Zara’s POV
“Zara,” Levi’s voice chimed in my ears as he opened my bedroom door. “Are you ready?” His gaze swept over the room in search of me. It’s been almost a month since the kidnapping.
Levi gasped. His gaze trailed over me.
“Close your mouth, Beta,” I said. “People might think you’re straight.”
Levi blinked a couple of times and shook his head. He stepped forward, taking my hand.
“You…” he trailed off, searching for the right words. “You look amazing. Alpha Nicolas will not be able to keep his eyes off you…”
“Neither would he be able to keep his hands to himself,” my father’s voice filled the air, making me blush.
My core tightened, causing my fluids to spill out. For the past few weeks, Nicolas and I have been inseparable. We couldn’t get enough of one another, and his collection of my panties, positions, and places grew bigger and wider by the day…
“Father,” I smiled, pushing the naughty thoughts to the side, and reached out to him. He came closer and kissed my cheek.
“You look absolutely stunning,” he announced. “Even better than the day you mated your Beta…” That didn’t sound right, and he furrowed his eyebrows as he muttered. “You know what I mean.”
I chuckled, seeing the annoyance on Levi’s face.
“She was mine first,” he said in a teasing tone, winking. “And I will always treasure how she looked on our mating ceremony….”
“Fake mating ceremony,” I reminded him. Levi rolled his eyes and chuckled.
Everything was slowly going back to normal. Most of the packs declared their alliance with me and saw me as their queen. Although I didn’t take control of the packs and merge them into one, it did pave the way for treating all packs equally and fairly.
In the meantime, Levi and I had dismantled our ‘mate bond,’ and he and Kyle got mated a week after in a small private ceremony.
That obviously didn’t go as planned as Alpha Harrison decided to make an appearance. Kyle was furious, but Levi swiftly diffused the situation by instructing Alpha Harrison to leave. I felt a surge of pride. Levi acted like a real Beta, handling the situation so calmly, so professionally, so perfectly.
The happy couple decided to settle in the White Moon pack, and they were considering getting a surrogate to carry the next pack heir…
Alpha Noah lost his pack to Nicolas after he decided to try his luck one last time. He found a way to sneak into the pack and corner me in the gardens. I let Kaya have a bit of fun with him, bringing him to his knees before Nicolas found us.
Nicolas trembled with rage. He challenged Alpha Noah for his pack and title.
Noah accepted but lost the duel. Once again, he attempted to attack Nicolas from behind, but Nicolas outwitted him and instantly killed him.
I didn’t know how Nicolas felt about killing his brother, but his eyes stopped reflecting hurt and hate.
Nicolas never introduced me to his father; the old Alpha seemed to have disappeared. I wasn’t sure if Nicolas was part of his father’s disappearance and if something else had happened.
Terra, on the other hand, received a death sentence for her role in Alpha Jack’s scheme. Ronan made a show of her execution, warning all packs not to double-cross his Alpha.
A soft knock interrupted us, and Kyle peeked his head around the door.
“Sorry for interrupting,” he said, his eyes widening when he saw me. “Can I have my mate back?”
Levi and my father knitted their eyebrows together. Kyle seemed stressed.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
“No, no, no,” Kyle quickly said. “I just miss him….” My heart warmed. Kyle was good for Levi, and he fit right in.
Levi nodded, calmly took my hand in his, kissed the top, and stepped back.
“I’ll see you at the ceremony,” he said. “I can’t wait to see Nic’s face.”
Levi left with Kyle, leaving me with my father.
“Beta John was always so proud of you,” he said. “And I now know why.”
I nodded, feeling my throat run dry. We never discussed Beta John, and I never asked. There was nothing to say. He lied about his true identity. Yet, I forgave him, and my father made sure to bury him at the temple and mark his and my brother’s grave.
“I can’t even begin to describe how incredibly proud I am of you,” my father continued, lifting my chin with his index finger to look me in the eyes. “You did well. Your performance was above and beyond good. I am thrilled for you to find your true mate. I am thrilled that you are happy. I am incredibly proud of the confident and independent person you have become. Never change!”
“Thank you, Father,” I said, and he pulled me into a hug.
When my father pulled away, he gently wrapped my arm around his, and we left for the ceremony.
The full moon was shining high and brightly against the black midnight sky.
We weren’t doing the ceremony indoors but outside at the lake-there wasn’t enough space to accommodate everyone. We invited all the packs and their members to participate, and people from all over the world came to observe the ceremony.
“Are you ready?” my father asked as we arrived at the narrow red rose-petal path lit up by candles leading down to the ceremony.
I closed my eyes and slowly inhaled, taking a much-needed gulp of air, and nodded. I felt a bit nervous.
My father patiently guided me along the path. He showed no urgency to part with me.
The chattering of people became louder and died off when they saw us.
The familiar sweet intoxicating scent of honey and vanilla hit my nostrils, and my gaze snapped to the end of the path.
Nicolas was quietly standing at the end of the path. He looked so handsome and self-assured in his black tailored suit. His hair was tied back neatly in a ponytail, and his beard was trimmed.
His eyes fell on me, and I could hear him gasp.
My heart leapt out of my chest as my father chuckled, “He sure can’t keep his eyes off you.” I was wearing a plain white silk dress-Nicolas’s late mother’s Luna Ceremony dress.
My father grinned when he handed me over to Nicolas.
Levi huffed beside Nicolas, making me chuckle. My father didn’t even bother giving Nic the same speech as he gave Levi.
Nicolas stared into my eyes; I could see my own reflection. The she-wolf staring back at me was beautiful. Her rosy lips perfectly ready to mold around his, her grey eyes glittering like stars in the sky. I was beautiful in his eyes-I looked like a princess in my white gown.
“Dearly beloved,” the same councilor said, beginning the ceremony.
This time there wouldn’t be any interruptions. There wouldn’t be any claiming mates. There wouldn’t be wolves taking revenge, and neither would there be any warlocks wanting to use me for my magic.
My gaze shifted over the sea of people. Luke was sitting in the second row with Hayley by his side, a tender smile on his lips as he held her hand.
Hayley was Luke’s second chance mate. He found her by accident when he followed his father and saw him talking to the rogues. He didn’t know anything about their plans. He was just a puppet in their game.
Hayley told Luke everything-even where they kept me. The two of them hoped that I would be able to break the spell that kept Hayley’s wolf connected to Alpha Jack.
Hayley waved at me, and I responded with a small nod and smile. She and her wolf were now free.
My gaze shifted to the ranks sitting in the front row. They and a group of warriors went on a search for Jamie’s body. They found him among the ruins of the cave. His body was handed over to Celia.
Celia nodded when my gaze found hers. Despite the challenges, she found solace in her reunion with her brother. The coven had emerged from hiding and settled down.
My heart tightened in my chest as I thought of Alpha Jack. Once upon a time, he was a dear friend of all the surrounding packs; now he is seen as a traitor whose name only carries a bad omen.
Alpha Jack grew old in a matter of minutes after Jamie died when the spell broke and wore off. He died a day later, alone in his prison cell, leaving a pile of ash in its place.
I was glad I didn’t have to witness that.
Luke locked his own mother in the dungeons; she is pending her trial.
My gaze moved back to Nicolas; he hadn’t said a word, and I was wondering what was going through his mind.
What occurred next was a huge surprise…
***