Final Time

Final Time
A week later…

My fingers trembled slightly as I held Olivia’s hand, a strange mix of excitement and something deep in my chest.

“Luckily, we are about to have our wedding. And for the final time.” Olivia rolled her eyes.

I chuckled softly, squeezing her hand, grounding myself in the moment. “You shouldn’t hold it against Verlice. He already apologized to you, Oliver, and your dad.”

That was right. Verlice had indeed sought their forgiveness during the past week until they were tired enough to yell at me that they had indeed forgiven Verlice and I should stop him from coming to seek their forgiveness.

A small smile tugged at my lips, but beneath it, my chest tightened.

Just seeing their exasperated expressions was more than enough to make me pity them.

Still, it had been shocking that Verlice wouldn’t hesitate to throw away his title to seek forgiveness from my loved ones.

My heart squeezed painfully at the thought.

Olivia rolled her eyes and chuckled. “If I had held it against him, he might not have gotten together with you so soon.”

That was true. I really had to thank Olivia. If she hadn’t sent Verlice that letter, we might not have gotten together that soon.

And maybe… we wouldn’t be standing here today.

“Brides-to-be, are you ready?” Bella stepped into the room and hugged both of us.

Her warmth wrapped around me, and something in my chest softened.

“I am so ready.” Olivia laughed and hugged her mom.

Bella sighed and patted our cheeks. “How fast both of you have grown up. I am so proud of you. I’m truly proud of you, Elsher, Olivia.” She squeezed our hands, tears pooling in her eyes.

My throat tightened at her words.

Olivia burst into laughter and exclaimed, “Mom, we have been trying hard not to cry. Please don’t mess it up.”

She sniffed and quickly wiped the tears. “Okay, I’m so sorry. I can’t help it. My two little girls have grown up and are becoming mothers. It’s a joyous occasion. Okay, I’ll leave you two girls to it.” With that, she walked out of the room.

Silence lingered for a moment, heavy… emotional.

A few minutes later, the maids were done applying our looks, and we were ready to step out into the hall.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

For a second… I didn’t recognize the girl staring back at me.

I was in an exquisite lacy white ballroom dress with expensive and rare diamonds and pearls.

I had insisted on a white dress because it had always been my preference. There was a flower bouquet on my head, and I was in beautiful heels. It was so beautiful.

Too beautiful.

My fingers brushed lightly against the dress as my chest rose and fell slowly.

“Elsher, you are so beautiful,” Olivia whispered.

I squeezed Olivia’s hand, holding on just a little tighter than before. “You’re so beautiful. Nath will be unable to take his eyes off you.” I turned to her and smiled.

“Do you hear that? It’s our cue.” Olivia smiled at me.

My breath hitched.

I took a deep breath and held Olivia’s hand as we walked out of the room. My mind couldn’t help but wander.

In the past week, I had cleaned up the witch clan and sentenced the offenders according to their offenses. I had cleared the air about my father’s death.

A flicker of pain passed through me. He won't be here with me today.

Also, we had meetings with all the tribes, and now the witch clan had gotten their lands, and the rogues had been given land.

The leaders of each tribe had also come together to agree that there would never be an attack on another tribe.

Peace.

Something my mother never got to see.

It now depended on the vampire clan to break the agreement first.

I fathomed they would want to when the witch clan and the werewolf clan had a hybrid watching over them.

“You’re beautiful, Elsher. Good luck,” Oliver, in a dark suit, whispered. He was standing at the door.

“Thank you, Oliver.” I smiled at him, yet my heart clenched.

I couldn’t help being worried for him.

Oliver was still alone.

I hoped the Moon Goddess would send someone to him soon…

Oliver suddenly stiffened, catching my attention.

I turned toward him. “Oliver, is something wrong?”

Oliver’s eyes glowered. “I smell something. My mate. Excuse me, Elsher.” With that, Oliver walked away.

My eyes widened slightly.

I turned toward Olivia, who had a smile on her face. She squeezed my hand. “I have been so worried about him. He needed somebody.”

I looked at the sky, my heart softening in a way I couldn’t explain.

I had just requested a mate for him, and the Moon Goddess did it for him.

It seemed it was a happy ever after for everyone after all.

A quiet warmth spread through my chest.

I smiled at Olivia. “Now let’s worry about ourselves. Oliver, who was supposed to open the door, left.”

Olivia chuckled. “That’s why you have me as an event planner. I always have a backup.” Olivia raised her hand and snapped her fingers.

Immediately, a guard appeared and opened the door.

Olivia smiled triumphantly. “How’s that?”

I arched my brows in bewilderment, a small laugh escaping me.

“What? I knew my brother would do a shitty job. I expected him not to appear anyway. I just wrote his name to fill up the space.” She pompously walked outside.

I shook my head, but the smile lingered as I stepped out of the building.

“Verlice.”

My steps slowed.

Immediately, my eyes caught the man standing on the tall stage.

Everything… stopped.

My heart beat faster, louder, like it was trying to escape my chest, and I heard Elena growl, “Mate.”

A shiver ran through me.

He was tall and straight—the most handsome man I had ever seen. I could never get tired of looking at his face.

The sun seemed to reflect on his figure, and the world seemed to turn into a backdrop for him… mine.

My mate.

My Verlice.

My grip tightened unconsciously.

Beta Eric stretched his hand toward Olivia and me. We wrapped our hands around Beta Eric and walked toward our men.

Each step felt heavier… meaningful.

I could feel Verlice’s eyes on me as I walked toward him.

He was so perfect.

Too perfect.

“My Sher. My love…”

With each step that I took came the praises that Verlice whispered into my mind through our mind link.

My chest tightened.

As I took the final steps and gave my hand to him, my fingers trembled slightly in his grasp.

Verlice whispered the final sentence, “I love you, my wife, Elsher.”

My breath caught.

Everything we had been through… every pain… every loss…

All of it led here. To this moment. To our happily ever after. "I love you, Verlice Mintz."

THE END.