I looked down at the old article I had saved, chuckling at the bold font that spelled out my name. It still felt surreal to have every werewolf in the world know who I was.
Beneath the headline, a photo captured a moment I cherished: the twins and I, my eyes vibrant with happiness. I stood between them, illuminated as if a light had been switched on deep within. Kieran embraced me from behind, his arms around my waist, while I grinned and locked gazes with Ethan. None of us had anticipated a hidden reporter snapping that photograph. Even after a year, my love for my mates had only grown stronger-it was my favorite picture of us three.
The reporters had a field day when the twins and I were officially married. The ceremony was largely ceremonial, an excuse for an extravagant party that lifted spirits and spread happiness. We invited the public, along with various Alphas and Lunas from across the country. Legally questionable due to the fact that I couldn’t technically marry two men, but many mates chose not to marry at all.
Although a calculated move, my joy that day was genuine. Sharon had meticulously planned the wedding for months, with Zack providing the venue-a field that, upon arrival, was littered with potholes and patchy grass, remnants of its days as a concert venue. Trash from beer cans to used condoms marred the landscape, hardly suitable for a wedding.
Sharon, armed with our resources, transformed the venue within a month. I asked numerous times how she accomplished it so swiftly, but she always gave a cheeky grin and mentioned a few favors owed to her.
Kat appointed herself Maid of Honor before I could object, throwing herself into wedding planning. It also put her in close proximity to Zack, who had returned to his pack after my Luna ceremony. They continued to clash despite their growing bond-Zack grappling with the loss of his father, while Kat refused to let him succumb to his inner demons.
The wedding itself was breathtaking, drawing awe from the crowded parking lot and guests dressed in delicate dresses and sharp suits. Light posts adorned with ivy lit the path, leading to a domed lattice overhead, fairy lights woven through wooden beams and vines dripping with white flowers, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.
After the ceremony, as the party commenced, I spent the night with the twins by my side. Their scents intoxicated me more than the wine I consumed, making my heart light and cheeks sore from constant smiling.
I managed to steal Kat away from some persistent suitors and dragged her onto the dance floor. “What was that about?” She chuckled as we spun into the dance.
“All three of them were eyeing you in that dress,” I teased, gesturing subtly toward a pair of silver eyes glaring across the room. “And a certain Alpha seems particularly annoyed. Maybe you should talk to him.”
Leo Caddel and his mate made a grand entrance, reporters snapping photos excitedly. Leo hadn’t stopped grinning since meeting Lisa, who I found to be incredibly kind and a bit shy.
Carlos arrived separately with Delia and his mate, a soft-spoken woman who, despite her petite stature, commanded a presence. She embraced me like a princess before disappearing into the crowd with the other children.
The twins and I mingled with the guests, Ethan faring better than Kieran, whose blunt manner often scared people off. After an hour of chatting, my attention drifted, and we sought out Krystal and Eve.
I found them dancing, Krystal radiant in a pastel gown, her curls bouncing as she moved. Her happiness, pure and unfiltered, warmed my heart. As she twirled with Eve, I wished for her to find the same joy I had with my mates, despite her inner struggles against the bond.
Their emotions tugged me back and forth like rapids. Zack, especially, seemed to react only to Kat’s presence, his demons threatening to consume him.
Shortly after the ceremony, I lost sight of Kat. When I finally spotted her amidst dimmer lights, my jaw nearly dropped. Even with guests surrounding them, their eyes were only for each other.
Kat, in an emerald dress that matched Zack’s tie, her manicured fingers grazing his neck, wore a coy smile. From a distance, I felt the pulse quicken in Zack’s throat and the surge of his emotions-a private conversation out of earshot, but I didn’t venture closer. His desire to attend the wedding plummeted while his urge to whisk her away soared.
That night, something shifted between Zack and Kat. Two weeks later, she requested permission to move into Zack’s pack. I’ll never forget her tearful eyes, sparkling like fresh moss and glittering jewels.
Her depth of emotion struck a chord in me, stirring tears of my own. She felt guilt for leaving, for missing him so deeply. I would miss her more than words could express, but now wasn’t a time for mourning. Through trials and tribulations, my best friend had found her happiness.
I looked at Kat through my own tears, a mix of joy and sorrow swelling in my chest. Despite the inevitable distance, we promised to stay connected.
With a smile, I embraced my best friend. “You’ve always been a Luna, Kat. You don’t need my permission to find happiness.”
“You’ll visit, right? I’ll tell you everything-how everything changes,” Kat said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “And I’ll come back as often as I can. I’m still your Beta, even if I can’t be here physically. Promise me, Sophia.”
“You’ve been there for me when no one else was, even when I couldn’t see it. I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”
When Kat left, a piece of my heart went with her, just as a piece of hers stayed behind. But we kept our promise to each other, making time for weekly video chats no matter how busy life became.
On my birthday that spring, I woke the household with shouts of surprise as Kat and Zack pulled up in a tinted SUV. Barely dressed in Kieran’s t-shirt and boxers, I stumbled out to greet them.
Kat laughed as we embraced, our limbs tangled on the dewy grass. Her fiery hair was longer and more controlled, but her eyes still sparkled with the same joy I often felt.
Zack smirked down at us, his chestnut hair shorter, his haunted eyes now clearer with an underlying fierceness. Helping me to my feet, he pulled Kat into his arms with a wry smile. “Happy Birthday, Sophia.”
This birthday with the twins was unlike any other. Lauren had rarely acknowledged my birthday, making it just another day, and Darren’s attention didn’t exactly elevate my excitement.
I had nearly forgotten it was my birthday until the twins whisked me into the car. “Where are we going?” I asked, but Ethan’s smirk and Kieran’s chuckle revealed nothing.
“I told you not to get me anything. I have everything I could ever want.”
Kieran chuckled deeply, holding up a blindfold. I swatted it away until he gently restrained my wrists, coaxing me to relax. “As much as I’d love to see you tied up, the car isn’t quite the place,” he teased, his hand resting warmly on my thigh.
When we arrived, Ethan parked, and Kieran guided me, his hands on my hips. I heard the rush of wind, distant chatter growing louder. Kieran removed the blindfold, revealing a bakery.
“It’s a bakery,” I said in disbelief, turning to Ethan and Kieran, who shared a smug look.
“It’s your bakery,” Ethan confirmed, his grin matching Kieran’s.
“You can’t get me a bakery,” I stammered, overwhelmed by the shiny new kitchen and the cozy decor.
“We got you two shirts last year,” Ethan countered playfully.
“And a picnic,” Kieran added, his voice softening.
Before I could respond, a scream startled me as Bia jumped out from behind the counter. “Surprise!”
“Bia!” I exclaimed, surprised and embarrassed, but she laughed, eyes dancing between us.
“Your husbands tracked me down. I’ll forgive the lack of a wedding invite if you tell me how you snagged them.”
“I can’t help you find twins, but I can tell you our story,” I teased, deflecting her curiosity.
As Bia explored the bakery with eager enthusiasm, admiring the giant cooler and the pale pink mixer, she explained she’d be in town for a month to help hire staff and prepare for the opening.
“I’m glad your husbands decorated, even if they could’ve used more pink,” she joked.
“They do spoil me,” I sighed, touched by their gesture.
Bia’s visit marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter, one where the bakery would soon become a bustling hub of community and joy, a dream fulfilled with the love and support of cherished friends.