I say will do justice to this woman. Absolutely nothing!

“Really?” She smiled a little. “I didn’t know the dress would fit me like this even though Mama said she had it altered,” she hesitated. “Do I look…okay?”

A ‘are you serious’ kind of laughter tore from my throat. “Okay? Nala, I can’t f*****g think straight just from looking at you. Your scent, your appearance, the clothes. Knowing that those clothes were once worn by my mother and now my mate does a little something to my brain,” I answered gruffly.

Nala’s eyes widened, before a slow smile began to stretch on her lips.

“Hug?” She asked quietly.

I didn’t say anything as I pulled her into my embrace, engulfing her in a tight hug but keeping in mind not to squeeze her dress. The hug set her off laughing, and it’s the best sound I’ve ever heard in my entire life.

“You didn’t have to ask,” I murmured.

With her arms wrapped around me too, soft pressed against hard, I was losing my s**t. And so was Leo.

“I’m glad I’m doing this with you,” she whispered unevenly. “I love you, Rabin Rai.”

Nyala, help me! My heart started to slam up and down and sideways with such vengeance, I almost lost my balance.

“I love you too, Nala. I love you so much,” I rasped into her neck. Her sweet, perfect neck that carried my mark.

Then we pulled from the hug, and were both grinning.

“How about I turn around so you get a perfect look at the dress?” She asked.

I simply nodded.

Still keeping one of her hands in mine, she turned around, and my eyes bulged even more out of their sockets.

The cream, white, and red patterned gown she wore hugged her body. It was a fitting gown that flared out when it got to her knees. It hugged every part of her body. Feather-like red strings were attached to the lower part of her sleeves, and albeit wearing an alkyabba-like veil over her head, tied in knots above, that flowed down her shoulders and back, I could still see the outline of her body underneath.

She wore the gold necklace I had always seen with Mama. Along with the necklace was a loose fitted, three row beaded red necklace around her delicate neck. A simple make up, and those dazzling eyes looking at me with so much love.

Again, I was losing my s**t.

“We need to go before I do something so stupid,” I g*****d, hating the way Leo was pacing in my head.

One of the elderly women walked up to us and sprayed Nala with a fruity scent perfume, while the other approached us with an incense burner, with smoke rising from it. She circled us twice, then moved back and bowed.

“Long live the king and queen.” They chorused.

I waved at them, holding Nala’s hand in mine and led us to the black SUV Kane and I came with.

“You didn’t let me compliment you,” Nala whispered.

“I look good?”

“You look yummy. Erin’s words, not mine,” she laughed softly. “She has been nervous since morning and wouldn’t even speak to me, but once I stepped out and saw you, she’s been pacing around with her tongue hanging out.”

My chest vibrated with laughter as I threw my head back and allowed myself to embrace the emotion. There was something so thrilling about knowing that I have that much effect on my mate.

I wore a white half jumper caftan. A red cap to match Nala’s clothes, and red cotton shoes. I also wore the beads on my neck, one clasped on my right hand while the left had the wristwatch.

“You two are always entertaining to watch,” Kane teased when we reached him. He had a large smile on his face, and I know he was happy for me, the same way I wish him to be this happy someday. “Safe to compliment the Queen, Your Eminence?” He laughed.

Nala unclasped her hand from mine and closed the distance between them. Then she hugged him. My Nala hugged Kane.

I was seeing stars and red all over. With my hands clenched on either side, teeth bared, Kane saw it all, and couldn’t return the hug.

“Relax, big guy. You looked like you needed a hug,” Nala laughed as she pulled away from him. “That was to assure you I’m not just your queen, but a friend you can reach out to when you need one.”

A big buffy man like Kane was struggling to keep his face straight, and so was I. The dominant possessiveness in me demanding to step up, stop this and drag her from being close to him ate at me, but I didn’t dare try it.

Because I knew he needed the hug. No matter the tough exterior he exudes, Kane was a softie on the inside with a dark past that always tends to haunt him.

“Thank you,” he said in a strained voice before shifting his gaze towards me. I nodded at him and he blinked the tears in his eyes away.

My mate does not only reach out to me, she does not only complete me, but also those people around me. It didn’t matter what she went through in the past, her heart is pure and beautiful and she’ll always put others first before her.

She was that selfless.

“I truly needed that,” Kane continued. “Thank you for noticing.”

She nodded, then turned to me and grinned, as she adjusted the alkyabba-like veil on her head. “We should get going.”


NATASHA.

‘I can do this. I can do this,’ Erin chanted in my head as Aiden and I took our seats. The grand center had more people than it did during the Kalmanshe Festival and it was perfectly okay for her to feel nervous.

It wasn’t just her. If my sweaty palms, thudding heart, struggle in breathing is any indication of my nervousness, then I’m nervous too.

Today, I’m officially going to be Aiden’s mate. And after today, I’ll move into the palace, and mingle with lots and lots of people.

Same sitting position as the Kalmanshe Festival was maintained, and each canopy represents a pack. This time, however, there was an empty canopy for the Fiko pack, to pay homage to them. Each pack wore clothes that represented them, and it was such a beautiful sight to see. The colors scattered around, the scents, the food, the cultural representation.

Inna, who is going to officiate the ceremony, stood in the middle of the center, eyes covered with a white cloth over the red ankara gown she wore. As always, there are girls standing behind her with trays.

Baba and Mama on the left, the Council of Elders on our right. Mav stood behind me, just like he did during the punishment of Matteo, while Kane and Kamal stood behind Aiden.

In front of us sat Aiden’s cousin, his aunt and my friends. Today, Sherneil had no headphones, and was dressed in a beautiful yellow and red knee length ankara, her afro hair combed and oiled perfectly.

When our eyes met, she offered a tiny smile at me and nodded her head, as though acknowledging me, which was a first.

In front of the Elders were strange people I was seeing for the first time. Karima was the only person familiar amongst the new faces I was seeing.

Instead of sitting, however, I walked up to where Mama and Baba sat and greeted them. Mama stood up and hugged me, while Baba squeezed my hands in his. When I walked back to my seat, Mav engulfed me in a big bear hug before I finally settled in my seat.

“Greetings, everyone. Today, we are gathered here for the mating ceremony, to finally officiate the bond between our King and Queen. Before then, we’ll welcome our guest of honors…”

“I forgot to let you know they’ll be coming,” Aiden whispered into my ear, cutting my attention from Inna. “A dragon, a nymph, a vampire, a witch, and a dragon witch,” Aiden finished.

I nodded as all five people now stood in the center.

“The Dragon Empire sends its felicitations to the king and queen. I have the princess here to wish you well on behalf of the Dragon Emperor,” a man said, standing behind him, was a veiled woman in blue, with glittering gold accessories scattered all over her body, shining underneath the glowing sun.

The man was bare chested with long black leather pants. Leathered belts of boiled leather were wrapped around his chest where a tattoo rested on his right. His shiny black hair was tied into a man bun.

“We came bearing gifts for the couple. May Karani, the sun god, bless your union,” the woman said.

Aiden and I both stood up, hand in hand and walked down the steps. We stopped before our guest and all bowed to each other.

“Thank you, Bilal. Princess Nihla,” Aiden nodded at them. “Meet my mate, Natasha. Nala, he’s the commander of the Dragon Empire, and she is the princess of the Danisas Empire.”

“Thank you both for making it to our ceremony,” I answered, smiling.

The woman nodded from behind her veil, and no matter how hard I tried to get a glimpse of her face, it was impossible. The only thing I could see was her long black hair, and caramel skin. It was widely known that the dragons were the most beautiful species out there, especially because they are known to inhabit the sub saharan part of the continent, where their realm is located.

“Next, we have the Nymph Prince from the Kingdom of Tambula.” Inna continued, and a tall man, with dirty brown hair that fell to his face stood before us. A large scar dragged from his right brow down to his chin, which made him look ferocious. He wore a black shirt paired with black pants. If I wasn’t mated to Aiden already, I’d have been drawn to him like most of the unmated wolves around were.

The nymphs are known for the pheromone, easily seducing others into doing their biddings.

“On behalf of the Kingdom of Tambula, I congratulate you on your big day. May Tahula bless your union.”

“Thank you, Mason,” Aiden nodded before he introduced us.

Then Karima was next, as the hybrid, before a full blooded witch, Jamilah came forward to offer her felicitations.

It continued till the last man finally stopped before us.

“And lastly, we have the Vampire King, King Samir from the Kingdom of Bajoga.”

“On behalf of my kingdom, I wish you both a peaceful union. May Alkamai bless your union,” the tall, lanky man with red eyes, shoulder length blond hair and dark skin greeted us.

As always, Aiden introduced us before he returned to his seat.

“Now, we’ll begin the ceremony. We’ll start by binding the bond, the shift, then the dance, and finally the marking of the wolves.”

“Pardon me for interrupting,” Bilal said, stepping forward. “We did say we came bearing gifts, and I’m sure he’s someone you were looking for,” he finished, snapping his fingers as a large black dragon materialized behind him.

I gasped, taking in the appearance of the beast. Beautiful with its scales, yet dangerous. It dropped something with a thud on the ground.

It was Elder Manze, bleeding profusely from a wound I couldn’t see.

“We found him lurking in our kingdom. After thorough investigation, we found out he was on the run,” he continued before his nose flared as he looked around. “Quite surprising to see that my mate is a wolf,” he added with quiet wonder and my eyes widened at that.

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