Word Count: 3574

Celie mind linked Harper as Matt left the room.

Harper took a deep breath, then a few short breaths to psyche herself up a little, she ran to the dresser and smoothed her hair and opened her robe briefly to fluff up her boobs in her lacy bra before retying her robe. She rubbed her sweaty palms on her robe and sort of shook her hands.

This night was not supposed to be like this, they were supposed to be having a candlelight dinner and champagne on a blanket under the stars on the deck of their boat! And her ex mate was supposed to be on the other side of the damn country totally unaware of her continued existence, not staying in her guest bedroom down the damn hall from her.

"Grrrrr," Harper growled to herself just as she heard Matt in the hallway, she smoothed her robe and tried to put on a soft seductive smile, as she leaned against the dresser where she had a chilled bottle of champagne and two glasses.

Ria snickered, startling Harper. Her wolf had been surprisingly quiet since Reese's arrival, not making a single comment about his presence, she acted as if he simply didn't exist. She'd shown absolutely no desire to have anything to do with him or his wolf Noah, who'd tried several times to call out to Ria. Ria loved Matt as much as Harper did, even though he had no wolf.

Harper snapped at her just as Matt opened the bedroom door.

The grin on Matt's face as he took Harper in and then looked around the candlelit room made her heart melt and her nervousness vanished as if it never existed at all.

"It's not a moonlit deck, under the stars, but it's the best I could do on short notice," Harper said, coming to him and sliding her arms around his waist and turning her face up for his kiss.

Kiss her he did, deeply and slowly, and so passionately it made her come up on her toes to push into him.

"It's perfect," Matt said when they gently broke apart. "Just like you, beautiful wife."

"Why don't you jump in the shower and wash off that salt water while I pour us some champagne?" Harper asked, pecking him again. Not that she didn't love his ocean smell, but she was pretty sure there was some seaweed in his hair and no telling what other kind of ocean fauna that would make him reek when he started sweating. And he was going to be sweating soon, profusely.

"Five minutes, at most," Matt said, then practically ran into the bathroom while Harper chuckled.

**

As the explanation went on Eden's expression went from amused to serious, to semi-pissed off.

"You think he will attack them?" Eden asked, eye brows drawn together and lips in a thin line.

"It's possible," Celie answered.

"We hope not, but it's definitely possible," Porter confirmed. "At the very least he could go crazy and start destroying shit, if he doesn't just collapse and pass out from the pain."

"If it is painful for him, will it also be painful for her?" Eden asked, concerned, glancing at Celie.

"No, no more than usual when someone takes a big bite out of your neck," Celie said, then rubbed her neck, her face getting pink. "It's supposed to hurt for a second, then feel really...really good. Because the two souls become one and feel each other's emotions and pleasure."

"Really, now?" Eden smirked with a speculative look at Celie.

"Oh yeah," Porter said, completely missing the innuendo between Celie and Eden. "From what every mating couple I've ever talked to about it says, it's orgasmic."

"Really?" Eden was full on grinning now. "I might want to try that one day."

"Mate a wolf then," Porter laughed, still clueless.

"Oh, I plan to," Eden stared at Celie, and he heard her heart speed up.

Celie just stared at Eden, he'd declared his intention to mate her, she hadn't expected that, at least not anytime soon. She could feel her face heat up and her heart speed up, and happiness and pleasure bubbled up through her stomach and into her chest.

Surprisingly she felt a rush of happiness from Sira too.

Sira whispered in Celie's mind. Getting the blessing of her wolf for Eden was like a dream for Celie, she would never have believed Sira would ever approve of anyone but Adam. Her mind was made up in that moment.

The bubble in her chest got even bigger and her smile was brilliant.

Porter finally caught on to what was going on and seeing them stare at each other like he wasn't even in the room made him uncomfortable for a second, but happy at the same time. He liked the siren, and he wanted Celie to have a good mate, like Harper had. And after hearing the story of how Reese and Adam had rejected them, he was spitefully happy that Celie might dump Adam. He'd lost an enormous amount of respect for the Alpha and Beta the second he heard what they had done. Despite his own promiscuity, Porter was a firm believer in mates, he felt it was an absolute crime to reject your mate, and the fact that those two had so cruelly rejected two of the sweetest she-wolves he knew pissed him off.

"If you plan carefully, I'm sure you'll succeed," Celie grinned and got a small thrill out of the look on Eden's face.

Eden was surprised for a second, his shock evident, as all the implications of her words penetrated his mind. Did she mean she would get rid of Adam for good? Was she truly going to commit to being his mate? An equally brilliant smile broken out on Eden's face and he was about to respond when Porter spoke.

"Well, this is kinda awkward for me, but I'm assuming you guys are hinting you're going to mate each other," Porter blurted out. "In which case, I give my enthusiastic approval and congratulations." He waved his hand regally, and bowed slightly as if he were a priest blessing them.

All three of them burst out laughing.

"So what do we do if Reese loses his shit?" Celie asked, once the laughter had died down.

"I will stop him," Eden said simply. "He is no match for me, even in his wolf form I can defeat him easily."

"Now, that's confidence, folks," Porter said, shaking his head.

"I do not mean to be offensive," Eden said, looking at Porter. "But though your kind are much more powerful than humans, and very powerful in your wolf form, you are unlikely to defeat a siren in a one-on-one match. Especially me."

"I believe that," Porter said, nodding. "You're nine inches taller and outweigh him by at least fifty pounds. Hell, you're four inches taller than me, and outweigh me by twenty, I'm not used to anyone being bigger than I am. I was shocked when I first met Matt and saw he was the same size as me. I wouldn't want to fight you Eden, I've seen what you can do. I think you can easily take Reese, even if he's in a berserker rage. Hopefully though, it won't come to that, hopefully he'll just accept the inevitable."

"Yeah, he seems to have accepted that Harper and Matt are together, he hasn't tried to talk to her since they first got here," Celie said. "I was expecting him to try, but he hasn't so maybe he's let it go. Hopefully it won't even be that painful for him, Harper said the bond was completely broken."

**

Matt sat cross legged on the bed completely nude, watching his stunning wife slowly take off her robe and lacy bra and panties. She climbed slowly onto the bed, staring at him with a slight smirk on her face as she crawled toward him. She settled on his lap, sitting cross legged as well, with her long legs wrapped around his waist.

"You are stunning my beautiful wife," Matt whispered, staring into her bright aqua eyes. "How did I get so lucky?"

Harper just gave him a sweet smile as she leaned forward to place her lips ever so softly against his. The kiss quickly deepened, turning passionate as they devoured each other. After several moments they drew apart and Matt looked lovingly at Harper, he placed a hand softly on her cheek.

"Are you sure you want to be bonded to me forever?" Matt asked softly.

"I've never wanted anything more," Harper replied, tears filling her eyes.

They started kissing again, passionately, their hands roaming each other's bodies. Matt wrapped his arms tightly around Harper's waist and gently lifted her up slightly and brought her down on him. They both gasped at the feeling of him filling her and she rocked on his lap for several minutes before they pulled apart again.

They stared into each other's eyes, breathing heavily. Matt took Harper's right hand, kissed her palm softly and then placed it directly over his heart, then he put his right hand directly over hers.

"I love you more than life, Harper." Matt whispered. "You are my everything."

Then he said the words of bonding.

"I pledge my life to you my beautiful mate, forever it shall be my life for your life, my heart for your heart, my soul for your soul. Forever together, never apart, we shall be one."

Harper felt a warmth rush into her chest through the palm of his hand, it stole her breath and nearly stopped her heart with it's power. She felt his love and emotion flow through her, tears filled her eyes and she put her left hand over his. She felt a surge of her wolf within her as well and knew her eyes were flickering between aqua and amber. Then spoke the words herself.

"I pledge my life to you my perfect mate, forever it shall be my life for your life, my heart for your heart, my soul for your soul. Forever together, never apart, we shall be one."

Ria echoed the words in Harper's head, speaking them with her human.

Another surge of warmth flowed through her, this time, starting in her own chest and down her arm to his, and he gasped as her power flowed into him, his eyes glowed with power.

Their skin burned slightly where their hands rested on each other's chests, then Harper leaned forward, her canine's descending, her lips found the sweet spot just above his collar bone at the juncture of his neck and shoulders, and she sank her teeth into him. The surge of power through them intensified. Then Matt, his own teeth sharpening to points, leaned forward and sank his teeth into her neck.

Harper gasped and felt as though she might pass out, the pain was intense, then the pleasure hit her, and she began rocking back and forth on Matt's lap. He grasped her waist, urging her on and his slightly bloody lips found hers as they kissed passionately, almost violently.

Her pleasure matched his own, it was as if she could feel what he felt and she knew he was experiencing it as well, then it hit them, and they experienced their bliss together.

**

Reese and his patrol were nearly back to the house when pain like he'd never imagined hit him, driving him to his knees with a shout. He struggled for breath as his chest felt as if he'd been struck by lightning and he screamed. Noah was howling in his head like he was dying, and Reese actually threw his head back and howled at the top of his lungs. A sound of heartbreaking sorrow. He didn't know what was happening to him at first, then the wave of sorrow and heartache hit him, and he realized what was happening.

She was marking him.

Then the world went black, and Reese passed out.

The small group of Keys and Everglades pack members who'd been patrolling with him froze, and stared at him wide eyed and shocked, their eyes darted around, looking for a threat or source of Reese's pain. When they saw nothing, they grabbed Reese's unconscious body and ran toward the house, thinking they needed to get him medical attention.

One of the patrol wolves screamed through the mind link to Porter.

Porter responded, then turned to Eden and Celie who were watching him.

"It's done," Porter told them. "My team just reported that Reese screamed and then passed out, they are bringing him back now."

"Well, passing out is much better than shifting and going berserk," Celie remarked, relieved.

"Until he wakes up," Porter said, running his hand through his hair. "Hopefully he'll just accept it and not make a fuss, nothing can change it now anyway."

"Wow," Celie said, grinning like an idiot. "My best friend is finally mated! Woo Hoo!" She high fived Porter and Eden and laughed happily.

**

Harper finally caught her breath and raised her head, she looked proudly at the healing bite mark on Matt's neck, her mark was a thing of beauty to her, he was finally completely hers! There were sparks and tingles running through her everywhere their skin touched, and she could feel his happiness and joy. They were experiencing the full true mate bond, just like fated mates, and she knew they were truly blessed by the goddess. Then she noticed a mark on his chest about the size of her palm, it was an image of a wolf, her wolf, with her head raised howling. She gasped and touched the image looking to Matt questioningly.

"It's your mark," Matt smiled. "Did you think we didn't get marks too? The moon goddess always marks her chosen, look at yours."

Harper looked down and on her chest just over her heart was the image of a wave, wrapping around the moon. She looked up at him in wonder.

"You didn't tell me I'd get a tattoo!" Harper said, smiling.

"I wasn't sure if you would or not," Matt smiled. "With us being different species, I didn't know if my mark would appear."

"This is so amazing," Harper ran her fingers lightly over her mark on his neck, making him shiver with pleasure. "Now my people and yours will know we are truly and forever mated."

Harper asked through the mind link and Matt's eyes widened.

Matt asked, and Harper nodded, smiling.

"Yup," Harper said. "It only works for a few miles, but now you can talk to me when we're out at sea and I will be able to hear you when you're in the water. Just think at me and I'll be there."

"This is amazing," Matt chuckled.

**

Adam heard the pained howl and knew something was wrong, he immediately turned and ran toward the house, he got there just as they were carrying Reese's unconscious body into the house.

"What the hell happened; did they attack? Did you get them, why didn't you call for help?" Adam demanded of the wolves carrying Reese.

"There was no attack, he just screamed and collapsed!" They told him as they carried Reese into the house, where Eden, Celie, and Porter waited.

"Oh," Adam stopped, realizing what must have happened, he'd forgotten today was Harper and Matt's anniversary.

Porter quickly reassured the team that Reese would be ok, he didn't explain everything, just said he knew what was going on and sent them back to the apartment as the second team arrived to take a shift patrolling.

"So," Adam said, looking down at Reese who was unconscious on the couch. "I guess it's official for Harper and Matt?"

"Yup," Celie said, still smiling and happy for her friend.

"How do you think Reese will react when he wakes up?" Porter asked. "I don't want to have to subdue him, but I will. Or rather, I'll let Eden subdue him."

"Honestly, I don't know," Adam sighed, running his hand through his hair. "I think he'd pretty much accepted Harper was gone forever, but having it actually happen may be hard for him."

"I'm glad he passed out instead of wolfing out and going nuts," Porter said. "They were still on patrol and we don't need people to see a wolf freaking out on a beach in Key Biscayne."

Just then Harper and Matt walked in the room, Harper was wearing a pair of cut offs and a blue tank top and Matt was just wearing a pair of board shorts, they were proudly showing off both their marks, and Celie immediately ran to Harper and pulled her into an enthusiastic hug.

"Oh my god, Harp!" Celie exclaimed as she rocked back and forth squeezing Harper as tight as she could. "Look at you! All grown up and mated! What's that?" She asked noticing the symbol on Harper's chest.

"It's a siren's mark, it appeared when we said the words of bonding," Harper said, grinning. "Mattie didn't tell me about it beforehand, so I was totally surprised. AND we have the sparks, and the mind link, so it's just like a full fated mate bond!"

"Holy crap, are you serious?" Celie asked, her eyes wide.

"Yep, second chance mate, I guess," Harper said. "Just happened a little differently than I thought, I thought a second chance mate had the bond and the sparks as soon as they met like first mates, but it might be different with sirens. Or it could just be that sirens in general get it when they bond, and it doesn't have to be a second chance."

Celie's eyes widened, her mind racing on that. Could it be that she would get a full mate bond with Eden if they decided to mate? A true bond like she'd always dreamed of? She glanced over and saw Eden smiling at her, thinking the same thing.

They didn't notice how Adam's shoulders had dropped as he watched them smiling so hopefully at each other, then he just stared at the floor, his hope was diminishing by the second.

Porter glanced over at Adam and saw the pained look on his face but didn't feel an ounce of sympathy for the guy, that's what should happen if you reject your mate.

"What happened to Reese?" Harper asked.

"He screamed and passed out when you marked Matt," Porter said. "They were only a couple of blocks from the house, so my guys carried him back, he's been unconscious since then."

As if the mention of his name was all it took, Reese stirred on the couch, he jerked in surprise to find everyone standing over him. He looked around the room and his eyes stopped on Harper, there was longing in his eyes and a soul deep sadness.

"I guess congratulations are in order," Reese said, his voice a little raspy.

"Yes, they are," Harper answered, nodding.

Reese stood up and walked to Matt and offered him his hand.

"You're a lucky man," Reese said as he shook his hand.

"I'm blessed," Matt answered.

The others exchanged relieved looks; glad they were not going to have to deal with a berserk alpha.

"I think I'm going to head to bed, if you guys don't mind," Reese said. "It's been kinda a long night, even considering my nap."

"Goodnight," They all responded as he turned and walked slowly from the room.

Porter blew out the relieved breath he'd been holding, "well, that's a relief."

"Yeah, but honestly, I was hoping Eden would get to punch him at least once, I was looking forward to seeing that." Celie said, glumly.

Adam glanced at her with narrowed eyes.