Page 110 of The Denver Alpha

“Don’t even start,” I chuckle as the two of them stop across from us. “You guys barely left your room for a month after your bond snapped in.”

Shay’s nose twitches, her eyes pinging to the curve between Juliet’s neck and shoulder and flying wide upon seeing the white scar that contrasts with her tan skin. “You’ve marked!” she practically shrieks, and the moment her words cut through the crowd, the whole place goes so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

I look at Juliet. She looks at me. And I feel everyone else looking at the two of us- the immense weight of all those curious eyes.

Then, thunderous applause. The sound of it builds to a roar around us, my pack members not questioning, not hesitating, but just…celebrating. Cheering us on.

Pride and happiness swell within me at their reaction. It’s exactly how I’d hoped they’d take the news- I’ve always been good to my pack, always put them first. I’ve never given them a reason to doubt my judgment, and now here they are, overjoyed that I’ve claimed a mate, ecstatic to officially have a luna to lead them alongside me.

I get swept up in the moment, taking Juliet in my arms and kissing the hell out of her while the whoops and cheers around us surge to a crescendo. Light laughter floats from Juliet when I break the kiss, a radiant smile beaming on her face. Her eyes reflect the same emotions that I’m sure are swirling in my own- pride, happiness,love. Excitement for a new beginning.

“Well, don’t be shy, come meet your new Luna!” I shout, gazing into her eyes as my thumb strokes her cheek.

Without hesitation, members of my pack begin rushing forward, introducing themselves to Juliet, shaking our hands, and congratulating us. It’s a scene that would be overwhelming to most, but she remains so graceful and poised that if I hadn’t already known it, I’d see in that moment how Juliet was born to be a leader. How naturally it comes to her.

It takes a while for her to meet everyone, but her smile remains as bright for the last few people as it was for the first- and watching Juliet interact with my pack only makes me fall even more in love with her. It doesn’t seem possible to love her any more than I already do, but I know it’ll keep growing each day we spend together, especially the big moments still to come.

When she’s officially inducted as Luna.

When she becomes my wife.

When we… have pups.

Someday, I hope we do. I hope they get her blue eyes and her fierce spirit. And I’m sure they’ll make me just as crazy as she does.

We finally eat some food, then mingle with the pack some more. One person is conspicuously absent from the celebration. Tayla Bancroft left to relocate to the six-pack this morning, taking Juliet up on her generous offer to join her brother’s pack and handle marketing for the brewery and ski lodge out there. Not that I left her much choice in the matter. It was evident that she’d never be able to shove her true feelings about me or Juliet aside, so the best thing for all of us was for her to go. She couldn’t argue with that logic and, surprisingly, left without argument. I think she was almost relieved to get away and start fresh.

Despite Tayla’s feelings, her friends seem receptive to Juliet and happy for the two of us. Ashlyn and Kylie gushed over her dress, and Tobias shook my hand and said something about how lucky I am. I’m still keeping my eye on that guy.

The party lasts all day, stretching into the evening. My pack members begin filtering out, and by the time the sun goes down, it’s mostly those who reside at the packhouse who remain. That’s when Juliet convinces me to put on my swimsuit, and she leads the charge in getting everyone to participate in chicken fights in the pool. She climbs on my shoulders and of course, the two of us are declared the reigning champs in the end.

I can’t remember a day when I’ve smiled so much or laughed as often. Or the last time I just played and relaxed. Everything about it is perfect, and when I finally take Juliet upstairs for the night, I take my time worshipping between her thighs to thank her.

For the perfect day.

For being my mate.

For loving me, and letting me love her.

It’s by far the best thing I’ve ever done.

EPILOGUE

Two Months Later

It’s not a traditional wedding by any means. There’s no bridesmaids or groomsmen, no towering wedding cake with roses made of icing. No real pomp or circumstance. I do wear a white dress, though, looking every bit the blushing bride, and Cole looks so handsome in his suit I can hardly stand it.

The ceremony isn’t one you’d see at a typical wedding, either. The vows I take aren’t just to Cole; they’re to the entire pack, to swear me in as their official Luna. We mix in a few of our own vows to each other and sign a marriage certificate while we’re at it, though, and it’s still beautiful and meaningful and perfectlyus. The ceremony itself is brief, only for the members of the Denver pack, but the reception afterwards is far less intimate.

Everybody’s there. Cole’s parents traveled in, my own family made the trip, and all of the six-pack alphas and lunas are in attendance, too. In lieu of some stuffy, formal reception, we host it at Jokers nightclub, closing it down to the public for the evening so we can drink and dance and celebrate. Shay took the lead on decorating the place, and the interior is completely transformed- the bar is draped in flowers, soft purple uplighting creates a romantic ambiance, and large photo prints of Cole and I line the walls, smiling at our guests and telling our love story through images.

It may not be traditional, but it’s absolutely perfect. Cole even obliges me with a dance when we first arrive, sweeping me into his arms and spinning me around the dance floor to a James Arthur song. When the song ends, the two of us head to the bar to get a drink, but my little sisters intercept us before we can even make it there.

“You look gorgeous,” my seventeen-year-old sister Jenna gushes, throwing her arms around me and hugging me tight. Then she steps back and looks to Cole, giving him a shy smile. “You clean up nice, too.”

Cole snorts a laugh, tossing an arm around Jenna’s shoulders and pulling her in for a hug of his own. “Thanks, Jenna.” He releases her from his embrace, glancing toward my youngest sister, Jade. “You gonna come give me a hug or what?” he teases.

Cole took to my sisters right away when he first met them, and vice versa. The week after we sealed our bond, we took a trip back to Westfield so he could meet my family, and it went so well that we’ve been back twice since. Just for short visits, as I’ve been busy with classes and learning the ropes of being Luna, and Cole has a lot on his plate with his Alpha responsibilities- though he’s getting better about delegating some of those out so we can spend more time together.

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