189

189
Scarlett
My heart nearly stopped as Finn’s ocean-blue eyes locked with mine.
“You’re here, Honey,” he whispered. “I have been waiting for you. I guess you have finally had enough of my behavior.” A tentative smile tugged at his lips. “So good to see you here.”
The lump in my throat made it impossible to speak. My fingers trembled as I gestured toward the sea of red roses arranged in the shape of a heart, their sweet fragrance filling the air between us.
“What is this?” I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper. “Who are these for?”
Finn rose to his feet with the grace of the wolf that lived within him, his powerful frame moving toward me like a magnet drawn to its pair.
“Honey,” he said, the familiar pet name sending shivers down my spine. “These are for you.”
“For me?” The words escaped my lips as a question, though the answer was written all over his face.
The rage that had been burning in my chest just moments ago dissolved, leaving behind a strange, fluttering sensation. “Really?”
I stared at the flower arrangement before me, each petal perfectly placed to form the symbol of love.
My mind was racing—these weren’t for another woman? The jealousy that had been eating me alive had been for nothing?
“Yes, love.”
He pulled out a small black velvet box from his pocket. The air left my lungs as he knelt before me, his powerful Alpha werewolf frame humbling itself at my feet.
“Ha,” I breathed out as he opened the box, revealing a stunning diamond ring.
“Will you marry me?” he asked.
What?" I exclaimed in disbelief. We were already bound by something far more powerful than human tradition. Mated by the moon goddess herself.
“Scarlett,” he called my name, pulling me back from my spinning thoughts.
I remembered witnessing this in the human realm, but never once had I imagined that my mate—my fierce, proud Alpha—would offer me this human gesture of commitment and love.
“Do you hate it?” Uncertainty flickered across his features, and I realized I’d been silent too long.
“No,” I answered quickly. “I love it. I love it so much.”
“Will you marry me, love?” he repeated, his eyes searching mine with an intensity that stole my breath.
“Yes. Yes!” The words burst from my heart rather than my lips. Pure, unfiltered joy flooded through me, washing away weeks of doubt and pain.
I stretched my hand toward him, noticing how it trembled in the space between us. With gentle devotion, he slid the ring onto my finger.
In one fluid movement, he rose and swept me into his arms, my feet leaving the ground as he pulled me against his chest.
His lips found mine in a kiss that spoke of promises, passion, and a future together.
“This is so beautiful to watch,” a familiar voice said, sending a jolt of surprise through me. I’d been so lost in Finn that the rest of the world had disappeared.
I turned to find my mother standing there.
“Mother,” I called. “Why are you here?”
“Your mate called me,” she responded, approaching me. “Here.”
“Don’t tell me you are part of this?” I asked, reaching for her hand.
“Yes, darling,” she replied smoothly. “All of us.”
As if summoned by her words, Alisha and David walked in, my sister’s face split by a knowing grin and my Beta looking pleased with himself.
“You...” I pointed at my sister, laughter bubbling up inside me. “You’re also part of this.”
Before she could respond with what would undoubtedly be a smug confirmation, Finn pulled me back against his chest, possessive yet tender.
A soft moan escaped me as I melted into his familiar warmth.
“It must have been hard,” he murmured, his lips against my hair. “I gave you a bad impression.”
“Yes,” I muttered softly. “You nearly killed me.”
His arms tightened around me. “I have been waiting,” he confessed, his voice low and intense. “The moon goddess knew, but you have been keeping calm.”
His fingers traced gentle patterns on my back. “I guess you could no longer keep your calm. That’s why you are here. I have been waiting. Waiting for you to come.”
I was touched. This man, this wolf, this soul that complemented my own—he was my mate. Only mine, forever bound by forces older than time.
Without a word, I reached up and pulled his face to mine, claiming his lips in a kiss that held no restraint.
I could hear the surprised gasps from our family, but they seemed distant and unimportant.
All that mattered was him—his taste, his touch, the way his heartbeat thundered in time with mine.
“Scarlett,” Finn whispered against my lips. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I breathed.

The morning of our wedding dawned bright and clear, as if the moon goddess herself had ordered perfect weather for our union.
I woke with sunlight streaming across my face and joy bubbling in my veins like champagne.
“Good morning, Luna,” chorused the pack’s maids as they entered my chambers, their faces alight with excitement.
Their collective energy matched the electricity running through me. “We are here to attend to your needs.”
Everything moved in a blur of activity—a bath scented with oils and rose petals, my hair arranged in elaborate curls and adorned with tiny white flowers, and finally, the wedding dress.
As they fastened the last button, I caught sight of myself in the mirror and barely recognized the woman staring back.
“You look so beautiful,” one of the younger maids breathed, her eyes wide with admiration.
Heat rose to my cheeks. “Thank you.” I shifted from foot to foot, impatience gnawing at me.
I wanted—needed—to see Finn, to begin this next chapter of our story. “Can we go now?” I asked, unable to hide the urgency in my voice.
The maids exchanged knowing smiles. They understood—many of them had mates of their own and knew the pull of the bond. “Let’s go, Luna.” They took my hands, steadying me as we made our way to the ceremony.
The forest clearing had been transformed into something from a fairy tale. Flowers in every shade of white and cream draped from the trees, their petals occasionally drifting down like snow.
Candles and fairy lights created a magical glow that seemed to pulse with the beating of my heart. It was breathtaking—beyond anything I could have imagined.
“I will take it from here,” Finn’s deep voice cut through my awe. My head snapped toward the sound, and my breath caught in my throat at the sight of him in his formal attire—regal, powerful, and entirely mine.
I released the maids’ hands immediately, reaching for him with an eagerness that would have embarrassed me if I’d had the capacity to feel anything beyond the magnetic pull toward my mate.
His fingers intertwined with mine, warm and strong, as he led me toward the elderly pack priest who waited beneath an arch of white roses.
This kind of ceremony was a human tradition, not typically observed by our kind who mated for life through a sacred bond of the soul.
But Finn had wanted to give me this—a day to celebrate our union in front of our pack and family. My heart swelled with love so intense it was almost painful.
“We are all here to witness the wedding of our Alpha and Luna,” the priest began, his voice carrying across the hushed clearing. “The union blessed by the moon goddess herself.”
The ceremony passed in a blur of words and newer promises. I was only half-aware of anything beyond Finn’s eyes, which never left mine, filled with a devotion that made my soul sing.
“You may now kiss your bride.”
Before he could move, I surged forward, grabbing the lapels of his jacket and pulling him down to me. Our lips met in a kiss that sent electricity crackling through my veins.
The assembled pack began to howl in approval, the sound rising to the heavens as we deepened the kiss, lost in each other.
“I’m so happy,” I whispered against his mouth, tasting my own tears of joy.
“Me too,” Finn replied, his thumbs gently wiping away the moisture on my cheeks. “Thank you for marrying me.”
Heat bloomed across my face as I gazed up at my husband—my mate, my Alpha, my everything.
Hand in hand, we turned to greet our guests, accepting well-wishes and blessings from pack members and allies alike.
Among them stood a figure that commanded attention without effort—King Leonardo, the ruler of all werewolf packs in the region.
He approached us with the confidence of absolute power, yet there was genuine warmth in his eyes as he regarded us.
“Happy union, Alpha and Luna Foster,” he said, with a bright smile on his face.
“Thank you, my king.” We both inclined our heads in respect.
Leonardo’s gaze lingered on me for a moment before he turned to Finn with a knowing look. “You look good together.”
I couldn’t resist stealing a glance at my husband, delighted to find a rare blush coloring his cheeks.
“Thank you, my King,” Finn replied, his grip on my hand tightening protectively, possessively, lovingly. He turned to me, his eyes filled with joy. “She is my everything.”