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“I can’t give away all my secrets yet, dear.” Reaching up, she pressed a hand to my cheek. “I’ve still got some life left to live. When I’m ready to go, I’ll make sure all the secrets are yours.”
I hugged her, not caring about the wrinkles in my dress or any touch ups to my makeup. “I love you,” I told her. “And I couldn’t do this without you.” The fact that she approved soothed any lingering nerves I had about us moving too fast. Grandma would never do anything to hurt me, even if it meant telling me I was out of my mind.
“You could,” she said quietly. “But I’m glad you’re not.”
Then she stepped back and looked at me, quickly fixing any smudges my misting eyes had made. “Though I didn’t have time to buy you the kind of gift I want to.”
“Grandma, you’re literally hosting the ceremony. You don’t need to get me a gift.”
“That’s never stopped me before.”
A soft knock at the door. Petra leaned her head inside. “It’s time.”
“Yes, it is.” Grandma squeezed my hands before leaving the room. I looked at myself one more time. There was nothing out of place, and if someone had told me a month ago that I’d be here, looking so fucking happy, I never would have believed them.
“You ready?” Petra asked.
“Yes.”
It was true. I was ready.
She handed me my bouquet, which was a mixture of purple flowers that matched the girls’ dresses, the hint of color in mine, and all the other decorations I’d gotten a glimpse of.
Addison had let herself loose, taking the colors she already knew I loved and creating a wonderland. I didn’t know how she managed to do it, but when I saw her, she was beaming like I’d given her the greatest gift in the world.
Almost everyone was here. The girls and their packs, Dion and his, Claire, other friends from the company, and some friends of the guys. Asher’s friend Will couldn’t make it today but would visit soon, and Jace’s family couldn’t make the trip on short notice. Someone would be streaming it for them.
Petra guided me downstairs and to the back of the house. I hadn’t seen outside yet—they wouldn’t let me. Grandma’s estate was huge, but I was told they created a space for the ceremony that would double as a dance floor later.
After we came back from the room the five of us would escape to as soon as the ceremony was over. Because we would need a minute—or an hour—to give in to pure instinct.
Another good reason this dress exposed so much of my chest and shoulders. So my Alphas had room to bite.
Music flowed through the air, and I gasped, looking at Petra. She just smiled. It was Alexander Serrat’s music. The concert I was meant to go to. No matter what happened that night, his music was still my favorite.
“Was this your idea?”
“A suggestion.”
“Thank you.”
She smiled and leaned in close. “I’ve always got your back, Sloane. Even when you’re shoving me into closets.”
“I remember that turning out pretty well for you.”
“It did. And this aisle? It’s your closet.”
Esme went first, walking down the aisle, and then Eva. Petra right before me. Then it was my turn, the music swelling naturally, and I stepped around the corner…
My breath stopped entirely.
Over the large marble veranda, they’d created a lattice that suspended flowers, crystals, and lights which were starting to glow as the sky darkened and the sun began to set. Candles hovered at the edges with more flowers, all the seats draped in fabric that matched the theme. Everyone had turned to look at me, my throat going dry with an entirely different kind of spotlight.
But more than anything, my eyes were on them.
Matching dark suits, with each Alpha in a different color vest and tie. All of them looking at me with forever in their eyes.
The weight of their gazes on me brought tears to my eyes, but I didn’t want to cry. I didn’t want to miss a second of this. And for a moment, I almost wished we were alone in the middle of all this beauty.
