They helped me step into a floor-length pinkish nude gown. The front was open with a diagonal slit to show off my legs. I loved the asymmetrical top, one sleeve was full, covering my arm with a million sparkles, and the other was completely bare. On that side, the dress looked strapless, while the other side met the full sleeve. It was completely different than anything I had owned, and even in the light of the bedroom, the thousands of clear stones sparkled like the night sky. “Wow,” Nora breathed, taking a step back.
“Stunning doesn’t cover it,” Cali said.
“Beautiful,” Rachel smiled at me, “I’m glad you finally let us talk to you into an up-do.”
My hair was piled behind my neck in some intricate twists and waves and braids. I let them choose. It didn’t matter that much to me.
Lola just clasped her hands and squealed. It was all the validation and more I needed from my oldest friend.
I took a few steps in bare feet to the floor-length mirror in my room, and my breath caught. The dress was everything. With my hair and makeup done, I didn’t recognize myself. I looked like, well, I looked like royalty. Let’s go get us our crown
We descended the stairs to our waiting mates. Nora wore a light green dress that was decked out in sparkles but didn’t take away from the color. It was strapless, with one long piece of fabric hanging off one of her shoulders to the floor. It was regal, elegant, it was Nora. Cali called her ‘snatched’ when she saw it, and even though Nora claimed the boobs were from breastfeeding Cali told her to own it.
Cali went all out, of course, choosing an emerald green dress with long sleeves and intricate embroidered details. Off her shoulders hung a cape that pooled around her tight dress every time she stopped moving.
“I told you, capes are my thing,” She shrugged, frowning at an unruly curl that slipped out.
Rachel wore a simpler gown, but she still made it look stunning. Hers pooled on the floor, a long green satin fabric that hugged her waist and hips. There was a long slit going up past her waist, but it never really showed anything, more of a tease. Thin straps hung off her shoulders, keeping it all in place, but thicker straps from the same material hung off her shoulders.
Nora wore one of Rachel’s old dresses even though I insisted on buying her something. She looked stunning in a deep red ballgown and matching lips. She was completely in her element here, and I wished I could muster some of her ease and some of Cali’s confidence.
All of our guys’ eyes flashed black when they got sight of us. Caspien was immediately by my side; my face was tilted up in his large warm palms. He looked down at me, some of his hair falling over his golden crown. My breath caught at the sight of him, this was the first time I saw him in a crown, and my throat constricted.
He was mine.
Ours
“My Prince,” I whispered, a smile playing at my lips.
“My Princess,” He whispered, placing a featherlight kiss on my lips. It sent butterflies through me, and I frowned when he pulled away. He offered me his arm, “Let’s get our son.”
We collected our children and parents from their floor. My mom gushed over my dress, and my dad wiped a tear.
“You’re pretty, Mama,” Emmett said, and I admired his black tux. Everyone did. Loreli came shoving in with a little dark green dress and a cape similar to Cali’s.
Cali smiled down at her, “Gotta start them young,” She raised an eyebrow when I looked at her.
“We got a note from Blue Ridge,” Caspien whispered as we all descended the elevator, “It just came.”
I eyed him. I wasn’t expecting that, “What did it say?”
He handed me a folded note.
Unfortunately, Alpha Nolan and I won’t be able to attend.
Congratulations, Princess.
Thank you for the second chance.
Camilla
I looked at Caspien, and he shrugged, “Maybe some time in isolation did something for her ego.”
“I hope so,” I really did. I
thought every day about the decision to let her out alive. I weighed the options of what it could have meant to my future and her sons. I hope I made the right decision, and if the note was honest, I thought I might have.
The packhouse was decorated in royal colors, midnight blue and gold. Pack members held candles around the stage and above us from the balconies. It felt medieval, but that made sense; it was tradition, apparently, to have every pack member hold a candle of their own, their own way of helping the royals transition. Grace explained the traditions to me in detail, and I think I remembered most of them. Over my dress and Emmett’s tux, we wore a sash with their family emblem.
I liked being part of something so ancient, and I loved that Grace let me inject some of my own preferences into the ceremony and after-party. A party that I didn’t think I would make it long at anymore, but I was glad that our pack members would get to enjoy it. The murmurs of the crowd hushed when Caspien and I reached the stage. Rendell was wearing something that resembled a tunic. Intricate gold patterns I recognized from my engagement band circled through his dark blue shirt.
Grace was wearing a floor-length ballgown in the same blue. She explained that once I was crowned, I would wear the colors at all formal royal events.
They both wore burnished gold crowns, and they looked every bit like the royals that they acted on even when the crowns were gone. They both gave me a reassuring smile.
Caspien stood next to them, nodding at me slightly for reassurance. Emmett and I walked up hand in hand and stopped in front of his parents.
Rendell said some words about tradition and generations that I wished I could have remembered, but I was just trying to focus on anything besides my wildly beating heart. I focused on Caspien, his cool, confident gaze that softened when he met my eyes. I focused on Emmett’s tiny hand in mine, how he kept shifting from foot to foot.
The crowd around us was almost stifling. I felt I was still getting used to it, but this ceremony was huge.
It felt right despite my nerves. I was happy to be here, next to my son, in front of my mate and his parents. I tried to commit it to memory, but there were so many thoughts and feelings thundering through me.
A chalice was produced, and we cut our hands similar to any other ceremony. Rendell joined his blood with his sons, ushering in a new royal not born to the line. Grace must have done the same ceremony at some point, I looked at her, and she nodded to me, pride shown in her eyes.
“Will you protect these people not as their Luna but as their princess? Uphold not only Crescent Moons values but the royals?”
“I do,” I think I said.
Rendell did the same with Emmett, and he bravely placed his palm up for the little cut, I winced, but he smiled at me, “It’s okay, Mama.” He said. I went to ruffle his hair but thought better of it because he was all dressed up.
Rendell motioned to me, and I knelt before him, the king, my future father-in-law. Emmett followed my lead, and I held his hand tightly in mine.
The experience was surreal. I don’t think I could ever properly process this moment. My son next to me becoming a Prince while I was becoming a Princess. This was beyond any wild fantasies I let my mind run away with in the dark hours of the nights in the cabin. I never let myself wish for anything near this.
It was foreign but familiar. This felt right, even though every part of me didn’t believe it.
“Rise, Wilhelmina Balfour,” Rendell said after saying some ancient words.
I stood up and looked into his eye, which held nothing but adoration and pride. He placed a golden crown that radiated power on my head, but the weight was nothing I couldn’t bear with Caspien by my side.
The candles seemed to flicker, and an ancient power called to me, awoken in me. It was warmth and light and earned, not given. I had earned this power bestowed upon me.
It felt good, right, complete.
“Princess, look at your people.” I slowly turned around and gazed at thousands of eyes. These were the people I was responsible for, the people I vowed to protect, and I knew I would do anything for them. “Emmett Balfour,” Rendell turned to him, but everything sounded muffled, muted, against the sound of my heartbeat.
“I want to have Daddy’s name because Mama said hers will change,” Emmett said, and it took me back to reality. Caspien and I stared at Emmett. “Please.” He said.
I had never seen Caspien smile so wide. I swore it looked like he might almost cry.
“O-okay,” Rendell tripped over his words, shocked as well. Grace clasped her mate’s arm.
The candles flickered, and wind swept through the inside of the packhouse. Hushed gasps filled the air before the lights flickered back on their own accord. Confused chatter filled the room as everyone looked around at each other’s candles and back down at us. I could feel the power radiating through the room. It was warm and bright and light, unlike the ancient power that the royals held. It was new and changed and belonged to Emmett. Made by him and the gifts the Moon Goddess gave him. “It’s my absolute pleasure and honor to present my grandson Prince Emmett Dracos, heir of The Crescent Moon Pack.”
(Willa)
I was surprised when I didn’t want the night to end. It energized me, to have our joined pack celebrate with us, seeing all of their smiling faces and hearing all their warm wishes. We let Emmett stay up to enjoy part of the party, and My dad volunteered to put the kids to bed because my mom and Caspien’s parents were having so much fun.
We moved the party to a massive ballroom I had never been in. There were floor-to-ceiling windows, it looked like something out of a modern castle, and now this was my castle. Finger foods were set up, there were too many people to have a sit-down dinner, and that place was already packed, warm, and bright.
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.