Chapter 149: The Wedding

Three months passed quickly. Wedding planning. Dress shopping. Preparations.

Luna wanted simple. Small. Family only. No big ceremony. No fancy reception. Just love and commitment.

“I’ve had enough drama in my life. I want my wedding to be peaceful. Happy. Easy.” Luna explained. We were picking flowers.

“Simple is good. Simple is smart.” I agreed. “But you still need flowers. Decorations. Something beautiful.”

“White roses. That’s all. Simple. Classic. Perfect.” Luna decided.

The wedding was in Portland. Luna’s territory now. Her home. Her pack.

We arrived two days early. Met Derek properly. Got to know him.

“Mr. and Mrs. Hartman. It’s an honor.” Derek shook our hands. Polite. Respectful. Nervous.

“Call us Lita and Cole. We’re family now.” I studied him. Looking for any reason not to trust him.

I found none. Derek was good. Really good. Kind eyes. Honest smile. Protective stance around Luna.

“He’s perfect for her.” Sarah whispered. She and Maya came too. “Totally in love. Totally committed.”

Through the bond I felt it. Derek’s love for Luna. Real. Deep. True. Mate bond. Like mine and Cole’s.

“He is perfect. I approve.” I relaxed. Let go of worry.

The wedding day arrived. Beautiful weather. Clear sky. Perfect temperature.

Luna looked stunning. White dress. Simple. Elegant. Her grandmother’s necklace shining.

“You’re so beautiful.” I cried. Couldn’t help it. “Your father would be so proud.”

“He is proud. I feel it. Through the bond. Through everything.” Luna touched the necklace. “And Mom. Dad. Thank you. For everything. For raising me. For loving me. For being you.”

“Always. Forever. No matter what.” I hugged her carefully. Not wanting to mess up her dress.

The ceremony was outdoors. Garden setting. Fifty guests. All important people. All loved ones.

I walked Luna down the aisle. Cole beside me. Both of us crying. Both of us proud.

Derek waited at the altar. Tears in his eyes. Love on his face. Happiness radiating.

“Who gives this woman to be married?” The officiant asked.

“We do. Her parents. Her family. Her pack.” Cole and I spoke together.

We gave Luna to Derek. Stepped back. Watched them commit. Promise. Vow.

“I promise to love you. Protect you. Support you. Always.” Derek said.

“I promise to trust you. Stand with you. Build with you. Forever.” Luna replied.

“Then by the power vested in me. I pronounce you married. You may kiss.”

They kissed. Everyone cheered. Celebrated. Cried happy tears.

My daughter was married. Starting her own family. Her own life. Her own future.

The reception was small. Dinner. Dancing. Speeches.

“To Luna and Derek. May your love grow. May your bond strengthen. May your life together be blessed.” I gave the first toast.

Everyone drank. Agreed. Celebrated.

Luna danced with Derek. Then with Cole. Then with me.

“Thank you, Mama. For everything. For being the best mother. The best Luna. The best example.” Luna hugged me while we danced.

“You’re going to be amazing. As a wife. As a leader. As whatever you choose to be.” I hugged back. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too. Always.”

The night ended perfectly. Happy. Peaceful. Right.

We stayed one more day. Then returned home. Back to California. Back to our pack. Back to our life.

Luna stayed in Portland. With Derek. With her pack. Building her future.

“She’s really grown up. Really gone.” Cole said on the flight home.

“She is. But she’s happy. She’s safe. She’s loved. That’s all that matters.” I leaned on his shoulder.

Through the bond Sarah and Maya sent peace. Acceptance. Joy.

Life moved on. Months passed. Then a year.

Luna called with news. “I’m pregnant.”

“Pregnant? Already?” I was shocked. Happy. Terrified.

“Yes. Three months along. Healthy baby. Everything’s perfect.” Luna sounded excited. Glowing through the phone.

“Do you know what you’re having?” I asked.

“Not yet. Too early. But I’ll tell you as soon as I know.” Luna paused. “I’m scared, Mama. What if I’m not a good mother? What if I mess up?”

“You’ll be amazing. Just like everything else you do. Trust yourself. Trust Derek. Trust love.” I reassured her. “And I’m here. Anytime. Anything. Always.”

“Thank you. I needed to hear that.”

Six months later Luna gave birth. A boy. Healthy. Strong. Beautiful.

“His name is Thomas. After his great grandfather. The one I never met. The good one.” Luna held him. Tiny baby in her arms.

“Thomas. It’s perfect.” I held my grandson. First time. Amazing feeling. “He’s absolutely perfect.”

“He’s special. I can already feel it. Powerful. Different. Important.” Luna looked worried. “What if he goes through what I went through? The fast growth. The danger. The prophecies.”

“Then we handle it. Together. Like we always do. Like family does.” I promised. “But maybe he’ll be normal. Maybe he’ll be lucky.”

Thomas wasn’t normal. By six months old he looked two years old. Growing fast. Just like Luna.

“Here we go again.” Luna sighed. But smiling. Accepting. “At least I know what to expect. What to prepare for. What’s coming.”

“And you have support. Me. Derek. Your whole pack. Your whole family.” I visited often. Helped. Taught. Supported.

Thomas grew. Fast. Smart. Powerful. By age two he looked eight. By age three he looked twelve.

“It’s the bloodline. The prophecy continues. Through him. Through future generations.” My mother explained. She visited too. Doting grandmother. “This is our legacy. Our gift. Our curse.”

“Maybe it’s time to break the curse. Stop the fast growth. Find a way to give them normal childhoods.” Luna suggested.

“Maybe. But that’s for another time. Another generation. Another story.” My mother smiled. “For now we accept. We love. We protect. Like always.”

Life continued. Beautiful. Hard. Complex. Perfect.

I was Luna Triad. Mother. Grandmother. Leader. Fighter. Survivor.

And I’d lived a full life. An incredible life. A worthy life.

But more was coming. More challenges. More adventures. More stories.

Because Luna Triad never stopped. Never quit. Never gave up.

We kept going. Kept fighting. Kept living.

Forever. Always. Together.