Now onto the good stuff. The second chapter is from Pike's point of view and this is a very special chapter for him and Bloom. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. ~Michelle
Enlightening Bloom
Chapter 2 – Pike
*Unedited*
~Officially Make You Mine~
“I didn’t take that long, Tennessee.”
“Darlin’, I’ve been waiting on you for twenty-five years.
Now get your beautiful self down this aisle so I can officially make you mine.”
She continues her walk towards me, never once breaking eye
contact. When Bloom and Billy finally make it to me, I take her hand pulling
her into my arms and press my lips to hers. I hear the guests hooting and
hollering behind us, but I’m not ready to break away from her.
“You’re skipping the steps,” Elder Cathal Burke chides me.
He’s the one proceeding over our wedding. It would traditionally be the Alpha’s
responsibility, but I can’t proceed over my own ceremony so the responsibility
fell to an Elder.
I pull away from the kiss, but I don’t look anywhere but at
Bloom when I reply. “Ok, you can start now.”
“Today is a joyous day for our pack. Our Alpha is here to
complete his mating bond and has invited all of us help them celebrate. Not
only does he want to be bound to his mate by our ways; he also wants the
outside world to know they belong to each other, so they’ll also be reciting
the human vows to become husband and wife.” Cathal’s voice booms over the
wedding party. “Our couple is going to first recite the traditional wedding
vows, and then they’ll read their mating vows they personally wrote. Pike, will
you please go first?”
I smile at my mate as I recite the vows that will connect us
together in the human world. “I, Pike Lukas Masterson, take you Bloom Michael
Daniels, to be my wife, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for
richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from
this day forward until death do us part.” Finishing the last line I stick my
hand out palm up to Tucker and he places Bloom’s wedding band there. I take
Bloom’s left hand and slip the band into place on her ring finger.
“Bloom, it’s your turn.” Cathal guides.
“I, Bloom Michael Daniels, take you Pike Lukas Masterson, to
be my husband, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer, for
poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day
forward until death do us part.” She holds her hand out palm up until Bonnie
places my ring into her palm. On a shaky hand she slips the band onto my ring
finger.
“Pike, please recite your mating vows now.” Cathal tells me.
Placing my palm to Bloom’s jaw I use my thumb to trace her
cheek bone as I recite my vows from memory. “Bloom, I was very young when I
found out about mates. My father told me that a shifter’s mate is made for him
and him alone and that one day I’d find mine. Since that day I’ve been dreaming
about you and when I found you I knew the real you completely surpassed the
dream I had in my head all these years. You’re more beautiful than a sunrise
over a fall forest and sweeter than a berry picked ripe off the vine. But as
beautiful as you are on the outside you’re a million time more beautiful on the
inside. You’ve shown me how much you care for the people around you, even when
they haven’t earned it and you’ve shown strength when most people would’ve had
their spirit crushed. For all of this I promise I will always stand by your
side to protect you, to support you, and to love you as my true mate.”
I won’t mark her until we’re alone tonight, but at this
moment I feel the need to lean in and kiss her neck right where my mark will be
tonight. A shiver runs through her body and when I pull back I’m grinning.
Bloom rolls her eyes at my grin and I chuckle so quietly I know only she will
hear it.
“Bloom, it’s your turn.” Cathal tells her.
Taking my face in both of her hands she begins, “Pike, I
never knew the world held love like this and if someone would’ve told me it did
I would’ve laughed in their face, but from the moment you came running into my
life I’ve seen it everywhere. In the way you love and guide your pack, in the
way you love and care for your sister, and in the way you love and protect me.
For opening my eyes to this kind of world I promise to always stand by your
side, to always care for you, and most of all I promise to always love you as
my one true mate.”
As she finishes her words she tugs my face closer and plants
her lips on mine. The wedding guests begin whooping and hollering again.
“I’m pleased to introduce your newly mated Alpha pair, Mr.
and Mrs. Pike Masterson.” Cathal shouts over the celebrating guests.
I pick Bloom up and spin her around, never letting our lips
disconnect. Once I have her firmly back on her boot covered feet I throw my
fist in the air to join in with the celebration. Out of the corner of my eye I
see my beautiful mate shaking her head at me, but I know through our bond she’s
smiling while she does it.
I guide Bloom back up the aisle through the confetti our guests
are raining down on us and back into the house.
We stop just inside the door and I pull her into me for another kiss.
“Are you ready for the party, Mrs. Masterson?” I ask against
her lips.
“Can’t we skip the big party and go straight to the more intimate
one, Mr. Masterson?” She whispers her question back.
“Don’t tempt me.” I rumble nuzzling into her neck placing
light kisses there.
“Mmmm, if you don’t stop Tennessee we’ll never make it to the
reception.”
“Is there something wrong with that?” I ask pulling her
tighter against my body.
“Down boy,” She laughs as she attempts to push me away.
“Your husband is not a dog.” I playfully growl at her.
“Wolf shifter. Dog. Same thing.” She teases.
Scooping her up I throw her over my shoulder and swat her
butt.
“For that I’m making you go to your reception,” I tell her
carrying her back outside where our guests are waiting under the tent that’s set-up.
“Pike Masterson! Drop. Me. Now.” She half scolds, half
giggles as she wiggles around on my shoulder.
“Fine if that’s what you want,” I tell her as I slip her off
my shoulder and smoothly maneuver her backwards into a dip. “Are you sure you
want me to drop you?”
Gripping my arms she pouts, “No Tennessee, don’t drop me.
It’ll hurt.”
I scoop her back up into my arms and holding her close to my
chest I promise, “Darlin’, hurting you is the last thing I’ll ever do.”
She rewards my promise with a deep kiss, that’s more suited
for the bedroom then a tent full of guests, but I’m definitely not complaining.
The sound of Tucker coughing pulls us apart. “Are you two
ever gonna come up for air long enough for us to congratulate ya?”
Bloom pulls back enough that we can look at each other then
turning to look at Tucker we both say in unison, “No.”
I burry my face in her neck to plant kisses and she giggles.
In front of us Tucker turns to the rest of our guests and throwing up his arms
announces, “Someone go get a crowbar. The love bird’s lips have fused together
and we need to get them apart so we can start this party.”
