Chapter 171: The Bachelorette Party

(Gretel’s POV)

By the time we pulled up in the estate from the bridal shower, I dragged myself upstairs to freshen up a bit.

I was tired, sure—my cheeks sore from smiling, feet aching from heels, hair just barely holding its curls—but none of that was reason enough to stop me from enjoying our night.

Which is the bachelorette party.

No more fancy speeches. No more polite smiles. No more corsets and stiff gowns.

Just me, Jazmine, our closest friends, enjoying freedom, music, laughter, and a bit of mischief under the moonlight.

Jazmine had already planned it all out. Of course she had. She wasn’t the type to let a night like this go uncelebrated.

While the rest of the estate settled inside, we changed out of our after-event dresses and into something far more comfortable—bikinis, silk robes, pajama shorts, crop tops, and loose sundresses.

I slipped into a soft satin two-piece, baby blue with tiny lace trims, and pulled a white robe over it.

Jazmine wore a fiery red swimsuit with gold hoops on the sides and a matching robe she left untied just to show it off, it seems.

The backyard pool had been transformed into a glowing oasis. Or most of it.

Floating candles drifted across the water’s surface, fairy lights twinkled along the fence, and music played from a hidden speaker in the nearby bushes.

A cooler brimmed with cocktails and sparkling sodas, while trays of finger foods and cupcakes sat on the lounge table.

“This,” Mira said dramatically, flopping onto a recliner, “is how every she-wolf should be spending the night before her wedding.”

“Agreed,” Bianca added, already reaching for a mojito with a slice of lime.

We lounged near the pool’s edge, our legs dangling in the water.

Someone cranked up the music—Jazmine’s playlist this time, full of flirty, upbeat tracks that made you want to sway your hips and toss your hair.

Jazmine stood, glass in hand, and raised it.

“To us,” she said, voice loud and proud.

“To being beautiful, dangerous, memorable. And to the last night before Gretel and I officially let our mates put rings on us and call us their ‘officially.’”

Laughter echoed across the yard as we clinked our glasses together, the soft chime mixing with the beat of the music. I felt warm even though the air was cool. I guess that's love.

We started talking, of course—what else could we do?

When a bunch of women who’ve known each other for sometime get together with a few drinks in their system, it’s only a matter of time before the secrets, teasing, and storytelling begins.

“Okay,” Mira leaned forward, eyes shining. “Real question. Be honest. Who was the hottest male wolf in our college days?”

Bianca shrieked with laughter, nearly spilling her drink. “You’re gonna start a war.”

“I’ll go first,” Mira smirked. “Ethan Langford. Remember him? The broody one with the sleeve tattoo and the motorcycle?”

“Oh my God, yes,” Jazmine groaned. “I guess he used to train shirtless on purpose. Absolute menace.”

“I used to think Jax Remi had a charm,” I said shyly, sipping from my drink. “The one in art class? He was quiet, polite… kind of mysterious.”

“You and your type,” Jazmine grinned at me.

“You like the dark and broody ones. And look who you ended up with—Devion freaking Luvern. The king of mysterious wolves.”

“Don’t even get us started on him,” Mira fanned herself. “Almost every female drools over him when he visits the campus.”

I rolled my eyes, laughing. “Yes, I've noticed. And he acted like he didn't care about them drooling.”

Bianca leaned in. “Of course he barely did. He seems to only have eyes for you, Gretel. I mean, almost everyone saw it.”

“Everyone but her. She'd argue he wasn't into her.” Jazmine teased.

I nudged her playfully, but my heart skipped a beat. I remembered those days so vividly now—the way I told her it was nothing, the way I tried so hard to deny it.

But I couldn't entirely do. And look where we ended up now.

“What about wolves from other packs?” Bianca asked. “Anyone got a secret crush?”

“There’s this one Delta from Silverfang,” Jazmine said with a mischievous smirk. “Real name’s Ryker, but most call him ‘Chains.’ Don’t ask why.”

“Chains?” Mira choked. “Is he a warrior or a biker?”

“Both, probably,” Jazmine laughed.

We went on like that for what felt like hours—stories, flings that almost happened, awkward romance sessions, crushes that hardly knew we existed.

At one point, Bianca tried to imitate a male wolf’s deep voice to reenact a memory, and Mira fell off her chair laughing.

We danced by the pool, hair flying, feet bare, laughing so hard our sides hurt, it seems. Jazmine even jumped into the water fully clothed at one point, maybe to cool down, and she dragged me in with her.

The rest followed, and soon we were all splashing around like carefree teenagers.

It felt really beautiful. The water. The moonlight. The love between us.

As midnight approached, the energy began to calm. One by one, we climbed out of the pool, wrapped in towels and robes, our hair damp and skin glowing.

We needed to rest for tonight.

Back inside, the estate was quiet and dim. We tiptoed through the halls like we were sneaking back into a dorm room, whispering and giggling, trying not to wake anyone.

We gathered in the main guest room to dry off and change into our sleepwear, but we didn’t separate just yet.

Instead, we all curled up on the plush carpet and couches, tangled in blankets, hair messy, cheeks flushed.

Someone turned on soft music. We sat in beautiful and comfortable silence for a few minutes, soaking it all in, it seems.

“This was beautiful,” I whispered.

Jazmine looked over at me, eyes looking sleepy. “Tomorrow’s the big day.”

I twisted my brows. “It's actually a few hours from now.”

“Oh right,” she said gently. “And tomorrow, I hope we will be happy forever after.”

The others had already started drifting off, it appeared. I looked around the room—my friends, my sister-in-heart, my people—and felt something settle deep in my chest.

Peace. Calmness.

I got up quietly and padded toward our shared bedroom, heart full of love, soul content. The next time I'll stand in front of a mirror, I'll be putting on a wedding dress, it seems.

I’d be walking toward Devion. Toward a future that once felt hard to come true, but now felt so real.

But for tonight, I was just Gretel.

One last night before this beautiful life begins.