Chapter 357: A perfect union...

Lyla

I never thought a Joining Ceremony could be planned in less than six hours, but here I was, sitting in front of a mirror while Clarissa applied the finishing touches to my makeup. The other women bustled around us, fussing over every detail of Ramsey’s mother’s joining gown that now hung waiting for me.

The day had passed in a whirlwind after Ramsey and I reconciled. He’d taken me straight to Elder Eldric to share the news about the babies. Our visit to the pack hospital confirmed what I’d suspected—I was exactly twelve weeks along. The ultrasound images of our tiny twins had made both Ramsey and his grandfather tear up with joy.

When we’d mentioned getting married tomorrow, Elder Eldric had waved us off with a dismissive gesture. "Nonsense," he’d declared. "I’ll handle everything. You’ll be joined before nightfall."

And somehow, impossibly, he’d made it happen.

"There," Clarissa said, stepping back to admire her work. She placed her hands on my shoulders and smiled at our reflection. "You look absolutely beautiful, Lyla."

I studied myself in the mirror, hardly recognising the radiant woman staring back at me. Clarissa had enhanced my natural features with subtle makeup that made my eyes sparkle and my skin glow. My hair was swept up in an elegant style with small white flowers woven throughout.

"Thank you," I whispered, touched by all the effort everyone had put into making this day special.

The joining dress was breathtaking. Made of ivory silk with intricate beadwork that caught the light, it had belonged to Ramsey’s mother. The women had somehow managed to alter it to fit me perfectly in just a few hours. As I slipped into it, I felt connected to the women who had come before me—the Luna who had worn this dress, who had stood before the moon and pledged her heart to her mate.

I couldn’t stop staring at myself in the mirror. The dress transformed me into something ethereal, something worthy of the powerful man waiting for me.

the door interrupted my

heart fluttered with anticipation as we made our way outside. The sun was beginning its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink. Elder Eldric had chosen the perfect timing—we would be joined as day turned to

take place in the Sacred Grove, a circular clearing in the heart of our

living roof. Hundreds of fairy lights had been strung between the trees, creating a canopy of stars even before the real ones appeared. White silk ribbons fluttered from every branch, and the ground was

stone formation draped with more white silk and surrounded by arrangements of white roses, baby’s breath, and trailing ivy. Candles in tall glass holders flickered along the perimeter, their warm

dress uniforms, while the women wore their finest gowns. Children peeked out from behind their parents, eyes wide with excitement at

took her place, stunning in midnight purple silk. Both women had insisted on

asked, offering me her

a deep breath as the traditional joining music began. A group of pack musicians played old melodies on instruments that had been

step, my anticipation grew. The fairy lights twinkled above us like blessings from

waiting for me at

took my breath away. His eyes were bright with unshed tears, and the smile that spread

we reached him, he stepped forward and took my hands from my

beautiful woman I’ve ever seen," he murmured,

my own eyes well up with tears. "I love

turned together to face the Moon Priest, an elderly man whose grey hair gleamed in the candlelight. He raised his

the Sacred Grove, under the watchful eyes of the Moon Goddess and our ancestors, to witness the joining of two souls destined to be one," he began, his voice carrying clearly through the stillness.

we answered in

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