Chapter 202

Fiona

Today’s dress is even fancier than a few days ago. The lace bodice hugs my curves a bit too much for my liking and the bottom of the dress brushes the floor as I shift in my chair. I clench and unclench my fingers in my lap as I look around.

I’m right in the front row, waiting for the coronation to start.

“Nervous?”

I jump at the sudden voce in my ear. Turning, I find Aaron standing slightly behind me with a grin on his face.

“You can tell?”

“Yeah, you look like you could bust a blood vessel just sitting here,” he says, taking a seat in the chair beside me. “Everything will be fine, Fiona. There’s nothing to be nervous about.”

“Are you sure? I’ve never been to a coronation before, and I don’t want to do or say anything to mess this up for Ethan,” I tell him, glancing around. No one has come to me to say anything, and I’m not sure whether to be happy or upset about that.

I don’t know if I’d know what to say to anyone, but I’d like to make the effort to mingle for Ethan’s sake.

“I’m sure. If I wasn’t sitting in the area reserved by my uncle, I would come sit with you to help ease your nerves.”

“Your uncle?”

Last time, Aaron mentioned he was with his grandmother, and now his uncle. I wonder what his family is like. Are they controlling? Is that why he has to sit with them? I shake my head and fiddle with a piece of lace sticking up from my skirt.

A soft laugh sounds beside me, and I look up at Aaron.

“Are you laughing at me?” I ask, a bit irritated at his nonchalant attitude. It’s not like I’m used to things like this.

“No, no. I was just thinking about my uncle. He’s about to crown your mate and you’re over here picking at the lace on your dress,” Aaron says on another chuckle. I whip my head toward him again as my mouth drops open.

“The King is your uncle?”

“The former King, and now your mate is the King, which means you’ll be Queen.”

His words make my head spin as the weight of the situation grows heavier on my shoulders. He’s right. I’m going to take on the entire Kingdom with Ethan.

“Oh, gosh.”

Aaron chuckles again just as a set of trumpets blares through the room. He whispers that he has to go before darting back to his seat and leaving me alone to watch Ethan and the King step onto the dais.

“Thank you, everyone, for joining us on this momentous day for the crowning of a new King, Ethan Montgomery,” the King announces. His eyes move over the room, landing on me for a moment. I can see the resemblance now to Aaron, but what shocks me is the amount of time his eyes linger on me.

Like last time, he looks at me for a moment too long before moving on.

My jumbled nerves quickly become a jumble of excitement as I watch Ethan move to the King’s side.

“The duties of a King are not simple, but if one rules with integrity, humility, patience, and strength, he will not only succeed in a King’s duty, but he will gain the love and loyalty of his people,” the King announces, motioning to Ethan. “Over the years, I have seen each of these characteristics in Ethan and believe he will be an amazing leader.”

I bite my lip as Ethan kneels before the King, realizing this is everything Ethan has been working for. Pride fills me with warmth. He can finally help people the way he’s always wanted to.

“By the power vested in me by the Moon Goddess, I pass the Lycan King position to Ethan Montgomery.”

He then settles a simple, golden crown on top of Ethan’s head as he bows in reverence one last time to the former King.

When he stands, the entire crowd stands and bows to Ethan. I follow suit, curtsying like the women around me, but then, a hand is in front of my face. A familiar hand that wiggles a bit until I look up.

Ethan smiles down at me, nodding toward his hand, and I finally understand. I place my hand in his and let him lead me to the front of the room and onto the platform where the, now, former King stands.

I try not to fiddle with my fingers or dress as everyone’s eyes fall on me, making me feel self-conscious. What am I doing up here?

To keep my nerves down, I focus on Ethan, and that’s when I notice he’s kneeling again. This time, not to receive any crown. In his hand is a black velvet box with a ring in it. The teardrop shaped diamond sparkles in the light, and I stare at it, shocked. I wasn’t expecting anything other than a coronation today.

“Ethan.”

“Fiona, you are my mate and the woman I love,” Ethan announces, “I do not want to walk down this new path of my life without you, so would you do me the honor of becoming my Queen and wife?”

His gorgeous green eyes pierce me, and somewhere in the crowd, a woman gasps. I want to echo her gasp, but no sound leaves me. We’d been so caught up in the last few days with meeting people, fixing issues in the pack, and talking about the baby, I hadn’t even had time to think about him proposing.

But clearly, Ethan had.

“Yes,” I whisper, “I do want to marry you.”

There is no other choice for me. He’s it.

Ethan is my future.

Ethan stands and smashes his lips to mine, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close.

“Ethan!” I moan, rocking my hips to meet his. He growls into my neck, his teeth scraping a sensitive line up my throat.

Pleasure pulses through me as he thrusts into me. I whimper at the stars swimming in my vision, until the pleasure builds so high that I almost can’t breathe.

“You’re mine, Fiona. Now and forever.”

“Yes! I’m yours, Ethan,” I whine.

Then, his teeth sink into my shoulder, the pain and pleasure mixing in the most delicious and earth-shattering way. I cry out, tipping over the edge as Ethan slams into me, his tongue running over the bite.

Lightning flies through me as both of us break apart and fall into the abyss of pleasure.