Page 89 of Full Moon Faceoff

Like the shifts into their wolf forms, these shifts were concealed by an odd haze in the air. As if I were looking at Gabe through a clouded camera lens. I could make out some details but nothing that would likely make my stomach turn inside out. I had a quick thought about whatit would look like photographing this—something I’d have to ask Gabe later.

Only a minute or two passed when the haze lifted and Gabe rose up to his seven-foot something height, his blue eyes looking down at me past his elongated jaws. His lips curled into what could only be described as a smile, even though it revealed canines the size of my fists.

The rest of the pack had also shifted, their clothes ripped to shreds at their feet. Coach Julian watched in quiet awe. He had known that shifters existed but apparently had never actually seen them in their were forms.

Gabe leaned downward. He extended a clawed hand and lifted the tie that was in mine. “Oh, right,” I said, having already forgotten. I reached around Gabe’s thick, furry neck and clipped the tie on. It brought my nose right up against him. He smelled like pine and lemon and sex and love and every god damn good thing there was in this world.

“Great. Now, let us begin. Please, hold your fated mates’ hands.”

I held my hands out and placed them inside of Gabe’s clawed grip. I had big hands but they looked like tiny doll parts in Gabe’s. He closed them around me. I smiled up at him, my heart filling with an indescribable joy.

“Tonight, we are brought together by the weaves and will of destiny, lapped over by the tides of the full moon. Here, in front of us beat two hearts as one, steering two souls as one, tying together two futures as one. A love that transcends barriers is what cements you two together and what willalwaysbond you. Through this life and the next, through turmoil and pain, through joy and celebration.” She turned to look at me. “Elijah Sager, under the binding power of the full moon, do you accept your mate’s bond?”

I looked into Gabe’s blue eyes, recognizing him even under the visage of his were form. “Yes. A hundred percent, I do.”

“And Gabriel Sanderson, under the binding power of the full moon, do you accept your mate’s bond?”

A second of silence elapsed before Gabe tilted his head back and let out a long, drawling howl toward the night sky.

The rest of the pack followed suit. The night filled with the sounds of their howls. It echoed in my bones. I looked down and realized that a glittering white light had begun to swirl around us. It grew brighter, sparkling as it wrapped around Gabe and I. My hands tightened around his furry grip. Although I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, I also knew I wasn’t scared.

The light encased us as if in a cocoon, making me close my eyes against the brightness. A warmth cascaded through my chest and out toward every inch of my body.

Then the light vanished, but the warmth remained.

Darlene waited until it all died down before continuing. “The bond between fated mates has been sealed and witnessed by the Burlington pack.” She closed the heavy tome in her hands with a loud clap. “Now, you may kiss your mate.”

I looked up at the massive wolf-man standing in front of me. I rose up on my tip-toes, put both hands on his massive face, tilted my head and pressed my lips to his snout. His tongue lolled out and lapped mine. I chuckled and kissed him back, my heart full of love and my future feeling brighter than ever.

My man.

My fated mate.

My Gabe.

THE END.