The Beast's Possession
176: The mating ceremony.

**Bane

pov**

I was so stupidly giddy, I felt like a child, finally getting the thing I had asked for ever since I could remember myself.

Zion stood next to me, waiting for his mate to appear in the garden and approach him. As soon as she rounded the corner of the house and started walking towards him, Zion sucked in a sharp breath and held it.

Once she got closer, he breathed out and leaned a little closer to whisper, "do you see her? Do you see how beautiful she is? Can you notice the perfection hidden in those eyes? Man, the Goddess really decided to bless me, didn't she?" I felt like a shitty friend. While I was happy about Zion and his mate, I couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling in my gut. He was getting his happily ever after while mine was still unclear. I loved Aife, I would literally fall on my knees before any God to let me keep her, to let me have her as mine forever, but our future was nothing but a massive question mark.

As Zion's mate got closer to us, I couldn't stop wondering about how I would feel if it were me and Aife who would join in the mating ceremony today. I was jealous, in the best possible way because I loved my best friend, but still jealous. Zion's mate, Kala, stopped in front of us and bowed to me. She had used the little time she spent in the main building to read some of our books and learn our customs - something I truly appreciated.

To everyone's horror, I returned the favor and bowed to her. While my pack couldn't grasp what was happening, this was my gift to Zion. By doing this one, simple thing, I accepted Kala as the Beta female of this pack and soon, the rest of the pack would embrace her as one of our own too.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Zion tearing up. The next moment, he pulled me into a bone crushing hug that made me hiss in pain and instantly released me. "Sorry, dude, didn't mean to. Just wanted to say thank you."

"All good," I grinned and returned my attention to his mate. "Kala, are you here of your own free will?" I asked, seeking the green light to start the ceremony.

The sooner we could get over and done with this, the sooner I could sneak away and focus on what was important - holding Aife. We had some making up to do.

"Yes, I have arrived of my own free will, Alpha," she replied, nothing but pride lacing in her words.

Zion kept swooning like a teenage boy, experiencing love for the first time in his life, so there was no use asking the same to him. I admit I felt like a proud father watching these two. And the fact that my best friend's mate referred to me as the Alpha was even better - she would fit in perfectly.

Clearing my throat, I focused on the pack members, "I invite you to surround the fated lovers and embrace them as one from now on. Please, gather around and let's start the ceremony."

The entire pack, everyone but my Luna, gathered around us and held each other's hands. It was a bittersweet moment, knowing Aife couldn't watch these two connect and promise each other to love and cherish till the end of their days, but I couldn't change that now.

Something was terribly wrong with her. While I thought it had to be the consequences of lack of sleep, stress and worries, I still had a suspicion that there was more than she was showing me.

As much as I would love to have her next to me, joining in on this celebration of love, I also knew it was better to insist she would rest. Besides, I had some cameras set all over the place so she wouldn't miss a moment of this ceremony. "We have gathered here to witness the mating ceremony of Beta Zion and his fated mate Kala. Both have arrived of their free will, ready to connect before the pack and the eyes of the Goddess that has brought these souls together," I started my speech, feeling like I was talking about my son.

In a way, I might have. Not that we were that far apart age wise, but I had always been more like a brother or father figure for my best friend, so I let myself enjoy this moment of delusion. It wasn't hurting anyone.

"We stand here to witness the purest forms of love and connection. The Moon Goddess has blessed the souls and brought them together, so tonight, we celebrate." I spoke over the whispers surrounding us, earning hollering and cheers from the pack members.

Once my gaze met Zions, he smiled and nodded his head, encouraging me to move forward. Gripping the handle of the knife, I took a deep breath and reached out my hand for Kala. Her hand shook, but she didn't hesitate to place it in mine, palm up.

"This won't be as bad as you think, maybe a slight pinch. Look away if the view of blood disturbs you, okay?" I whispered, hoping she and Zion would be the only ones to hear me.

Kala nodded and held her breath, her eyes focused on her palm as I ran the knife over it, cutting the flesh and leaving a long wound behind.

Zion didn't hesitate - he was so excited, he grabbed the knife from me, cut his own palm and grabbed Kala's hand, connecting the wounds. "Blood bond," he announced, loudly and proudly.

A chuckle left me as I shook my head at his actions while the rest of the pack cheered and called out encouraging words for their newfound Beta female.

Seeing that I didn't have much say in how the ceremony was going, I shrugged and shouted over everyone, "you may kiss the mate!"

To my surprise, both of them had a go at each other. They kissed like their lives depended on it, and fuck, did I want to be back in the bedroom and have a chance to kiss Aife with just as much passion as these two were showing off. No matter how much I tried to focus on the ceremony, I really couldn't. It wasn't only that my mind was pulling me back to thoughts about the breathtaking woman resting in my bedroom. That was the pleasant part. The not so pleasant part was the voice in the back of my head. The better I got, the more strength I regained, the more powerful and louder he grew. However, these days, it seemed that he was interested in only one thing - murder. *"Kill her." *

*"Torture her." *

*"Show her true hell." *

*"Let me see the pain, let me taste the blood." *

Those were just a few of his favorite things to repeat on the loop. No matter how much I tried to fight him, it felt as if every time I pushed him away, he pushed back twice as hard.

Maybe, just maybe, I was too weak. Perhaps I didn't know how to deal with a part of myself after all, or maybe, I was too tired to take his shit again. One day, I was sure I would find the answers. One day that wasn't today. I just needed a little time. A few hours maybe, or a full day.. Just a little more time with her still by my side.

Aife was the one who was keeping me alive. If worse came to happen, I wanted to feel alive for a little more. As soon as I would notice any danger to her life and well-being, I would cut it all. No matter how bad it would break me, I was ready to give up on everything I had. She was worth it.