Queen of the Lycan, Karina Espinosa [accelerated reader books .TXT] 📗

Just then, William and Liam entered and announced that it was time for us to go. With my skirt trailing behind me, I followed them out of the dressing room and toward the throne room where the ceremony would be held.

Amy gripped my hand as we walked side-by-side, Helena flanking my other side. Helena carried my bouquet of red roses, but as we got closer, she handed them over. I took the fragrant flowers with shaky hands.

“Is everyone already in there?” I asked my guards.

“Everyone is seated and waiting,” William answered as he pressed a button on the communication device fastened snugly in his ear. “The alpha is on the move,” he announced our movements to the other guards.

We stopped by the grand staircase and Amy released my hand. “This is where we part ways,” she said, “but we’ll see you inside.” Taking Helena’s arm, they headed toward the throne room to take their seats.

Even though I knew I shouldn’t be apprehensive, I stood there with nerves eating away at my insides. I started panting and for a second, I thought I was about to have a full-blown panic attack. I hunched over with my hands on my knees and gasped for air.

“Mackenzie?” Alexander called out.

I whipped around to face him, then cleared my throat and plastered on a fake smile. “Yes?”

He winced. “Are ye okay, darling?”

“I’m fine,” I rasped.

“Ye don look fine.” He pressed his lips together and paused. I took that moment to take him in. He wore a black tuxedo with a vibrant red rose secured to his lapel. His wavy hair was brushed back, except for that one unruly curl over his forehead. The salt and pepper on the sides of his head seemed more prominent than I remembered, and those gray eyes that were identical to mine were bright and glassy.

“I’m just a little nervous,” I admitted.

Alexander took a couple steps toward me and placed a hand on my cheek, tilting his head. “It’s okay to be nervous, darling.” He looked at me with unabashed pride shining in his eyes. “Ye look gorgeous. Admittedly, this would nae be my first pick for a dress,” he cleared his throat and eyed me, “but it suits ye. And I want ye to be yerself. Especially today.”

“I love him, Alexander,” I replied nervously.

He nodded with a smile. “I know ye do.”

“Then why am I so afraid?”

Alexander pulled me in for a hug, careful not to mess up my hair or makeup, and I clutched him like a life raft. “Yer afraid because ye don like commitment, Mackenzie. This is something permanent ye cannae take it back. But what ye have to remember is that what ye have with Sebastian is more powerful than a mating ceremony. This is all just a formality. Nothing in this world will break the bond ye have with him. So do nae be afraid.”

I took a couple deep breaths before pulling back. “I feel so irrational.”

Alexander chuckled. “It’s all rational, darling. Don worry. Now let’s go before they start to worry.” He winked and a weight lifted from my shoulders.

I nodded and slipped my arm in Alexander’s. He led me toward the throne room where William and Liam were standing, waiting to open the doors for us.

William spoke into his earpiece. “The alpha is ready,” he said. “In five, four, three, two, one …”

They opened the doors simultaneously and the sweet trill of violins crescendoed throughout the room. Everyone stood at the sight of me and Alexander. I looked straight down the center aisle and met Sebastian’s unflinching blue eyes. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit with a red rose on his lapel, matching Alexander. His midnight black hair was slicked back and he looked so handsome standing there, his hands clasped before him as he patiently waited for me.

Alexander and I slowly walked down the aisle, hundreds of eyes fastened on our every move. I could see my friends from the SIU had arrived, Roman and Emma were waving at me, and Ollie, Jackson and Amy were all the way at the front. All of my friends were here. It made me all the more nervous.

The string music was nothing but background noise to the sound of my furiously beating heart and deep breaths. Alexander patted my hand and squeezed lightly to remind me to calm down. I exhaled quietly and kept my focus on Bash.

When we reached the front, Alexander took my arm and hand, extending it and handing me over to Bash.

“Take care of her, ye understand?” Alexander told him sternly.

Bash nodded. “I understand.” Alexander turned to take his seat as Bash clasped my trembling hand and walked me the rest of the way to the front.

The same priest who was at my coronation was standing before us. He motioned for the crowd to sit and I heard quiet whispers and the shuffling of fabric as everyone followed his direction. Bash and I remained standing, facing him and holding hands.

“The bond between two mated Lycans is unbreakable,” the priest began. “From this moment forward, ye will be considered one. Ye …”

He continued what I was sure was a beautiful speech, but I tuned him out and my mind wandered. Alexander was right – I must have commitment issues.

I didn’t regret what we were doing. That wasn’t the emotion I felt. But I never imagined I’d be in this position, either. Nonetheless, I had to get over whatever fears I had, because I was doing this for Bash as much as I was for me. He needed this as a symbol of our partnership. It couldn’t always be what I wanted all the time.

I peered up at my mate and he looked down at me with a rare smile that had the power to melt all my worries away. He was happy. After all the sacrifices he’d made for me, this reciprocal act made him happy. All he wanted was to be with me. It was