ROWAN
“Mummy looks like a princess!”
I laugh at the remark as I stand in front of the full-length mirror, fingers trailing over the delicate fabric of my mating dress.
The soft white folds cling to my body like a second skin, flowing down in elegant waves to pool around my feet. The intricate gold embroidery along the bodice and hem catches the soft light, making it glimmer like stars across a night sky.
The dress is modeled after ancient Greek designs, and yet it feels uniquely mine, as if it were made for this exact moment.
Which it was.
“You are right,” Lisa tells Jhenells as she adjusts the waist, while Rina’s fussing over my hair, placing small white flowers into the delicate braids. “But a queen instead. You are the princess.”
Kaylee stands off to the side, smiling at me like she already knows what I am thinking.
“You look… perfect, Rowan,” she says softly, her eyes filled with warmth. “Viktor won’t know what hit him.”
I let out a small laugh, a nervous tremble in my chest. “I hope so.”
I can’t belive that I… me… having a mating ritual.
Who would have thought?
It has been three months since the world flipped on its head and settled into peace.
Three months since the battle that sealed our fates, when Viktor and I stood against Dominic in a fight for our survival, for our future.
I close my eyes, letting the memories wash over me for a brief moment.
Jhenelle is safe.
Our packs are safe.
Everyone I love is still here, no one is missing and it feels like a miracle.
The goddess has been kind.
Despite everything, we came out stronger. No one was lost.
I open my eyes, looking at my reflection, marveling at how far I have come. This woman in the mirror isn’t the Louisa from years ago.
The scared, terrified, girl.
Now… I am whole.
Where I belong.
“Ready?” Rina asks, stepping back to admire her work, her eyes gleaming with approval.
I nod, taking a deep breath. “I am ready.”
The door to the dressing room opens, and I step into the hallway where a soft glow fills the air.
My heart pounds against my ribs as I take the first step, walking toward the ceremony that will bind me to Viktor forever.
The procession stretches out before me, more beautiful than I could have imagined.
Lanterns hang from silver arches, casting a soft, warm light along the path. Flowers- roses, lilies, and wild blooms, all of them are woven into every decoration, filling the air with a sweet, delicate fragrance.
I move with a vague sense like it is till a dream, my steps steady even though my heart is racing.
I notice when Viktor appears from the opposite side, walking toward me.
His eyes are locked on mine, filled with a quiet intensity that makes my breath catch.
He looks regal in his dark suit, but it’s his expression that undoes me.
Like he has waited his whole life for this moment.
We both climb the staircase in the center of the ceremony space, meeting at the top.
Beneath us, rows of chairs stretch out, filled with the people we have fought for, the people we have saved, people who have saved us.
The alphas from the other packs are also here, their faces beaming with approval and respect. Alden, Andre, and Lisa sit together, chatting softly, their expressions full of pride while Jhenelle sits beside Rina, her small feet swinging in excitement as she grins up at me.
This isn’t just a ceremony; it is a celebration of everything we have overcome.
It is a union of hearts, but also of power.
Today, the settlement and Vale Park will be one, united not just by words, but by the deepest bond two souls can share.
As Viktor and I stand facing each other, the wind rustles softly through the trees, as if the world itself is holding its breath.
My fingers intertwine with his, and for a moment, the world fades away.
It is just us.
Kaylee releases her throat, bringing our attention to her.
“You two may say your vows,” she says with a smile and we turned to each other again
“By the light of the moon and the will of the goddess, I stand before you, Viktor, as your equal, your partner, your mate. In strength and in weakness, in peace and in war, I am bound to you. My soul is entwined with yours, as the roots of the earth reach deep. I vow to protect, to honor, and to love you, as the wolf loves the night and the pack. From this day, until the moon no longer rises, I am yours.”
“Under the watch of the stars and the wisdom of the ancients, I claim you, Rowan, as my heart, my strength, my mate. In battle and in stillness, in joy and in sorrow, our fates are woven as one. I vow to stand by your side, to defend you as the wolf defends its kin, and to love you as the moon loves the sky. From this moment, until time itself fades, we are one.”
By the time he is down, I can already feel the tears slipping down my face and he reached his hand to gently wipe them away, leaning closer as he does so.
“I love you,” he whispers before sealing the vow with a kiss.
The ceremony ends with a final blessing from Kaylee, “I call upon the goddess to watch over these two, to guide them through whatever trials may come…” as she continues, I can feel the energy shift as our bond deepens, locking us together in a way that is both spiritual and unbreakable.
The settlement and Vale Park are one now.
We are one.
As the crowd erupts into cheers, Viktor and I turn to face them, our hands still locked together. We step down the staircase as one, moving through the gathering.
Faces blur past me, filled with joy and laughter. Maxwell catches our attention, pulling us aside with a grin that stretches from ear to ear.
“Well,” he says, clapping Viktor on the back, “you are now the most powerful packs in the world. I hope that won’t be a problem.”
I smile, realizing just how much this means.
The settlement is no longer just a refuge, it will become the training ground for the pack, a place of strength, where wolves train and grow, while Vale Park is now home, a place for all the rogues who were all at the settlement.
And Obsidian Park? I
Well, it is ours now.
Well, Jhenelle’s but in our care.
Andre will return to oversee it until she is ready to take her place as its rightful alpha. That park was her father’s, and one day, it will be hers..
The celebration carries on around us, but Viktor and I slip away into the garden, where the soft moonlight filters through the trees, casting everything in a silvery glow.
Jhenelle is running ahead of us, her laughter echoing through the night.
She is still so carefree, so full of life, and my heart swells watching her.
I was worried but despite everything she’s been through, she is still a joy, strong in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
And I am grateful.
So grateful that she hasn’t been weighed down by the horrors of the past.
Viktor’s hand tightens around mine as we watch her, both of us silent for a long moment. I can feel the peace settling over us, the understanding that the worst is behind us.
I didn’t think this kind of happiness was possible, but here we are.
I glance up at Viktor, my heart suddenly pounding again.
I have been holding this secret for weeks now, waiting for the right moment.
And now, it’s here.
“I have something to tell you,” I say, turning to face him fully. “Something that will make you more happier than ever.”
He looks down at me, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
“What could you possibly tell me? I am already the happiest man in the world.”
I smile, taking his hand and placing it over my stomach, feeling the warmth that spreads through me at the thought of what is to come. “I am pregnant.”
For a moment, Viktor just stares at me, his eyes wide with shock.
It is almost comical and it makes me laugh uncontrollably, the way he looks so stunned..
I lean into his embrace, his hands coming around to encircle me even though he has not said anything and I turn to watch Jhenelle play in the garden ahead of us.
And I know that -without a doubt- that everything will be all right.
We have survived the worst.
We have built something beautiful from the ashes.
And now, we have a future.
A real future.
Together.