The Alpha's Guardian

Sammy helps me step into my dress, pulling it closed behind me and zipping it up. The purple gown runs the full length of my legs and spills onto the ground in a pool of chiffon behind me. The fitted bodice accentuates my frame with a crisscrossing of fabric beneath my chest, giving the illusion of a cinched wa!st. The A-line skirt is given volume by the pleated ruffles that adorn the front of the dress all the way to the floor. In plain English, it's about as elegant as the word elegant itself. Sammy reaches up behind my neck pulling taut the soft lacy fabric from the front and buttoning it a the base of my hairline. I lower my hair back down and the curls bounce on the right side of my head. The entity of the left side of my hair is twisted to the side and pinned to the right to provide more volume for my curls. I clasp the cuff bracelet that Wade had given me before the ceremony, a gift from his mother, and the same bracelet that she and her daughter had worn on the day of their own ceremonies. I step into my black heels and finally step back looking myself over in the mirror. The dress is the perfect fit and everything my mother would have wanted. I smile and touch the lace that fully covers my neck and chest. Mom loved lace, I remember her telling me how timeless lace was and how elegant it makes everything look. She wasn't wrong, not even a little bit. My makeup is minimal like I like it and my hair, though short, is perfect. After getting it done two days ago to finally straighten it out I think it might be starting to grow on me.

"Oh my gosh, Ali," Sammy says, covering her mouth. "It's perfect."

"You think so?"

"I know so. You are the most stunning Luna this pack will ever see." she grins, stepping forward. And taking my hands. The door opens slightly and Amy peeks her head in.

"Ali, Wade's family arrived." she stops and looks at me, her mouth dropping. "Wow. Purple is such an amazing color on you." She says breathlessly.

"Thanks, Amy." I say looking down at my gown.

"Wade is ready to enter when you are." She then slips out the door.

"Well, shall we Luna?" Sammy asks.

"Let's go."

Wade is waiting for me outside of the room and his eyes fill with love when he sees me. He puts his hands out and spins me so he can see all of me.

"Ali, you look absolutely stunning." He breathes out.

"Better than the guardian dress?" I tease, knowing just how much he loved the green one.

"Much." he says smirking "The guardian dress was beautiful. But you make this dress look stunning. Ready to become my official Luna and accepted mate before everyone?" He asks excitedly.

"Hell yeah, I am," I say grinning and dragging him to the doors. He laughs at my eagerness.

"My family just sat down so you will have to meet them after."

"I can't wait to meet them," I say truthfully.

"The feeling is mutual, believe me." he chuckles.

Then pushing the door open, he gives my hand a squeeze and we walk down the wild flower-lined aisle to the stage where I will accept my duties as his Luna and his mate, pledging my loyalty, love, and devotion to not only him but our pack. Wade helps me up onto the stage and we turn to face everyone here.

"Today we are here to accept our Luna and my mate into our pack. We are asking her to step into a role with an air of grace and dignity. We ask that she not only accept me for my imperfections but the responsibility of the role of leader our pack by my side and at times, without me. I have every faith that Ali is the best luna this pack could have ever asked for. But I ask you, Moon Shadow Pack...Will you accept and respect Aliauna Fletcher as your Luna and joint leader in this pack?"

A resounding cheer erupts as every single pack member stands and with a resounding 'YES' they accept me. Wade turns to me grinning as he reaches out for my hand. I place my hand in his, turn to face him.

"Alpha Wade. I ask that you accept me as not only a member of this pack but as it's Luna. I promise to treat every single wolf with equity and kindness. I will rule beside you with a firm but understanding hand and will protect all of our pack members with my life." I announce loudly.

Wade turns my wrist up and rubs his thumb along the inside where my mark will appear.

"I, Alpha Wade of the Moon Shadow pack, accept you on behalf of all of our pack members." a gust of wind rustles through the room and circles around us as a cool feeling blossoms under his thumb. When he removes it a small blue wolf appears and in my head, I can hear the howling of acceptance from every pack member.

"Welcome Ali, to the Moon Shadow pack. Now..." he releases my hand and looks at me sincerely.

"Aliauna, of the Moon Shadow pack. I ask you if you will accept me as your forever mate. I promise to carry your heart in the safest of places and always fight beside you and not with you. I swear my fealty to you. You have my heart and soul in your hands and I ask only that you accept them with sincerity. I promise you protection,?I promise you honesty, and I promise you a family that will never leave you." Tears escape me as I throw myself into his arms.

"I accept you a thousand times over." he squeezes me tight.

"You are supposed to say your own pledge, my love" he whispers. I step back and smooth out my dress grinning ear to ear.

"I Aliauna, not only accept you as my forever mate but I pledge everything I am to you. My heart is yours and for you my life is forfeit. For without you there is nothing left for me. I promise to protect you and our pack with my dying breath, and to always be by your side." "We have already marked each other previous to this ceremony, so without further ado- LET'S CELEBRATE!"

Wade reaches down and swoops me up into his arms he carries me off the stage and right over to his parents as the others file out of the room and into the room where the feast will be held. He places me down right in front of them, smiling happily. "Mom, Dad. This is Ali. The love of my life and my mate." His cheer is contagious as his mother reaches out crying pulling me into a tight hug.

"Oh, you are just perfect for him. I know it." she beams. His father shakes my hand nodding respectfully.

"I have heard many, many stories about the Guardian Ali. It is an honor to have you as a member of our family, Ali. Truly an honor."

"Hi! I'm Amberly, Wade's older sister." A thin brunette butts her way in. She is stunning and looks exactly like her mother. "We are going to be the best of friends" she announces.

"Yeah, you will have no choice in the matter," Wade mumbles, rubbing his neck.

"Oh hush you!" She laughs, reaching out and giving Wade a hug.

"Where are the kids? And Hans?" He asks, searching the crowd.

"Oh, they went straight to the feast. The boys are... Well, they are incapable of sitting still." she sighs.

"It is wonderful to finally meet you all." I smile.

"Well, we will let you two escape before the feast." Wade's father says, shaking his son's hand.?"Two hours, then it's dinner." he winks and they move to the next room.

"Do they expect us to..." I look at him shocked. Wade laughs and all my reservations melt away.

"Sweetheart, we only have to do what we want. We can go for a walk or change our clothes or we can-"

I throw myself into his arms and smash my lips against his. I k!ss him deeper as his grip tightens around my back. He runs his fingers gently along my spine as he explores my mouth with his own. As if in slow motion he reaches down and plucks me from the ground, sweeping my legs into his arms, and without breaking contact he carries me away.

As if by magic we find ourselves in our room and my heart skips with glee. The stars have aligned and he is finally, fully mine and now, now I feel ready to finally start the next chapter of my life.

Wade lowers me to the ground as I step out of his arms,? He gently caresses my exposed shoulders and moves his hands to the back of my dress. His fingers deftly undo the buttons and at an excruciatingly slow speed, he unzips my gown. It floods on the floor in a purple pile at my feet and the cool air nips at my exposed skin. I step out of my dress and walk back towards the bed letting him take all of me in.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

His eyes fill with desire and he smiles sweetly as he reaches up and unties his tie. He pulls it off slowly casting it to the side and makes a show of unbuttoning his crisp white shirt. I have no idea when he lost his jacket, but I'm pleased that I don't have to wait for that extra layer to come off.

He untucks his shirt and shucks it to the side and stops right in front of me. I bite my lips nervously, reaching out and unbuckling his belt.?He reaches down and wraps his arm around my n*ked wa!st and moves me further onto the bed following along with me as he turns to the side holding me close to his chest. Looking over my face as if trying to memorize it.

"I love you more than anything in the whole world, Ali," he whispers, capturing my lips and slowly car3ssing my body. And for the next hour, Wade shows me just how much he loves me and how much closer we can be with a fully formed mate bond. After an hour in his arms, he cuddles up to my back, his *aked chest pressed against my sweaty skin. He nuzzles his chin into the crook of my neck and wraps his arms tightly around me.

"We should probably head down to the feast," he whispers, !issing the lobe of my ear.

I groan in feign annoyance.

"Do we have to?" I whine.

"Yes, my luna," he says, lowering his head back into my neck. I can feel him smile against my skin as he pulls me tighter to him, letting me know just how much he too doesn't want to leave the room. He kisses my bare shoulder and I glance back at him as he rolls away and moves for his suit. He slides on his p*nts and then crosses the room and walks around my side of the bed.

"Come, my love. I will help you." he grins as he rips the blankets off of me.

I yelp at the cool air. He stands looking pleased as he stares down at my fully exposed body. I sit up and growl at him. He chuckles as he steals a chaste k!ss and moves to grab my dress, bringing it over to me and stroking my cheek.

"We have business to tend to. Then we can come right back here and stay in bed all day tomorrow," he says, pulling me to stand and kissing me deeply.

"I think I can manage a couple of hours with a promise like that," I grumble with a big goofy grin.

I slip back into my gown, with his help, and quickly do my best to save my hair.

We make our way out of the packhouse and I glance towards the woods as a movement draws my attention. Wade sees it too and he smirks at me pulling me to a stop as Corbin steps into the light. He nods to me and smiles, tears in his eyes, and he slowly blows me a k!ss, tossing a small box to Wade. Then he disappears into the woods again.

Cheerfully I reach for Wade's and we walk together back to the feast. Now fully fledged mates. Alpha and Luna of the Moon Shadow Pack. For today there are no problems, no issues in the world that we can't face and conquer. Right now, everything is perfect, and finally, I feel at peace.