Chapter Twenty-Four

The weeks leading up to our wedding sped by so quickly. I had to do so many TV appearances to speak about the thoughts and new rules that I had for the pack, there was various fittings and dress makers that came to our new home to try and find the perfect dress for the perfect day. Theo was barely here most days, always preoccupied by pack matters. I understood that his duty was solely to the pack, but I found myself feeling lost and lonely sometimes. Things would be different when we were officially married and I could accompany him to these things. Things would be good then.

It was now only a week to go until we would be married in front of the whole pack, and his family, who I was so nervous about meeting finally. And I lay in bed reading a book I had picked up a few days ago as Theo walked in and threw his coat down onto the chair angrily.

"Something wrong?" The book tilted towards him as I spoke.

"No" He shook his head. "Nothing of your concern. I will have it sorted tomorrow"

"Alright very well. Are you home now, or are you leaving again?" I knew that he was tiring of leaving constantly and wanted to stay here forever. "I'm about to go to bed"

He spoke as he walked through to the bathroom, I could see the outline of him getting changed in the shadow of the bathroom light. "Yes, I decided to come home early so that I could see you. I have something for you"

Placing the book on the bedside table, I sat up. "What kind of thing?"

"A present of some sort" He walked back out in only his underwear and climbed into bed, turning off the light. "It's something I've been trying to do for a while, but have never been able to, and now I finally can."

"Very intriguing..." I trailed off and nestled into his chest. "Please, do tell"

"Well, when you first came to me, I had already flagged you as being of interest. So naturally, I watched to see what you were doing."

"Stalked. You mean stalked," I poked my finger into his leg.

He took my hand in his own. "Watched carefully. Anyway, as I studied you, I saw that you made a few friends, some of them worse than others."

"Yes, please don't remind me" I shuddered at the thought of Ruth coming anywhere near me after what happened that night.

"Exactly. But you made another friend too who wasn't as bad, she was put out just after the etiquette lesson and belongs to Alpha Luke's pack, who is a good friend of mine"

Sitting up, I looked at him with shock. "Rosemary? What about her?"

"I've asked Luke if she will be able to accompany you and help you with the Wedding planning, and all the preparations that run up to it. How does that sound?" He shot me a big grin and I threw my hands around his neck.

"That sounds amazing. Thank you. She could be my Maid of Honour!!" He chuckled and I pulled away. "Sorry, going a bit over the top here, but I'm so excited to have another girl that I can talk to—not that you aren't enough"

"I understand" He cooed. "She will be here tomorrow morning to help you with your dress and shoe fitting. You can do with her what you wish, I've told all of the guards to give her the same treatment as they would give you, so they know that she will be arriving"

"You are so amazing, has anybody ever told you that? I mean, truly so amazing and thoughtful"

He smirked at me. "Once or twice"

Leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss on his lips, I smiled into it. "I'm so happy. And I cannot wait to marry you"

Marrying Theo meant lots of different things. I could finally see my father after a month of being apart, I would officially be the pack's Luna and have to take an oath of faith, the same as every Luna before me and I'd be wed to the one that I love, which was the most important.

"Are you nervous?" He says back and got under the covers with me, stroking my arm.

"Somewhat" I muttered. "But mostly excited. I mean, what if I get words wrong or screw something up? Would your family and all the pack hate me?"

"No" He laughed. "Do you have any idea how many times I've screwed words up? It's even harder when you're up there, all of the eyes and TV cameras pointing directly at you. But you just have to remember, they are all normal people. I mean, they probably think the same about you and would get nervous meeting you, but you are normal and so are they. So try your best to relax and enjoy the day."

"I'll try" My head nodded into his chest and I closed my eyes. "Thank you again"

His voice drifted off as he spoke, both of us clearly needing sleep. "You need to expect me to do more nice things for you, I love you of course, so it should be expected"

"You're too kind. I have nothing that I can repay you with."

"You've already done enough my love" And with that I heard him drift away, gentle snores filling the room and his chest rising up and down on my head.

I must have fallen asleep too because the next time I opened my eyes, it was morning and Theo was gone, a small note in the place he once slept.

Get ready. Rosemary will be here at 11am.

–T

Flipping around and looking at the clock, it read 10:42, I had only a few minutes to pull myself together and get ready in time for her arrival. Putting on comfy clothes and pulling my hair into a tight pony, I washed my face and brushed my teeth and was now ready for her to arrive.

Gently padding down the big stairs, I stood in the foyer. It was 11:02am. She was late.

The house's obnoxiously loud doorbell sounded through the house and before one of the guards could get it, I jumped forward and opened the door. Rose stood smiling at me and I pulled her into a tight hug. "Hello!"

"Wow" She looked around and walked inside. "This is absolutely insane, I mean I expected big things but nothing like this"

"It's a bit much, I know" We walked through to the living room as she scanned about the place. "How are you?"

She gawked at me. "Never mind how I am! How are you?!"

I let out a big laugh and showed her my bling that now sat nicely on my ring finger. "All of this," my hands motioned to the room, "has been absolutely amazing. I didn't ever imagine that I would be here, but here we are."

"It's so pretty! And expensive looking, damn"

"I'm scared to ever take it off" I chuckled and she laughed at me before raising her eyebrows and sending me a wink.

"Theo huh? You two look great together, such a hot couple. Can I even say that?"

"You're very welcome to say whatever you want to say, and thank you." I paused. "You know why your here right, has anybody told you?"

"I've just been told to come here with a packed bag, to help you out with something?" She trailed off and my eyes lit up with excitement.

"You're helping me with my wedding!"

She jumped up and grabbed my hands, pulling me into a hug. "No way! That's amazing. I would be so honoured to have any part in your wedding!"

My mouth pulled into a sneaky smile. "Funny you should say honoured because I was actually going to ask if you would be my Maid of Honour? I really can't think of anyone else I'd want it to be. You're perfect."

"You're joking right?" I shook my head and she pulled me into a hug. "Absolutely, it would be my greatest pleasure. God, this is so exciting! We need to sort your dress, shoes, music! Everything!!"

"Thank god you're here" I smiled at her. "I have no clue about Weddings at all, so you can take the reins"

"Mrs Wedding Planner at your service!" She saluted me and I fell into a fit of laughter, so happy to finally be with someone I knew again and excited for the day's activities.

~*~

I stood in the middle of a podium, surrounded by different dress makers, shoe sellers, and random designers that wanted to make me look my best at the wedding in a few days' time.

Teetering on six-inch heels wasn't quite the look that I was going for. I turned to Rose, who was all for the tall heels. "Maybe the shoes are too much? I definitely don't want to add falling to the list of things that I need to worry about"

Rose was visibly shocked. "You are joking right? What Wedding doesn't have heels?"

"Look, we can still have heels—just maybe smaller ones? I'm honestly scared I'll literally break a leg in these."

"And if you do, it'll heal, what? Within the day? C'mon, being a Luna means that you heal super quick, so you have nothing to worry about." I shot her a frustrated look and she held up her hands, laughing. "Alright, small shoes."

"Thank you" I bowed at them and slipped off the death shoes, turning my attention to the dresses that were laid out in front of me. "Oh god"

"This will be easy, okay? No stress here." She nodded and picked up the first one, holding it up to me. "This one's nice, but the shoulder line doesn't compliment you as well as it could."

She put it down and I cocked an eyebrow at her in confusion. "I have no idea what that means"

"My father was a dressmaker." She nodded and I drew her a look. "So that means that I know that..." Her voice trailed off as she scanned over all the dresses, grabbing the second to last one and holding it up to me. "This one is the perfect one for you."

Taking it out of her hand, I looked it over. "It's pretty" The shoulder line was embroidered with lace, and it came away from my waist in a princess-like way that was only seen in the movies.

"Try it on" She urged and I nodded, walking over to the changing room and fought my way into the dress, finally getting in and zipping it up, walking back out to the mirror.

Various gasps and awes were heard from those that were watching us and Rose's hand flew to her face. "It's beautiful, you're beautiful"

Looking at myself in the mirror, I felt it.

The dress hugged me in all the right places and was more comfortable than anything I had ever worn before. It felt right, it felt like it was mine.

"This is the one" I clasped my hands together. "This is the dress I'll get married in"

And finally, I was ready to be a bride.