Chapter 1 The Dress
POV: Lilly
^The Day of Ember’s Luna Ceremony^
“What the hell are you wearing?” Carter boomed, his voice gruff.
I could tell he was seriously mad this time. I tugged at the hem of my short, low-cut bourbon dress—the one Ember and Sam hadinsistedwas what I needed to wear.Honestly, Icouldn’tbelieve I had let Samtalkmeintobuying this dress. I rolled my eyes at myself.Why had I ever thought I could pull off something this daring?
Sure, Sam could wear a dress likethisand Carterwouldn’tsay a word, butshecould pull off anything with that sassy wit and effortless supermodel confidence of hers.
Fuck,I knew he was right—ugh, I hated that he was right—butIwasn’tabout to let my big brother bully me into changing.
I could wear whatever the hell I wantedtoEmber’s Luna Ceremony. Besides, itwasn’tlike I had time to change now.“For God’s sake, Carter,” I snapped, “we’rerunning late. This is not the time to argue.”
Carterturned dramatically toward my dad, tossing his arms in the air.
Dad let out a low chuckle and pulled me into an embrace. “You look… stunning, honey,” he said, planting a soft kiss on my forehead.
“Thank you, Dad,” I murmured, grateful.
At least someonewasn’tbeing an ass.
Carter and my dad might have looked alike—honestly, Dad was just the older, more refined version of my brother—but personality-wise they couldn’thave been more different. Dad was the calm one. The steady one.
And while Carter might have been Logan’s Beta, I sometimes seriously wonderedhow the hell he had gotten that position. He was chaotic, loud, and half the time hedidn’teven seem to have a plan.
“Mom! Talk to your daughter, please!I’mnot letting her leave the house like this!” Carter looked ready to explode.
I rolled my eyes again.
My mother walked in, scanning me fromhead totoe.
“Oh, sweetheart, you look stunning,” she said, her voice soft and proud.
Carter scoffed loudly. “Are you guys serious? We can almost see her ass, Mom. Tell her to change!”
My mothersmacked his arm playfully.“Don’tbe ridiculous, Carter. And mind your own damn business—By that, I mean your own mate. Where is Sam?”
Carter glared at me one last time before turning on his heel. “Fine.I’llgo findher.You guys do whatever you want with this teenage blonde of yours.”
He muttered something under his breath, stomping out like the drama king he was.
I took one last look in the mirror.
My golden short curls were pinned into a graceful bun—loose strands framing my face in a soft, elegant way. My freckles dotted my nose. My big green eyes twinkled with anticipation, and my lips, glossed in a blushed pink, were parted in a breathless kind of excitement.
Icouldn’tshake the feeling that tonight was the night I wouldfinallymeet my mate.
And damn it, Icouldn’twait any longer.Ihadbeen looking for two years now.I was only twenty, but still,I wanted what everyone around me had.
My parents and their loving marriage. Ember and Logan—finallytying the knotafter everything. Even Carter was mated now. And although he and Sam bickered like it was their second language, anyone with eyes could see how much they loved each other.
I sighed, the kind that bubbled up from somewhere deep inside.Tonightmightbethe nighand Icouldn’twait.
We headed out—my father, my mother, and me—making our way to the packhouse as quickly as we could. We were running so late.
Ididn’teven know why I was still staying in my old room at my parents’ house. I should have been in the new packhouse like everyone else.Especially considering the fact that I had been doing more of the work than Carter.
And he had his own private Beta quarters.
Still, I was proud ofmy job,of what we had built over the last couple of years. Ihadbeen involved ever since I finished high school. I had dreamed of going to college, but my parents had been too scared to let me out into the human world.
And, well… I stayed.
Iwassogratefulwhen Loganofferedme the position as his personal assistant—althoughlet’sbereal,it was just a pretty title for being his actual Beta. Carterhadn’thandled much of theplanning ororganization, thougheverythingwaschanging now.
Carter was lucky to have Sam as his mate, a true-born Beta from the famous Crescent Moon Pack.She had been carrying a lot of his slack lately, and I had to admit they balanced each other outperfectly.
Whichkind of leftme in this awkwardlimbo.
Like—what now?
Logan had told me more thanoncehedidn’twant to lose me from the pack. Buttruthwas, Ididn’tsee a clear future for myself here anymore.
I wanted more.
MaybeIcould talk to Logan about traveling. To find my mate. Wherever the hell in this world he was.
I sighed, shaking off the thought. I wasn't giving up hope yet.
Tonight’s ceremony would be huge. Packs from all over were coming to celebrate the merger. This wasn’t just any union—it was the biggest merger in werewolf history. Ember and Loganwere about to become Alpha and Luna to one oft he largest wolf packs in the world.
It suited them.
Though… something had felt off with Ember. I had sensed it all week. Maybe it was just nerves. God, I hoped she shook it off before the ceremony. We wouldn’t want our Luna running off on us.
When we walked into the packhouse, I wasimmediatelygreeted by Sam—phone pressed to her ear,gesturing forpackmembersto carry something to the garden, and somehow stillmanagingto compliment me at the same time.
I glanced up at her, honestly a little in awe. She was such a queen of multitasking. I wastruly happyto have her as my sister-in-law.She was as badass as a Beta could get.
She ended the call and flashed me a wide smile. “Damn, girl. I’m so glad we went with that dress.”
I blushed slightly, thinking back to Carter’s little meltdown.
“I guess,” I mumbled.
“You guess? Babe,you’re sweet enough to eat,” she teased with a wink. “Now don’t kid me—can you check the last prep in the garden before we head to the entrance to welcome the guests?”
I groaned. “You need me to be there?”
“Yes, I need you to be there.You’rea bridesmaid, remember?”shesaid pointedly, already turning on her heel.
“Have you seen Carter?”shetossed over her shoulder.
I rolled my eyes. “He was looking for you.”
“Really?”She shook her head, jogging up the stairs. “I’m gonna check on Ember!” she called out as she disappeared.
I sighed and made my way toward the garden to check on the final arrangements.
And wow.
Everything looked perfectly organized—like something out of a wedding magazinespread. Lights, flowers, custom seating, the scent of roses woven into the air… itlooked magical.
I paused, soaking it all in.
I was so proud of my pack—of what we had managed to showcase, to celebrate. It was more than just a merger. It was a statement. A festival of unity and strength.
Just asI scanned the garden one last timefor any imperfection, I saw Luna Ella, Logan’s mother, heading toward me with that distinct purposeful stride.
“Lilly! Just the person I was looking for,” she said, a hint of worry in her voice. “Have you seen the ceremonial blade? I thought I brought it out earlier… I hope itdidn’tget lost.”
Igave her areassuring smile.“It’sin my office, Luna. I made sure it was tucked away safely.I’llgrab it before the ceremony—unless you need it now?”
“Yes, please,” she nodded quickly. “I’d rather have it placed up front so we’re not scrambling later.”
“Got it,” I said, turning on my heel.
As I headed toward the side entrance of the packhouse, I heard her call back to her husband, “Connor!Let’sgo welcome the first guests—I believethey’vestarted arriving.”
She was beaming, but I caughtthe nervousnessinher voice.I shook my head.A little panic was to be expected at a wedding, especially one ofthis scale. But I was sure everything wouldgo justfine.
I stepped inside, stillhalf-turned to glancetoward the garden—and crashed straight into a wall of muscle.
Solid.
Unyielding.
Throwingmecompletelyoff balance.
I let out a sharp breath, stretching instinctively to brace myself for the fall—
But itdidn’tcome.
Two strong arms wrapped around me, steadying me mid-stumble.
“Gotcha.”
The word was low. Rough.And it sent a rippledownmy spine.
My breathcaught inmy throat.
I looked up—
And my entire worldtiltedinstantly.
He was tall.Sharp jawline, sun-kissed skin, lips that looked like sin, and the most piercing steel-gray eyes I had ever seen—locked on me like I was the only damn thing that existed in the world.
Mate.
The worddidn’tcome from my lips—it pounded through my veins, pulsed in my chest.
His eyes widenedalmost imperceptibly.
He felt ittoo.
My head spun, mybreathhitchedand for just a moment it seemed like my heart had forgotten how to function.
“Hi,” I whispered, breathless.
His lips twitched into the ghost of a smirk. “Hello, beautiful.”
He pulled me closeragainsthim,his thumb brushingalong the bare skin of my back—where the dress dipped low.
A shiver rushed through me, my entire bodyonhigh alert, flushed, electrified.
I had waited for this moment for so long.
Dreamedabout it.
But nothing could have prepared me for the wildfire that ignited inside me when thematebond snapped tight.
Before I could say anything, I heard Luna Ella’s voice cutting through the garden like a bell.
“Lilly! The blade!”
Shit.
I blinked, still dizzy from the impactof crashing into him—still wrapped in the electric buzz of histhouch.
My legs felt unsteady, like my whole body had forgotten how to function. My brain? Gone. Probably had flown out the damn window the moment I had looked into his piercing grey eyes.
God, he was so handsome.
Shit, Icouldn’tdo this.
Not right now.
Not when the ceremony was about to start. Not when guests were pouringinand the most important day in our pack’s history was unfolding outside.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to focus.
Ceremony first.
Mate later.
I looked up at him with a breathless smile.
His eyes were still locked on my face, like hecouldn’tquite believe I was realeither.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, stepping back from the warmth of his arms even though my wolf whined at the loss.
“Ihave torun and get the ceremonial blade.”
His brows lifted slightly in surprise. “Ceremonial blade?”
I bit back a grin. “I’ll explain later,” I promised, giving him a playful wink.
I spun around and headed for the stairs, my heart racing with every step. I could still feel the imprint of his hands on my skin. Still feel the way his voice had curled around me like smoke.
Oh my God.
My mate was here.
This was really happening.
I almost tripped over the top step,my head spinning.
My wolf was howling in my chest, already craving his touch again. His scent still clung to me—warm, earthy, intoxicating.
Focus, Lilly!
He was here for the ceremony. Which meant I would see him again. Talk to him. Touch him.
My cheeks flushed at the thought, a mix of nerves and giddy happiness blooming in my chest.
Thiswasit.
After all this time.
My heart swelled sohardit was almost painful.
Ihadn’teven asked his name…
But I would.
Tonight was the beginning of everything.
And God, I was so ready.
