Chapter 50

Violet

Before I knew it, the day of the Luna ceremony had arrived, and the entire Midnight Park hotel was alive with energy. Guests from across the nation, and even a few international figures, poured into the grand venue. It was an opulent spectacle—lavish floral arrangements in deep Midnight blues, Darkmoon’s vibrant violet, and silvers adorned every corner, the air rich with the hum of chatter and the clink of champagne glasses.

From the bridal suite on the top floor, I stood at the window, looking down at the bustling entrance below. The gleaming cars, the elegant guests stepping out, the flashes of cameras—it was everything Theodore wanted, but I couldn’t shake the unease that clawed at me. My fingers toyed with the edge of the silk robe I wore as I watched the scene unfold below.

The last time I’d been in this hotel haunted me.

I tried to push away the memory. I’d already wasted too much energy on that pain. Today was meant to be a celebration of my victory and fulfilling the terms of my agreement with Theodore. Still, the silence from Lucas since the court ruling had my nerves on edge. He wasn’t the type to slink away quietly. No, Lucas was plotting something; I could feel it in my bones. The question was, what? And when would he strike?

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see Kincaid step inside

“Everything is proceeding smoothly.”

I nodded, letting out a breath. “Good.”

“You alright?”

I nodded. “I’m good.”

He tilted his head, clearly unconvinced but choosing not to press. He left as quietly as he’d come, leaving me alone with my thoughts again.

Good wasn’t the word I’d use, though. I couldn’t deny that Theodore had put an immense amount of effort into this ceremony, ensuring it would be flawless. But even that perfection didn’t ease the tightness in my chest.

With a sigh, I moved away from the window and began to prepare. I started with my hair. The curling iron was still heating up when a knock at the door drew my attention. Before I could respond, the door opened, and Helena swept in, followed closely by Lily and Helena’s young daughter, Charlotte, who was practically bouncing with excitement, dressed in the picture-perfect dress for a flower girl.

“I hope you didn’t intend to curl your own hair!” Helena exclaimed. “Absolutely not! Be glad I convinced Alpha Nightshade not to hire you a styling team!”

I grimaced. “Thank you for that.”

“Nervous?” I shook my head. Helena arched a brow as she stepped closer, her sharp eyes scanning me. “Hmm. That face says otherwise..”

Lily scoffed. “Nervous and distracting herself by plotting her next move for Midnight.”

I smirked at that, though the truth of it sat uncomfortably close. “You know me too well.”

“None of that!” Helena cried. “It’s your wedding day! Distract yourself with this.” She gestured toward her daughter, who twirled in a puff of silver and blue tulle. “Cuteness.”

“Miss Violet!” Charlotte exclaimed, spinning to a stop in front of me. “Do you think we got enough petals? I don’t want to run out! Oh–what if they’re the wrong colors? What if no one likes them?”

I crouched down to her level, offering a smile I didn’t have to force. “They’ll love them, Charlotte. I love them, and you’re going to steal the whole show.”

She beamed, and Helena pinched her cheek affectionately before glancing toward the mirror.

“Hopefully not. Her father is already gruff and overprotective.” She chuckled. “Now, let’s get you looking like Luna you are.”

I turned back to the mirror and touched as Helena started to fiddle with the curling iron. I wasn’t surprised that she knew how to use a magical one, and was a bit grateful that she was here. Lily had always worn her hair too short to do much more than brush, but she was great with makeup.

Lily hauled a small makeup kit onto the table, and I smiled.

She hadn’t been around to do my makeup when I married Lucas… part of me was grateful that the memory would never be tarnished for either of us. I relaxed, letting the two women move around me like a practiced team. they got me into the dress easily. Lily adjusted the gown’s intricate lace at my shoulders while Helena fussed over the sparkling veil that draped lightly down my back over the immaculate spirals she’d coaxed my hair into.

A part of me wanted to laugh at how different this was from the last time I’d been in a bridal suite. By comparison, preparing for Lucas had felt like walking into a trap, my heart warring with the unease of it. Back then, I’d just wanted to make my father happy at last, but I wasn’t sure if he was anything more than… relieved.

I pushed those thoughts away. “Did you manage to coax the ring bearer into his tiny tux?”

Helena laughed. “He was so eager to look just like his alpha. His parents are over the moon.”

I chuckled. It was nice that Midnight didn’t have a shortage of volunteers and that Helena had offered up her daughter.

Lily turned me to the mirror. She tilted her head, studying me carefully. “You really don’t seem nervous. You’re taking this all in stride.”

I met her gaze in the mirror and offered a small smile. “Because I’ve been here before, just in a different way. This time, I know exactly what I’m walking into.”

Lily returned my smile, clearly unaware of the full weight of my words. Neither she nor Helena knew about the truth of my arrangement with Theodore. They saw this as a perfect match—strategic, sure, but with a foundation they both believed could grow into something real.

I let them believe it. For their sake, and for mine. Whatever this union would bring, it was still better than the first.

Theodore

Tyron came in without announcing himself and dropped into a seat. He slid a small flask across the table toward me, the etched silver gleaming in the soft light of the groom’s lounge.

“Your actually brother looks like he’d rather eat nails, and my wife is curling your future wife’s hair. I’m here for customs.”

I arched a brow at him, but a smile tugged at the corner of my lips. “Never thought we’d be here…”

“Be glad it’s just me and I left all my brothers at home.” He grimaced. “The flask would be a bottle, and the proof would be way too strong.”

My jaw dropped. “Were you drunk at temple?”

He beamed. “Very nearly.”

I snorted and picked up the flask, unscrewing the cap. The sharp scent of aged whiskey hit my nose, and I took a sip. It burned in the best way, warming my throat and settling in my chest. Then it started to really burn and I coughed.

“What the—”

“Imported. The good stuff.” Tyron wiggled his eyebrows. “From across the border. It was the only way to compromise on a flash, not a bottle.”

I shook my head. “Right.”

I drank some more, feeling it start to warm me, stirring my magic. I set it down and offered it to him, he pull out his own flask with a grin.

“You didn’t think it was going to be that easy, did you?”

I scoffed at tha and picked it back up.

“Perk up, you’re getting married to your mate.” He smirked.

I nodded. He frowned. “What is it?”

“She’s not the easiest person to figure out.” I set my jaw. “She’s… digging her heels in more than I anticipated… I thought I was more convincing than this.”

He snorted. “There’s no coaxing healing.”

I took another drink. Then, an alarm chimed. He screwed the cap on his flask and tucked it into his jacket. He took mine and tucked it into my breast pocket and took me by the shoulders.

“She is the moon to your earth,” he said and smiled. “You know this. She will know it soon enough.”

My heart trembled then he adjusted my tie and gestured to the door.

“Let’s go. Wouldn’t want to keep your bride waiting.”

The walk to the altar was a short one, but every step carried a weight I couldn’t quite shake. Thelate afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the gathered crowd through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

But as my eyes swept over the altar, something felt off. My gaze landed on the priest—a man I didn’t recognize. He wasn’t the one we’d agreed on, nor did he even seem to actually be a priest. There was something about the quality of his robes that gave me pause.

Then, I spotted Owen, his wife, and his mother. The overly pleased look on his face told me everything I needed to know.

He was up to something.

I stepped forward and held up a hand.

“Hold the ceremony.”