CHAPTER 46: 46. ZAVIER AND MICHAEL CEREMONY

IN THE MORNING

MICHAEL

I didn’t think the castle could get louder than yesterday, but apparently wedding mornings were their own kind of storm. The corridors buzzed with magic, laughter, and far too many voices shouting ’Where are the rings?!’ or ’Don’t let the alpha see the groom before the final blessing!’ Someone even started playing the ceremonial drums early, which set off every wolf in the northern wing into a chorus of howls. I sat in front of the vanity, trying not to move while Rose waged a war against my hair.

"Stop fidgeting." She said, wrestling another braid into place. "You keep moving and I’ll have to start over."

"I thought this was supposed to be relaxing."I sighed.

"It’s not. It’s holy." She said flatly, weaving silver thread into the braid with quick, precise fingers.

"The Goddess said your hair should shimmer like moonlight. I’m trying not to anger a divine being before breakfast."

Across the room, Charlie was sprawled dramatically on my bed, a towel around his shoulders and a cup of tea in hand.

"Please, Rose." He said, voice sugary. "You always anger a divine being before breakfast."

She threw a comb at him. He caught it mid air, grinning.

"See?" He said. "Perfect aim. You could’ve been a warrior."

"I am a warrior." She muttered. "Just with prettier tools."

I tried not to laugh, moving risked her wrath.

"Charlie." I said through my teeth. "Shouldn’t you be helping Zavier or something?"

"Oh, I did!" He said, perking up. "He’s downstairs with his parents. Lady Aeryn is crying, Kael looks like he’s trying not to, and Zavier’s pretending he’s not nervous by intimidating the flower bearers. Adorable."

I froze.

"He’s with his parents?"I asked.

"Relax." Charlie said, waving a hand. "They just wanted a private talk before the ceremony. His father’s polishing the family crest like it’s his child, and his mother keeps saying, ’He’s definitely your son, look how he’s pacing.’"

Rose snorted softly.

"He’s not wrong."She said.

I sighed, looking at my reflection. The outfit hung beside me, cream silk with gold embroidery, the same one the Goddess had blessed herself. It looked more like art than clothing. Rose pinned the last braid, stepped back, and smiled.

"Done. You look like you actually belong to the Goddess’s favorite line."She said.

"Does that mean I’m glowing or about to faint?" I asked.

"Yes." Charlie said immediately.

Rose smacked him with a towel.

"Alright, stand up." She ordered. "Time to get dressed."

I stood while two attendants carefully lifted the robes over me, adjusting every fold with reverent hands. When the final clasp clicked into place, I caught sight of myself in the mirror, and for a second, I didn’t recognize the man staring back. The silk shimmered softly in the light, gold threads tracing ancient sigils along the sleeves. My bond mark, faintly visible at my collarbone, pulsed once calm, sure, alive. Charlie let out a long, dramatic sigh.

"If I weren’t already in love with myself, I’d marry you."Charlie said.

"Not your type." I muttered.

"Everyone’s my type." He said, winking.

The door creaked open before I could reply. Zavier stood there. For a second, everyone stopped moving. He was in deep navy robes with silver accents, his hair tied back loosely, a small ceremonial crest pinned near his heart. The sight of him, strong, calm, a storm wrapped in silk stole every word I had. Rose cleared her throat pointedly.

"You’re not supposed to see each other until-"She started.

"Let him." Lady Aeryn’s voice interrupted gently as she stepped in behind her son, smiling. "It’s good luck for them to see each other’s eyes before the vows."

Kael followed, proud and imposing but smiling faintly the kind of smile that made the air feel solid and safe.

"Well." He said, his deep voice carrying warmth now. "If there was any doubt, the Goddess outdid herself."

I flushed.

"Thank you, sir."I said.

Zavier walked toward me slowly, his usual composure slipping into something softer.

"You look..." He hesitated, searching for the word. "Like light. I don’t have another word for it."

Charlie sniffled loudly.

"I’m not crying. There’s just... divine dust in my eyes."Charlie sniffed.

"You’re ridiculous." Rose muttered, but even she smiled.

Lady Aeryn placed a hand on Zavier’s shoulder, then on mine.

"The Goddess chose well. You two balance each other perfectly."Aeryn said.

Kael grunted approvingly.

"Agreed. Now, let’s not keep destiny waiting. Guests are gathering already."Kael said.

Charlie gasped.

"They’re early?! I told them half past the second bell!"He said.

"They’re wolves." Rose said dryly. "They can smell excitement."

Zavier offered his hand to me, steady, grounding, the same as always. I took it.

"Ready?" He murmured.

I smiled faintly.

"No. But with you? Always."I said.

Lady Aeryn’s eyes gleamed with pride.

"That’s all that matters."Aeryn said.

As the attendants bustled to gather the final pieces the circlet, the ring box, the crest, I felt a strange calm settle over me. All the noise, the panic, the divine chaos... it faded. All that remained was him. Zavier squeezed my hand once, and the warmth of it settled straight into my chest. Outside, the bells began to ring. The ceremony was about to begin.

The bells echoed through every hall of the castle. Deep, resonant, alive. Each toll seemed to vibrate in my chest, matching the thrum of my pulse as I stood just inside the grand temple doors, the world beyond shimmered silver. Ribbons of light hung from the vaulted ceilings, hundreds of candles hovering midair, each one burning with lunar flame. The scent of jasmine and cedar rolled through the air, soft but intoxicating.

Every row was filled, pack members, nobles, spirits of the moon court, all turned toward the entryway. And at the far end of the aisle stood Zavier. He looked impossibly calm, yet his hands were clenched behind his back, a tiny tell only I would ever notice. His robes caught the divine glow, making him look like the night sky had decided to take human form.

"Breathe." Rose whispered from behind me, nudging my shoulder gently. "You’re about to marry a man, not face an execution."

Charlie, dressed in his finest and slightly too sparkly robes, grinned.

"Though to be fair, both involve a lot of witnesses and nerves."He said.

"Charlie." I muttered.

He leaned close.

"You look perfect. Try not to cry before you even walk, okay? I promised the Goddess one pretty groom, not a puffy eyed one."Charlie smirked.

I glared at him, but my laugh shook slightly. The massive doors began to open. Light spilled in like liquid silver, cascading over the marble floors and the floral archway ahead. The music rose, not strings or flutes, but a low, celestial hum, a chorus of voices that didn’t sound human. Selene’s voice, calm and powerful, rang out through the hall.

"Let the moon bear witness to this union of hearts."She said.

Lady Aeryn gave me one last proud nod, her eyes bright with quiet emotion. Kael bowed his head slightly, a warrior’s sign of respect, not to me as an omega, but as his equal now. I took my first step forward. Every sound faded except the steady rhythm of my heartbeat. The crowd blurred, the divine glow softened, and there was only him. Zavier, his lips parted just slightly, eyes locked on me with something between awe and disbelief.

"You’re real."He whispered.

I smiled faintly.

"Last time I checked."I said.

Selene stepped forward from the altar, her robes whispering like water.

"Before the moon and the pack, before the Goddess and your ancestors, you stand as two halves of a vow older than blood. Speak your truth, and let the world witness it."She said.

Zavier turned to me first. He took my hand, his thumb brushing over my pulse, grounding me instantly.

"I never believed in fate." He said quietly. "Not until you walked into my life and dismantled every certainty I had. You drive me insane. You argue with me when everyone else stays silent. You make me laugh when I forget how. You remind me that being strong isn’t about fighting it’s about staying. So I promise you this, Michael, I will stay. Through storms, through doubts, through everything the Goddess dares to throw at us."

The crowd sighed softly, a ripple of warmth passing through the room. My throat tightened, but I found my voice.

"When I first met you, I thought you were impossible." I said, smiling through the nerves. "Too proud, too stubborn, too... everything. But then you smiled at me once, just once and I knew I was in trouble. You’ve protected me, challenged me, infuriated me, and loved me anyway. You make me feel like I belong somewhere for the first time in my life. So I promise you this, Zavier, I will never stop choosing you, even when it’s hard, even when we forget how to be calm. I’ll find my way back to you every time."I said.

Zavier’s jaw flexed. His eyes softened.

"You already do."He said.

Selene extended her hands, and between them shimmered the box, the twin rings, glowing softly but not yet awake.

"The moon forges love, not perfection." She said. "These rings do not bind obedience or duty, but devotion freely given. Place them, and let your vows become light."

Zavier took my hand again, sliding the golden ring over my finger. His hand trembled slightly, a rare tell.

"Mine." He whispered.

I smiled, sliding the silver band onto his hand.

"Yours."I said.

Charlie let out a muffled sob from the front row. Rose elbowed him without looking. Selene’s voice rose again, clear and resonant.

"By the decree of the Moon Goddess and the witness of her children, the Alpha and the Luna are one."She said.

A wave of divine energy swept through the temple. Candles flared. The very floor seemed to hum under our feet. And when the light settled, Zavier reached up, cupping my face with both hands.

"May I?" He murmured.

I nodded. The kiss was soft, reverent, not rushed, not hungry, just right. The air itself seemed to exhale with relief.

"Finally!"Charlie shouted somewhere behind us.

Laughter rippled through the crowd, and even Selene’s stern expression softened into a smile. Zavier rested his forehead against mine.

"You’re shaking."He said.

"Because I can’t believe this is real." I whispered.

"It’s real." He said firmly. "You’re mine, Luna."

"Careful." I said, teasing through the tears. "You’ll make the Goddess jealous."

A soft chuckle echoed from the altar, the Goddess herself, visible now in pure silver light, smiling like moonrise.

"Not jealous." She said. "Proud."

The temple filled with a thousand whispers of wind and warmth. The blessing of the Goddess swept over us like starlight, gentle, infinite, whole and as the bells rang again, echoing through the valley below, I realized something I hadn’t before, this wasn’t the end of a story. It was the beginning.