109. Rain - Getting ready

Caleb turns his head to where the sword is. “This explains why Paton was willing to let me touch the sword despite knowing the risk.”

“Yes,” Elton confirms.

Caleb addresses both Esyn and Elton. “Rain is my soulmate. She is the most important person in my life. Her well-being comes above everything else. Even above my own. The same goes for my daughter.”

“The little princess is with my mother. She loves children,” Esyn says. “Queen Rain, shall I show you the Royal Wardrobe?”

Caleb kisses my temple. “Go with Esyn and get ready. I’ll do the same and go for our daughter before catching up with you.”

Happiness spreads inside me. Caleb thought we’d never have children, but we have been blessed with the most amazing daughter.

“Don’t take too long,” I say, hating that I have to be away from him.

Ignoring Esyn and Elton, Caleb pulls me into his embrace. “Whenever you miss me, you can talk to me through our mental link.”

I forgot about the link.

Caleb is the only one who connected with me in such a way. It makes the link so much more special to me.

*‘I’m already missing you,’* I whisper into his mind before I let go of him.

*‘I love you, Red,’* Caleb whispers back.

**‘You are the light of my life,’** Raven’s sweet voice sends warmth throughout my body. Sparks erupt all over my body.

After I was tricked into believing that Caleb was dead, I thought that I was cursed to a life without a mate or pups. That’s why I was ready to spend my days raising Sky. Caleb’s love for me makes me forget about all the nights I cried and felt like my soul was breaking.

Elton opens the door for Esyn and me.

Maids and guards are scattered around the long hallway, cleaning dust or guarding doors. They are probably curious about…well, everything. Caleb claimed me in front of everyone which was broadcast live. By now, news about Caleb being the rightful king must have reached the farthest corner of the realm.

“This way,” Esyn tells me.

I follow Esyn as I try to memorize the scents of those working here. It would be so much easier if I could see their faces, but there’s no cure for face blindness.

The palace is so big it feels like a maze. The entire pack could live here, and there would still be empty rooms. Caleb and Conrad should consider it. The pack would follow Caleb anywhere.

It takes us several minutes to get to the Royal Wardrobe.

“This is…huge,” I say as I stand in the doorframe and look at clothes displayed on mannequins.

“Queen Sera loved clothes. When the place was built, King Aris requested that an entire floor be turned into a wardrobe. He wanted to fill it with all sorts of gowns he designed especially for Queen Sera,” Esyn explains.

“Their love must have been something special,” I say.

“It was,” Esyn agrees.

A long one-shoulder lavender tulle dress catches my eye. The soft shade should look good on me.

Noticing the dress I’m looking at, Esyn says, “You will look very lovely dressed in it.”

I press my lips together. “Wouldn’t it be too much? I should go with a more classical attire,” I suggest.

Esyn removes the dress from the mannequin. “Do you know how long we have been waiting for this moment? For the return of one of Queen Sera’s descendants?” I shake my head because I don’t know the exact number of years. “For four generations,” Esyn says. Considering the lifespan of werewolves, that’s a lot of years. “Since the disappearance of her twin pups. The entire realm held tight to the hope that at least one reached adulthood and had pups. Today, our wish came true. When King Caleb shifted into his wolf, we knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was our long-awaited king. As his soulmate, you are now our beloved queen. We will love you even if you wear jeans and a t-shirt at the coronation.”

Tears pool in my eyes. Only Caleb’s pack made me feel so welcome.

I take Esyn’s hands into mine to thank her for her reassuring words, but an intense pain erupts all over my back. My vision turns blurry, and I fall to my knees, dragging Esyn down with me. A low hiss escapes Esyn.

“Not this again,” I grunt as the pain slowly fades away.

“It happened before?” Esyn asks.

“Twice now,” I reply.

The pain disappears as quickly as it started.

Esyn helps me to my feet. “I heard rumors of your line, but I never thought I would meet one.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Let’s get you ready first,” Esyn quickly dodges my question, making me wonder what she is hiding.

Esyn walks around the wardrobe, picking up high heels and jewelry before helping me change. The dress fits me almost perfectly, but it’s like the shoes were made for me. Good, since I’m not a big fan of high heels but these ones are just perfect.

After Esyn does my hair and makeup and the jewelry adorns my neck and ears, I look in the mirror.

“You look fabulous,” Esyn tells me.

I have to take her word on this since I feel out of my element with the dress. I rarely wear elegant clothes.

Esyn keeps talking, “You will be the star of this night.”

My smile drops. It’s not going to be easy to be Caleb’s mate.

All I wanted was a quiet life, a small house where I could paint as much as I wanted. After today, my life is going to implode.

Esyn, next to me, puts her hands on my shoulders. “You were born for this.”

“Thank you for your support. You have no idea how much it means to me,” I tell her.

“Time to shine as bright as a diamond.”

As promised, Caleb and Sky are waiting for me in the hallway. Both are dressed to impress. Caleb is wearing a black tuxedo, while Sky looks like the princess she is in her pink dress.

Elton is waiting a few feet away.

Sky hugs me. “You look so beautiful, mom.”

My arms come around her. “You too, Sky.”

Caleb kisses my cheek. “You are stunning.”

“So do you,” I tell him.

This is my family.

The reason why I am so happy.

“Ready to take our oaths in front of our people?” Caleb asks.

I take a deep breath before I put on a brave face. “I am.”

Caleb takes Sky’s right hand into his left one, and I wrap my fingers around her left one and together, we walk down the hallway. No matter what the future may be, as long as I have Sky and Caleb, everything will be alright.

When we reach the bottom floor, the sound of a commotion from the entrance makes Elton step in front of us.

“Father is here!” Sky screams happily before running away from us. Elton and I rush after her. Caleb is right behind us.

Tristan is here?

The other guards and maids make room for us.

Standing in front of the palace entrance are Conon, Kathrine, and many from the pack. Tristan, who has Sky in his arms, is standing next to Tatiana.

Now, I am certain Tatiana knew about Caleb not being dead.

The witch clicks her tongue. “Caleb Black, you are one hard werewolf to find!”

I stop in front of Tristan, who puts Sky down. A strange sound comes from his throat. “Caleb.” His voice is hoarse.

“You are alive,” Caleb says before hugging Tristan tight.