Mated for life

chapter 11 Casey Waters POV

I woke up with a start when I heard loud banging coming from my bedroom door. “Casey! Wake up! You are late!” I heard Benji shout from the other side of the door. I quickly got up, threw on a pair of jeans and a hunting jacket and yanked open the door. I caught in mid air with his arm ready to know again. “What is it Benji?” “Is that Morgan?” he asked grinning. “Watch it Benji, keep your eyes on your own mate.” I growled. “Sorry.” He said lowering his head in a show of respect. “Now what is it?” I asked again. “The Alpha ceremony… everyone is waiting on you. It is about to start in an hour. Your parents made me come and get you.” “Oh s**t I completely forgot it was today.” I groaned. “Give me half an hour.” I told him before going back into the bedroom and closing the door behind me.

I walked over to the bed and crawled on it towards Morgan. She was still asleep which amazed me. Morgan was one of the few people I knew that could sleep through anything. I half laid down next to her, my hand rubbing up and down her are lovingly. I kissed her cheek before saying, “Morgan, baby, it is time to get up love.” I said gently kissing her again. “What time is it?” she mumbled; her eyes still closed. “It is about ten right now.” I told her. “Oh s**t, your Alpha ceremony. It is today.” “Yes it is.” I laughed. “Come on up you get my love. I am going to take a shower quick, want to join me?” I asked her. “I will be there in a sec.” she said sitting up and rubbing her eyes.

I jumped off the bed and made my way to the bathroom. I was not normally a morning person but waking up next to Morgan put me in high spirits. I entered the bathroom, took off my clothes and turned on the shower, throwing my clothes in the hamper before I climbed into the shower. The water was blissfully hot and released all the tension out of my muscles. A few seconds later Morgan walked in, nude as the day she was born, and climbed into the shower.

I smiled, placing my hands on her hips and pulling her closer so that she was flush against my body, the water pouring over both of us. “Hello there.” I said smiling down at the gorgeous woman against me. “Hey.” She replied smiling. I leaned down and kissed her sweetly. I pulled away and grabbed a scrunchy, pouring some body wash on it before turning back to Morgan. I began washing her, tracing my fingers through the soapy trail I left behind. I made sure that she was thoroughly cleaned before I washed myself.

We rinsed off and got out, wrapping towels around ourselves before heading to the bedroom. I handed Morgan a set of clothes to were as we had not had time to go down to town to get her clothes yet. We got dressed, Morgan wearing a long-sleeved shirt with dark blue jeans while I had on a long-sleeved black button-up shirt and black jeans. I handed Morgan a wool jacket and threw on my hunting jacket. I grabbed her hand and we made our way to the kitchen.

Benji was still here so I made the three of us coffee, setting the hot mugs on the coffee table. I sat in silence and Morgan and Benji got to know each other better. After all Benji would be Morgan’s beta soon and would be tasked with watching over her and I as well as protecting us. I trusted Benji with my life as he trusted me with his. When I choose my Beta it will be him as my second and Jess as my beta-omega. Both were one in the same ranking wise. But if something had to happen to me Benji would take over the pack until an heir was chosen.

I looked up at the clock on the wall, “s**t, we need to get going.” I said getting up, taking the three empty mugs with me to the kitchen. Benji opened the door and the three of us left the house, the door slamming closed behind us. We made our way to the great hall; Morgan and I hand in hand. Once we entered we took our place at the head table where my family sat and Jess. The ceremony began as soon as the last pack member was seated.

My father stood up and a hush fell over the room. Anyone could easily tell that the entire pack respected my father. “today I stand before you all to announce the new Alpha. All rise.” My father said. Everyone stood up as I made my way in front of the long table.

“I Casey Waters of the Shadow pack, stand before you all to claim the title of Alpha. I stand here before you and swear my loyalty and devotion to my pack. I pledge to stand right and true in my ways, to put the pack first always. I pledge to stand ridged in the face of danger, to protect my pack with my life. I pledge all this and more.” I said loud enough that everyone heard my words. The pack Mage walked forward, placing a hand on my shoulder before turning to face the pack. “If anyone objects to this and wants to challenge Casey Waters position as Alpha, step forward now.” Drew said.

There was dead silence as everyone looked at each other before they started chanting, “Alpha!” on repeat for a long minute. Silenced fell over the pack as my father spoke again. “I, William Waters, step down as Alpha of the Shadow pack. I announce Casey Waters, daughter and rightful heir to the title, as Alpha.” The pack cheered again as everyone took their seats once more.

Drew turned to face me. “I will now cast a type of protection magic around you so that in battle or in dire need you will be able to draw strength from the pack.” She said. I nodded my head and Drew began her work. This type of magic was binding and painful. It bound my life force to the pack and theirs to mine. We were linked, all of them to me. I tried to stay quiet while Drew muttered her spell in elvish so as not to distract her. All I wanted to do was scream in pain. It felt as if I were on fire.

As Drew came to the end of her spell the burning subsided and I felt somewhat stronger, as if I was a new person. she took a step back when she had finished her work and nodded her head at me. It was time for me to choose my Beta. “I call upon Benjamin Stone.” I announced. I watched as Benji stood up and made his way to me. Once he was in front of me I began. “Benjamin Stone, do you swear to guide and protect your Alpha?” “I do.” He said. “Do you pledge your life before the Alpha and your complete loyalty to the pack?” “I do.” “Then at your word I deem you Beta of the Shadow pack.” I finished. Benji bowed his head and turned to face forward.

“I call upon Jessica Rivers.” I called out. It was not a common thing to have two Beta’s but everyone knew that the three of us were bonded and it only made sense that Jess and Benji should both be my Beta’s. I waited as Jess took her position in front me like Benji had before repeating the pledge. When I finished, Jess bowed and stood next to Benji. Drew began her work, casting a binding and protection spell on both of them.

Once all the formalities were over everyone took their seats and the feast began. I took my seat at the head of the table with my parents and brother on my left and Morgan and my Beta’s on my right. I could feel the excitement in the air, I could tell that everyone was in a joyous mood talking to one another, smiling and laughing as food and drink kept flowing. It made me happy that my pack had accepted my title. Hours later I stood up and a hush fell over the pack. “It is time for the Mating ceremony.” I announced.

Everyone stood up and made their way outside. Night had just fallen and the moon was at its full brightness. Everyone made their way into the woods and to the shrine of Artemis and Selene, Morgan and I leading the pack hand in hand. The large elaborate shrine was situated directly in the middle of the forest built many moons ago by the very first Alpha of the Shadow pack. It did not take long to get to thanks to the roughly trodden dirt path. All in all it took about fifteen minutes to reach.

I looked over at Morgan who had an amazed look on her face as she took in all of the shrine’s glory. It really was a stunning sight to see with huge ten-foot silver plated statues of Artemis, with her bow on her left and a large wolf on her right, and Selene with two obsidian wolves on either side of her. They stood guarding the entrance to the temple behind them, which was made out of solid cobalt bricks, towering another three feet above the goddesses. “It is beautiful is it not?” I said to Morgan. “It is strikingly magnificent.” She replied looking at me and smiling softly.

Morgan and I walked up the three steps, stopping at the entrance of the temple directly in between the two goddesses. We turned to look at the pack that stood gathered before us. “I, Casey Waters, Alpha of the Shadow pack, take Morgan Bane, Alpha of the Bane pack, as my Luna.” I said to the pack. I turned to look at Morgan. “I take you Morgan Bane as my Luna, to love and protect. For I am yours and yours alone, from this day forward until my last day, I pledge myself to thee. My heart, my soul and my life is yours to hold. I vow to hold you up in your weakest moments, to never leave your side when times get hard, to honour you through triumphs and challenges, joy and sorrow. I promise to stand by you through it all. I love you and that is the beginning and end of everything. I am yours.” I told her with tears in my eyes.

I watched as Morgan wiped the tears from her eyes before repeating the vows. “I, Morgan Bane, Alpha of the Bane pack, take you, Casey Waters, Alpha of the Shadow pack, as my Alpha.” She said standing before the pack. She turned to face me once more before continuing. “I take you Casey Waters as my Alpha, to love and protect. For I am yours and yours alone, from this day forward until my last day, I pledge myself to thee. My heart, my soul and my life is yours to hold. I vow to hold you up in your weakest moments, to never leave your side when times get hard, to honour you through triumphs and challenges, joy and sorrow. I promise to stand by you through it all. I love you and that is the beginning and end of everything. I am yours.” She finished.

The pack cheered as I leaned in and kissed Morgan, claiming her publicly in front of everyone as mine. We pulled away from each other as Drew walked forward to finish the rights. “If anyone objects to this blessed union of Morgan Bane and Casey Waters speak now or forever remain silent.” Drew asked the pack. A few seconds passed and still no one had spoken so Drew proceeded with the enchantments, binding us forever to each other.