chapter 172
Tori's POV:
Lucas stood in the garden below, dressed in dark clothes, his hair gleaming in the moonlight. He'd clearly been throwing pebbles at my window like some character from a romantic movie.
When he saw me, he grinned, transformed his usually stern features into something breathtaking.
I opened the window, leaning out. "What are you doing?" I whispered loudly. "You're supposed to be at the estate!"
"I couldn't stay away," he called back, not bothering to lower his voice.
"Lucas, the tradition—"
"To hell with tradition." His eyes glowed silver in the darkness, his Alpha nature close to the surface. "I need to see you. "
My heart hammered against my ribs.
Part of me knew I should send him away. The ceremony was sacred, the separation meant to test our bond before the final commitment.
But another part of me, the part that had been aching since he left the estate, desperately wanted him here.
"Tori." His voice dropped lower, intimate despite the distance between us. "Either you let me in right now, or I'm spending the night down here. Your choice."
I could picture him perfectly—arms crossed, jaw set in that stubborn line I'd come to know so well.
He wasn't bluffing.
"You're impossible," I whispered, but my hands were already moving to unlatch the window.
He was inside in seconds, moving with that fluid grace that marked him as Alpha. The moonlight caught the silver in his hair as he crossed to me, and then his arms were around me, pulling me close.
"Better," he murmured against my hair, breathing in my scent. "Much better."
I should have protested more. Should have reminded him about Elder Council expectations and proper ceremony protocols. Instead, I melted into his embrace, letting his warmth chase away the lonely chill that had settled over me.
"Just for tonight," I said softly. "Then you follow tradition."
"Whatever you want, Luna." His lips brushed my temple. "As long as I'm with you."
We settled onto the bed, and he wrapped himself around me like a shield. His heartbeat was steady beneath my ear, his presence solid and real.
"Sleep," he commanded gently, his Alpha voice washing over me like a warm tide. "I've got you."
And I did. Deeply, dreamlessly, better than I had in years.
---
"Tori! Wake up! We need to start getting you ready—we're running out of time!"
Morgan's voice pulled me from sleep. I sat up, disoriented, to find her bustling around the room, laying out makeup brushes and hair accessories on the vanity.
"Come on, sleepyhead! We've only got four hours, and Sarah said the stylist needs at least two just for your hair." She turned to me with an excited grin. "Can you believe it? Today's the day!"
I looked around groggily. The bed beside me was empty, the sheets cool to the touch.
For a moment, I wondered if I'd dreamed the whole thing.
Then I saw it—a small stone on the nightstand, its surface catching the morning light. The same stone Lucas had thrown at my window last night.
I reached for it, my fingers closing around the cool surface. His warmth was gone, his scent already faded from the room. But the stone was real, solid proof in my palm.
He'd really been here.
"Tori? You okay?" Morgan paused, noticing my distraction.
"Yeah." I slipped the stone into my pocket, feeling its weight settle against my hip. "Just... nervous, I guess."
"That's totally normal!" She bounded over and pulled me to my feet. "But trust me, once you see yourself all done up, you're going to feel like the Luna you were meant to be. Now come on—bathroom, now!"
As she dragged me toward the bathroom, chattering about the schedule for the day, I kept one hand in my pocket, fingers wrapped around the stone.
By the time Morgan and the stylist finished with me, it was already noon.
My hair had been swept into an elegant updo, silver pins catching the light like stars. The dress—a flowing creation of ivory silk that seemed to shimmer with every movement—fit perfectly.
"Ready?" Morgan appeared at my door, her eyes bright with emotion. "The car's waiting."
The drive to the ceremony grounds felt both endless and far too short. When we finally arrived, I stepped out of the car and froze.
The venue was breathtaking.
White silk canopies billowed in the gentle breeze, strung with thousands of tiny lights that would glow like fireflies once evening fell. Moonflowers lined the aisle in silver urns. An arch of twisted willow branches stood at the altar, woven through with more lights and trailing vines.
It looked exactly like the wedding I'd dreamed of as a girl. Down to the smallest detail.
Lucas.
"Tori?" Morgan touched my arm gently. "Everyone's waiting."
I nodded, unable to speak past the tightness in my throat.
The grounds were already filled with guests—Alphas and Lunas from packs across the region, dressed in their finest. I recognized several members of the Elder Council, their presence lending weight and legitimacy to the ceremony.
But my attention caught on the faces that mattered most.
Grandma Eileen sat in the front row, Janet beside her, both dabbing at their eyes. Anna bounced excitedly in her seat, waving when she spotted me.
And then I saw him.
Ethan.
He stood off to the side, away from the main gathering but clearly present. He looked just as I remembered from that first day at Moonridge High—clean-cut, composed, that gentle smile on his face.
Our eyes met across the distance, and he gave me a small nod.
No bitterness. No regret. Just genuine happiness for me.
Something in my chest loosened. Whatever had happened between us, whatever pain the past had held, he'd let it go. He was here to witness my happiness, nothing more.
"It's time," Morgan whispered.
The music began—a haunting melody played on strings that seemed to echo through the trees. The guests rose to their feet.
And there, at the end of the aisle, stood Lucas.