The Finding (66 page)

It passed in a
blur of faces and words. Cassie couldn’t recall what she’d said,
let alone anyone else. Ryne stood before Bryan and herself. He tied
their wrists together with a finely braided leather rope while
reading the ancient words outlined in the Book of the Law. Then,
before she knew it, it was over.

Bryan was
leading her from the room and they were officially mates. As they
stepped outside, she could hear the crowd clapping and then shouts
of laughter. She paused and looked at Bryan. “What’s going on? I
didn’t think Grace naming ceremony would be that funny.”

“Didn’t you
hear? Elise and Kane ganged up on Ryne. They told him that since
he’s a father now, he’d better be officially bonded with Mel. There
was no excuse not to since Kane’s an Alpha, so he can perform the
ceremony. Funny thing is, Ryne didn’t even balk at the idea. I
guess becoming a father has made him see things differently.”

“So they’re
being bonded right now?” She turned and looked back at the house.
“Can we go and watch?”

Bryan shook his
head. “No, they’ll do the bonding tomorrow. Elise said Mel needed
time to get ready and everything is in place for Grace’s
naming.”

“I wish we
could see the naming ceremony. I’ve never been to one.” Cassie
affected a pout.

“Sorry. The
bonded couple isn’t allowed to return until the next day.”

She sighed.
“Surely, they could have bent the rules a bit?”

Bryan shrugged.
“Some of the traditions are pretty rigid. Bonding ceremonies have
to be conducted before naming ceremonies if they’re held on the
same day. It seems strange to us, but the ancient ones must have
had their reasons.”

Gently tugging
on their bound wrists, Bryan led her towards the woods. He’d been
busy the past few months building a small guest cabin, but for a
while it would be their home. Newlyweds, he said, needed more
privacy than the main house provided.

Cassie didn’t
mind, in fact she was thankful that no one would accidentally
overhear them. Consummating their relationship was exciting, but at
the same time she was nervous. She’d read about it and knew the
mechanics, but the real thing... It seemed overwhelming. Biting
Bryan and drawing blood; him biting her. A shiver ran over her.

“Cold?” Bryan
tucked her closer to his side. “We’re almost there. I had Daniel
light a fire so it will be warm.

“Thanks.”
Suddenly she felt tongue-tied which made no sense. She and Bryan
talked all the time, but now it seemed...different.

Clutching
Bryan’s hand, Cassie stared up at the sky. The moon was high
overhead now; a golden orb on a midnight blue canopy dotted with
sparkling stars. Its light filtered down through the still
remaining leaves, casting interesting patterns on the pathway they
walked along. A faint mist was forming near the ground as the
cooler night air met the sun warmed earth. It swirled about their
ankles making the familiar woods seem new and somehow mystical.

They rounded a
bend and there in front of them was the cottage. Cassie found
herself slowing her pace as she neared the small building, climbing
the two small steps even slower and then staring at the door with
trepidation as Bryan pushed it open.

Suddenly he
swept her off her feet and twirled her around twice. She squealed
in surprise. “Bryan! What do you think you’re doing?”

“Ancient human
custom; carrying the bride over the threshold. I think it had
something to do with warding off evil spirits or pretending that
the female was being taken against her will.” He shrugged and spun
her around again before kissing the tip of her nose and setting her
down inside. “I just thought it would be fun to do.”

Cassie regained
her balance and giggled. “Well, it was sort of fun, once I caught
my breath.”

“Do you feel
better now? Less nervous?” Bryan looked at her tenderly and she
wondered how he knew. He cupped her face and rubbed his thumb over
her cheekbone. “I always know how you feel. In my heart, in my
head, we’re connected already and it’s only grown stronger these
past few months. It’s not as clear as a full blood bond, but I
know.”

“Why don’t I
have that yet?”

“You do. You
just don’t listen to it as carefully as I do and you still rely on
your human senses more than your werewolf ones. But after tonight,
we’ll be on equal footing.”

She looked at
the floor and then peeked up at him through her lashes. “Will it
hurt? When I bite you, I mean.”

He laughed
softly. “I sincerely doubt that I’ll notice. I think there’ll be a
lot of other things on my mind. And you likely won’t feel me biting
you, at least not in a painful sense.”

“That’s good.”
She inhaled deeply and licked her lips, not sure what to do
next.

“This leather
binding has to go. I have some scissors on the counter.” Bryan
moved to get them, but Cassie stopped him.

“Don’t cut it!
I want to save it as a memento of today. Let me try to untie
it.”

“We can’t do
that. It’s bad luck and signifies the couples’ bond isn’t strong
enough. Cutting it off is the only way to remove it. It shows that
only death can ever separate us now.” Bryan stared into her eyes as
he spoke and Cassie felt herself being drawn to him as never
before.

He took their
bound hands and pressed them to his heart. “Nothing will ever
separate us Cassie, I won’t allow it. Not time or space. We might
disagree and argue, but we’ll always be together. The fates
predestined our bonding. Our wolves knew each other even before we
met and when we leave this world, we’ll still be together.”

“Bonded for
eternity?”

He nodded and
raised her hand to his mouth, pressing a kiss to it. “I will always
love you, Cassie Greyson. No matter what. For Eternity.”

With tears in
her eyes, Cassie twisted their wrists and pulled his hand to her
mouth, so she could repeat the gesture. “And I will always love
you, Bryan Cooper. No matter what. For Eternity.”

Epilogue

Through half
open eyes, Cassie watched the sunlight filter across the bedroom
floor and onto the dresser. She could see the leather rope that had
bound them together. It was coiled in a circle and she planned to
tie it with a ribbon later on today and put it in her memory chest.
Not that she’d need anything to help her remember yesterday. Her
blood bond with Bryan had been spectacular.

She sighed
contentedly. Bryan’s head pressed to her chest and she lazily ran
her fingers through is hair as she recalled the previous night.

The minute
Bryan freed their wrists, Cassie had felt her senses inexplicably
heighten. The scent of new lumber and burning wood, the flickering
light from the fire, the faint sound of chirping crickets outside
the door; all came at her with increased clarity. Her own
breathing, Bryan’s, the thudding of her heart, the rustle of
material as he stepped closer...

He’d slid his
fingers into her hair, tipping her head up so he could stare deeply
into her eyes. A faint smile had played over his lips, a look of
wonder on his face as he lowered his head to kiss her, pausing when
only a breath had separated them. “I love you Cassandra
Greyson.”

The words had
been whispered against her lips before he reverently kissed her.
His lips had been soft and gentle, making her feel as if she were
fragile and precious. He’d brushed his mouth over hers, back and
forth, back and forth, until she was sure she’d die if he didn’t
stop and kiss her properly.

She’d whimpered
and grasped his head, pulling him closer, pressing her lips to his
and it seemed to have been the signal he was waiting for. Suddenly,
the kiss became hotter, more passionate; his fingers clenched in
her hair, and his tongue probed her mouth.

Her heart had
begun to beat harder as Bryan slid his hands down her neck to her
shoulders, her back. He’d nibbled on her lower lip, then slid his
mouth along her jaw to her earlobe. Vaguely, she was aware of the
zipper sliding down her back, of the cool air hitting her skin as
the strapless gown pooled at her feet. Bryan’s hands had felt hot
on her skin, burning into her, stoking a fire inside her.

He’d eased her
away from him and she’d opened her eyes lazily, her lips still
parted and moist from his kiss. Why had he stopped? She’d wrinkled
her brow then realized he was staring at her and that she was
naked, except for her thong. Instinctively she’d moved to cover
herself, but he’d caught her wrists and held her arms out to her
sides.

“No. Let me see
you, all of you.” Bryan had breathed out the words and she’d
trembled as his hot gaze seemed to devour her. The moment had
stretched out and she’d felt her cheeks heating with embarrassment.
“Cassie, you’re so beautiful.” He’d looked up at her and she’d seen
the wonder in his eyes. He’d truly believed his words and she’d
relaxed, basking in the glow of his praise. “Can I touch you?”

She’d swallowed
and nodded, feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the moment.

He’d let go of
her wrists and reverently reached out to stroke her with one hand,
sliding the back of his knuckles along the outer swell of her
breast, down her side to her hips and back up again. Then, as if
warming to the task, he’d used both hands skimming his knuckles
down along the same path, turning his wrists when he reached her
waist so his palms were touching her skin. Oh so slowly he’d
stroked her, his fingers slightly spread, encasing her hips,
playing over her ribs, and then, finally cupping her breasts.

Cassie recalled
inhaling quickly as his warm hands had lifted her breasts, testing
their weight, squeezing gently before he gently rubbed his thumbs
over her nipples. She’d bitten back a cry that rose in her throat,
but he’d known and stroked the sensitive tips again. Pleasure had
shot through her and she’d grasped his arms to steady herself,
almost falling when he replaced his thumb with his mouth.

“Bryan... Oh,
Bryan...” She’d arched her back, thrusting her breasts closer,
revelling in the feel of his mouth on her sensitive flesh; licking
and sucking, tugging gently. Warmth had pooled between her legs and
she’d squirmed wanting to rub herself against him, to feel his bare
skin along hers.

Again, he’d
seemed to know what she needed for suddenly she’d found herself
being carried to the bed, and gently set upon it. As she’d sunk
into the soft mattress, Bryan had stood beside the bed and stripped
off his clothes.

Cassie had been
mesmerised as more and more of his body was revealed. She’d seen
him shirtless and in gym shorts before, but Bryan at her bedside
with the light of the fire playing on his shifting muscles—it had
been more erotic than she could have believed.

When he’d
finally skimmed off his briefs, her breath had caught in her
throat. His manhood had stood out proudly from his body, long and
thick, the head flared. She’d wondered what it would feel like to
touch it with her hand, to feel it against her body, in her
body...

Bryan had given
her no time to think though. He’d hooked his fingers into the
waistband of her thong and drawn it down her legs. Cassie had
fought off the embarrassment as her last barrier disappeared, but
soon forgot when he’d begun caressing her legs.

“I love your
legs. They’re so long and slender.” He’d slid his hands up and down
her calf and then moved to her thighs, stroking and squeezing,
raining down random kisses. “The way they look in jeans should be
considered sinful.” His hands had slid under her to cup her rear.
“And watching your butt wiggle when you walk almost brings me to my
knees.”

“No it
doesn’t.” She’d giggled suddenly finding his enumeration of her
attributes funny.

Bryan had
leaned forward and kissed her hip, before sliding his lips across
her belly to lap at her naval. “Mmm... It does so, but you don’t
know it because if I’m looking at your ass, you’re walking away
from me. Just check over your shoulder sometime and then you’ll
see.” He’d moved so they were face to face and smiled down at
her.

She’d smiled
back and reached her hands up, so she could explore his chest.
“Well, your chest does the same thing to me. When I watch you
working out in the gym and you’re all sweaty. It’s so sexy I want
to rub my hands all over you.” She’d accompanied her words with
action and felt a rumble reverberate through his chest.

“Really?”

“Uh-huh. And
I’ve longed to lick the sweat from you.” She’d lifted her head and
flicked her tongue over his brown nipples, giving them the same
treatment he’d given hers. He’d closed his eyes and groaned again.
Pleased to be affecting him as he did her, she’d begun to feel
bolder and had moved her hands to his hips, her finger tips
stroking his lower cheeks. “And just for the record, I like your
butt, too.”

“Any other part
of me you like?” Bryan had slid so that he was on his side, his arm
propping him up. He’d gently brushed the hair from her face.

“Well...”
Cassie had touched his shoulder and then his chest. Sensing his
invitation to explore his body more intimately, she’d moved her
hand down his torso, noting how his stomach jumped when she trailed
the tip of her finger around his navel and then traced a pathlower
still. Hesitantly, she’d stroked his manhood with her finger and
watched it bob in response. “I don’t know for sure, but rumour has
it I’ll really like this part of you.” She’d peeked up at him
through her lashes, smiling shyly.

“It likes you,
already.” One side of his mouth had curled up.

“So, I see.”
Feeling braver she’d wrapped her hand around him, marvelling at the
rigid flesh. The skin had been warm and satiny smooth, pulsing
beneath her fingers. She’d explored his length, tentatively
squeezing, flicking glances up at his face to judge his
reaction.