Page 50 of Lycan and Lark
Dahlia had gone above and beyond to turn the entire area into one massive garden. She had covered the area in a billowy mass of white, cream, and dusty-rose-colored carnations, roses, and peonies. The beautiful flowers grew straight from the earth and wrapped around each chair. They were accented by rich, plum-colored ribbons. The trellis itself housed a pale pink rose bush so magnificent and lush it almost looked fake. Each rose was the size of a dinner plate, and they sparkled with a pearly otherworldly glimmer. Even the surrounding trees had been decorated. Strands of carefully crafted jasmine garland draped across the branches and wrapped around each trunk. It filled the space with a magically sweet, floral fragrance.
A reception area lined the other side of the water. Round white tables with silver candelabras and extravagant floral wreaths decorated each table. Purple ribbons wrapped around the chairs and covered the tables themselves. Pierre had managed a truly magnificent seven-tier cake. The outside was a shimmery white with gold accents. The top three tiers housed a delicate gold writing that read‘And they lived happily ever after’with a replica of Neuschwanstein Castle on the very top. The whole wedding was fairytale themed and it truly did feel like a real-life fairy tale.
The ceremony took place at sunset and every vibrant color reflected across the water. Gilded golds, tropical corals, pillowy purples, and midnight blues colored the lake’s surface with their coveted evening glow. Aria waited within the tree line with the other bridesmaids and Dahlia. She peered out to the guests who had already taken a seat. She was grateful to spot Lark sitting next to Peyton. She hadn’t wanted him to have to attend the wedding alone. When she reached out to her favorite, tattooed techie lycan, he didn’t hesitate to agree to accompany Lark to the ceremony. Peyton really was a good guy.
With Lark taken care of, Aria could focus her attention on her bridesmaid’s duties. “As maid of dishonor—”
“It’s maid of honor, Aria,” Dahlia said with a giggle.
“Right, right. Anyways, it’s my duty to make sure everyone is having fun.” She reached for the basket she had stashed behind the trees while everyone was setting up. “Time to pop the bubbly!” She pulled several bottles of vintage Dom Perignon from their hiding place.
“Holy shit. That stuff is hella expensive.” Christina’s mouth gaped open. Apparently Dahlia didn’t have a ton of friends, which is why most of her bridesmaids were from within the pack. But one of Dahlia’s bridesmaids was a human. “Who’d you have to fuck to get your hands on those?” Christina was foul-mouthed and wild. Aria liked her instantly. Leah spent the whole time glaring at the poor woman. She had argued against having a human in a lycan wedding, but Dahlia had promptly put her in her place.
“My wedding, my choice. At your wedding you can do whatever you like.”
Aria scoffed as she popped the top and swigged straight from the bottle. “Please, this is Gideon’s wedding. My brother would spare no expense.” She took another swig. “Ugh I should have packed these in a cooler.”
“I’m on it.” Nova swept forward, wrapping her hands around the bottle. Tiny ice crystals wreathed around the glass. “There. That should do it.” She passed the bottle back to Aria.
“Nova, you’ve done it again, you ice angel.” Aria handed the bottle to the others.
“This is amazing.” Laurie giggled as she drank some. Dahlia made a pouty face as she rubbed her belly.
“Don’t worry, I will buy you all the champagne you want as soon as you have my sweet little nieces, or nephews.” Aria was really looking forward to being an auntie.
“I’ll do the same for you when you have your own little ones and make me an aunt.” Dahlia gave her an impish grin.
Aria let out a strangled sound as she chugged her champagne and the girls went wild with laughter.
The sounds of a harp floated into the tree line and they all straightened up.
“This is it!” Aria squealed.
* * *
“Ladies, he’s taken!” Peyton swatted several girls away who were sidling up next to Lark. Lark’s magic always caused women to be drawn to him. He was doing his best to balance a friendly, approachable aura so that pack members would start feeling more comfortable around and eventually accept him, with an aura that made him insignificant enough that women would look the other way. He was clearly failing. The girls giggled as Peyton shooed them away. “Damn, dude, is it the white hair? The scar? Whatever it is, I need to get one asap.”
Lark ran a hand down his face and sighed. “It’s the magic. And trust me, it’s not as convenient as it looks.”
Peyton cursed, “Well I guess I’m shit out of luck ’cause the only thing magical about me is my giant wolf dic—”
A hand smacked across the top of Peyton’s head. Bjorn was glaring at him from the row behind. He sat with his sister Brona, and grandmother, Matlena. “There are ladies present.”
“Sorry, dude.” Peyton feigned zipping his mouth shut and throwing away the key and Brona and Matlena giggled.
Lark thought about Aria as he sat talking with Peyton and waited for the ceremony to start. Well, more like Lark listened to Peyton talk. The other lycan was easygoing and endlessly chatty. Another great example of not judging a book by its cover. Peyton had even more tattoos than Lark and a plethora of piercings as well. The two of them gleaned looks from the other formal guests on more than one occasion. Between Peyton’s face tattoos and piercings, and Lark’s white hair and scar, they must have looked like two villains preparing to steal the bride, or her diamond ring at least.
Peyton only ceased his rant when the harp started playing its ethereal music. “Oh shit, here we go,” Peyton muttered excitedly as he craned his neck to see down the aisle. Gideon entered, accompanied by his groomsmen. Lance, Darren, Lucas, and Aaron strode confidently down the aisle. They took their place beneath the trellis, patiently awaiting the bride.
Leah came down first. She looked regal and fierce as she walked. Nova was next. Her silver hair streamed behind her and Lark’s magic stirred as she walked past him. He felt the air shift with her presence and noticed a thin layer of ice coating the flowers on the innermost part of the aisle. Dahlia’s human friend bounced down the aisle after Nova. Her scent was tainted with nerves. She was likely feeling the presence of dozens of wolves and a lycan Alpha. Lark listened in on her thoughts as she walked by. She was cursing herself for being so nervous. It wasn’t her fault, poor girl.
Aria was the last of the bridesmaids to enter. Dahlia had asked her to be the maid of honor because without Aria, Dahlia never would have met Gideon. Lark’s heartbeat quickened as he laid eyes on his mate. She was wearing a floor-length purple gown that was fitted around her full chest, cinched at the waist, and then flowy all the way to the grass. One flower-covered strap led up to her left shoulder, leaving the right shoulder bare. Her brown hair was curled and hung down her back, with wildflowers braided into the top. She glanced over at him as she walked past his row and smiled. Her mind was filled with visions of her and Lark’s future wedding. It spread warmth through Lark’s chest. He would marry Aria and give her the life, family, and love she deserved.
The ceremony was beautiful but Lark spent it gazing at Aria. She looked so beautiful, so happy. The joy in her thoughts helped him to look past the disapproving thoughts of some of the other guests near him. They were cruel and unfair in their assumptions about him, but Lark understood. Aria told him it would take time. He was willing to stick it out, for her.
The reception started up and Nova surprised everyone by freezing the lake and turning it into a massive dance floor. It was a great idea, in theory. But the first few guests who attempted to make use of it went slip, sliding, and toppling over. Dahlia remedied the situation by growing a thin layer of soft moss across the entirety of the glassy surface. The partygoers abandoned their shoes and headed onto the dance floor. It had taken many strong drinks, and a surplus of begging and pleading from Aria, to get Lark out there.
“Don’t be so stiff,” Aria urged him. “Just move your body. It’s easy.” Lark glared down at her as she ground her body against him.
