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Wonder had gotten close to the two during her study sessions with Parker. Vivian had taken on a maternal role in her life, and Ella had become like a sister to her, but Wonder still wished that Tula could be there to celebrate her wedding.
Callie, her future sister-in-law, had chosen a wrap dress in a vibrant red color, edged with gold piping, and Aliya's dress was a simple navy sheath complemented by a gold headband.
Mey's dress had a red bodice and a flowing, blue, high-low skirt. The transition from red to blue was accented with a gold belt that was supposed to symbolize Wonder Woman's lasso, but Wonder doubted anyone would figure out what it meant to convey. Jin's dress had a gold sequined bodice, representing Wonder Woman's armor, and it was paired with a sleek navy pencil skirt. Eva was dressed in a long, deep blue Grecian-style gown with a flowing skirt and a detachable gold arm cuff.
When the moment arrived and the bride's song began playing, Wonder took her first step into the event hall, flanked by her bridesmaids. Keenly aware of every eye in the room turning towards her, her heart raced with excitement and nervousness, but as she beheld the smiling face of her groom, the anxiety vanished, and only the excitement remained.
Anandur looked dashing in his elegant tuxedo, and a wave of relief washed over her that he had chosen the traditional attire over the Superman costume he had brought aboard. His wildred hair, usually untamed, was slicked back neatly, giving him a distinguished look that only heightened his natural charisma. He looked every bit the hero Guardian she knew him to be, and the sight of him made her heart swell with love.
As their eyes met, she saw in his gaze a radiant happiness that mirrored her own, and the love she felt for him surged through her, so intense and profound that her heart felt like it was swelling within her chest.
Amusement lifted her lips as she imagined the swelling turning physical, overcoming her tight bodice, and causing a wardrobe malfunction.
She certainly didn't need that to make her wedding day even more memorable than it already was. Shaking off the absurd notion, Wonder smiled back at Anandur and lifted her gaze to Annani.
The contrast between Anandur's towering figure and Annani's petite form was striking, but despite the goddess's small stature, she commanded the space with her formidable presence. It was a remarkable sight—the goddess and the Guardian, standing at equal levels, their heights balanced by the dais.
Annani had always been larger than life, and as Gulan, Wonder had felt invisible under the goddess's immense shadow. Compared to Annani, she felt small and insignificant. What were her impressive stature and her physical strength compared to the goddess's power, indomitable spirit, and unwavering determination?
Today, though, as she stood in front of the dais holding Anandur's hand, Wonder realized how far she had come and how much she had grown. She was no longer Gulan, the servantgirl who had been tasked with protecting and serving the princess. She was now Wonder, a new person with no limits and nothing holding her back.
Her gaze shifting to Annani, she regarded the goddess who had been a constant in her life, the princess she had idolized as a young girl and still revered.
Despite her diminutive stature and her delicate appearance, Annani was fierce and courageous and had a relentless drive that defied the odds. She had faced adversities that would have daunted most, and yet she had persevered, and her vision for a better future remained clear.
Reflecting on Annani's journey, Wonder was struck by the enormity of what her oldest friend had achieved. Annani was more than just a leader of her clan; she was a guardian of humanity, shielding mankind from Navuh's toxic influence.
No one could compare to Annani, and Wonder shouldn't either. She had her own journey, her own path to follow, and her story hadn't been written yet. She might have been born nearly five thousand years ago, but she'd lived only twenty-three of them, and she had a lot to learn.
She felt a surge of gratitude toward her old friend for officiating at her wedding and for being a symbol of the resilience and hope that Wonder aspired to embody in her own life, of courage, compassion, and steadfastness in the face of adversity.
With a role model like Annani and with the love and support of Anandur and her new clan family, Wonder was stepping into a future filled with endless possibilities, and instead of feeling overwhelmed, she felt empowered.
She made a silent promise to herself to strive to be as courageous, as resilient, and as dedicated to her beliefs as the goddess. In her own way, she would carry forward the torch of hope and justice, standing alongside those she loved and fighting for a better world.
Annani
This night held a special place in Annani's heart, almost rivaling the emotional intensity of her daughters' weddings. Wonder, or Gulan as she was once known, was still her closest friend despite the thousands of years separating them. Seeing her standing next to her prophesied mate and looking so profoundly happy was deeply moving.
As she gazed at the couple before her, Annani's mind wandered to the prophecy of an old human seer who had foretold of Gulan's destined love thousands of years ago.
In a distant land and time, you will find true love with a gentle giant of a man.
What a succinct description of Anandur that was.
A gentle giant of a man.
At over six and a half feet tall and with broad shoulders that could barely fit through a standard door opening and massive muscles all over, he was a giant, and although not many would call him gentle, Annani knew that he had a heart of gold and cared deeply about his brother, his clan, and now his mate.
The soothsayer's prophecy for Areana had also been accurate.
A heavy burden rests on your shoulders, and you have a most important task. Your gentle soul and soft heart will guide you on your path. I see a child in your future, a son born to you and the rogue. Stay strong and true to yourself and teach him right from wrong.
It was easy to see that the rogue was Navuh, and the son was either Lokan or Kalugal. The soothsayer should have said sons, not son, but perhaps teaching Kalugal right from wrong was more important than teaching Lokan because the younger brother was so much more powerful than the older, and if he had stayed with the Brotherhood and become his father's right-hand man, Annani shuddered to think of the consequences. Navuh was smart, but Kalugal was brilliant, and combined with his compulsion power, he was extremely dangerous.
And yet, he'd grown up to be a decent male, a good husband and father, and a fair leader of his men. All of that was most likely thanks to his mother's influence.
The near-perfect accuracy of those prophecies was so evident that it stirred within Annani a flicker of hope for her own prophesied reunion with Khiann, her long-lost love so cruelly taken from her by Mortdh.
