CHARLOTTE
My hands are shaking, and my heart is pounding. What I was doing wasn’t wrong but how I was doing it, I’m not sure. We had to rally the people though, give them something to celebrate. That had become my mantra, ‘for the people.’ I could hear the whispers from here, but I drowned them out as I concentrated my hearing trying to pick him out. There, my love, his heart was steady and sure. I could do this.
I look in the mirror, my red hair falls in soft waves around my face and shoulders. My makeup is romantic and helps to accentuate my deep green eyes. On my head is a green diamond tiara that was once my mothers. I had obtained it a few months ago when I was a guest for the Blackwood pack. I say guest, but they did lock me in a cell and strip my wolf from me so that may be a far stretch. Thankfully the tiara made it out when I made my daring escape all thanks to the wonder of bobby pins. I had lost a dear friend that day, Sally. She should be here now, but it was just another reminder of why we were doing it like this.
My hands caress the silk of my dress. It was made especially for today, especially for me and it was exquisite. A full ball gown with a Queen Anne bodice in ivory white. There were delicate crystals sewn throughout the gown that caught the sun and shimmered. This was it, the day I would take my rightful place as Ryan’s Queen. The ceremony was going to be huge which is not what either of us wanted but ‘for the people.’ If this would help to strengthen the peace talks and bring harmony to our kingdom then it was worth it. I pick up my bouquet of roses and lilies and open the doors.
Drake is stood on the other side.
“What are you doing, you should be with Ryan?” I whisper at him frantic, had Ryan changed his mind? Panic started to build. Drake gave me a huge grin and held out his arm.
“You didn’t think I would let you walk down there alone?” Tears prick my eyes at his thoughtful gesture. He knew I hated being the centre of attention and having his presence would help. We had grown closer after I saved Drake’s fated mate from my evil soon to be mother-in-law and as my parents were killed over fifteen years ago by Ryan’s father, I didn’t have anyone to walk me down the aisle. Yeah, seriously you couldn’t write this s**t.
The four of us had become inseparable and we enjoyed lots of laughs together. “We are all here for you.” Rachel seems to appear from nowhere dressed in her red mermaid cut bridesmaid dress, and gives me a gentle hug, “you look radiant, Ryan is one lucky man.”
“Ready?” Drake asks. I take a deep breath.
“Ready.”
Drake nods at the two Lycans in front and they pull open the doors to the cathedral. The room is huge and is filled with hundreds of werewolves and Lycans who all turn towards me. The light streaming in fills the room with a warm glow and draws my eyes to the front where Ryan awaits me. He is wearing a black dress suit and looks good enough to eat. His hair flops in front of his eyes and his wide grin is beaming back at me.
My eyes instantly connect with Ryan’s, and I am warmed from the inside out. The music starts and I start to make my way towards him. There are “oohs” and “ahs” from the crowd as they take in the sight of me. People are crying, actually crying as I pass. I contain the eye roll that wants to be released and continue towards my mate. My wolf Sofia is purring with satisfaction in my head, and I can’t help but let a little laugh out. I was happy, truly happy. No matter how I married this man, I was marrying this man and he was one hell of a catch.
I arrive next to Ryan and Drake leaves me to take his place beside him as his Beta and best man.
“You are the most magnificent creature alive. Your beauty is beyond compare.” Ryan mind links me and I feel like I am glowing.
“You’ll do.” I respond with a cheeky smile to him. He laughs out loud, the most delicious sound you will ever hear, and I can’t help but join him.
The priest clears his throat and raises his eyebrow. Cue our stoic, regal, looks.
The ceremony seems to last forever as the priest talks about love, compassion and building a strong foundation. Are we talking about marriage or peace? It seems to land well with the people in the cathedral and the hundreds of thousands of Lycans and werewolves watching on a big screen outside. That’s right, I said it was a huge wedding.
The cathedral had been built especially for this day, but it had been agreed that it would be a place where werewolves and Lycans could come to worship the Moon Goddess afterwards. We had built it on our land and openly invited anyone to come. Realising quickly that we were going to be inundated we had erected screens outside for the overspill to still watch.
The festivities after the ceremony were going to be a night to remember and people had flocked with excitement. I tried to see it as an honour, but I was still getting use to all the attention which had only been intensified when I became a Hybrid. I was a werewolf and a Lycan at the same time which is something that has never happened before. I could let Sofia take over as my werewolf counterpart or I could shift into my Lycan form where me and Sofia would merge as one. I had spent the last few months experimenting with this and me and Sofia had gained a very strong bond.
“Do you Princess Charlotte Cousland, Alpha, Lycan and Werewolf of the Cousland pack take thee King Ryan Nylec, Alpha, Lycan of the Nylec pack to be your husband?”
“I do always” I am surprised at how clear and calm my voice is. I’m getting better at this crowd thing. The priest asks Ryan the same thing only in reverse and he looks at me with those ocean deep light blue eyes.
“I do always.” His eyes are dancing, and I am swept away with him.
“It is with great honour and with the Moon Goddess’ blessing that I now pronounce you husband and wife, mates forever and our most revered King and Queen.”
