Chapter Seven

Jonah

She tastes like strawberries and cream. I've wanted to taste her for the last year, and seeing her fire moments ago has only intensified my need for her. Having kissed her once will never be enough and I can't imagine ever wanting to stop.

I didn't realize her father had sheltered her so much. She fully believed she would be a prisoner in our marriage. I may want to keep her tied to my bed for the foreseeable future, but I also want her to be happy. To live her life. However she wants to do that, as long as I can be there with her.

A moan slips from her, and I can't help but press my erection against her, rubbing it against her soft stomach. Fuck.

Stepping back, I stare at her kiss-swollen lips and heaving chest. I want to do so much more with her, but I need to remain in control of my emotions and urges until after we are married. Knowing she will be mine has the urge to mark her riding me hard. But I need to hold off. Once we are a certified, mated couple, I can give in to every depraved urge I have. And I have many. So many.

I allow her to shower alone before doing the same. Our time at The Sanctuary is up and I want us to go directly to City Hall once we leave here. We are both dressed in our clothes from last night and it's a happy coincidence that her red lacy dress matches my tie.

I promise myself that I will give her the wedding she deserves if that is what she wants, but now I just need to bind her to me.

As we walk out of The Sanctuary, Zion Black nods at us and Autumn waves. Outside, I open the door of my black pickup truck for her to slide in before I make my way around. I see her father enter the front door of The Sanctuary in my rearview mirror and I know he has found us. I have no idea how, but I know I need to get this ceremony done before he can change her mind.

"Your father is here," I say backing out of the parking lot.

Autumn turns in her seat to see what I am talking about, but he is already inside the building.

"Do you have a phone?" she asks, and I hand her the device from the center console. "I knew he was tracking me somehow," she mumbles.

I watch her dial a number before putting it against her ear. It rings for a moment before someone answers and her shoulders sag in relief.

"Izzy, it's Autumn. I need a favor." She listens to the person on the other end before speaking again. "I'm on my way to City Hall. I need you to officiate my marriage."

A moment of silence passes on her end. I watch the anger rise in her and I wonder what the other person is saying.

"I need your help, not a lecture." The person says something that makes my omega smile. "Give us ten minutes."

She ends the call and places the device back in the center console. "My best friend is an officiant for City Hall. She specializes in certification of children and their designations later. But she can marry us today."

I can't help but smile at her. "Let's do this."

****

Autumn

I know my father is going to lose his damn mind when he figures out what I have done, but I can honestly say I don't give a single flying fuck.

I may not be in love with Jonah, but I could be eventually. He has been nothing but good to me in these past hours and he didn't have a single reason to be. He has also, unbeknownst to me, been making sure I was safe.

Arriving at City Hall, we are ushered into one of the rooms on the fourth floor. We stand in silence waiting for Izzy to join us. The door bursts open behind us and my father and three of his men stride in. At the same time, Izzy and a government guard walk in through the other door.

Jonah pushes me behind him, glaring at my father.

"Get out of my way," my father demands. "I'm here to retrieve my wayward daughter."

"Go home, Eric," Jonah says in reply, his tone flat. "You don't have any power here."

"She is my daughter," my father replies haughtily. "She will fall in line, or she will live to regret it."

"I am twenty-one years old. In the eyes of the law, I am free to make my own choices," I cut in, pushing under Jonah's arm to glare at my father. "You should have married me off sooner."

"You don't know what you are talking about, child!" my father seethes. "Come home. We will fix this."

"How are you going to fix the fact that my cum is still warm inside her?" Jonah growls, sending shivers down my spine. "She is my omega, and I will kill you before I let you take her."

My father's face pales as he stares at me. "You didn't."

"I did." Usually this isn't something I would want to discuss with an audience, but I have a feeling this will be the only thing to get my father to back off. "Jonah is the Alpha I want. While you were waiting for me to show up to a party, one I repeatedly told you I didn't want, we were getting to know each other better. Biblically."

"You bastard!" he roars, throwing himself at the big Alpha. The government security guard steps in between them, halting my father. "I told you! She isn't for you."

"She is now," Jonah replies with a cocky grin, holding me close and pressing a kiss to my crown.

"Enough!" Izzy calls out. "Autumn has chosen an Alpha. She is here to make their mating official. I don't have all day for this shit. You can stay and remain quiet, or you can leave."

"You can't talk to me like that," my father says with a glare.

"Actually, I can," she says with a smirk. "Here, your Elite status doesn't mean shit. I am a government official and outrank you."

My father glares at her but steps back allowing us to continue. I don't know why he is staying, I'm not going to change my mind. But it will be better if he sees it with his own eyes and knows I am free of him now.

"Autumn, you need to refuse this mating," he says, trying to convince me one last time.

I stare at my father for a long moment before facing Izzy. "I'm ready."

I don't feel any love or affection for the man that raised me but never cared for me. His demands and threats don't do anything but solidify my decision to marry Jonah.

Izzy smiles brightly at me before clearing her throat. Turning to Jonah, she starts the short, simple ceremony that will change my life forever.

"Do you agree to cherish this omega? To keep her safe from harm, to ensure she is cared for in all ways?" Izzy asks Jonah.

"I do," he replies with a cocky grin.

"Do you agree to submit to this Alpha?" she asks me. "To always put him before yourself and any other? To trust him with your life and your body?"

"Yes," I say with a smile of my own. "I do."