“Wow,” I hear Emmett from the audience.
My heart swelled. Even if this wasn’t the path I thought we would take, even if it took a few twists and turns and a whole lot of bumps, he got to see me here. He got to witness this in my parent’s arms, watching me and his father figure, no, his father alongside me. I always was the role model he deserved, I always did my best, but somehow this made it click for me. I was proud of the person I became, the person I always was but didn’t see it. Emmett looking up at me clapping and smiling made it seem more real than ever before.
Caspien and I surveyed the crowd, my pack, hand in hand. The lights flickered and illuminated the faces of my new pack member, my new family, in my new home.
Even though it was new, it felt right in a way I couldn’t put words to.
I basked in the warmth and another round of applause as the candles showed me, the new Luna of Crescent Moon.
I joined my parents and everyone at the foot of the stage on Caspien’s arm, feeling more confident and calm than ever before.
“Wow,” Cali gave me a real smile and grabbed my arms, “Wow,” She shook her head.
Cali speechless,- now that was a first. She even had more to say after I got practically n.aked and changed into a wolf in front of her.
I smiled at her, “We did it. We’re doing it.”
Her gold-flecked eyes met mine, “Not exactly my five-year plan but,” she shrugged.
“Better?” I asked.
“Better,” She agreed, a smile spread across her face and I embraced her.
She let me go so that my parents could pull me into an almost too-tight hug and I could hold Emmett close.
“Good job, Mama,” He squished my cheeks in his little hands, his green eyes met mine, “I’m proud of you.”
I smiled at him, “Thank you,” I buried my head in his hair and pulled him close, “My sweet beautiful boy you don’t know what that means to me. Thank you so much for being here.”
“Mama,” I pulled back, and he frowned.
“Don’t wrinkle my suit.” I fought an eye roll and smiled at him.
“How dare you try to crease my son’s suit,” Caspien came up and straightened his suit, “Do you know how long these creases take to get out?”
“Do you?” I countered.
“I mean, no-” He frowned a bit.
“We’re going to get the little mister to bed in a moment.” My dad said, “Proud of you, sweetheart.” He nodded once as me.
My mom opened her mouth and closed it, nodding vigorously, “I just, you have come into your own; this is who you are, who you are supposed to be.” She patted my cheek lovingly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear and adjusting the comb she placed there hours ago. “Thank you, Mom.” I grabbed her hand, holding it to my cheek, “I don’t know, I don’t know what I would have done without you.” I turned to my dad, “You both.” I almost c.hoked on those words.
I never really spoke of it, but I hoped they knew just how lost I would have been without them. I don’t think anyone was meant to do it alone, especially with a child. I knew they felt that it was their duty to be with me, but they chose it; they committed to it. “We will follow you anywhere.” My dad promised.
“But we also really like it here, so if this is the end goal, we’re good with that.” My mom smiled, and my dad wrapped his arm around her pulling her to his side.
“This is it.” I knew that. This was ingrained in me from before I knew Caspien, “This is it.” I repeated.
Finally settled for the first time maybe in my life.
“Shall we, Luna?” Caspien extended an arm after kissing Emmett’s cheek goodnight.
I wrapped my arm in his, and he led me through the throng of crowds, all smiling and wishing me well, congratulating me.
I was showered with warm wishes and genuine congratulations. I needed to learn more about the pack members and pack house. Now that things settled down, I made a note to come down here daily to interact with my pack.
I committed this feeling to memory, the warmth that flooded through me. The lightness I felt surrounded by those I cared about and loved as my own. Those that I knew I would come to care about once I got to know them.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, and etched the feeling in my mind to draw on later.
This was bliss. This was contentment. This was right.
I caught Rachels’s eye in the crowd; she lifted her glass to me and smiled widely. I tilted my head in confirmation.
“Dance with me?” Caspien asked, but it was more of a request.
“Always,” I placed my hand in his as his broad hand encircled the small of my back, sending tingles through my body.
“My Luna.” He leaned forward, “I never dared to wish.”
“My Alpha.” His forehead touched mine as the music started.
He led me across the floor. This time I was ready for him. I knew his movements. We twirled around the room in each other’s arms, barely taking our eyes off each other.
He dipped me low and brushed his lips across mine. The sound of cheers was diminished by my beating heart.
Others joined us on the dance floor, and I took a step closer to him, not wanting any space between us.
“So, have you thought about actually taking a title?”
“I just did?” I pulled back, looking at him, “How much did you drink?”
“No,” He smiled, shaking his head, “A royal title. You a becoming my Princess and Emmett my heir and Prince officially.”
(Willa)
“Yes, I think, I think I am ready” I answered breathlessly.
I wanted this, everything he had to offer. All of him, I was all in.
“Oh, my Goddess.” Someone familiar said.
The room came back to focus and clapping and excited chatter filled the room. I smiled up at Caspien, his piercing eyes churning in response. I offered him a smile, but his dark brows tugged together and he broke our gaze looking past me.
I stood straight and turned around, surveying the room, a glass smashed, but the sound didn’t unnerve me as much as Griffen’s face did. His mouth was open, and it took me a moment to realize that he dropped the glass.
I had never seen him so flustered, even when he attended to Nora.
“She’s in labor.” His face paled, and I looked at Caspien, “What do I do? I need a hospital bag. What if, oh Goddess, I packed three I don’t know which one has the fuzzy socks she likes.”
I suppressed a smile. The cool calculated warrior that became Beta of the most prominent back in the area not because of bloodline but because of sheer skill alone looked like he would get sick because he didn’t know where his mate’s fuzzy socks were. “Don’t worry,” I took a few steps toward him, where he stood on the outskirts of the dance floor and placed a hand on his arm, “We will help you and get everything.”
Cali and Holden showed up next to us, and Caspein probably informed them.
“We got this,” Cali added, “You get Nora to the hospital, and we will bring everything you need and make sure your apartment is ready when you get back.”
“What if she doesn’t make it?” Griffen sounded hollow, and Caspien put his arm around his Beta leading him to the elevator.
“The pack clinic is maybe four minutes away. I think she can make the commute from your apartment to the clinic.” Caspien said, but there was a bit of humor in his voice.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.