Chapter 223: Eternal Bond
Aurora’s POV
Meanwhile, across the courtyard…
Annie fussed around me like a whirlwind, tightening the lace at my back while humming nervously.
“Stand still!” she scolded playfully.
“I can’t,” I laughed, my heart hammering against my ribs.
“My heart’s racing.”
“Well, it should be!” she exclaimed dramatically.
“You’re about to become Luna of the Shadow Pack.”
She leaned closer, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
“And marry the most gorgeous Alpha alive.”
I rolled my eyes, grinning.
“You sound like Rafael.”
“Don’t insult me like that,” she snorted.
“I have better taste.”
We both burst into laughter, the kind that made everything else melt away for a moment the nerves, the noise, the weight of everything that was about to change.
But then, as Annie smoothed the silk of my veil and stepped back, her smile softened.
“You deserve this, Aurora,” she said, her voice quieter now.
“Every bit of it. The peace, the love, the happiness, you earned it.”
Emotion filled my chest. I turned toward her, taking her hands in mine.
“And you deserve to see me not faint on my wedding day,”
I teased, then added softly, “Thank you for never leaving me. You’ve been my best friend… my anchor.”
Her eyes glistened.
“Always will be,” she whispered, pulling me into a tight hug.
****
Outside, the drums began to beat slow, ceremonial, powerful. Their rhythm echoed through the courtyard like the heartbeat of the pack.
The ceremony had begun.
I stood by the great oak doors, my fingers trembling around the bouquet of white moon lilies.
The air shimmered with energy pack members in elegant clothing, Elders gathered near the altar, the scent of pine and night-blooming flowers carried by the wind.
And then, the doors opened.
Gasps rose through the courtyard.
For a moment, I just stood there, frozen. Every pair of eyes seemed to turn toward me, but the only gaze I truly felt… was his.
Alessandro stood beneath the arch of white roses, dressed in black and silver.
His eyes those stormy ocean blue eyes that had once looked at me with disdain now looked at me like I was the only thing that existed.
I took a breath, then began to walk.
Each step echoed softly against the marble aisle. My veil fluttered behind me, catching the sunlight, and my heart whispered with every beat this is real.
When I reached the altar, Alpha Tony stepped beside me. His hand trembled as he took mine and placed it in Alessandro’s.
“Take care of her,” he said, voice low but thick with emotion.
“She’s my greatest pride.”
Alessandro nodded solemnly.
“With my life, sir.”
Tony smiled faintly, then stepped back into the crowd.
And just like that, it was us.
Me and him.
The Elder Priest raised his staff.
“We gather under the light of the Moon Goddess to unite two souls, chosen not by chance, but by destiny.
Alpha Alessandro of the Shadow Pack, and Aurora of the Glow Pack.”
I turned to face Alessandro, my hand still trembling in his. He gave a small squeeze, grounding me.
The Elder looked at me.
“Do you, Aurora, vow to stand by your Alpha, through peace and storm, through shadow and light?”
My throat tightened, but I nodded.
“I do.”
“And do you, Alpha Alessandro, vow to protect your Luna, to lead beside her, not above her, to honor her bond and her heart?”
“I do,” he said firmly, his voice steady but his eyes glimmering.
The Elder stepped back slightly.
“Then, before your pack and the Moon herself, speak your vows.”
Alessandro turned to me first. His hands lifted, gently brushing my veil aside so he could see me clearly.
“Aurora,” he began, voice soft but powerful, “I used to believe love was a weakness.
That caring for someone would only destroy me.
But then you came into my life loud, stubborn, impossible and somehow, you made me want to live differently.”
A soft laugh escaped me as tears filled my eyes.
“You challenged me,” he continued, his thumb brushing over my fingers.
“You made me a better Alpha. A better man. You taught me that strength isn’t about control it’s about compassion.
You are my equal, my heart, and my reason to fight every day. I vow to protect you, to stand beside you, and to never let a single day go by without reminding you that you are loved.”
My lips trembled.
“Alessandro…”
Now it was my turn.
I took a shaky breath, my voice quivering.
“Alessandro, when I first came to this pack, I was broken. I didn’t believe I belonged anywhere.
You were cold, distant… infuriating.”
The crowd chuckled softly, and he smirked a little.
“But somewhere between your anger and my stubbornness, we found something real,” I continued.
“You saw me when no one else did. You fought for me even against yourself.
You’ve become my strength, my peace, my home.
I vow to love you fiercely, to challenge you when you forget to rest, to comfort you when the world feels heavy, and to stand beside you as your Luna, always.”
The Elder smiled.
“Then by the will of the Moon Goddess—”
Before he could finish, Alessandro pulled me close and kissed me.
The courtyard erupted cheers, applause, even wolf howls echoing through the air.
My heart pounded against his chest as his hand cradled the back of my neck.
When he pulled away, breathless, he whispered against my lips,
“Sorry… couldn’t wait.”
I laughed through tears.
“You never do.”
The Elder raised his voice over the noise.
“Let it be known before the pack and the Moon herself Alpha Alessandro and Luna Aurora are now one!”
Two attendants approached with a silver crown inlaid with a crescent gem, shimmering with faint moonlight.
The Elder gestured toward Alessandro.
“Crown your Luna, Alpha.”
Alessandro took the crown reverently, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Kneel, my love,” he whispered.
I smiled and sank gracefully to my knees.
He lowered the crown onto my head, his voice steady and full of pride.
“By my vow and the Moon’s light, I crown you Luna Aurora my heart, my strength, my destiny.”
When I rose, the pack erupted into a roar that shook the very ground.
“All hail Luna Aurora!”
Tears spilled freely down my cheeks as Alessandro pulled me into his arms. His breath brushed against my ear as he whispered,
“You’ve just made me the happiest man alive.”
I smiled against his shoulder, whispering back, “And you’ve made me finally feel at home.”
The music swelled. The pack howled in celebration. And as the sun dipped behind the horizon, I realized this was more than a ceremony.
It was the start of forever.
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