Chapter Twenty (Scythe's POV)

The sun was dipping behind the trees and the moon was already high in the silky black sky above, stars scattered like a glittery paintbrush just swept across the sky. The moon was round and full, etched with features that made one think they were being watched.

It made my stomach churn.

I had just gotten out of the shower and Zaid was taking his. I took a deep breath, heading to the wardrobe to grab a pair of leather pants and a black v-neck shirt. I changed and went downstairs ahead of Zaid to see half of the pack already ready to begin the ceremony.

"This is a lame birthday party." Kyler muttered from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder, raising an eyebrow when I saw him wearing a tight black turtleneck to match his jeans. The black made him seem paler, more ghost-like.

"It's not supposed to be fun." I muttered, although, he had a point. There was more of a heavy tension in the air rather than the festive celebration I had been hoping for. Kyler merely shrugged me off, his eyes drifting upstairs, then back to me.

"Try not to rip into him tonight." He drawled. I scowled.

"It's none of your business. You can't watch."

"I wouldn't want to. Where are you gonna do it anyway? In front of your pack? On a bed? In the lake? At the bottom of the lake?"

"Funny, cat, but no. None of them. We're going to the place where we first... mated. It's how things go."

"Where's that? In the bathroom at the toilet?"

"If you don't leave-"

"Oh, what's that I hear? A mouse? Well, I'm off to fetch dinner. See you, well, whenever." Kyler waved at me innocently before slipping off into the darkness of the back halls. I rolled my eyes and looked over at Nyt, who was so obviously seething with hate about this whole thing, but he stayed silent as he stood beside Acacia, who was looking straight down at her feet.

Lars and Holly stood nearby, sharing nervous looks. Ivy was picking at her fingernails, dressed in one of her infamous catsuits that hugged every shapely curve known to woman. Ugo and Xina were gripping their hands tightly between them. Alek had his arm around Thalia's shoulders tightly, avoiding the quick stares Kylan was casting him. Trisha refused to lift her eyes up and I could sense her worry filling the room with a sour stench. Frita just gazed up the staircase, her hands clasped tightly behind her.

I swear, it felt more like a funeral than anything.

Zaid finally came downstairs, looking surprisingly calm. He was wearing a snug black t-shirt under his leather jacket to match his pants; the pants that were cupping his ass so tightly, it made my pants feel like they'd gotten tighter in the groin area.

"All right," My father said, stepping forward seeing as Nyt was too distraught to really speak, "You both know where to go. Make sure that your hands are clasped, do not unclasp them or you'll break the ritual. Remember to repeat your vows. After, you must come to the backyard. We'll have the ceremony prepared for when you return... Blessed Be."

I just nodded, looking at Zaid, who had a pinched look on his face. I took his hand and led him out of the house, away from the judging stares of his pack. We drifted outside, but didn't change into wolves as we stepped into the woods, hands still clasped.

"I feel like this is supposed to be more... romantic." Zaid said at last.

"What were you expecting? Roses and unicorns?" I asked. Zaid scowled.

"Not like that. I meant... Scythe, I love you, that's why we're doing this, but... It just feels strange." He said at last, coming to stop and pulling me with him. I stared at him for a while, then stepped in front of him, taking his face in my hands and tilting his head so we were looking at each other.

"I love you too. We're doing this because of that love. No one else understands, and I'm sorry about everything that's had to happen during all this time, Zaid. I truly am. I'm sorry about Jack. I'm sorry about Breece. I'm sorry about your parents. I'm sorry about all the lies, the fake smiles, the pain, the late night fits, the sudden nausea attacks, the pregnancy. Everything. I'm sorry. If anything good has happened, it's that I love you with everything I have. Heart, soul, and mind. You are my mate, Zaid Kallas, and I don't ever regret choosing you out of the 7 billion people on this planet." I declared.

Zaid stared at me for a while and I swore I saw his eyes glisten for a moment before he reached up around my neck, pulling me down for a kiss. His tongue was hot against mine, my lips covering his and taking control. I slid my hands under his shirt around to his back, relishing at the warmth and softness of his bare skin.

My body was beginning to ache. I wanted him so much.... No, I needed him. Desperately.

"Not here," I breathed against his lips, "We're almost there." Zaid just nodded and I took his hand, leading him through the woods. The air was cool and moist, the moon lighting up the woods like a beacon. I tugged Zaid into the clearing where we first made love, watching the dew glitter on the grass in the moonlight.

I pulled Zaid to my chest, sliding my hands under his jacket and slowly pulling it off, tossing it to the ground in a heap. Zaid watched me intently, his eyes darkening with lust as he snaked his hands under my shirt, tugging it off over my head.

"Remember your vow?" I asked as I dropped his shirt to the ground.

"Practicing it all day." Zaid breathed as I stroked my hands up and down his bare back, shivering at the feel of his muscles rippling under my hands. I smirked, keeping my arms around him as I pulled him in for a kiss, attacking his mouth with a hunger I didn't know I had.

His mouth tasted so sweet, like the cinnamon rolls he enjoyed so much. His natural scent hung heavy in the air around me. The deep intoxicating scent of it was throwing me into a frenzy of desire as I held Zaid tighter, wanting to bury myself inside him as I sucked on his tongue, then shifted my lips down his throat.

He moaned, his throat vibrating and tickling my lips as I left mark after mark to prove that he was, and always would be, mine.

"You're delicious." I murmured hungrily. Zaid buried his fingers in my hair, moaning as he ground his hips against mine. We both hissed as our groins were pressed flushed together, throbbing through the tight leather material. I could just feel his aching hardness.

In a matter of seconds, I was down on the ground and Zaid was on top of me, trailing his hands down my bare chest in wonder, his seafoam green eyes gazing in awe. He dipped his head throat to lick at my skin, making me growl as I fisted his hair in my grasp. He was practically purring as I forced his head lower, his tongue dipping into the space of my belly button before moving to the waistband of my pants.

He used his teeth to jerk the zipper down, making me lick my lips hungrily as I watched him pulled my pants and boxers down. I held back a gasp as the cool air touched my skin as I sprang free from my pants. Zaid tentatively licked the tip, closing his eyes daintily.

Keeping my fist in his hair, I moaned as he engulfed me in his hot, wet mouth. Chills coursed through me and I resisted the urge to buck my hips straight into his throat. Zaid moaned around me, making me growl and tug on his hair for more.

Now, all I could do was feel. The grass sliding across my back, the leaves tickling my skin and Zaid's jacket supporting my head. His tongue sliding around me, his hands grasping my hips and nails sliding down to my thighs. He moaned, breathing heavily around me as he sucked tightly, his tongue tormenting me.

I felt myself explode so suddenly, I didn't have enough time to pull Zaid's head back. He gasped as my release hit his mouth and cheeks.

"Shit." I muttered, sitting up a little as Zaid sat up, licking the fluids off his lips. I smirked.

"Take that as a compliment. It means you're good." I replied. Zaid blushed hard.

"Right... Now that we're done with foreplay...." His voice trailed as he climbed into my lap, settling himself over me. I took a deep breath, taking both his hands in mine. We laced our fingers together, our eyes locked as he positioned himself, taking a deep breath. He lowered himself, gasping and pausing to moan breathily.

By the time I was fully engulfed in his heat, I was writhing to pound into him, but we still hadn't said our vows yet and I was mentally cursing whoever came up with this slow working sex style. It was driving me insane to lie there, unable to move and unable to ease the muscles tightening around me.

"Vows." I managed. Zaid's expression was twisted in a moment of pain before he nodded quickly, closing his eyes tightly.

"I, Zaid Kallas, p-pledge myself unto you. I pledge my heart to yours. I pledge my soul to yours. I pledge to you the first bite of my meal, the first drink from my cup- Uh! I shall be your shield and I shall be your weapon. I shall honor you above all others. This is my vow to you, Scythe Rider, my mate for eternity, in life and in death." His voice was trembling as he rose up, coming back down. My body ached and quivered to force myself in deeper, to hear him cry my name out again.

I just barely resisted the urge as I took a deep breath.

"I, Scythe Rider, pledge myself unto you. I pledge my heart to yours. I pledge my soul to yours. I pledge to you the first bite of my meal, the first drink from my cup. I shall be your shield and I shall be your weapon. I shall honor you above all others. This is my vow to you, Zaid Kallas, my mate for eternity, in life and in death." With that, I moaned and arched my back, making Zaid gasp as I plunged myself deeper, watching him tremble and writhe.

We didn't dare breath our hands apart, although that was rather hard as well as I resisted the urge to grab him and pull him under me.

Even so, it felt wonderful.

In the beginning, I had felt uneasy about all of this. No, I didn't question my feelings for Zaid.

I loved him. I wanted him. I needed him. He was my everything now. The one person who could fill the void inside me that had been aching for years.

And now that we'd spoken our vows and were riding out the rest of the ritual, the rest of the vicious orgasm that tore through me so powerfully, I howled... I knew this was the right thing. I knew this was perfection. This was purity. This was bliss. This was pure and utter euphoria.

And it was all because of Zaid.

Zaid finally collapsed on top of me, his hands gripping mine tightly before he slowly slid off me and fell to the grass beside me, taking deep breaths.

"Those vows need to be shortened." He breathed against my ear. I smirked, rolling over to hold him against me.

"Dunno. I like how you had to stop to gasp a couple of times." I mused. Zaid blushed and sat up, then gasped and rolled over onto his side, gripping his lower back.

"Damn, Scythe. Did you have to rip me apart?"

"Sorry. I was eager."

"Obviously. Help me up." He commanded. I obeyed, rising to my feet and dressing before I helped Zaid get up and dressed. He had just pulled his jacket on when his face suddenly twisted.

"Scythe." He managed.

"Hm?" I had been studying the woods, making sure we were completely alone when I turned to see Zaid holding his stomach. I winced, rushing over and catching him under the arms before he fell on his knees. I steadied him as he gripped his stomach, his face screwing up in agony.

"What's wrong? Are you all right? Zaid?" I asked frantically, watching him gasp for air, sweat dripping down the side of his face. I lifted his shirt a little to see if he'd hurt himself, but his stomach seemed fine. Well, fine for a pregnant male wolf. It was still slightly rounded, an obvious sign that the pup was growing inside him.

"Are you okay?" I asked again when Zaid slowly relaxed, taking a deep breath. He shook his head slowly.

"Yea... Just a really bad cramp all of a sudden."

"Can you walk?"

"Yea, just give me a second." Zaid took a deep breath and used my arms to help him stand. He still held onto me for a second to steady his balance before nodding his okay. I let go of him slowly and we finally ended up heading back toward where the ceremony was. I could see the thick cloud of smoke coming from the bonfire.

"Does your dad approve of me?" Zaid asked suddenly as we walked. I looked at him surprised.

"Of course. He was worried at first that it would cause tension, but he knows that I love you and you love me. If you're looking for his blessing or something, he already gave it." I assured, watching Zaid blush.

"I didn't need a blessing... I was just wondering." His voice seemed to drift and I noticed the thoughtful look on his face.

Was he thinking about his father?

Or rather, Nyt? I had a feeling Zaid wasn't going to call Nyt father anymore.

Ever since the reveal about Zaid's birth, he's distanced himself completely from Nyt and Acacia. Nyt doesn't seem to really care. He's already disowned Zaid for his choice. Acacia would every so often try and communicate, but Zaid shrugged her off.

It made my heart ache to see their family torn like that, but something told me it was meant to be this way.

We walked the rest of the way in silence, our hands clasped tightly as we weaved through the trees in the moonlight. It didn't take long to reach the backyard where everyone had gathered around the bonfire that crackled and hissed. The hot orange flames licked at the black sky, curling and grasping.

No one said a thing as Zaid and I made our way to Nyt and my father, who stood together in front of the fire with a space between them, where Zaid and I now stood. The heat of the fire was making my cheeks warm, my skin prickling as Nyt and my father shared looks.

"We'll begin the rite." My father stated. Nyt looked extremely reluctant, but finally nodded and stepped forward, taking Acacia's hand in his. My father stepped forward alone, staring into the flames.

"As the alpha of Blood Rain," He announced, "I, Storm Rider, relinquish my authority and power and leadership to the one called Scythe Rider and his mate, Zaid Kallas." Nyt took a deep breath, keeping his eyes closed.

"As the alpha of Luna, I, Nyt Kallas, and my mate, Acacia Kallas, relinquish our authority and power and leadership to the one called Zaid Kallas and his mate, Scythe Rider." He announced. The fire seemed to hiss louder, sparks crackling and jumping from kindling to kindling.

"State the alpha rite." My father ordered me. I kept my hand clasped with Zaid's. We shared a brief stare. I mentally asked if Zaid was sure about the name chosen for our pack. He just gave me a slight nod, then turned to the fire. I did the same, taking a deep breath as Zaid and I began in unison:

"I swear in the name of the Goddess, to ensure the safety of the pack, to defend the unity and territorial integrity of the pack. To protect and to serve, to guide and to assist those of the pack. To become One with the Goddess and Her endeavours. To form a power beyond those of the Previous."

"I, Scythe Rider, take the alpha rite in full sincerity and do live by what I have recited tonight. Let the Moon be my Witness. Let the Goddess be my Guide. And so mote it be."

"I, Zaid Kallas, take the alpha rite in full sincerity and do live by what I have recited tonight. Let the Moon be my Witness. Let the Goddess be my Guide. And so mote it be."

"So mote it be." The voices around the fire echoed hollowly and I felt a chill race up my spine. For a moment, I thought it was a gust of wind, but then the warmth settled in when I realized it was the power of the rite.

I felt my blood course through my veins anew, the flames shot higher into the sky, grasping out to the moon that watched us as the Witness. The energy flowing through me was unbelievable. I felt lightheaded and giddy. My fingertips tingled and goosebumps rose on my skin. I gripped Zaid's hand tighter in mine and he squeezed back.

For the first time in a while, I felt like I could really smile. I saw Zaid reacting the same way beside me, his eyes glittering in the flames of the bonfire.

The burst of power was amazing! I'd never felt anything like it. It was like the Goddess was sending her blessings through the earth, through my boots and all the way up my legs, to my fingertips, to my heart, to my mind.

Slowly, but surely, the burst of strength faded and I was disappointed at the dizziness I felt after.

"You are now our alphas," My father declared, turning to face Zaid and I, "You have full authority to name the pack whichever name pleases you. Think carefully." I looked at Zaid again and he looked back at me, looking a little dazed from the power surge, but certain about the answer to my father's question.

You're positive? My eyes asked.

Yes. Zaid's gaze told me. I looked at my father, then at Nyt, then back again.

"Zaid and I are now the official alphas of Blood Rain." I announced. I could just feel the hate radiating off Nyt in waves. He was poisoning the air, I thought in irritation. He had serious balls to go sending negative energy into our home of purity.

"So it shall be." My father nodded, then said nothing more as we went inside for the feast of the night. It was eerily quiet. The uncomfortable tension was back and it was miserable.

Every so often, Zaid would tense and grimace in pain. He had to get up at least twice to vomit.

I was worried.

He looked paler, suddenly exhausted and fatigued.

We hurried our meal. By the end, Zaid and I were sitting alone at the table while everyone else cleaned up the dinner. Zaid was sitting in his seat stiffly, his eyes downcast.

"Zaid, are you all right?" I asked, concerned as I placed my hand over his. Zaid looked at me, but it looked like he was having trouble keeping his eyes open.

"I'm so tired, Scythe..." He managed. I nodded and rose to my feet. Zaid did the same, but he barely took a step before he crumpled to the floor.

"Zaid!" I was beside him in an instant, dropping to my knees and giving Zaid a shake, but he wasn't waking up. He looked sick, and that in turn made me feel sick.

"Ssh," I looked up to see my father standing over me, pressing a finger to his lips, "He's merely tired... Carrying a child, doing the mating ritual, and the alpha rite has drained him completely. Not to mention, you were standing on a power surge. The Goddess has greatly blessed you both, but it will take a while for that strength to reveal itself. You must adjust. For now, rest. Especially Zaid. He will need to sleep for a while."

"Right." I answered stiffly, then curled my arms around Zaid, lifting him into my arms. I wobbled a little, surprised at the weakness I felt in my arms as I struggled to get up the stairs. I tossed Zaid's jacket off before placing him in bed. I just kicked my boots off and fell beside him.

It only took me two seconds to pass out beside Zaid, my arms around him as tightly as I could manage.

I was completely drained, welcoming the deep sleep with open arms.