Chapter Seventy Nine

Silviu had destroyed our pack.

We might have won the battle, but his impact remained. We’d suffered too many losses, and his army had left our town in ruins. Rebuilding was going to be a slow and arduous process, but we were committed to it and surely, we were going to regain our pack to its previous state.

As I gazed at the woman in the mirror, her intense eyes bore into mine, scanning my very being.

The woman in the mirror embodied resilience—she had endured so much, it was a miracle that she was standing here today but she was and she was standing strong and proud.

A smile formed on my lips, mirrored by my reflection. "You did an incredible job," I whispered.

'Yes, you did,' my wolf purred. She had returned to me, and I treasured her presence even more. The first time I heard her voice, it moved me to tears. It was a little embarrassing how frequently tears welled up in my eyes over the past few months.

My fingers traced the lace on my dress, a breathtaking gift from Sophia for tonight’s occasion.

The dress exuded opulence, a rich emerald-colored beauty. Its plunging neckline accentuated my collarbone, adorned with glistening crystals, and its sleeves cascaded gracefully from my arms. The corset cinched tightly around me, its delicate lace embellished with exquisite gemstones that contributed to its ethereal allure but the true beauty of the dress lay in its skirt. Flowery swirls and intricate beadwork decorated the fabric, a testament to the designer's mastery of artistry. As I moved, the soft material cascaded down my legs, imitating a fluidity that was almost unreal.

I had fallen in love with the dress the moment I laid eyes on it, and my affection only deepened as I wore it. It clung to my skin, emphasizing my curves and revealing a softness to my appearance that I hadn't known existed. My hair had been styled in a coiffed lower bun, with tendrils of curls framing my face.

Resting atop the bun was a carefully arranged weave of handpicked flowers, each petal meticulously placed by Florence.

"Here," Florence said, reaching up to add the final flower petal to my hair. "Perfect," she said with a broad smile.

Hoping for Florence to fully recover from the horrors she endured was a fool’s dream but she was making progress. She had found moments of happiness, and nothing brought me greater comfort than knowing that my uncle, the man who orchestrated her suffering, was dead. As for the warriors who had violated her, we would never know but I hoped that they’d been part of the recorded casualties of the war, their bodies among those we’d set ablaze.

Suffering what she had and surviving had made her stronger. She had become my most trusted and loyal servant and made it her duty to please me at all times. Her attention was a little overwhelming but it was also deeply flattering at the same time.

Florence took a step back, her eyes misted with emotion. "I've never seen anyone as beautiful as you.” she bowed down. “Long live the Luna.”

I beamed with pride. "Rise."

Laughter echoed outside my chamber doors, followed by a burst of energy as Lyle rushed in. He sprinted toward me, full of excitement.

"Hey, hey, slow down," I laughed, embracing him to my knees.

Marilyn hurried in after him, placing her hands on her hips and casting an exasperated glare at Lyle. "I swear to the Goddess, Lyle, you're driving me to insanity."

Lyle peeked out from behind my skirt and playfully stuck his tongue out at her. Despite her facade of annoyance, Marilyn couldn't help but crack a smile, shaking her head. Then her gaze shifted, and she caught sight of me. "Wow," she breathed.

I twirled in my dress. "I can understand if you're at a loss for words."

"Natalie, you look absolutely magnificent," she managed to say, her voice filled with awe.

I laughed. "I have a team of stylists to thank."

"Nikolai is going to be speechless when he sees you," she said, causing my heart to race. I couldn't wait to see him either—my mate.

Before my thoughts could dwell on Nikolai, Lyle interrupted. "Mom, can I have sweets at the party? Aunt Marilyn said no."

Marilyn frowned when I nodded. "You're spoiling him rotten."

I knew it was indulgent, but I couldn't resist. not when he looked like a younger version of Nikolai and combined with his innocence and charm, I found myself simply wanting to give Lyle the world.

"Now, come along. You can't go to the party if you're not dressed up, and you won't be dressed up if you keep running off," Marilyn scolded, extending her hand.

"Fine," Lyle pouted. He turned to me, his smile wide, and said, "See you at the party, Mum."

And off he went, dashing through the door without even acknowledging Marilyn's hand. She let out yet another exasperated breath and chased after him.

****

Nikolai waited for me, clad in a black tunic that draped elegantly over his masculine form. He stood beneath the stairs poised and tall in elegance and sophistication. His eyes glazed with pride when they set on me and I felt my face heat up.

"Stay calm!" I scolded my thumping heart but it remained obstinate, tumbling over itself when my mate stared at me like we were the only two people in the room.

He bowed and took my hand in his when I reached him. His lips pressed against my fingers with a slow, sensual grace that only Nikolai possessed, causing an innocent kiss to send a flood of naughty thoughts in my mind.

"Are you trying to kill me?" he whispered huskily in my ear.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, fighting off the smile tugging at my lips.

"When you look like that..." He shook his head. "Every day, you manage to show me that it is in fact possible for me to love you even more than the day before."

I glanced at him and winked.

His chest rumbled with laughter as he pulled me into his embrace, his arm wrapping around my waist.

Embarrassment tinged my cheeks. "What are you doing? People are watching."

And indeed, all around us, our guests watched us with a mixture of expressions.

Tonight, Nikolai and I were commemorating the successful merger of the Mystic Hollow and Emerald packs with the Night Blood pack.

Technically, I could have claimed the Alpha position of the Icepelt pack as well, considering I had defeated Jeremy, but I chose to pass it on to his younger brother. I had known him since he was a boy and he’d been a sensible one, he deserved it.

Nikolai brought his face closer to mine. "Let them watch."

I trailed my finger along his jaw, feeling the roughness of his beard beneath my touch. "How much longer do you think this this whole event will last?" I asked.

His expression turned serious. "Don't give our audience something even more dangerous to watch," he warned.

I barked out a laugh just as Sophia and Callan approached us.

"Alright, lovebirds, we get it, but some of us have children here," Callan said.

"Fuck off, Callan!" Nikolai retorted, his eyes still fixed on mine.

Sophia spoke with amusement in her voice. "May the Goddess help the rest of us. You two act like teenage lovers every single time."

I turned to my sister. "Have you seen yourself and Callan?"

She blushed and conveniently slunk off, whisking Callan away.

"We better get this party started," Nikolai said, reluctantly pulling away from me.

We proceeded to the high seats, and after I took my place, Nikolai settled beside me. A servant presented our drinks on a platter, and we each collected a glass, clinking them together before raising them high. Cheers erupted, followed by clapping that gradually faded as the music began to play.

I savored the taste of my drink, a smile playing on my lips as I observed the dance floor. Those who weren't dancing stood on the sidelines, engaged in conversations and laughter.

"You accomplished that," Nikolai said to me. "You brought inexplicable happiness to everyone."

I shook my head. "We all did, each and every one of us."

"You best," he insisted and I laughed.

“Did I ever tell you they discovered Elena and Warren's bodies hidden in a dilapidated building deep in the woods?"

Oh.

"That would explain their sudden disappearance," I said.

Nikolai nodded. "Traces of poison were found in their systems."

"My uncle, always such a poison enthusiast. It's no surprise that he killed them both. He used them as long as he needed and discarded them when he no longer did."

"They deserved it," Nikolai said strongly.

My gaze shifted once again across the dance floor this time in search of a few people.

On the dance floor, the Beta, Mathew, and Felicity whispered to each other like young lovers.

Callan stood by the food stand with his daughter, feeding both Sophia and his daughter bites of pie. A radiant smile graced his face.

Luther stood among two other men engaged in a heated argument, likely about pack politics and related matters.

Florence blushed as an older man made advances towards her. My heart swelled with happiness when she took his hand and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor.

Lyle darted across the dance floor, past dancing bodies laughing heartily. Not far behind him unsurprisingly was Marilyn. She stopped in front of a brown-haired young man who had managed to capture Lyle. They exchanged words, their laughter and body language indicating a sense of familiarity. The three of them made their way towards the food section.

In a corner, my mother and Catherine stood engaged in conversation, their gazes sweeping across the room just as mine did. Kate's eyes met mine, and a look of regret crossed her expression. I smiled at her, and she smiled back, releasing a breath.

Beside me, Nikolai tossed back his head, finishing his drink, before looking up at me.

"Would the Alpha grant me the honor of this dance?" he asked, extending his hand.

"Gladly," I replied, placing my hand gently in his.

We swayed to the gentle rhythm of the music. Its enchanting melody wrapped around us, drawing Nikolai and me closer until everything else faded into the background, leaving just the two of us.

"I love you," I whispered.

His smile was boyish, and I noticed a faint blush creeping up his cheeks.

“You are blushing!” I said, laughing.

"You just can't blurt out things like that, I was taken off guard.”

“Mmmh,” I teased.

He pulled me closer, his lips grazing my ear. "You know, my offer about giving our audience something to watch still stands."

I threw my head back and laughed. This man was certainly going to be the death of me.

“As you would me, Natalie Alden,” Nikolai conveyed through the bond, his voice echoing within my mind.

In that moment, surrounded by music, laughter, and the love that filled the air, I knew that we were destined to face whatever challenges lay ahead, hand in hand. Our bond was unbreakable, and together, we would navigate the highs and lows of everything life had in store for us.

So with a contented smile on my face, I continued to sway in his arms, cherishing the warmth and love that we’d managed to attain against all odds. The night was young, and we had an entire future ahead of us, filled with adventure, growth, and the undying affection that existed between us.

It had been a long road to get here, but it'd been worth it.

Every single pain we’d faced had been preparing us, and now we were here.

We were home.

THE END.