Excitement danced through Grant’s veins. There weren’t many supernaturals alive that didn’t dream of this day. There was no greater blessing than the Goddess’s gift of a Fated Mate.

Moments from now, he would join Cristia, and claim the missing piece of his soul.

The striplings were safe and sound, and families reunited. It was time to celebrate their victory and complete his mating. Life didn’t get much better.

Shoving all thoughts of demons and skirm to the back of his mind, he focused on the reason for his overflowing joy.

Cristia.

She was beautiful, tenacious and a true asset to C.L.A.W. He needed to accept the fact that she would join his ranks, and become a lieutenant. Hayden had already made the unofficial announcement.

Of the three recruits, Cristia outperformed the others, and Hayden would be a fool to overlook her determination and drive. Paige was still in the program, and with hard work, would eventually become a member of C.L.A.W. Unfortunately, Stacy didn’t fare as well, and left the Grove after they rescued the striplings. She decided she wasn’t cut out for battle. Not all that dreamed of becoming lieutenants received the promotion. In fact, most didn’t. Grant was proud of his mate, even though it drove him crazy to think about Cristia engaging in battles.

He couldn’t try to stifle her. She wouldn’t appreciate being smothered, and there was no written rule stating mates had to love each other. He wanted his mate’s trust and respect, as well as, her soul.

Hayden clapped Grant on the shoulder. “Everything is prepared. It’s time.”

“The transformation is unreal. Cristia and Ember outdid themselves,” Grant replied as they turned to wait for his mate to exit Jesaray House.

Wood sprites placed a spell on the sacred area to keep the snow at bay so that vibrant flowers and lush ground cover thrived. White lights twinkled in the trees, adding to the magic of the evening. A path of flower petals led from J-Ho to where Grant stood beneath a natural arbor created of evergreens.

Rich, hearty scents flowed from the dining hall. Grandma Flo loved cooking for the pack and went the extra mile for mating ceremonies. He couldn’t wait for Cristia to try her honey buns. He relished the sweet gooey treat and so did his bear. Grandma Flo made them especially for him, and he’d bet she put some aside for him to take to the mating cave. Tia helped with the food, too, and now the mating ceremonies had the perfect mixture of Cajun, as well as, traditional fare at the events.

Grant noted everything was prepared for the after-party, as well. Tables and chairs were set up to one side and Dane, the Grove DJ, had his equipment ready to go.

The worst of the storm had passed, but the snow continued to fall, so the Rowan triplets cast a spell around the area, providing shelter for their friends and family. Bears loved the snow and cold, but he was grateful their guests weren’t standing around shivering.

Shifters were beings of earth, sun, and the wild and their matings always took place outdoors. The energy of the pack suffused Grant. It fed his body and nurtured his soul. This was one reason he chose to live in the Grove. He knew it was possible to live away from the pack, but Grant needed the constant connection to his shifter family.

Every resident of the Grove was present, along with his closest friends and family. Cristia’s family traveled from Alabama to be a part of their ceremony, as well. Every shifter in the Grove attended mating ceremonies because they shared a special bond that other supernaturals didn’t, but Grant knew they also came for the incredible spread of food.

The traditional bonfire was lit, adding warmth to the atmosphere. The night sky was filled with stars, and pack energy was tangible, thanks to the full moon.

“You couldn’t have hand-picked a more perfect night for a ceremony,” Hayden muttered as he adjusted his ceremonial cloak.

Grant had seen the garment at every mating held in the Grove. He tried to spot the seams connecting the different animal hides, but couldn’t. The wrap represented every animal that resided in the Omega and Grant was astonished by the magic emanating from the cloak.

The garment was as old as their species and was given to the first Omega by the Goddess Morrigan. Hayden typically wore jeans and t-shirts, but the Omega’s pride was evident in his stance. He wore the garment well, and stood tall and confident, telling all he was the rightful leader of his pack.

The back door of Jesaray House opened, and Cristia stepped out.

“Mine,” Grant declared as his heart melted at the sight.

Radiant was his second thought. She wore a long-sleeved, white, silk gown that dipped low enough in the front that Grant’s cock hardened at the sight. Pulling his gaze from her enticing décolletage, he skimmed the rest of her. Her long, blonde hair cascaded down in loose curls and her beautiful face glowed with joy.

Her green gaze held him captive as she made her way to his side. A hundred emotions overwhelmed him, and he realized they weren’t all his. Their bond had intensified, and he sensed her feelings, as well. This was the first day of the rest of their lives, and he knew this female was going to make him the happiest bear alive.

Hayden chuckled. “Yep. Same look I see on every male about to be mated. You don’t even realize the goofy expression you wear. I can’t imagine feeling like one female is the key to my everything for the rest of my long life.”

“I hope you do, Sire, because there’s no greater feeling,” Grant replied, his eyes never leaving his mate.

Hayden held up a hand, and the crowd immediately went silent. When Cristia stepped beside Grant, her honeydew scent surrounded him, and he was compelled to take her right there in front of their guests. A shudder of desire moved through him, and he leaned down to press a tender kiss to her lips. He poured every ounce of love he harbored for his mate into the moment, showing her he would cherish her always.

Hayden directed them to the stone image of the Triskele Amulet inlaid in the dirt. Grant helped create the replica and was proud to be mated where he felt most connected to the Goddess.

“Friends and family, please form a circle around the couple,” Hayden instructed. “We have gathered here in this beautiful place, under the eye of the Sun and the glow of the Moon. Let the circle be blessed and consecrated with Fire and Water.”

Grant’s sister, Trisha, and Cristia’s best friend, Skye, stepped forward and lit the candles surrounding the three of them. Pema, Isis, and Suvi stood in the second circle and simultaneously whispered, doiteain. Candles, along with the bonfire, flared then rose to the heavens. The triplets then whispered, uisce, and water cascaded down in a sheer waterfall from the sky back to the earth. The fire was extinguished in a hiss of steam.

“We call to the Goddess Morrigan, and invoke her to bless this mating,” Hayden intoned.

From the nearby forest, dozens of animals ranging from deer, mountain lions, and squirrels approached the gathering. Owls and various other birds flocked to the nearby trees and perched on the branches and watched intently. Grant was awed each time the creatures joined the ceremony. The call of the Omega drew the animals together yet kept them from preying on one another.

Cristia’s gasp brought a smile to his lips. This was her first experience with Hayden performing a mating ceremony, and Grant was pleased that it happened to be theirs. Another benefit of living in the Grove with the Shifter Omega.

Hayden met their eyes and took Cristia’s hand then placed the mating stone into her palm. Grant gazed at the granite rock and knew there was magic at its core. The transformation mating stones underwent was extraordinary. The stone itself was one of the Goddess’s most precious gifts to mates. It protected each couple in some way. The question each wondered was what it would represent for them.

Electrical pulses emanated from the stone. Grant felt its energy before he touched Cristia’s skin. When he placed his hand over hers, Grant was surprised by the calming wave it incited.

Cristia stared at him, wide-eyed as she practically bounced in front of him. Her excitement was contagious, and a huge smile spread across his face.

A current built beneath their hands and had his heart racing while his soul stirred in his chest. His bear roared, eager to fully bond to the jaguar that was his other half.

“We call upon the spirits of the East, of Air, Spring, and new beginnings. We call upon the spirits of the South and the inner Fire of the Sun, Summer, and personal will. We call upon the spirits of the West, of Water, Autumn, and healing and dreaming. We call upon the spirits of the North, of Earth, Winter, and the time of cleansing and renewal. Join us to bless this couple with your guidance and inspiration,” Hayden chanted, his baritone voice carrying to the outer circles.

Grant placed his right hand over Cristia’s heart, and she followed suit.

“I bless this mating under the Sun and the Moon. This circle of love and honor is open and never broken, so may it be.” Hayden’s voice resonated with his blessing.

Intense heat built in the stone, startling Grant. He hadn’t expected that and he worried it was hurting Cristia. Through their bond, he felt her emotions. She was frightened but resolute. His fierce mate was facing everything with a smile on her face because she loved him with all her heart.

A second later, Cristia gasped when both souls left their bodies and entered the stone. Magic filled Grant’s body, and bright light flashed between their fingers. The connection between them solidified into gold chains that strung from his heart to hers. That bond was unbreakable. Nothing would ever come between or separate them again. They were two halves of one whole, complete for the first time in their lives.

Grant stumbled when the souls surged back into his body. The new structure of his soul was foreign and unfamiliar but was the best gift he’d ever received. It made him want to renew his pledge to protect and serve the Goddess’s creatures. She had blessed him with a priceless gift. Grant couldn’t contain the emotion that threatened to burst free. Cristia was an irreplaceable part of him now, and he felt her in every cell of his body.

“I love you, Kitty,” he murmured.

“I love you, too. In fact, I can’t wait to show you how much,” she replied with a knowing look.

Cristia belonged to Grant and he belonged to her. He gazed into Cristia’s beautiful green eyes, and saw everything he would ever need. She was his forever.