Page 71 of Once You Go Pack
“Speaking of devastatingly attractive,” Riley said, her eyes gleaming with sisterly mischief, “I may have walked past Cade’s chambers this morning and caught a glimpse of him in his formal attire. My goodness, Mila. How do you even function around that man?”
“Very carefully,” Mila confessed, earning delighted laughter from both women. “The past two weeks have been... intense.”
That was an understatement. Between her accelerated queen training and Elder Grimm’s awestruck examination of Celeste Aylward’s diary—which had completely vindicated her against Zarik’s accusations—Mila had thrown herself into preparing for this role with fierce determination. Combat training with Lyra until her muscles screamed. History lessons with Martin that stretched late into the night. Protocol sessions that left her head spinning with the intricate customs of shifter nobility.
But through it all, Cade had been her constant anchor. Patient when she stumbled over pack traditions, encouraging when self-doubt occasionally crept in, and fiercely passionate when they finally got into bed each night.
“The way you two look at each other,” Riley continued, her voice taking on a note of genuine emotion, “it’s like something out of a fairy tale. I’m actually jealous, and I never thought I’d say that about my little sister.”
Mila’s heart clenched with affection for Riley, whose presence this past week had been an unexpected gift. Watching her confident, ambitious sister explore Nova Aurora with wide-eyed wonder had been entertaining enough, but the late-night conversations they’d shared—really talking for the first time in years—had been precious beyond measure.
“The impromptu sleepovers this week reminded me of when we were kids,” Mila said softly, reaching for Riley’s hand. “I’d forgotten how much I missed having my big sister around.”
“Before life got complicated,” Riley agreed, squeezing her fingers. “Before I got so caught up in being the successful one that I forgot to actually take a breath.”
Lyra cleared her throat dramatically. “While this sisterly bonding is absolutely precious, we have a queen to create. The ceremony starts in three hours, and Mila still looks like she wrestled a pack of rogue wolves.”
“Gee, thanks for the boost of confidence,” Mila laughed, running her hands through her tangled hair.
“Trust me, once we’re done with you, Cade won’t know what hit him,” Lyra promised with a predatory grin.
Riley bounced to her feet with renewed energy. “Alright, let’s do this. Shower first, then we tackle that gorgeous wedding dress.”
As Mila headed toward the bathroom, her nerves finally began to settle into something more manageable. The past two weeks had proven that she belonged here—not just as Cade’s mate, but as a leader in her own right. The council had started seeking her input on pack matters. The territory’s human integration program was already taking shape under her guidance. Even the most traditional shifters had begun treating her with genuine respect rather than polite tolerance.
I’m ready for this,she realized as hot water cascaded over her shoulders.I’m ready to be his queen.
When she emerged from the bathroom twenty minutes later, wrapped in a plush robe, the guest suite had been transformed. The wedding dress hung from the armoire like captured starlight—flowing silk the color of fresh snow, with intricate beadwork that caught the morning light. Beside it lay the silver necklace Cade had given her as an engagement gift, an heirloom that had belonged to his mother.
The necklace never failed to make her breath catch. When he’d fastened it around her throat two weeks ago, his fingers trembling slightly with emotion, she’d nearly cried at the trust implicit in the gesture. Queen Sira’s jewelry, passed down to the woman who would stand beside her son and help him rule.
“It’s perfect,” she whispered, touching the pendant reverently.
“Just like you,” Lyra said firmly, already moving toward the dress. “Now come on, future sister. Let’s make you look like the queen you already are.”
As Riley and Lyra helped her into the dress, carefully arranging the flowing silk and adjusting the delicate beadwork, Mila’s mind wandered to what lay ahead. After today, her real duties would begin in earnest. The human integration program would require her full attention, not to mention the delicate balance of Ice Moon pack politics and her role as High Sovereign Queen over all three packs.
It would be demanding, possibly overwhelming at times. But with Cade beside her as an equal partner, she felt capable of anything.
“There,” Lyra announced, stepping back to admire their handiwork. “Absolutely radiant.”
Mila turned toward the full-length mirror and gasped. The woman staring back at her bore little resemblance to the invisible paralegal who’d fled her father’s law firm four weeks ago. This woman stood tall and confident, silver necklace gleaming against her throat, wedding dress flowing around her like liquid starlight. Her blue eyes sparkled with determination and joy, and her skin seemed to glow with inner light.
I look like a queen,she thought with wonder.I look like myself.
“Cade’s going to lose his mind,” Riley said with satisfaction, adjusting a final fold of silk. “In the best possible way.”
The thought of seeing Cade waiting for her at the altar sent delicious anticipation spiraling through Mila’s core. Her Alpha wolf king, commanding and protective and utterly devoted to her. In just under an hour, they would be bound not just by their mate bond, but by sacred vows witnessed by their people.
“I can’t wait to see his face,” Mila admitted, her cheeks warming at the memory of how his green eyes darkened when desire overtook his careful control.
“Neither can we,” Lyra said with a wicked laugh. “The man’s been pacing his chambers since dawn. Martin had to physically restrain him from coming to find you an hour ago.”
The image of her powerful, disciplined mate reduced to nervous pacing made Mila’s heart flutter with affection.My wolf king.
“Are you nervous?” Riley asked, studying Mila’s expression in the mirror.
Mila considered the question carefully. “Good nervous,” she said finally. “The kind that means something incredible is about to happen.”
