161- Emerald Vows
POV Lunara Grimwald:
“Always so the love of your life,” I heard Lyris shoot back, while Celindra responded with a scoff.
I looked at Edric as I walked toward him.
I felt the weight dissolve as I drew closer, as if his presence carried a lightness that soothed my soul. At his side, everything seemed more beautiful, brighter, as though his love brought color to my days and hope to the future we were about to build together.
...
Days later
I stared at the dress the pack’s artisans had made and sent to me as a gift.
The long gown, with its flowing skirt, was a deep emerald-green—very similar to the color my eyes took on when I was about to shift. The golden details adorning the bodice shimmered softly in the light.
It had several floral details, meticulously embroidered by each of the artisans.
My hair was simple, without any elaborate styling.
It fell in waves around my face, down to the middle of my back.
“It’s perfect,” I breathed, rubbing my palms over the fabric.
Lyris looked at me through the mirror, her hands over her mouth and her eyes full of emotion. Beside her, Celindra and Nicoleta seemed speechless, too stunned by the beauty of what I was wearing.
“Emerald green represents renewal and fertility, while gold symbolizes nobility and prosperity,” she explained, making me feel even more special. “The embroidered flowers are a tribute to the beauty and delicacy of nature. And the flowing skirt is meant to reflect the freedom and lightness you feel at Edric’s side.”
I was at a loss for words, completely stunned by the delicacy of a garment that carried so much meaning.
“I don’t even know how to thank them.” Nicoleta gestured.
“It’s just a way for them to please you. You’re our Eldoria queen—your satisfaction in wearing the dress will be thanks enough.”
I turned to them, my back to the mirror.
“I never… received anything this meaningful,” I confessed, dropping my gaze to the floor. I ran my palms over the skirt, my heart tight with emotion. “With so much symbolism.”
Lyris stepped closer and held my hands between hers.
“Get used to it. This is only the beginning of the long life you’ll have at Edric’s side. Our artisans, just like everyone else in the pack, will always do everything they can to see you happy.”
I swallowed hard, wetting my constricted throat.
It was all so different from where I was raised. No one ever cared about my mother—whether she was happy, whether she seemed fulfilled. Only the alpha mattered, the leader. The rest was just that: the rest.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
“So, what’s the event we have today, again?” I asked, my lips numb with nervousness.
In the last few days, the pack had been in an uproar, running from one side to the other, trying to get things ready for an event I didn’t even really know what it was.
“It’s a special moment for the pack,” Celindra replied, clearing her throat. “You’re going to like it,” she said, resolute.
I had no idea what it was about, but I was sure she was right about me liking it. I had always loved all the Eldoria events—they had a unique way of making everything feel even more special.
I looked at them, taking in the clothes they were wearing.
Lyris wore a long red dress that molded to her body and highlighted her dark-brown skin. Celindra wore one in a pale pink, with a loose skirt. Nicoleta had chosen black, which contrasted with her graying hair.
“Whatever this event is, it really is special. I’ve never seen any of you so dressed up for a celebration,” I murmured, looking them up and down.
Lyris laughed.
“Come on, hurry up—everyone’s anxious and waiting for us.”
My eyes went wide and my heart kicked hard.
“Why?”
Celindra shot her a sidelong look.
“Because they want to see your dress, they want to see how it looks on you. It’s your first time wearing something that truly represents the Eldoria.”
My stomach flipped and I felt like throwing up.
“Don’t say that,” I begged, my hands trembling. “Or I won’t be able to leave the house.”
Lyris snorted.
“Just come already! It’s not like you have a choice.”
They dragged me down the stairs, forcing me to take the steps at a hurried pace.
Edric was already at the celebration—he had left the house hours earlier without letting me see him, in a rush to help the pack prepare for the event.
There was no more trace of snow on the lawn. The days were growing warmer. Soon, I would be able to return to the lake for my routine baths.
We moved away from Edric’s house. From our house.
Heading toward the center of the village.
A few dry leaves got caught along the hem of my skirt. My hair was loose, blowing across my face as the wind hit us.
We walked to the clearing, laughing and having fun.
I watched the movement around us with curiosity. A feeling of anticipation grew inside me as we followed the path decorated with wild jasmine and fallen leaves. Arrangements of flowers hung from the lower branches, making everything even more colorful and beautiful. Sunlight filtered through the treetops, creating a dancing play of shadows on the ground.
When we reached the center of the clearing, I was faced with a breathtaking sight.
Celindra and Lyris let go of me, darting away from my sides—just like Nicoleta, who had already found her place among the people gathered around us.
I stood still, unresponsive.
A small wooden platform, surrounded by lit torches, served as an improvised altar. Over it, a piece of cloth in emerald green—just like my dress—fluttered softly in the wind.
The members of the pack—all of them, without exception—stood in a circle around the platform.
I went breathless when I saw Edric standing beside the altar, wearing a tunic the same color as my dress—simple, yet imposing—adorned with symbols of our pack.
His eyes met mine, shining with tenderness as he smiled in satisfaction. He carried a blend of emotions I couldn’t fully decipher. I focused, trying to understand them, but I couldn’t.
He walked toward me with firm, determined steps. I exhaled, dazed.
The wind played with the dark strands of his hair, making the curls dance around his face, highlighting his wild, majestic beauty. The blue of his eyes was even more intense, silver dancing in his irises. There was a hint of gold too, as if wolf and man were in perfect accord.
He stopped right in front of me.
“Fuck, you’re so beautiful,” he praised, struck by the sight of me in the dress made by the pack’s artisans. “You’re the most beautiful female I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks under the weight of his gaze.
“You look incredible too,” I whispered. “That different outfit suits you.”
He smiled, rolling his shoulders in a silent laugh.
“Do you know what we’re going to do here?” he asked.
I shook my head no.
“We’re getting married, Lunara.”
For a few seconds, I just stared at him without any reaction, absorbing what he had said.
I couldn’t hear properly—my pounding heart buzzed in my ears.
“W-we’re what?” I heard myself say, though my voice sounded far away.
He laughed and stepped a little closer.
“I thought you’d want good memories of your wedding,” he said, shrugging, his mouth curving into a sexy half-smile. “These last few days, the pack has been focused on making this happen.” He paused, pressing his lips together. “I’m going to try to be a little romantic, even though it’s kind of late for that, but… will you marry me?”
He was proposing to me in the middle of the surprise ceremony he’d prepared? Was this really happening, or was I hallucinating?
I felt a swirl of emotions churning inside me.
I looked around, realizing everyone’s attention was on me.
A pinch of nervousness danced in my stomach.
“Yes,” I answered on a breath, still too shocked by everything that was happening.
Edric extended his arm, offering me his hand. I placed mine on his at once, threading our fingers together.
“I think having good memories is going to be good for you.”
I tried not to cry, to keep the tears far from my eyes so I wouldn’t smudge the light makeup I’d done, but it was impossible.
“The only memories I want—and the only ones I’ll carry—are by your side, Edric,” I said. “The rest was just… the steps I took, the road I had to walk, until I reached you.”
He smiled and led me to the small altar, helping me climb the short steps.