Chapter 191

Chapter 191
Renée's POV

The music began softly, strings low and tender as the hall fell silent.

I forced myself to breathe, before placing my focus on Lily and Emma, my bridesmaids.

“See you inside” Lily said and they both smiled at me.
I watched as they both moved gracefully, their pale gold dresses shimmering as they turned around the corner, going in before me.
I heard the sound of the grand doors open and sucked in a sharp breath.
It would soon be my turn.

Vivi and Val were on either side of me, holding me tight as though I might fall.

I waited for two minutes, before I got my cue, a rise in the music.
We rounded the corner and there I was, standing between Vivi and Val as we slowly made our way to the entrance.

Everyone was on their feet with their faces turned to us. Every breath seemed to still.

Both of them held my hands tightly, their touch steadying the tremor in mine. Vivi gave me a quick, encouraging squeeze, her eyes glistening with the same mix of nerves and pride I felt.
Val’s smile was softer, but her voice was barely a whisper as she murmured, “She’d be so proud of you, sweetheart.”

That was all it took for my throat to tighten.

The hall was breathtaking. Tall golden pillars, soft candlelight, and silken banners carrying the royal insignia of the crescent moon and the wolf. The air was filled with the faint scent of white lilies and lavender.

As we began down the aisle, I could feel hundreds of eyes on me. Nobles, pack members, and friends and the people of Aryndall.
I forced myself to shift my focus from their intimidating gazes to the man in front of me. My soon to be husband. The man I was going to spend the rest of my life with.

His eyes were on me, they didn't falter for a second. He looked at me like I wasn't from this world, like he was so stunned. My eyes watered, tears threatening to spill from the intensity of his gaze.
I managed to hold back as I offered a smile instead and he chuckled softly.

Halfway down the aisle, we stopped.

And there he was, my father.

For a second, neither of us moved. It was strange how many emotions could fit into one glance. Regret, pride, love, happiness. He looked older than I remembered, the silver in his beard catching the light, but his eyes were still the same.

Vivi pressed a quick kiss to my cheek, Val brushed an invisible wrinkle from my gown, and together they stepped aside, their faces glowing with pride as they joined the guests.

My father took a hesitant step forward.

“Ready?” he asked quietly, his voice rough with emotion.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. “Yeah,” I whispered.

He held out his arm. I slipped my hand through, and as we started forward, my chest felt full and heavy with all the things we’d never said, and all the forgiveness that finally didn’t need words.

The closer we got, the clearer Alex became, tall, calm, waiting at the altar with that small, knowing smile that could undo me with a single look.
I barely registered Dylan and the girls as we neared them. My focus was solely on the man I hadn't seen in days. He looked absolutely dashing, his outfit fits him like a glove.

When we reached him, my father turned to me, brushing a stray curl from my face, his eyes shining. Then he placed my hand gently in Alex’s.
I had held his hands a million times but this time, it felt so different. Warm and calming, the contact instantly calmed my nerves.

“Don’t you dare break her heart. You won't live to tell the story” my father said, half teasing, half serious.

Alex bowed his head slightly, his grip firm and respectful. “Never”

I stared with amusement at the exchange. Goddess, the dramatics.

My father gave me a faint smile, one that said everything he didn’t have the words to and then, he stepped back.

The hall quieted again.
The ceremony began, but it all felt like a blur. The words about unity, duty and the joining of two souls. Everything breezed by as all I could focus on was him until all that remained was the sound of our breathing, his steady and mine trembling.

“I love you” he whispered and I smiled softly.

“I love you more” I said back and he smiled so bright, I feared his teeth might fall out.

“Your Majesties?” The officiant whispered, reeling us back to reality.

Apparently he had called us before but we didn't know.
The crowd laughed and I turned red.

When everyone finally calmed down, the officiant turned first to Alex. “Your Majesty, do you have your vows?”

He nodded, his gaze never leaving mine.

A beat of silence passed.
And then he started.

“Renée…” He exhaled softly, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
“When I first met you, I wasn’t expecting you. I wasn’t expecting the fire, the stubbornness, the way you looked at me like I wasn’t a Prince, like I wasn't an Alpha, but an ordinary man who needed to earn your respect. And, goddess help me, I did.”

The hall rippled with a few quiet laughs, and even I couldn’t help smiling through the tears threatening to fall.

His voice softened. “You taught me that strength isn’t about control, it’s about trust. That love isn’t just claimed, it’s chosen, every day, even when it’s hard. You are my choice, Renée. In every life, in every version of me, it will always be you. I vow to protect you not because you need it, but because you deserve a world where you never have to stand alone. I vow to listen and to lead beside you. And I vow, before this pack and this kingdom, to love you fiercely, faithfully and endlessly.”

By now, the tears I had held together so much were pouring down my face like a waterfall.

“I love you so much. All of you” he ended and I tried my best to hold back the sobs as I stared at him, my hands squeezing his tighter.

When he finished, the coos and awws that followed were enough to get me to giggle and calm down enough to talk.

The officiant turned to me. “Your Majesty?”

I swallowed, trying to steady my voice as I held his hands tighter.

“Alexander,” I began softly, my voice shaking despite my best effort.
“I didn't even know what to expect when I first met you. But goddess, you were infuriating, impossible, mean and annoying to no end, it almost drove me crazy”

A quiet chuckle rippled through the guests, and Alex’s thumb brushed over my knuckles, as he stared in amusement.

“But somehow, you were everything I never knew I needed. Back then, I wasn’t ready for any of this, not the crown, not the responsibility, not even love. I was so ready to run away.” I paused.

“But you saw me when I didn’t know how to see myself. You showed me that I could do anything I wanted to, lead if I wanted to, fight if I wanted to. You made me find the strength that I thought I didn't have. Thank you for making my whole world better and making me a better person. We've been through so much together and it almost feels like a dream standing here with you today. Alex, I want you to know that I cannot live without you” I paused, and the way he looked at me tenderly with tears threatening to fall out, made me even more emotional.

I took a shaky breath. “I vow to always be your rock, always be by your side and to walk beside you, not because I have to, but because I choose to. Every day. I vow to protect our people as fiercely as I love you. To remind you to rest when you forget you can get tired too, and to love you even when the crown feels heavier than either of us can carry. And I vow, before our pack, our ancestors and the moon goddess, to be your Luna, your Queen, your home… your wife. I love you Alexander… more than words can express”

My voice faltered at the last word, but his hand tightened around mine, grounding me.
He sniffed back tears and smiled brightly.

The officiant smiled softly.
“Then, with these vows, you are bound, by love, by duty, and by the moon goddess that watches over all.”

A little boy, Alex's little cousin walked towards us with our rings and we exchanged them.

The happiness from the crowd was unbeatable. I could literally feel it in my veins.

Now, the crown.
I watched with cold and nervous hands as Alex lifted the crown from the officiant and brought it towards me.
I watched as the crown glistened, reflecting gold and silver and shimmering with diamonds.

By tradition, I curtsied, lowering myself as he placed it on my head.

“And now, by the power vested in me, you are now crowned Queen of Aryndall.” he said and the entire hall burst into applause as I straightened again.

When he looked at me again, there was no audience, no kingdom, just him.
The smile on my face threatened to tear my cheeks.

Alex leaned in, his hands wrapping around my waist and when our foreheads touched, the hall erupted into cheers and howls, the pack's way of honoring their Alpha and Luna.

I closed my eyes as he tilted my chin to his, our lips melting together in a soft and delicate kiss, making the cheers even louder.

I smiled through the kiss and we pulled back, laughing with happiness as we watched everyone cheer for us.

For the first time in a long time, everything felt exactly as it should be.
I wasn’t just Renée Sinclair anymore.
I was Luna.
I was Queen.
And most importantly, I was Renée Dekker, wife of Alexander Dekker.